Kaiser's Kayla Alcoran worked through mechanical issues, and the Cougars manufactured their runs yesterday against Konawaena.

Alcoran pitched a four-hitter despite being called for four illegal pitches and Kaiser broke it open with four runs in the seventh in a 7-2 victory over Konawaena in the first round of the DataHouse/HHSAA Softball Division II State Championships.

Alcoran struck out eight at Central O'ahu Regional Park, and three of the illegal pitches came in a row in the second inning. Another came in the third.

"She's been doing it all season," said Kaiser coach Deanedra Kahunahana. "We went all the way to the (O'ahu Interscholastic Association) championship game and nothing was called. Now we come to states, first game and this is called. It would have been nice if it was fixed earlier."

According to umpire coordinator Warren Okinaka, Alcoran was "bringing her hands together prior to stepping back off the pitching rubber."

The third-base umpire, who called the violations, actually demonstrated to Alcoran and Kahunahuna the proper windup.

A ball is called for an illegal pitch.

"That never happened to me before," said Alcoran, a senior right-hander. "In all the years I've pitched, I've never been called and I had to adjust."

Kaiser, the OIA runner-up, plays Moloka'i, the Maui Interscholastic League champion and No. 4 seed, in the quarterfinals tonight at 7.

Kaiser (13-1-1) benefitted from eight Wildcat errors.

Kaiser, which trailed 2-0 in the third, scored the go-ahead run in the fifth when Alcoran touched the plate before teammate Chelsy Okuma was tagged out in a rundown for the third out.

With runners at first and second and two out, Jesse Hathaway singled to center. Alcoran held up at third and Okuma, the back runner, got caught between second and third.

The catcher received the throw from the outfield and fired to the third baseman, and Alcoran scored before the second baseman tagged Okuma near second.

"I knew if I scored before Chelsy got out, then it would count," Alcoran said.

The Cougars' four-run seventh came on two hits, two walks, a hit batter and two errors. All the runs were unearned and came after two were out.

Chelsea Lima and Christina Morales had run-scoring singles in the inning.

"The bats came around and we started to get smart on the bases," Kahunahana said.

Kaiser tied it 2-2 in the fourth on two hits and three errors. Lima had an RBI groundout and Bailey Miller had a run-scoring single to left. Both runs were unearned.

In the third, Konawaena (8-5), the Big Island Interscholastic Federation's No. 3 team, scored two runs after the first two batters of the inning struck out. Krystina Okimura reached on a bunt back to the mound, and stole second and third. Brittany Kondo singled in Okimura and advanced to second on a fielding error by the right fielder.

Iisha Cho hit a high pop up that got caught up in the wind and landed on the edge of the skin infield, allowing the second run to score.

"We struggled in the beginning, again errors," Kahunahuna said. "That can really cause some ruckus, but we kind of overcame it."

Alcoran allowed three singles in the third, and the other single come in the sixth. She walked two and hit two.

"They were chasing the high-outside, so that was helping me a lot, and the umpire liked the outside pitch," Alcoran said.

KAISER (13-1-1) 000 210 4—7 10 1

KONAWAENA (8-5) 002 000 0—2 4 8

Kayla Alcoran and Chelsy Okuma. Chelsey Shimamoto and Iisha Cho. W — Alcoran. L — Shimamoto.

Leading hitters — Kaiser: Alcoran 2 runs; Okuma 2-3, 2 doubles, 2 runs; Jessie Hathaway 2-4; Caliann Fukuda 2 runs; Tina Morales 2-4. Konawaena: Cho 2-3.

Reported by Gail Juan.

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8041.

'AIEA 6, HANA 2

Rayna Strom-Okimoto pitched a five-hitter with nine strikeouts, and also tripled and homered as Na Ali'i moved on to the quarterfinals to face second-seeded Waialua. Piilani Boner-Lee added two hits for 'Aiea. Alohilani Kapoi and Miracle Helekahi each had two hits for Hana.

HANA (8-4) 000 200 0—2 5 2

'AIEA (9-5) 200 400 X—6 8 1

Jy-Len Hoopai and Kameaiomakamae Smith. Rayna Strom-Okimoto and Ashlei Li'ili'i. W — Strom-Okimoto. L — Hoopai.

Leading hitters — Hana: Alohilani Kapoi 2-4; Miracle Helekahi 2-3. 'Aiea: Piilani Boner-Lee 2-3, 2 runs; Strom-Okimoto 2-4, triple, homer, 2 runs, 2 RBIs.

WAIMEA 11, KALANI 6

Taylor Ephan had two hits, including a home run, and two RBIs as the Menehunes advanced to the quarterfinals against third-seeded Kamehameha-Hawai'i.

MarieBeth Watanabe and Tanisha Defabian each added two RBIs for Waimea. Kristiann Endow had three hits, including a home run, and Rayme Awaya also had three hits for Kalani.

KALANI (8-8) 300 011 1—6 13 4

WAIMEA (8-5) 064 001 X—11 10 1

Jade Teruya, Rayme Awaya (4) and Jamie Higa. Michelle Koerte and Taylor Ephan. W — Koerte. L — Teruya.

Leading hitters — Kalani: Awaya 3-4; Chelsea Yamamoto 2-4; Kristiann Endow 3-4, homer, 2 RBIs; Hikaru Kumagai 2-4, 2 RBIs; Kulia Wann double. Waimea: MarieBeth Watanabe 2 RBIs; Krysta Kali triple, 2 runs; Ephan 2-3, homer, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Tanisha Defabian double, 2 RBIs; Fiare Moe 2 runs.

Reported by Gail Juan.

KALAHEO 3, PAHOA 0

Caira Pires pitched a three-hitter as the Mustangs beat the Daggers to reach the quarterfinals against top-seeded Kaua'i. Pahoa's Tumama'o Enos also pitched a three-hitter.

PAHOA (6-7) 000 000 0—0 3 1

KALAHEO (10-6) 002 010 X—3 3 0

Tumama'o Enos and Val Sorcy. Caira Pires and Jerica Olson. W — Pires. L — Enos.

Leading hitters — Pahoa: Whitney Hirano double. Kalaheo: None.

Reported by Gail Juan.