They did it for each other, but especially for a brother named Brendan Odo.

Kailua got stellar pitching from Dustin Imanaka and Joey Cantillo to end Kalani’s Cinderella run, edging the Falcons 7-5 on Saturday night in the championship game of the OIA Division I baseball playoffs at Hans L’Orange Park.

Imanaka pitched 51⁄3 innings and Cantillo, a left-handed flamethrower, closed it out for a save as the Surfriders (12-3) won their seventh league title under coach Corey Ishigo. It was the 13th OIA crown in the program’s history.

Kalani (12-3) was seeking its first OIA title since 1971.

Noah Auld, a senior first baseman, provided some of the punch behind Kailua’s 10-hit attack. He belted two doubles in his first two at-bats, driving in three runs as the Surfriders surged to a 6-2 lead.

“It was fun. We had an objective and we did it. We do it for him,” he said, pointing to Odo, a senior classmate.

Odo suffered a season-ending leg injury in a collision during a game against Castle.

“He’s still the hardest-working player I know,” Auld said of the multi-position standout.

“I’m just glad they got this far,” Odo said, his left leg in a cast. “I sit and cheer my heart out for my brothers out there.”

The senior-heavy Surfriders withstood a late rally by Kalani, which scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to pull within a two-run margin.

“We had a four-year plan to accomplish. Most of these seniors have been here from the beginning,” Ishigo said. “Oh, my gosh. The team turned around when Brendan got hurt. Every day, I wake up and think about him. After that, baseball became just a game, not life.”

The Surfriders scored three times in the top of the first inning against Kalani starter Micah Kawano to set the tone. Imanaka and Dalton Kalama walked, and Auld doubled to right, bringing both runners home. Auld later scored on a double-play ball for a three-run Kailua lead.

Kalani reached Imanaka for two runs in the bottom of the second, thanks in large part to two Kailua errors. Kohl Suehiro singled and Noah Nakamura reached on an infield error. Imanaka’s errant pick-off throw allowed Suehiro to score Kalani’s first run. After Kyle Sasano reached base on a fielder’s choice, he scored on a double to right by Jarryn Wee, cutting the lead to 3-2.

The Surfriders scored three times in the top of the third. Imanaka led off with an infield single, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on another double by Auld for a 4-2 lead.

With runners at the corners, Cantillo sent a high bouncer to first, where Nakamura rushed and lost the ball. Auld and Lawson Faria scored on the play for a 6-2 Kailua lead.

Kailua added a run in the fourth on a delayed steal. With Auld at the plate, Imanaka at third and Kalama at first, Kalama took off, drew the catcher’s throw and was tagged out near second base. Imanaka ran home and would’ve been out, but the throw home bounced on the ground and off the chest of catcher Bronson Matsumoto. Imanaka’s run made it 7-2.

Imanaka was in a groove during the middle innings, but Kalani got to him in the sixth. Payton Awaya doubled, Suehiro reached on an infield error and Awaya scored on pinch hitter Travis Toyama’s bloop infield single.

Cantillo entered and Lau singled to center, bringing Suehiro home to cut the lead to 7-4.

Later, a passed ball permitted Toyama to score from third, and the lead was down to two runs entering the seventh inning.

Connor Zalewski reached base on a fielding error and pinch runner Cheyne Sueyoshi got as far as third base. Suehiro’s blooper to short center was speared by a diving Faria, the second baseman, for the final out.

“That was an awesome catch,” Kalani coach Shannon Hirai said. “Our kids were up to the challenge. They didn’t fold and they fought back.”