After watching his team endure a four-game losing streak that spanned from March 27 to April 8, Kamehameha coach Tom Perkins decided to change up his practice routine last week.

The first-year skipper emphasized the importance of mental toughness and stressed focus during both practices and games.

The seventh-ranked Warriors have responded with two consecutive wins, including Tuesday’s 7-3 victory over No. 1 Mid-Pacific, to end the gauntlet that is the Interscholastic League of Honolulu regular season. The win boosted Kamehameha’s record to 7-5 in league play. The Warriors, who tied with No. 4 Saint Louis (7-5) in the regular-season standings, will take on the Crusaders today at Mike Goeas Field at 4:30 p.m. to determine the second seed behind the champion Owls (9-3) in advance of the league’s postseason tournament that gets underway Friday.

"I think the boys are ready. We had that bad week and struggled through it, but we made the necessary changes," Perkins said. "We have a lot of talent and physical ability, so getting that pieced together with the mental aspects of the game is what we worked on."

Kamehameha’s physical talents were on display at the plate as the visiting squad took advantage of Mid-Pacific’s Damon Field, which is hitter friendly when the wind is blowing out to right-center field as was the case on Tuesday. The Warriors racked up nine hits, including two momentum-shifting long balls off the bats of first baseman and eventual winning pitcher Brandon Henderson and catcher Kekai Rios.

The battery mates each smacked line-drive, two-run homers with two outs in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively, and the bombs both cleared the tall fence in right-center field with ease. Henderson’s blast gave Kamehameha a 3-1 advantage at the time, and after the Owls narrowed the deficit to 3-2 in the home half of the fourth, Rios went deep for the second consecutive game to push the lead back to a comfortable 5-2 margin.

"In our approach from last week on, we try to work up the middle, so that really helped us to see the ball and drive it today," said Rios, a University of Hawaii commit who has three home runs this season. "I moved in toward the plate after seeing a lot of outside pitches in my first few at-bats and looked for a fastball on the 3-2 count and just went with it."

Mid-Pacific designated hitter Noah Shackles hit a solo home run to straightaway center in the bottom of the fifth, but the Owls would not encroach further on the Warriors’ advantage.

The home squad pressured Kamehameha, as runners reached base in each of the first five innings, but Mid-Pacific could not take advantage of multiple opportunities, including those created by four Warriors errors, and left nine runners stranded.

Owls coach Dunn Muramaru said his priority was to get ample playing time for his seniors, who were greeted by a throng of friends and family following the game. By virtue of winning the ILH regular season title, Mid-Pacific has already earned a berth in the upcoming state tournament and will play the winner of Friday’s ILH tourney play-in game between fourth-seeded ‘Iolani and fifth-seeded Punahou next week.

"The goal was to play our seniors and try to win it if there was a chance. These guys did a good job, (it’s quite an accomplishment) to go 9-3 in this league," Muramaru said.

Kamehameha starter Hunter Breault scattered three hits and walked two while striking out a pair and surrendering a run through three innings. Henderson came on to pitch two innings of effective relief to qualify for the win. Perkins then called on veteran hurlers Codie Paiva, who also drove in two runs with a pair of two-out RBI singles, and Ladd Ah Choy to hold Mid-Pacific hitless over the final two frames.

"Our pitchers battled today — even with all the errors they never lost their composure," Rios said. "Tomorrow is a big game for us. We’re going to come out focused and ready to play."

At Mid-Pacific’s Damon Field

Hunter Breault, Brandon Henderson (4), Codie Paiva (6), Ladd Ah Choy (7) and Kekai Rios. Grant Doi, Cody Maltezo (4), Shaun Oku (5), Ethan Fujikami (6), Noah Sills (7) and JJ Balgas, Evan Suemori (4).

W-Henderson. L-Doi.

Leading hitters–Kamehameha: Henderson HR, 2 RBIs; Rios HR, 2 RBIs; Paiva 2-3, 2 RBIs; Micah McNicoll 2b. Mid-Pacific: Noah Shackles 2-4, HR, RBI.

ILH DIVISION I BASEBALL

‘Iolani 12, Punahou 7, 5 innings

ILH DIVISION II BASEBALL

Pac-Five 2, St. Francis 0

Justin Ogasawara pitched a seven-hitter with no walks and five strikeouts as the Wolfpack snapped the Saints’ six-game winning streak.

Jarred Yara tossed a two-hitter and both runs he allowed were unearned.

At Ala Wai Field

Jarred Yara and Micah Lum. Justin Ogasawara and Royce Torres. W–Ogasawara. L–Yara.

Leading hitters–St. Francis: Kreighton

Tsuruda-Gaspar 2-4, 2b; Maika Teal 2-3; Yara 2b; Royce Torres 2b.

Maryknoll 12, Damien 2, 5 inn.

Neal Nakasone Jr. and Kahi Hirano both drove in three runs as the Spartans beat the Monachs.

At Goeas Field

Grayson Bueno, Cortez (2), Capinia (3), Gainey (4), Cabbab (5) and Kaeo, Schuman (4). Joshua Muneno, Darren Miyamoto (3), Jarred Kaneshiro (4) and Neal Nakasone Jr. W–Kaneshiro. L–Cortez.

Leading hitters–Maryknoll: Kahi Hirano 2-3, 2 runs, 3 RBIs; Nakasone 3b, 3 RBIs; Chayson Dulatre 2-2, 2 runs; Cade Ohata 2 runs; Shane Himeda 2 runs.

OIA RED WEST SOFTBALL

No. 1 Mililani 7, Waipahu 6

Shannon Pascua-Stanton singled in Merilas Rivera and Tristan Cozo with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning to cap the Trojans’ four-run rally.

Pascua-Stanton finished 2-for-4 with four RBIs.

At Mililani

S. Defreitas and S. Palencia. Tristan Cozo, Aubree Kim (3) and Markie Okamoto. W–Kim. L–Defreitas.

Leading hitters–Waipahu: M. Whitney 3-4, 2B, 2 runs; S. Veu 2-4; A. Lene 2-3, 2b. Mililani: Merilas Rivera 2b; Brooke Yasuda 3-4; Shannon Pascua-Stanton 2-4, 4 RBIs.

OIA RED EAST SOFTBALL

Kailua 4, Castle 2

Dyani Cummings-Lani pitched a seven-hitter and Delcie Williams doubled and drove in two runs as the Surfriders beat the Knights.

At Kailua

Asia Igafo and Taylor Ah-Mook Sang. Dyani Cummings-Lani and Denise Nagayama. W–Cummings-Lani. L–Igafo.

Leading hitters–Castle: Paige Matsuki 2-4, 2b; Darrien Dacosin 3b; Igafo 3b, 2 RBIs; Areil Hendricks 2b. Kailua: Robi Lono 2-4, 2b; Akamulei Makua 3-4; Moani Kupahu 2-4, 2b; Delcie Williams 2b, 2 RBIs; Cummings-Lani 2-3, 2b.