Sophomore Kayson Kajiwara went 3-for-4 with three RBIs, including a go-ahead run-scoring single in the sixth inning, to give Damien a 9-6 win over St. Francis on Saturday afternoon at Ala Wai Field.

Kajiwara, who started the game at second base, also took the mound in the sixth inning and recorded a save for starting pitcher Javin Cortez.

The hard-earned victory — 2 hours and 59 minutes in sweltering heat — gave Damien (13-5) the Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division II tournament title. St. Francis (14-5) had already earned a cushy spot by winning the regular season. Damien must now beat St. Francis twice to capture the ILH D-II championship. As regular-season champion, St. Francis only needs one win over Damien to claim the crown — and the league’s lone state-tournament berth that comes with it.

The teams will meet on Tuesday at Hans L’Orange Park. It’s a tough circumstance for the Monarchs, who are playing their best baseball of the season.

“The last fourth of the season, we’ve been hitting and pitching, playing good defense,” Monarchs coach Timo Donahue said. “Our guys have been working hard on quality at-bats.”

That approach, along with those practice reps, made a big difference against Saints ace Jared Yara. Damien laid off his sharp breaking ball and chased him in the fifth inning. Yara struck out four, but walked six, giving up four runs on five hits. He also hit two batters as some of Damien’s batters stood within 1-2 inches of home plate with two-strike counts.

“Early in the season, he threw that slider low and we were swinging at it,” Donahue said.

Zach Alcos replaced Yara and allowed three runs, including just one earned, on three hits in 11⁄3 innings. He took the loss.

Cortez got the win for Damien, allowing six runs (four earned) on six hits in five innings. He struck out three and walked six.

Damien sent 10 batters to the plate in the sixth to erase a 4-0 deficit. Jayden Cabbab led off with a double to left, Shiloh Kaeo was hit by a pitch and Pomai Kim singled on a bunt to load the bases. Grayson Bueno singled to right, scoring Cabbab to cut the lead to 4-2.

After Yara hit Kana Schuman, he was done for the day, having thrown 105 pitches. Kajiwara, the No. 9 batter, sent a dribbler back near the mound for an infield single, scoring Kaeo from third. On the same play, third baseman Reece Kadota’s late throw sailed high for an error, and Kim raced home with the tying run.

Akila Arecchi followed with a single to right, plating Schuman to give Damien a 5-4 lead. After Alcos’ next pitch hit Cameron in the back, Jordan Donahue walloped a triple to right, bringing Arecchi and Cameron home for a 7-4 edge.

The Saints took advantage of back-to-back errors by Donahue, the shortstop, to score twice in the bottom of the fifth. Kadota and J.P. Tilley drew bases-loaded walks as St. Francis pulled within 7-6. They had the bases loaded when Cortez retired Bubba Akana on a groundout to end the inning.

In the top of the sixth, Kaeo and Kim drew walks off Alcos, who was replaced by Kiyo Perry. Bueno grounded into a fielder’s choice, but Schuman singled to left, and Kajiwara came through again with a single to right, scoring Kim from third base for an 8-6 lead.

Arecchi then sent a deep fly to right, scoring Bueno.

In the bottom of the sixth, Kaycee Natividad replaced Cortez, and St. Francis again loaded the bases. Kajiwara took over and retired Kadota on a fly ball to right, ending the threat.

The Saints put two runners on base in the bottom of the seventh, but Kajiwara induced a groundout by Yara to end the game.

In all, St. Francis stranded 12 baserunners. Damien left 10 on base.

ILH DIVISION II CHAMPIONSHIP

Damien 9, St. Francis 6
At Ala Wai

>> Damien (13-5) 000 162 0 — 9 12 3
>> St. Francis (14-5) 103 020 0 — 6 7 1

Javin Cortez, Kaycee Natividad (6), Kayson Kajiwara and Kana Schuman. Jared Yara, Zach Alcos (5), Kiyo Perry (6) and Makana Poole. W—Cortez. L—Alcos. Sv—Kajiwara.

Leading hitters—DMS: Akila Arecchi 1-3, SF, BB, 2 RBIs, run; Jordan Donahue 3-4, 3B, 2B, BB, 2 RBIs, SB; Pomai Kim 2-3, BB, 3 runs, RBI; Kajiwara 3-4, 3 RBIs. SF: Makana Poole 2-4, BB, run; Shawn Ellis 2-4, 2 runs; James Yamasaki 1-2, BB, 2 RBIs.