St. Francis posted one of the highest win-loss percentages in the state against top-10 competition.

That included two regular-season wins over ILH Division I powerhouse Punahou. But that was many moons ago. On Thursday afternoon, the Saints summoned all the hope they could and rallied with five runs in the final two innings to edge upstart Konawaena 8-7 in the semifinals of the DataHouse/HHSAA Division II Softball State Championships at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

Ka‘ena Keliinoi took a pitch on the shoulder with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, forcing pinch runner Sunny Halsey home from third base with the winning run for the Saints, who trailed by four runs entering the sixth inning.

“Konawaena is a good team. Their 3, 4 and 5 batters, I mean, they can hit the ball. They’re very strong,” Saints coach Randy Langsi said. “It was one of those things you have to fight through. Any time, we have a last at-bat, we have a shot. The standards that these kids hold, they have a culture within themselves and they live within that. That’s our sanctuary, so to speak.”

The Saints will play BIIF champion Kamehameha-Hawaii for the title today. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m.

St. Francis (12-3) came into the tourney unseeded, but is clearly the most proven team in the field. They went 9-3 in the ILH’s combined D-I and D-II schedule, finishing the regular season tied with Punahou. Konawaena (15-9), with a roster of just 10 players, didn’t bow down. The Wildcats ousted OIA runner-up Aiea 7-3 in the opening round, then stunned No. 1 seed Kapaa 9-4 in the quarterfinals.

They turned the tables on the powerful Saints by opening the game in Ruthian style: a two-run homer by sophomore pitcher Shaylann Grace and a solo shot from freshman catcher Jayla Medeiros.

Konawaena seemed to have enough breathing room after scoring twice in the fifth. Kupihea pitched carefully around Grace, who singled, and Medeiros, who walked. But Kaimana Manzano drilled an opposite-field double to the corner in left, bringing the two baserunners home for a 7-3 lead.

That’s when depth became a factor and advantage for the Saints. Reserve outfielder Kamaile Perreira belted a two-out solo home run in the sixth to bring the Saints within 7-4.

“She’s dangerous,” Langsi said. “Our lineup, our first nine, 10, 11, possibly 12, they’re strong. We’re very fortunate.”

In the bottom of the seventh, the fatigue of pitching a third game in three days began to catch up to the gritty freshman Grace. She struck out Ofoia, and Konawaena was just two outs away from the final. Kealoha then doubled, Skye Ah Yat drew an intentional pass and Jordyn Lono singled to center, scoring Kealoha to make it 7-5.

Pinch hitter Nanea Kalama then clutched up for a double to bring Ah Yat and Lono home, tying the game at 7. Perreira and Hailey Matsumura walked, loading the bases. Then came the 1-2 pitch to Keliinoi, plunking her on the shoulder, forcing the winning run in from third base.

Kamehameha-Hawaii 8, Kalani 7

Brooke Baptiste’s clutch pitching down the stretch moved Kamehameha-Hawaii (20-3) into position to play for its first state championship in softball. The teams combined for 20 walks.

“It was a little bit nerve wracking. Kalani is a tough team and they played a great team. They made us fight,” Warriors coach ‘Akeamakamae Kiyuna said.

In Kalani’s four-run fifth inning, three came home on bases-loaded walks. KS-Hawaii learned to milk the very consistent strike zone well before that, drawing seven walks in the first five innings against normally stingy Kalani ace Cherise Horita. Her counterpart, Jessica Cameros, issued seven bases on balls in 42⁄3 innings. Her replacement, Baptiste, walked in two batters with the bases loaded, but got through the sixth inning unscathed as the Warriors clung to a 7-6 lead.

The Warriors added an insurance run in the top of the seventh when Kawehi Ili reached base on a two-out infield single, then scored on a double to center by Dioni Lincoln.

Kalani almost pulled off a miracle comeback in the bottom of the seventh. Horita came home on a throwing error by the Warriors, cutting the lead to 8-7. The Falcons had two runners on base, but Baptiste came through, getting Kylie Pagud on a come-backer to end the game.

Kalani’s unbeaten run came to an end, and the OIA champion Falcons (15-1) will play for third place today.

“Despite the outcome, I’m really proud of our team. They left everything out there,” Horita said. “They never gave up.”