Lianna Bajarin knows about the big drop.

Using a nasty drop pitch and an occasional “;quick drop,”; Roosevelt's cleanup slugger pitched her team to its second win in as many nights, striking out 11 in a 3-0 win over previously unbeaten Baldwin. Bajarin's two-hitter—she didn't walk a batter—advanced the Rough Riders to the Division I final of the DataHouse/HHSAA State Softball Championships.

Second-seeded Roosevelt (16-1) won its first Oahu Interscholastic Association title a week ago. A state title would be another first.

“;From the first day, they understood hard work pays off,”; coach Clay Okamura said. “;Just to be humble and take care of each other.”;

With Okamura calling pitches from the dugout, Bajarin effectively hit the outside corner, then the inside, and had the third-seeded Bears off balance all night. They had runners in scoring position only twice.

“;She worked the corners well, then she had the drop working, had us chasing,”; Baldwin coach Joseph Duran said.

Bajarin figures to start again tonight. She has 20 strikeouts in two starts.

“;I wasn't tired today and I won't be tired the next game,”; the junior said.

The regular-season format had her on the mound for 14 innings nearly every Saturday.

“;The (OIA) doubleheaders helped me. Pitching one seven-inning game is easier,”; she said.

Baldwin ace Kaitlyn Watanabe allowed just two earned runs, struck out three and walked two.

“;I tried to keep them off balance with lots of breaking pitches,”; Watanabe said. “;They're a really good team.”;

Cierra Kapea and Samantha Murakami walked to start the top of the third inning for the Rough Riders. After Charisse Tanabe singled to load the bases, Brianne Leong brought Kapea home with a fielder's choice grounder to short. Tanabe beat the throw home to give Roosevelt a 1-0 lead.

Kamalei Pitoy followed with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Murakami.

In the seventh, Lindsay Takekawa singled to right, went to second on a wild pitch and came home when Kapea's single to center was bobbled.

Baldwin got leadoff hitter Victoria Loewen on base with a bunt single in the first inning. Though she stole second base, Baldwin didn't capitalize.

In the fourth, Shauna Ah Yen singled and went to second on a wild pitch, but was stranded.

Roosevelt's poise has been a factor. With a field of fairly young teams, composure has been a bigger factor than usual. Defenses have folded under pressure this week.

“;Coach Clay keeps us strong mentally,”; Takekawa said. “;All our coaches do. That's what pulls us through.”;

With just two seniors, Baldwin figures to be strong again next season.

“;We're still a young team and we went further than last year,”; Duran said. “;But Roosevelt will lose only two people.”;

Mililani 10, 'Iolani 0

Kishti Kamaka hurled a two-hitter and Mililani pounded Raiders ace Brittney Guro for 11 hits in a stunningly easy win over the ILH champions.

Kamaka lost her no-hit bid in the sixth inning when Jana Tokuhama singled, but the Trojans were up 8-0 by then and weren't threatened. They have not committed an error in three tourney games, anchored by third baseman Celina Garces and shortstop Courtney Senas.

Mililani will face Roosevelt for the title tonight in a rematch of last week's OIA final.

DIVISION II

Kauai 7, Kaiser 3

Alyssa Carvalho accounted for two hits, three RBIs and a run for top-seeded Kauai, which will face Waialua for the Division II championship today.

Waialua 2, KS-Hawaii 0

Courtney Kilday singled in the top of the sixth inning to drive in the second run as the Bulldogs defeated the Warriors.