Kailua ace Jaelleen Johnson needed a little help from her friends.

Her patience was rewarded. Destinee Chang's infield single with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning brought Johnna Pedro home from third base for the winning run as the Surfriders edged Leilehua 2-1.

The win at Kailua's field advanced the Surfriders (10-3) into the quarterfinal round of the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red Conference playoffs. Kailua, ranked No. 10 in the Star-Bulletin Softball Top 10, will travel to Mililani today.

It was the first playoff win for first-year Kailua coach Tamara Kaluau.

“;We kept working together as a team. They played with confidence and intensity,”; she said.

Leilehua's hard-luck loss spoiled a tremendous effort by pitcher Maegan Tupino, who scattered five hits, fanned four and walked none. The Mules finished the season 3-10, but looked more like a state tournament-caliber team last night.

Pedro, who leads Kailua in home runs with four, had a quiet bat until the eighth. She lined a shot into the right-center gap against a shallow outfield for a leadoff triple.

“;It was a fastball away. I just waited on it,”; Pedro said.

Pedro was still on third two outs later when Chang stepped into the box. Chang, who was 0-for-3 with a strikeout to that point, blasted a screamer off the foot of Tupino. Mules shortstop Kaylen Ynigues scrambled for the ball, but her throw was a split-second too late to get Chang at first base.

“;She was throwing me inside all day,”; Chang said. “;I was just like, 'I hope (Pedro) runs home.' “;

The Surfriders celebrated and the Mules were frozen in disbelief.

“;Johnna is our slugger. She came through at the right time,”; Kaluau said.

Johnson, a senior, permitted no earned runs, struck out two and walked none for the complete-game win. She's looking forward to the matchup with Mililani, a team that knocked off Kailua in the playoffs two years ago.

“;I would like to start,”; said Johnson, who used sweeping screwballs and curveballs.

Tupino, like Johnson, took advantage of a generously wide strike zone.

“;I'm proud of my girls,”; Leilehua coach Stacy Araki said. “;They gave 110, 120 percent and left it all on the field. If you do that, you shouldn't feel bad.”;

The OIA's top six finishers will earn state tournament berths.