WAIPI'O — With one out and runners on first and third in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Waialua softball team went to what worked all game long — the bunt — to score the winning run.

The Bulldogs won their first O'ahu Interscholastic Association championship in a 5-4 win over Kaiser in the OIA White Championship game last night at Central O'ahu Regional Park.

"It feels amazing," Waialua pitcher Marissa Keao said. "We've been working on it every practice because we haven't been hitting as well as we should. So we had to go to our back up, our secret weapon: our short game."

Waialua (11-1-1) receives the OIA's top seed for the state tournament May 12 to 15. Kaiser (12-1-1) also will play in the state tournament.

Waialua freshman third baseman Gabrielle Maxwell scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning on a safety squeeze with runners at the corners. Maxwell broke for the plate as the throw from the catcher went to first base.

"They gave this game up; there were so many errors I don't know if it was jitters, or what, but a lot of our errors played a big part in this game," Kaiser coach Dee Kahunahana said.

With one out, Maxwell reached first on a Cougar error. She advanced to third on a bloop bunt by pinch hitter Rebecca Barone that went over the pitcher's head. Courtney Kilday bunted and the ball was picked up by the catcher, who threw to first, allowing Maxwell to scored when the return throw was late.

"Just winning it for the team, because we deserve it," Maxwell said of her mindset. "I was thinking, 'Home, score, to win it for the team.' "

"I told Gabby that as they throw the ball, watch for the fake, make sure they release the ball because they had a good catcher and they could have thrown the fake," Waialua coach Jay Keao said.

All game long, the Bulldogs went to the bunt, which they have utilized all season after going cold at the plate earlier in the season.

"We started out the season good with our bats and somehow got into a slump," Keao said. "The coaches discussed it and said if we can't hit the ball, play the short game and play their hand. And it worked.

"We were noticing that the defense was playing way back and took advantage of that, and the girls came along with their bunting."

Waialua's bunting induced a majority of Kaiser's six errors.

Kaiser scored twice in the first inning on a two-run double to right field by shortstop Jessie Hathaway.

Waialua took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the first, all on unearned runs. Second baseman Althia Dicion and catcher Alyssiah Hernandez both reached on errors and Marissa Keao singled them home. Another error on a Maxwell bunt brought courtesy runner Aulani Herrod home.

The Bulldogs added another run in the second inning when an error on a bunt by Hernandez brought home center fielder Cierra Balidoy.

The Cougars tied it in the third inning on back-to-back singles by third baseman Amy Austin and second baseman Krysta Yasui. A sacrifice fly by Chelsy Okuma brought in Austin and another double, again by Hathaway, drove in Yasui.

The Cougars loaded the bases in the fifth inning, but the runner at third base was tagged out going home when the batter missed the suicide squeeze with two outs.

"That was my call, but it wasn't executed," Kahunahana said. "Execution, defense, everything was off today. It was an off day for them."

Reach Leila Wai at 535-2457 or lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.

KAISER (12-1-1) 202 000 0—4 8 6

WAIALUA (11-1-1) 310 000 1—5 7 2

Kayla Alcoran and Chelsy Okuma. Marissa Keao and Alyssiah Hernandez. W—Keao. L—Alcoran.

Leading hitters— Kaiser Amy Austin 2-4; Krysta Yasui 2-4; Jessie Hathaway 3-4, 2 doubles, 3 RBIs. Waialua: Cierra Balidoy 2-3. Marissa Keao 2 RBIs.

KALAHEO 6, KALANI 5

The Mustangs beat the Falcons to claim third place in the OIA White. Game statistics were unavailable.