It wasn't your normal Crosstown League blowout... but it's still another victory for Port Of Los Angeles High softball.

Facing rival Harbor Teacher Prep of Wilmington for the second time in five days at the San Pedro Girls Softball Association Field, the Polar Bears got a much more determined fight from the Monarchs for four innings, but then pulled away late to win 10-1 to all but seal their third straight Crosstown League title with four games remaining in league play and defeat Harbor Teacher Prep for the third time this season.

Just five days ago, POLA (17-7 overall, 8-0 league) punished the Monarchs (9-10, 7-2) with a 25-0, five-inning victory at Los Angeles Harbor College.

The Polar Bears are now on a seven-game winning streak.

Only holding a 3-1 lead going into the bottom of the fifth inning, the Polar Bears would finally make the adjustments needed to win going away against Harbor Teacher Prep junior pitcher Erin Bettis, who was pitching valiantly and did just about well enough to keep the Monarchs in the game.

Junior center fielder Sarah Maldonado's lead-off infield single got it started, and she would score off senior catcher Brianna Grayson's one-out single. Sophomore pitcher Nicolle Miranda drew a walk, and then junior first baseman Allison Bayer grounded out, setting the stage for sophomore third baseman Savana Ramirez, who would belt a 1-and-2 pitch deep into the left-center field gap for a killer three-run home run, and a 7-1 Polar Bear advantage.

The Polar Bears would tack on three more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning with Grayson's RBI-ground out and Miranda's two-run single.

Miranda (13-7) was her usual self in the circle, hurling a four-hitter with three walks and 15 strikeouts, retiring Harbor Teacher Prep's first ten batters before surrendering a one-out single to senior center fielder Uche Okoye, who would score with two outs on sophomore shortstop Morgan Turner's booming double to center field which cut POLA's lead to 2-1 at the time.

Harbor Teacher Prep appeared to have the momentum in their favor after ending the fourth inning with a 3-6 double play, ending with senior first baseman Jazmine Sanchez firing a dart to home plate to nail POLA sophomore second baseman Rosemary Garcia at the plate trying to score after sophomore right fielder Briana Valencia grounded out to Sanchez.

And then Miranda, who had 3 RBIs at the plate with a sacrifice fly in the first inning and her two-run single in the sixth inning, would slam the door shut despite the Monarchs loading the bases in the top of the seventh.

Valencia was 2-for-3 with two runs scored for POLA, while sophomore left fielder Tiffany Torres was 2-for-3 with a run scored for the Polar Bears, who begin the El Segundo Tournament on Saturday against Culver City. Turner was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs for Harbor Teacher Prep.