WILMINGTON - Earlier in the 2013 the San Pedro High baseball team needed ten innings to defeat CIF-Los Angeles City Section foe Kennedy of Granada Hills in a 1-0 clash.

In this Division I first round playoff opener, the Pirates didn't need to go the extra mile this time.

Michael Samperio's lead-off triple in the bottom of the first inning provided the spark San Pedro needed and the seventh-seeded Pirates would eventually ride their early hitting barrage, two double plays, and a solid complete game effort from pitcher James Dodd to defeat the No.10 Golden Cougars, 5-1 at Los Angeles Harbor College.

Right fielder Matt Mersman got the game started off in fine fashion for San Pedro, snaring a line drive from Kennedy's Nick Rodriguez with a spectacular diving catch, then firing to second base to double up Anthony Rios for a inning-ending double play. San Pedro (20-9 overall) would also turn a 5-4-3 double play in the top of the second inning, and Mersman ended up catching five more fly balls in the outfield.

San Pedro would bolt to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Arron Scognamillo's ground ball out drove home Samperio. After Richard Samudio's double, Nico Padovan drove him home with a single to left field, and then Padovan was brought in with a one-out double to right-center field by Dru Chavez.

Chavez added another RBI-double to right field in the bottom of the third inning, then scored off a passed ball for a 5-0 Pirate advantage. Kennedy (18-12-1) would drive in a run in the top of the fifth inning, but not much else.

Dodd hurled a complete-game for the win, surrendering a run off seven hits and a walk, striking out five, including the entire side looking in the top of the seventh to seal the deal for San Pedro, who also defeated Kennedy, 1-0 in ten innings at Kennedy High back on March 6 in a Southern California Invitational Tournament game.

Samperio, Samudio (two doubles, run scored) and Chavez (two doubles) all went 2-for-3 each at the plate for the Pirates, who will travel to face No.2 seed Cleveland of Reseda on Friday at 3pm in the quarterfinals.