EL SEGUNDO - Knowing that the final two games of the regular season loomed large for San Pedro High softball, they took on a power approach to close out the El Segundo Tournament at Recreation Park.

Piling on hit after hit after hit, the Pirates would first defeat South Pasadena, 10-0 in four innings, then ride a dominant two-out rally in the second inning to topple Santa Monica, 9-4 in five innings (time limit) to clinch fifth place in the 16-team El Segundo Tournament. 

The highlight of the day certainly belonged to San Pedro junior third baseman 3B/OF/P Jocelyn Kondash.

Already leading 4-1 with two outs in the bottom of the second against Santa Monica after back-to-back clutch hits, a three-run triple from junior center fielder Doreen Corella and an RBI-single from sophomore catcher Alexa Ponce, San Pedro (17-11 overall) would load the bases for the second time in the inning off an error and a walk, which would set the stage for Kondash.

Facing a 1-and-2 count, Kondash crushed an inside pitch from Santa Monica junior pitcher Sarah Garcia over the 30-foot Fenway Park Green Monster-like fence for a grand slam home run, and an 8-1 Pirates edge.

Kondash also added a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth to increase San Pedro's advantage to 9-1, then the Vikings (13-10) would score three runs off of junior pitcher Jaclyn Rivera, chasing her out of the game, but Kondash came in relief and retired the next three batters to end the game via the 1 hour, 45-minute time limit.

Earlier in the first game, San Pedro would only need four innings to defeat South Pasadena (5-18) via the ten-run rule on the strength of sophomore outfielder Taylor Richter. Her RBI-triple got things going in the first inning, and she finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Kondash crushed a two-RBI double off the 30-foot fence in the bottom of the second inning.

Back-to-back RBI hits, a single from Ponce and a double by junior catcher Armida Roman invoked the mercy rule against the Tigers.

Rivera (10-8), who hit a two-run double in the first inning, was the winning pitcher of both games, pitching a one-hitter with three strikeouts against South Pasadena, while also allowing four runs on seven hits with three strikeouts against Santa Monica. Kondash struck out two in relief of Rivera against the Vikings.

This sudden power surge may have not come at a better time for San Pedro, as they close out the regular season with two Marine League home games against the two co-leaders, Carson and Banning of Wilmington. The Pirates host the Colts on Monday, then take on Banning Wednesday, both at San Pedro High with a chance to bolster its playoff position in the CIF-Los Angeles City Section.