HARBOR CITY - Make no mistake about it, this was a game San Pedro High softball had to win.

Narbonne of Harbor City was fresh off a huge 2-1 victory over the Pirates the first time they played at San Pedro High back on April 17, the first over San Pedro since 1997, and with sole possession of third place in the Marine League at stake for both teams, another loss would have devastated San Pedro and probably deflate hopes of a CIF-Los Angeles City Section Division I playoff spot.

San Pedro would answer the call in the rematch as they would defeat host Narbonne, 8-3 to take over third place in the Marine League standings. It took a gutsy complete game from junior pitcher Jocelyn Kondash, a stalwart defensive effort, and timely hits when needed to power the Pirates (15-11 overall, 5-3 league) to victory.

True, the Gauchos (17-8, 4-4) did not throw in star freshman left-hander pitcher Kaitlin Buff into the fray, but San Pedro was determined all game long to take control of this rematch.

Buff had stifled the Pirates in the first meeting on a five-hitter with 13 strikeouts.

Arika Suarez got the nod to start for Narbonne, and the Pirates would load the bases with two outs, then junior designated player Jaclyn Rivera sliced a single to left field, allowing junior center fielder Doreen Corella and junior shortstop Angelina Boskovich to score, putting San Pedro up 2-0.

However, Narbonne would counter with three runs with two outs in the bottom of the first inning as Silvia Escalera would stroke a sharp line drive to center field for a two-run single, then would come all the way around to score on the same play when Corella didn't come up with the ball as it bounced over her glove. That put the Gauchos up, 3-2, and the Pirates were reeling.

On this day however, San Pedro would have an answer to Narbonne's counter punches.

Sophomore left fielder Taylor Richter would crush one deep enough to left field for a sacrifice fly in the second inning to tie the game, then in the top of the third, sophomore second baseman Johnie Cortez's RBI-single put the Pirates ahead to stay at 4-3.

The Pirates chased Suarez out of the game in the top of the fourth with a leadoff single by sophomore right fielder Cayla Ezelle and a walk from Richter, putting Sonia Escalera into the game to pitch. San Pedro would score three runs to distance themselves from Narbonne with RBI-singles from Boskovich and Rivera, with an RBI-sacrifice fly from Kondash sandwiched in between those hits.

In the top of the sixth inning, the Pirates would add one more run with sophomore catcher Alexa Ponce's RBI-single with two outs.

Kondash (6-3) gutted out a complete game for San Pedro, allowing three runs (one unearned) on 11 hits with no walks, striking out only two, but it was more than enough for the Pirates, who had three crucial defensive plays in the bottom of the sixth from Cortez, first catching a pop-up to start the inning, then completing an unassisted double play on a ground ball hit towards her by Suarez, then she tagged out Lovey Corniel before retiring Suarez.

Rivera finished 2-for-4 at the plate with 3 RBIs for San Pedro, while Boskovich went 2-for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored. Senior first baseman Michelle Duarte went 2-for-4 at the plate with a run scored as well.

San Pedro resumes play in the El Segundo Tournament on Saturday against South Pasadena in a fifth place semifinal game at Recreation Park in El Segundo.