Kennedy Offense, Durazo Make It Final

Considering Sandra Durazo was virtually untouchable the first two innings, Monroe High did a good job of throwing a scare into top-seeded Kennedy at the City Section 4-A Division softball semifinals.

But it was only a minor fright, as Kennedy pounded out 16 hits en route to an 8-3 victory at South Gate Park on Tuesday to advance to the final for the first time since the Golden Cougars won the City title in 1982.

Kennedy will face second-seeded and Northwest Valley Conference rival El Camino Real at UCLA’s Easton Field.

The Conquistadores defeated defending champion San Pedro on Tuesday, 3-1.

Kennedy beat El Camino Real, 2-1, in nine innings in the only meeting between the teams this season.

Durazo, a junior right-hander who has pitched every inning this season for the Golden Cougars, struck out the first six Viking batters, all swinging.

But after a three-base error led to a 1-0 lead for Kennedy, Monroe strung together four consecutive singles and took a 3-1 lead in the third.

It was the first time Kennedy (18-1) trailed in a game in six weeks.

“Maybe I was going out there with a little too much confidence in myself,” Durazo said. “They came out swinging and they just started connecting.”

In the fifth, the Golden Cougars, who had one hit in each of the first four innings, put together seven hits, batted around and came away with a 6-3 lead.

The rally included a two-run double by Jennifer Del Real that gave Kennedy the lead for good.

“I was nervous because it was such a big situation,” Del Real said. “I just shortened up my hands on the bat and made sure I hit it.”

Although Monroe (10-6) failed to get any more runs off Durazo, she wasn’t as invincible as in the first two innings.

The Vikings put runners on base each inning, but couldn’t put together a rally.

“Sandra is a really good pitcher, but she isn’t so great that we go out there and not get anything,” Monroe clean-up hitter Cori Jordahl said. “The runs gave us a lift but it just wasn’t enough.”

Durazo finished with a seven-hitter, striking out 11.

Kennedy added two insurance runs in the seventh on consecutive hits by Kelli Moorman, Paula Del Real and Brandi Mercado.

Paula Del Real and Carmen Garcia each had three hits for the Golden Cougars.