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TORRANCE (CNS) - The all-star team from the Torrance Little League will play for a berth in the Little League World Series on Friday, facing an opponent to be determined today.
Torrance will play the loser of the noon game between the all-star teams from the Honolulu and Petaluma National little leagues. The Honolulu-Petaluma National winner will be guaranteed a spot in the Little League World Series.
With the Little League World Series limited to U.S. teams this year because of the coronavirus, each of the top two teams from the eight U.S. regions will advance to the World Series instead of just the champion.
Torrance kept its hopes of being the first team from Los Angeles County to reach the Little League World Series since 1994 alive with an 8-1 victory over Washington (Utah) Little League all-stars Wednesday in an elimination bracket game in the West Region Tournament in San Bernardino.
Torrance (2-1) combined doubles by Gibson Turner and Andrew Nuruki, a single by Grant Hays and an error for four runs in the first inning.
Hays hit a two-run homer in Torrance's four-run third inning that increased its lead to 8-0. The other runs scored on a single by Isaac Mora, the No. 9 batter in Torrance's lineup, and an error.
Turner, Nuruki and Hays each had three hits as Torrance out-hit Washington, 12-3.
The most recent team from Los Angeles County to reach the Little League World Series was the all-star team from the Northridge Little League, which won the U.S. championship with a team including future USC and NFL quarterback Matt Cassel.
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