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The all-star team from the Torrance Little League will play for a berth in the Little League World Series Friday, facing its counterpart from the Petaluma National Little League in the West Region semifinal.
The game will begin at noon and be televised by ESPN. Attendance at Al Houghton Stadium in San Bernardino is limited to the pass holders from the teams playing and the “Friends and Family” pass holders.
Watch parties will be held at Rizzo’s Pizza, 24100 Narbonne Ave., in Lomita and The Crest Sports Bar & Grill, 1625 Cabrillo Ave., in Torrance.
Torrance is seeking to become the first Los Angeles County team to reach the Little League World Series since 1994. 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 lost its opener in the West Region Tournament, 1-0, Sunday to the all-stars from Arizona’s Queen Creek Little League, putting it in the elimination bracket of the six-team modified double-elimination tournament.
But Torrance avoided elimination with an 8-6, nine-inning victory over the all-star team from Las Vegas’ Summerlin South Little League Tuesday. Little League games are scheduled for six innings.
Torrance (2-1) advanced to the semifinal with an 8-1 victory over the Washington (Utah) Little League all-stars Wednesday.
Petaluma National (1-1) lost to the Honolulu Little League all-star team, 13-3, Thursday in a game called in the bottom of the fifth inning because of the mercy rule. The victory assured Honolulu (3-0) of a spot in the Little League World Series.
Petaluma National defeated Queen Creek, 11-0, Monday in a game called after four innings because of the mercy rule Monday to begin tournament play.
Friday’s winner will face Honolulu for the regional championship Saturday while the loser will be eliminated.
Torrance won the Southern California tournament through the elimination bracket after losing its first game.
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 that included future USC and NFL quarterback Matt Cassel.
