Torrance Little League Wins Southern California Crown !!
- Updated: August 3, 2021
(Torrance Little League all-stars celebrate after Dominic Golia smacks a home run in the Southern California tournament’s championship, Jul. 31. Photo courtesy of Jon Bigornia.)
Congratulations to 2021 Southern California Champion Torrance Little League of Torrance !!
You read that correctly. Torrance overcame adversity. Defied the odds. And, slayed a ferocious monster. After falling to Chula Vista’s Eastlake Little League all-stars in the opener of the Southern California Division tournament, Torrance’s boys fought resiliently throughout the event.
The comeback kids.
With their backs to a wall, those kids came through big time. As I mentioned in my prior article, Eastlake Blasts Into SoCal Championship Game !!, Torrance stayed alive in the tournament by defeating Claremont Little League of Claremont, on Jul. 29. The next day, Torrance beat San Diego’s San Carlos Little League, 7-6. That put Torrance into SoCal’s championship. Torrance earned a rematch against Eastlake. Chula Vista’s boys only needed to win once. Torrance needed to win twice. On Jul. 31, Torrance beat Eastlake, 8-4. And, on Aug. 1, Torrance completed an incredible comeback by again beating the monster, 10-5. Fountain Valley Little League in Fountain Valley hosted. Torrance’s Jul. 31 win marked Eastlake’s first loss all summer. California District 42’s champs finished with an 11-2 record. Torrance accounted for both losses.
(Eastlake Little League’s Kiké Pérez catches a line drive over the fence, preventing a home run, Jul. 31. Photo courtesy of KUSI.)
In the Jul. 31 contest, Torrance’s Dominic Golia, who homered a week earlier against Eastlake, hit another dinger. Andrew Nuruki hit two singles, batted in a run, walked, and scored two runs. And, Isaac Mora doubled, walked, and scored a run. That trio led the Torrance offensive attack.
A last-ditch rally.
For Eastlake, Isaac Rodríguez homered and hit an RBI-single. Kiké Pérez made a spectacular catch. He robbed Torrance of a homer by reaching over the leftfield fence to glove a line drive.
On Aug. 1, Torrance jumped out to a 10-2 lead. Skylar Vinson led the way. He belted a three-run homer and a three-run double. Six runs batted in with two swings. That basically ended Eastlake’s run. Xavier Navarro doubled and scored a run. But, Eastlake mounted a comeback.
(Eastlake’s second-baseman, Levi Aguirre, Aug.1. Photo courtesy of Jon Bigornia.)
Chula Vista’s boys scored three late-inning runs. Nico “DoorDash” Sánchez delivered. He belted an RBI-single. Then, Ethan Dang smacked a two-RBI single. Suddenly, Eastlake trailed by only five runs. Then, Eastlake loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth inning. The monster needed a monster scoring rally. If its batter could get on base, that would cut Torrance’s lead to only four, and bring the tying run to the plate. But, Torrance got the batter out, and started celebrating.
Torrance made history.
Torrance had much to celebrate. That league created history this year. Torrance became the first Los Angeles County league to play in Southern California’s championship game since 2016. That year, Redondo Beach Little League of Redondo Beach lost in the finals to Eastlake’s neighbor, Park View Little League of Chula Vista. Torrance also became LA County’s first league to win SoCal’s crown since 2006. Northridge Little League of Northridge won it that year.
(Torrance Little League’s Skylar Vinson.
Photo courtesy of Jon Bigornia.)
Torrance became the first league since 2008 to beat a team twice in the championship after having already lost to that team. The last league to accomplish that was Solana Beach Little League of Solana Beach. That year, Solana Beach dropped the first game of what was then a best-of-three championship series. Solana Beach lost the first one to Claremont. But then, Solana Beach came back and beat Claremont twice. In 2019, Eastlake’s neighbor, Sweetwater Valley Little League of Bonita beat Moorpark Little League of Moorpark twice in the championship. However, Sweetwater Valley had never played against Moorpark prior to then.
District 42 Dynasty.
Eastlake attempted to win District 42’s third-straight Southern California crown. Prior to Sweetwater Valley in 2019, Park View won the title in 2018. In 2017, Eastlake reached the SoCal championship game, but lost in it to Santa Margarita National Little League (SMNLL) of Rancho Santa Margarita. SMNLL was the only league to beat Eastlake that year. Santa Margarita then went on to play in the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, PA. That bodes well for Torrance, as this year, it too was the only league to beat Eastlake. Speaking of the Little League World Series, in 2013, Eastlake won the United States championship. This year, Eastlake came close to accomplishing its goal of representing Southern California once again. A tough loss.
(Torrance’s Isaac Mora. Photo courtesy of Jon Bigornia.)
As for Torrance, that league improved its record to 13-2. Torrance slayed one of the heads of the famous “Three-Headed Monster” of Little League. As the three adjacent leagues of Eastlake, Park View, and Sweetwater Valley, each played in S. Williamsport during the past eight years.
Thank you.
Before changing the topic, I wish to express my gratitude to the Eastlake community. A big thank you goes out to the amazing families and fans of that league’s all-star team. Those wonderful people were so supportive and welcoming to me. Special thanks to Eastlake’s president who provided CaliSports News with a cool baseball cap. I am still hoping to buy one of the t-shirts.
(Eastlake cap. Photo by Rabbi Rabbs.)
Changing the topic, congratulations to Southern California 11-and-under champion Park View !!
A team to beat.
“That team maintained the strong, winning tradition of Park View Little League,” District 42 Administrator Ernie Lucero told CaliSports News. “I look forward to next year, when that team’s players return as 12-year-olds. Next year, Park View will be one of the teams to beat.”
(Park View’s 11U all-stars pose with SoCal banner. Photo courtesy of Beatriz Napoleon.)
On Aug. 1, that District 42 league defeated West Los Angeles Little League of Los Angeles, 3-1, in the championship’s second game. West LA won the first match, 6-0, on Jul. 31, marking Park View’s only loss this year. West LA reached the finals by defeating Glendora American Little League of Glendora, 9-7, on Jul. 30. Aliso Viejo Little League in Aliso Viejo hosted the tourney.
Monday’s action.
Next, congratulations to Southern California 10-and-under champion El Segundo Little League of El Segundo!! Monday, that league’s 10U all-stars won the second game of an all-Los Angeles County finals, beating Sherman Oaks Little League of Sherman Oaks, 2-1. Sherman Oaks won the first contest, 5-2, on Aug. 1. Imperial Beach Little League of Imperial Beach hosted the event.
(El Segundo Little League 10U’s with SoCal banner. Photo courtesy of CA District 42.)
Next, congratulations to Southern California Junior Division champion, Santa Anita Junior League of Arcadia!! Santa Anita won another all-Los Angeles County finals. That league did so by beating Claremont Junior League, 12-6, on Jul. 31. Santa Anita hosted the tournament.
Altogether, 2021 marked a big year for Los Angeles County. Little League held tournaments in six baseball divisions. In those divisions, LA County leagues captured three Southern California banners, Orange County grabbed two, and San Diego County took one. Twelve teams competed in the SoCal finals of those six divisions. Of those 12, seven reside in Los Angeles County.
(Santa Anita Junior all-stars with SoCal banner. Photo courtesy of CA District 17.)
Winning a Southern California banner marked the climax for three champs. That is because the 11U, 10U, and Junior divisions will not hold region tourneys this year. But, Torrance advances. That league shall represent SoCal at the West Region tournament. Torrance plays on Aug. 8. It faces Arizona’s team. That will be Queen Creek Little League of Queen Creek, AZ. Albert E. Houghton Stadium in San Bernardino hosts. More on that to follow. Until then, stay tuned!!
Teamwork makes the dream work.
CaliSports News thanks everyone that shares our articles. Teamwork makes the dream work. On that note, CSN thanks Eastlake and District 42 for sharing my prior article, Eastlake Blasts on social media. My next article shall provide updates on SoCal’s team. Until then, Let’s Go SoCal!!
Stay with CaliSportsNews.com, Southern California’s undisputed leader in Little League coverage, as we keep you up-to-date on all things SoCal sports! All Cali, All the time!
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2 Comments
About Rabbi Rabbs
Haunani "Nani" Brigoli
August 4, 2021 at 9:20 am
Well written, thank you!
Great job and well-deserved bOys!
SO Proud of you my Son-Son!
(Skylar Vinson) As well as the whole team!
Y’all ROCK!!!!
Let’s gOooo TORRANCE!!!!
Barbara roach
August 8, 2021 at 8:00 am
I’m so excited for the boys and Torance they have worked so hard a great Coaches, parents and grandparents all have been right there cheering them on!!