Hugs all around for West Torrance, which beats Palos Verdes -- again

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The embrace lasted for a second, maybe less. But, oh, was it necessary.

Just as the game ended, Kyle Petter (center in picture) wrapped his arms around his catcher, Mason Morioka, and gave him a hug. Moments earlier, Morioka threw out a would-be base stealer at third base in the final inning, snuffing out a Palos Verdes rally, and West Torrance claimed a tense 4-2 victory Friday at home.

The Warriors (23-3, 7-1), ranked sixth in the Southland by The Times, took over first place in the Bay League with the victory. They were soon hugging and high-fiving each other. After all, they had just pulled off the implausible — a two-game sweep of the 15th-ranked Sea Kings (23-5, 6-2), who had a 20-game win streak end on Wednesday with a 10-inning 1-0 loss to West Torrance.

The teams began Friday’s game tied for first place in league, and the Warriors started their ace, Kyle Petter, the left-hander with a wicked fastball who has signed with Cal State Fullerton.

Not that it was a jitters-free day, for in the seventh inning, Petter gave up two straight singles, putting the tying run on base with Palos Verdes’ lead-off hitter, Stephen Takahashi, at the plate. Petter got two strikes on Takahashi when Palos Verdes attempted a double steal. The runners took off, Takahashi struck out and Morioka threw out the runner at third -- and that was it. Double play. Comeback squelched. The next batter grounded out and West Torrance had a one-game lead over the Sea Kings.

The Warriors, looking to win the league title outright after sharing it the last two seasons, have home and away games against last-place Lawndale Leuzinger next week. Palos Verdes has two games against third-place Manhattan Beach Mira Costa.

“I’m just so glad having Mason behind the plate,” said Petter, who gave up only four hits and two earned runs and struck out 11 to improve to 10-0. He also scored the game’s first run. In the first inning, Petter doubled, then crossed the plate on an infield error. One inning later, the Warriors scored three times on Aaron DeGuire’s bases-loaded triple and took a 4-0 lead.

The Sea Kings answered in the third inning, with two runs courtesy of Marc Venning’s double. Starter Drew Freeman pitched six solid innings, striking out five and giving up five hits.

“A whole lot has changed in the past couple days,” DeGuire said as he strutted off the field, smiling.

Palos Verdes Coach Evan Fujinaga conceded the league title as he said: “West Torrance won it today.”

It certainly looks that way.

-- Anthony Stitt

-- Image by Carlos Chavez/Los Angeles Times