North Torrance entered the second round of the CIF‑Southern Section Division 7 playoffs with a clear mission: to advance. The Warriors answered that call with a 7‑0 victory over Grace, a result anchored by a combined four‑hit shutout from pitchers Seth Narasaki and Joey Banuelos.
Narasaki dominated the early frames, scattering three hits over five innings while striking out five batters, and Banuelos sealed the deal with two scoreless innings that produced two more strikeouts. At the plate, Drew Bellow’s solo homer and two‑run contribution helped push the lead, and Lucas Blackwood and Shane Yamamoto each added a hit and an RBI to round out the offense.
The win guarantees a home matchup against Carpinteria on Friday, a test that will examine the Warriors’ depth as they look to extend their postseason run.
Elsewhere, Chadwick’s bats erupted for a 26‑23 thriller over Marshall, a game that swung dramatically in the final inning. Bryson Edgar was the spark, driving in seven runs and scoring four times, while Max Babiec and Yuta Takahashi each logged four hits, fueling the high‑scoring affair.
Makai Mah also contributed a solid outing, pitching 3 ⅔ innings and allowing just three earned runs, and the Dolphins will travel to face Rancho Alamitos later this week as they keep their own playoff hopes alive.
In the Division 9 bracket, Lennox Academy posted a 6‑4 win over Ambassador Christian, highlighted by Alejandro Olmos’s three‑run homer and a four‑run effort from Samuel Lopez, who also cracked two home runs.
Rolling Hills Prep matched that intensity, rolling past their opponent 11‑3 behind a dominant performance from Matthew Moyer, who not only drove in three runs and homered but also earned the win with five innings of work that yielded eight strikeouts.
Moyer’s five‑inning effort was efficient, surrendering only three hits, two unearned runs, one walk and eight strikeouts, and the team will host Bethel Christian on Friday as they aim to keep the momentum rolling.
Quarterfinal schedule
Friday’s slate features a host of regional showdowns: North Torrance will host Carpinteria, Chadwick will visit Rancho Alamitos, Lennox Academy will welcome Crossroads Christian, and Rolling Hills Prep will entertain Bethel Christian, each contest promising another round of high‑stakes baseball.