On Sunday, Torrance defeated Hamilton, Ohio, in the Little League World Series and is now just two wins away from playing in the championship game.

Torrance is the first Los Angeles County team since Northridge in 1994 to reach the Little League Baseball World Series. Sports reporter Jack Harris has been covering the team and joined "LA Times Today" host Lisa McRee with more.

Harris explained that the Little League World Series is like the Super Bowl and Disneyland combined for young players who participate.

"You have to play in several sorts of global tournaments, state tournaments, and regional tournaments to get there," he said. "There are thousands of kids across the country from every town. Every little neighborhood has its little league team. And there are only 16 teams that make it to Williamsport to play in the Little League World Series. It's on ESPN and national TV. It's played in normal years in front of thousands of fans in Williamsport. So as far as youth sports go, there is no bigger stage and no cooler experience to have in baseball at that age than what these kids are going to go through this week." 

The Little League World Series was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and this year, there are specific safety protocols taking place.

"As I mentioned, one of the big games only allows friends and family to be present during the game, so there are smaller crowds than usual," said Harris. "And then, the teams themselves, players and the coaches have been kept in bubbles going back from the start of regionals earlier this month. They haven't had any in-person contact with their parents, which for 11 or 12-year-olds, that's a big thing. It's the first time they're away from home and kind of off on their own. And it is something that, again, doesn't normally happen under normal circumstances and in this event. So, being able to get to this place is cool, even with some of the restrictions."

Even though Torrance Little League is coming from a big market, the players and their families are close and supportive.

"These families have known each other for a long time," Harris said. "And the boys have known each other for a long time. A lot of them have been playing together since tee-ball when they were 4 or 5 years old. A lot of the parents knew each other even before they had kids. One of the dads was the best man and one of the assistant coaches weddings, and a lot of them are teachers of the Torrance School District."

While Torrance Little League still has games to play, Harris says they are one of the best teams in the entire tournament.

"So, they play again on Wednesday in what is technically the quarterfinal game. And if they win, they'll make it to their semifinal, and after that, they can make it to the championship game. If they lose on Wednesday, though, they'll still be in it. It's a sort of modified double-elimination tournament, and they have to play again on Thursday. But, so far, they're doing great; they won their first game 11-1 and their second game 9-0. And at the pace, they've been really great, too. So they hope that they want to meet the Hawaii team in the final," said Harris.

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