TORRANCE, Calif. — The Torrance Little League All-Star team is advancing in the Little League World Series. The "Cardiac Kids" as they are known, are the first team from Los Angeles County to play in the series since 1994.
One of the standout players is pitcher Gibson Turner. His dad is the coach for the team, and his mom has been in the stands cheering him and his teammates in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. But, there is still a lot of support back home in Torrance.
In the Turner's living room, there are dozens of Dodger bobbleheads. It is safe to say that it is the family's favorite major league team. When it comes to little league, it's the Cardiac Kids all the way. The team has quite the Cinderella story, and they're making SoCal proud.
Gibson comes from a baseball family. His grandfather, Mickey Yokoyama, played ball back in the day and transitioned into softball as he got older. Now retired, his five grandchildren keep him busy. They all play sports too. For the first time in nearly three decades, a team from LA County has clinched a spot at the Little League Baseball World Series. It is a proud yet unexpected moment for Yokoyama, since his grandson is the team's standout player.
"I did not think that we would go this far. This is something that really, I never thought, and at the same time, maybe a lot of the parents did not think that way either, but there they are," Yokoyama said.
The road to the final stage of the national tournament has not been easy. It has been so rough that the team picked up an unofficial nickname: The Cardiac Kids.
Gibson's older sister, Kennedy, explained the name.
"All of their games are really stressful, and they like to hold out to the last inning or two until they really start scoring runs and it makes it really stressful for the fans watching," she said.
Gibson is named after Dodger legend Kirk Gibson who hit a pinch-hit walk-off home run, one of the most exciting moments in World Series history in 1988. Yokoyama said his grandson picked up the sport from an early age.
"He has been blessed, and I think he is doing well, and we are all kind of hoping he continues," Yokoyama said.
Like all sports, the pandemic has impacted the game. Players and coaches are isolated, and a limited amount of tickets are available for families. All eyes are still on the team at home with watch parties.
Thursday night gave some tense moments, but in the end, the Cardiac Kids won 10 to 2 against New Hampshire. Yokoyama said his hope is the kids really enjoy every moment out on the field.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime event that is going to happen to them. They will remember forever," he said.
Win or lose, Cardiac Kids fans will remember this moment forever too.
Torrance will face Ohio on Sunday. If they win, they will advance to the championship game on Aug. 29.