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Westlake and South Torrance baseball need extra day to decide historic playoff game, already gone 17 innings

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WESTLAKE — It’s the game that won’t end.

At a certain point, fans began to anticipate players’ walk-up songs for each at-bat after hearing them so many times.

Westlake’s lead-off hitter Dillon Marrisett came up to “Barbie Girl” and Nolan Johnson, a Miami commit, came up to “Miami” by Will Smith.

The CIF Southern Section Division 3 baseball quarterfinal between Westlake and visiting South Torrance went 17 innings with no winner decided Friday afternoon. The 2-2 stalemate was called due to darkness at 7:45 p.m. after starting at 3:15 p.m.

Westlake’s Dillon Marrisett reacts after hitting an RBI single in the bottom of the 9th as they host South Torrance on the a CIF Southern Section Division 2 quarterfinal game May 12 2023.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)

South Torrance ties the game in the top of the 7th during CIF Southern Section Division 2 quarterfinal action against Westlake May 12, 2023.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)

Westlake’s Andrew Habermann starts on the mound as they host South Torrance in a CIF Southern Section Division 2 quarterfinal game May 12, 2023.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)

Ryan Stowe of South Torrance is tagged out by Westlake’s Nate Johnson while trying to steal 2nd during their CIF Southern Section Division 2 quarterfinal game May 12, 2023.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)

Westlake’s Nate Franco is fired up following a double play against South Torrance in their CIF Southern Section Division 2 quarterfinal game May 12, 2023. (Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)

Westlake players make a dramatic catch late in the game against South Torrance in CIF Southern Section Division 2 quarterfinal action May 12, 2023.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)

Westlake’s Andrew Habermann starts on the mound as they host South Torrance in a CIF Southern Section Division 2 quarterfinal game May 12, 2023.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)

Dane Rhodes of South Torrance tries to complete a double play as they face Westlake in a Southern Section Division 2 quarterfinal game May 12, 2023.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)

Westlake’s Dillon Marrisett reacts after hitting an RBI single in the bottom of the 9th as they host South Torrance in a CIF Southern Section Division 2 quarterfinal game May 12, 2023.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)

South Torrance baseball players celebrate as they tie the game during CIF Southern Section Division 2 quarterfinal action against Westlake May 12 2023.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)

Dane Rhodes of South Torrance has trouble fielding a ground ball as they face Westlake in a Southern Section Division 2 quarterfinal game May 12, 2023.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)

The Westlake dugout looks on as they game is tied up in extra innings against South Torrance during their CIF Southern Section Division 2 quarterfinal game May 12, 2023.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)

James Broughton starts on the mound for South Torrance as they face Westlake in a CIF Southern Section Division 2 quarterfinal game May 12, 2023.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)

Ryan Stowe of South Torrance is tagged out by Westlake’s Nate Johnson while trying to steal 2nd during their CIF Southern Section Division 2 quarterfinal game May 12, 2023.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)

Westlake’s Nolan Johnson heads to the dugout as they host South Torrance in a CIF Southern Section Division 2 quarterfinal game May 12, 2023.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)

Westlake’s Nate Franco is congratulated by Andrew Cusworth after he crosses the plate against South Torrance in their CIF Southern Section Division 2 quarterfinal game May 12, 2023.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)

Westlake’s Nate Franco dives into third against South Torrance in their CIF Southern Section Division 2 quarterfinal game May 12, 2023.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)

Westlake’s Wesley Nanas makes a play at 2nd as they host South Torrance in a CIF Southern Section Division 2 quarterfinal game May 12, 2023.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)

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The two teams will resume the game in the 18th inning Saturday at Westlake High at 11 a.m.

“I’ve had a couple marathon games, personally, back when I was coaching at Oxnard College,” Westlake coach Wally Barnett said. “But nothing this long, at any level.”

It is the longest game in Southern Section history since 1988 when Westminster and Banning went 16 innings in a contest that finally ended in a 7-6 win for Westminster. The longest game in section history dates back to 1926 when Pomona College defeated Fullerton 6-5 in 23 innings.

“I’ve never coached (a game) that long, and I’ve never seen one that long,” South Torrance coach Grady Sain said. “I think I coached a game when we went to 11.”

The final out for today.

Westlake 2, South Torrance 2 after 17 innings. The game lasted four and a half hours.

They’ll come back to decide the game tomorrow. Unreal afternoon. pic.twitter.com/RtnB4LQB0j

— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) May 13, 2023

Westlake took a 1-0 lead when Kaden Youmans’ bunt down the first base line scored Nate Franco from third in the fourth inning.

The Warriors were three outs away from victory, but Kyle Brown delivered an RBI single to tie the game at 1-1 in the top of the seventh.

In the top of the ninth, a wild pitch from Westlake’s Andrew Cusworth allowed Brown to scamper home from third base to give South Torrance a 2-1 lead.

Westlake tied the game at 2-2 thanks to Dillon Marrisett’s two-out RBI single.

As the 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th inning passed by, Sain said there wasn’t much to tell his team between innings.

“They were locked in and focused,” he said. “They never lost the energy either, it’s extremely impressive.”

Then came the 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th innings as both teams – and coaches – were well into uncharted territory.

“I’m extremely proud of this team. We snuck into the playoffs as the 31 seed and we’re not ready to go,” Barnett said.

SIGHTS AND SOUNDS

Kaden Youmans’ bunt down the first baseline scores Nate Franco from third.

Westlake takes a 1-0 lead over South Torrance, B4. pic.twitter.com/Bcw7NTO5Ym

— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) May 12, 2023

Wild pitch. South Torrance’s Kyle Brown scampers home to give the Spartans a 2-1 lead in T9 over Westlake. pic.twitter.com/EmetxCuLHN

— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) May 13, 2023

Dylan Marrisett RBI single. Westlake ties it 2-2, B9. Two outs. pic.twitter.com/cKe5OdN9i0

— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) May 13, 2023

South Torrance with a good chance here with a runner on third, but ball is caught in left field.

Heading to the bottom of the 14.

Westlake 2, South Torrance 2. pic.twitter.com/HDoTHe9xQr

— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) May 13, 2023

South Torrance with runners on 2nd and 3rd with two outs … great play from Westlake’s Kaden Youmans to end the top of the inning.

We go to the bottom of the 15th tied 2-2. pic.twitter.com/ZUIDOv4Hhc

— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) May 13, 2023

Josh Doyle strikeout. Huge.

South Torrance had runner on third.

Westlake will head to the bottom of the 17th for a last chance to win this. pic.twitter.com/JjEIyZVwvi

— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) May 13, 2023

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