San Pedro’s Petty equals City record with her 78th career victory

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The latest victory of Taylor Petty‘s high school softball career looked much the same as the 77 that preceded it: opposing batters swinging and missing at the San Pedro right-hander’s blazing pitches.

Petty didn’t allow a hit until Banning‘s Christina Chavez’ lead-off homer in the fifth inning but by then the Pirates were already well on their way to a 7-2 win Thursday -- San Pedro‘s 37th consecutive victory over a City Section opponent.

Petty’s 78th win tied her with former San Pedro ace and current Penn State star Ashley Esparza, who posted a career mark of 78-4 from 2001-04. Though unofficial because the City doesn’t keep a record book, that total is thought to be the section record for career wins, one more than the 77 victories amassed by El Camino Real‘s Megan Miller from 2003-06.

‘I didn’t know about it,’ Petty said of the milestone.’[Setting records] isn’t something I’m trying to do. I just go out and try to have fun with the game. It’s a great honor.’

Petty, who has signed with Long Beach State, went 19-3 as a freshman, 21-2 as a sophomore, 22-2 as a junior and is 16-1 so far as a senior. She’ll have her first chance to set the City record Saturday during the El Segundo tournament, when the Pirates face Harvard-Westlake at 9 a.m., then either Torrance or Westchester in the quarterfinals at 11 a.m.

Many thanks to The Times’ stats guru Eric Maddy for his help with this blog.

-- Steve Galluzzo

-- Image from www.sssoftball.rivals.com