San Pedro’s Petty becomes winningest softball pitcher in City Section

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Perhaps a week’s rest was just what the doctor ordered for San Pedro pitcher Taylor Petty, who became the City Section’s career wins leader on Thursday in a 20-2 rout of Marine League rival Narbonne. It was Petty’s 79th victory, moving her past former San Pedro ace and current Penn State standout Ashley Esparza, who won 78 games from 2001-04.

Petty, pictured, had tied Esparza’s record on April 17 against Wilmington Banning and, after sitting out the Pirates’ next three games, she returned to the circle Thursday and was her usual dominant self -- not that the Gauchos offered much resistance. The senior right-hander had nine strikeouts -- her season average--and improved to 17-1 this season.

Though its unofficial because the City doesn’t keep a record book, Petty’s total is believed to be the section standard, surpassing Esparza, who had one more than the 77 victories by Megan Miller of El Camino Real from 2003-06. Miller is a sophomore at Ohio State.

Petty, who has signed with Long Beach State, won 19 games her freshman year, 21 as a sophomore and 22 last spring. Her milestone win Thursday also marked San Pedro’s 39th straight victory against a City opponent.

The scary part is that Petty isn’t done. If the Pirates, sixth in The Times’ rankings, repeat as City champions, as most expect them to do, she’ll only make her record even harder to break for the next pitcher.

-- Steve Galluzzo

-- Image by Christine Cotter/Los Angeles Times