Torrance High became the second South Bay baseball team in three years to have its season end with a forfeit in the playoffs when the CIF Southern Section ruled, after receiving video from the opposing team, that the Tartars conducted illegal batting practice before their 4-1 win over Fullerton on Thursday in the first round of the Division 4 playoffs.

Torrance coach Ollie Turner said players took swings at balls being thrown underhand from in front of them.

“I knew the rule, it just didn’t occur to me at the time that they were not off to the side,” Turner said. “I guess they sent in video of us underhanding the ball in front of guys instead of from the side.”

Fullerton coach Tony Gonzalez said his team played the game under protest after seeing Torrance players working in the batting cages with one of the team’s coaches.

“It raised some red flags for us,” Gonzalez said. “We were 50-50 on whether it was a violation, but we told the umpires before the game that we would be playing it under protest.”

The CIF-SS issued a statement saying the decision that Torrance had to forfeit was based on CIF-SS Bluebook Bylaw 1522.2 that states:

“Teams entered in the baseball playoffs will not be permitted to take batting practice on the day of a playoff game prior to the commencement of the contest. Batting practice will be construed as ANY type of pitching motion with ANY type of ball from in front of the batter (including pitching machines and overhand throwing).

With the consultation and support of the CIF Southern Section Baseball Coaches Advisory Committee, the rules are as follows … THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE BATTING WARMUP WILL BE SIDE SOFT TOSS, BATTING TEE WORK OR PEPPER.”

Turner said they were not trying to cheat, and he wishes a different punishment was possible.

“We were hoping they could fire or suspend us coaches and let the kids play on,” Turner said.

Turner said he addressed the team and sent an email to parents, taking full blame.

“The bottom line is I messed it up,” Turner said. “It’s something I have to live with.”

In the second round of the 2014 Division 3 playoffs, Peninsula defeated Santa Monica 7-2, but was forced to forfeit after a Vikings coach sent video of Peninsula hitting wiffle balls before the game to the CIF-SS, which concluded that a batting practice rule was violated.

Peninsula coach John Hangartner at the time said the team had players on a knee in front of hitters throwing overhand.

“We were doing it for 10-12 minutes,” Hangartner said. “We weren’t trying to hide, or cheat. We simply didn’t know the rule. We thought you couldn’t stand and throw like a pitcher.”

Fullerton moves on to host California in the second round of the playoffs on Tuesday, while Torrance’s season ends after it played one of its best games of the year.