By: Derek Chang

Ella Bruning is the 20th girl to play in the Little League World Series. However, she stands out because she is on a team full of boys!

Ella feels like she stands out a lot from the boys. She said, “On-the-field, they don’t treat me any differently. Off-the-field, it’s a little different because I can’t stay with them in a room. I have to stay in my own room.”

Catching and pitching are Ella’s strength points. She knows what a good pitch is supposed to look like. This way, if she makes a bad catch or throws, she will know and can adjust to not make the same mistake again.

Nicknames are a common thing for Ella. One of them is “Ella and the Fellas.” She got this nickname two years ago on the 10-year-old all-star team. She was on a team with boys, too. Another nickname she has is “studette” catcher.

Ella is determined to not worry about standing out, and she just wants to be her best. She also said, “It’s really cool that I get to be an influence to other people that may want to try baseball. Don’t worry about what other people think. Just do what you think is best!”

Even though Ella is on a team full of boys, she is still an outstanding baseball player.