Ella Bruning just wants to blend in, to be—in her words—“one of the guys.” As the only girl to compete at this year’s Little League World Series, however, she can’t help but stand out.
Bruning, the starting catcher for the Wylie Little League team from Abilene, Texas, has become one of the tournament’s breakout stars. But her newfound celebrity has more to do with her play than with her gender. Bruning, 12, has shined both at home plate and behind it for her team, otherwise known as “Ella and the Fellas.”
“We came up with that name when I was on the 10-year-old All-Star team,” says Bruning, flashing a smile that reveals both a mouth full of braces and her self-effacing sense of humor.