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LAKE BALBOA — Birmingham Charter pitcher Ella Ludden scooped up a slow ground ball hit to her and tossed it to first base for the final out Wednesday in a 2-0 win over Eagle Rock in the City Open Division playoffs.
Her infield teammates circled her as they all exchanged high-fives and hugs. They were all smiles as the Patriots punched a ticket to the Open Division semifinals next week. Any playoff win is worth celebrating.
As Ludden and her teammates jogged to left field and awaited coach Jim Rose for a postgame talk, he looked back and said, “Watch this.”
Clearly, Rose knew something the team didn’t.
“Did you guys know Ella pitched a no-hitter?” he asked them. [VIDEO]
The collective response from the team was a jaw-dropping expression, followed by praise for Ludden.
“No way!” one teammate yelled in awe.
It wasn’t just any playoff win. Ludden, a senior transfer from Granada Hills Charter who joined the Birmingham team in February, threw a no-hitter with 13 strikeouts and walking three in the program’s first Open Division playoff victory.
“I really had no idea,” Ludden said laughing. “I really just think about the inning I’m in. I don’t think ahead, and definitely don’t think about the inning before. I don’t waste energy thinking about an inning that’s already over.”
It revealed where Ludden’s focus is — on her team, not herself.
“I just want to help this team get as far as it can,” Ludden said.
Birmingham will travel to Carson on Tuesday for a semifinal matchup with a chance to advance to the City Open final on May 20.
“Carson has eliminated us from the playoffs the last two years,” Rose said. “But it’s different this year.”
The difference is Ludden, who is now 9-2 from the pitching circle with an 0.47 ERA and 157 strikeouts in 82 innings.
“Pitchers in softball can dominate a game,” Rose said. “Ella can get you strikeouts, as opposed to different pitchers when you’re hoping to play great defense. She’s a difference maker. With her we have a good chance, if we put runs on the board, we have a great chance.”
Birmingham’s only runs Wednesday came in the third inning. Rebecca Lozano’s high fly ball to left field dropped in for a hit and scored Jessica Rose from second base and Rachel Lowry’s RBI single scored Lozano to make it 2-0.
Ludden wasn’t shy about a potential matchup against her former team No. 1-seeded Granada Hills, which beat Banning 10-0 Wednesday with pitcher Addison Moorman’s one-hitter.
If Birmingham beats Carson and Granada Hills defeats El Camino Real, Ludden will get another shot at the Highlanders. Ludden pitched against Granada Hills earlier this season and Birmingham lost 2-0. Ludden struck out 10 batters, allowed just one hit, but walked 10 batters in the loss April 21.
“The thought of playing Granada Hills again excites me,” said Ludden, alluding to the chance of the rematch being for the City title. “I know those girls really well, and getting a win like that would mean a lot to me.”
SIGHTS AND SOUNDS
The best part: Ludden had no clue she threw a no-hitter until coach Jim Rose told the team after the game.
It’s refreshing to see an athlete think team first so much, that a remarkable achievement like a no-hitter isn’t even on her radar. pic.twitter.com/O16Crt6L7F
— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) May 10, 2023
Rebecca Lozano’s high, fly ball to left field drops and scores Jessica Rose from second base (video) before Rachel Lowry’s RBI single scores Lozano.
Birmingham takes a 2-0 lead over Eagle Rock, B3. pic.twitter.com/gP8Dm7cEZZ
— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) May 10, 2023
Birmingham’s Ella Ludden – a transfer from Granada Hills – with two strikeouts to start the game against Eagle Rock.
She throws hard. pic.twitter.com/itWVQLRSCP
— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) May 10, 2023
Is there anything Birmingham Charter’s Jim Rose can’t coach?
City championship-level football coach. Softball coach (has the Patriots in the Open Division playoffs). And will coach girls flag football in the fall.
The swag is crazy, too. One-handed fungo!? pic.twitter.com/gsCJUXPMb3
— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) May 10, 2023