Without Silvermans, Ludlow Is Down to One Pitcher

Neils Ludlow, El Camino High softball coach, admits it’s difficult having his staff shrink from three pitchers to just one, but he remains confident that sophomore Jodi Iwafuchi can shoulder the team’s pitching duties alone.

Freshman pitcher Cari Silverman became the second Silverman to leave the Conquistadores (9-0, 4-0) this season, after she threw a four-hitter in El Camino Real’s 18-0 West Valley League win over Cleveland on Wednesday. Silverman, the sister of Beth Silverman, had a 3-0 record and Iwafuchi is 5-0.

Earlier in the season, junior Beth Silverman was dismissed from the El Camino Real squad despite a 35-0 career record because of “irreconcilable differences” with her teammates.

Wednesday’s victory extended El Camino Real’s state-record winning streak to 64 games, but Cari Silverman told Ludlow and her teammates afterward that she no longer enjoyed playing softball. Cari Silverman said her sister’s departure from the team was not related to her decision.

“She just told everybody she’s been playing and not having fun,” Ludlow said. “It was her decision and she doesn’t know what she’s going to do next year. As for Jodi, she’s been doing a good job all year and we hope she can stay healthy.”

Cari Silverman, who attended the El Camino Real-Canoga Park baseball game Thursday at Lanark Park, said she was practicing for the school’s drill team.