S. Pedro Slugger : Little League Series First: U.S. Girl, 12

Victoria Brucker is a Little League slugger with pierced ears and shoulder-length hair.

She is the leading home run hitter for San Pedro, Calif., one of eight teams competing in the Little League World Series, which begins Tuesday. And she’s also the first girl from the United States to play in the series.

“She’s just one of the guys,” teammate James Santos said.

Not exactly.

While the rest of the team sleeps in a bunkhouse on the Little League complex, Victoria stays with a chaperon at a nearby hotel.

Victoria, who plays first base, led San Pedro with nine home runs as the 12-year-olds advanced to win the Western Regional title and a spot in the series. She also pitches occasionally.

“It’s fun,” the shy right-hander in the extra-large shirt said.

Victoria is the second girl to play in the 43 years the Little League World Series has been held.

Victoria Roche, a substitute for European champion Brussels, Belgium, was the first in 1984.

Players on San Pedro’s team said that opposing pitchers learn quickly not to take the 5-foot-3, 137-pound girl lightly.

Dotes on Fast Balls

“They just pitch her fast balls and she hits them out,” backup third baseman Anthony Pesusich said. “They think she’s a girl so they just pitch fast balls.”

Lately, though, she has been gaining respect.

In one of San Pedro’s 17 tournament games en route to the Little League World Series, the opposing team walked her intentionally after she hit a home run.

“She’s pretty good,” San Pedro Manager Joe Dileva said.

For her part, Victoria appears most excited about her first trip out of California.

“Who would have thought in the first trip out of state I’d be in the World Series?” she said.

San Pedro plays its first World Series game Wednesday against Southern Regional champion Tampa, Fla.

Victoria said she does not remember how she started playing baseball, but she began competitively at age 9. She said she wants to continue playing competitively.

Little League does not keep records on how many girls play baseball in the program. Little League also offers softball for girls.