NORTHRIDGE — Birmingham starting right-handed pitcher Carlos Acuna carried a familiar face that rested comfortably between his jersey and undershirt against Carson during the CIF LA City Section Open Division semifinals.
An amulet that he wore an amulet around his neck carried a picture of his grandfather Roglio Acuna attached with a gold colored cross.
Acuna looked down momentarily at the face between pitches and smiled. And with the special amulet came a performance his late grandfather would be proud of.
Acuna spun his curve, slider and fastball combination with precision, cutting through Carson’s hitters to lead Birmingham to a 4-1 victory and a place in the CIF LA City Section Open Division title game against El Camino Real on Saturday at Dodger Stadium.
“He was a big part of my life,” Acuna said. “He always took care of me and taught me a lot of life lessons. He told me to never back down. Life lessons like, if something is hard, you got to keep pushing. Life isn’t fair and that’s what he taught me.”
Birmingham sophomore Carlos Acuna shares the amulet he wore around his neck honoring his late grandfather Roglio after beating Carson in the CIF LA City Section Open Division semifinals on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 in Northridge, Calif.
Roglio passed away just before Acuna’s season began. He has been practically untouchable since the beginning of the season.
The 6-foot-1 right-hander pounded the strike zone and finished with seven strikeouts and allowed four hits and three walks. Acuna will enter Saturday with an 11-0 record and an ERA just over 1.00, according to Birmingham coach Matt Mowry.
“The kid is an outstanding young man all the way around,” Mowry said. “On the field, off the field. He works with the younger kids. He’s a great role model in the classroom and on the field, day-to-day. His day-to-day approach in practice is amazing.”
Acuna hardly faced trouble, and an RBI bunt single by JJ Rodriguez put Birmingham ahead 4-0 in the bottom of the fourth.
Birmingham (26-4) will now attempt to thwart El Camino Real’s attempt to capture its 11th title and what would be the most CIF LA City Section baseball titles in the region’s history.
Acuna won’t likely be available because of pitch count. But his performance has the Patriots seeking history of their own with two titles over the past four seasons.
“It’s a lot to see in the future,” Birmingham sophomore catcher Jordan Lindsey said. “Just taking in what he is as a sophomore since he’s got a lot of room to grow. But it’s crazy. I’ve never caught a sophomore who is that good.”