Smith Has It in the Bag as Las Virgenes Wins, 8-1

Las Virgenes right-hander Joe Smith was in complete control of the Verdugo Hills hitters during an 8-1 victory Tuesday in the first round of the double-elimination American Legion District 20 playoffs at Birmingham High.

He pitched as if he had them in his back pocket.

Right next to his dead lizard.

The three-inch lizard had been a living good-luck charm for Las Virgenes until Sunday, when Smith “happened to, uh, kill it,” he said, by leaving it in a cup in the sun. Despite running out of life, the lizard didn’t run out of luck. Las Virgenes (16-6) won its 11th in a row by upsetting Verdugo Hills (18-4).

Smith placed the lizard in a plastic bag, then put it under his hat while he pitched the first few innings Tuesday. He eventually decided his back pocket might be a better place, and that’s where the lizard remained until the final out.

Smith (5-2) pitched a complete game, allowing seven hits. He walked five and struck out five.

“I just let them hit the ball and my fielders go get it,” Smith said.

Las Virgenes started pulling away with two runs in the second and two more on Bhret Haesig’s second home run of the season in the fourth.

In the fifth, Las Virgenes catcher Tim Wayne, who was three for five with three runs batted in, singled with runners at first and second. The ball rolled under the glove of Verdugo Hills center fielder John Lister, and both runners scored to make it 6-0.

Las Virgenes will play at 4 p.m. Thursday at Birmingham against the winner of today’s 4 p.m. game between Van Nuys East and Palmdale East. Verdugo Hills plays the loser of Van Nuys East-Palmdale East at 4 p.m. Thursday at Burroughs High in Burbank.

“I don’t think of this as much of an upset,” Wayne said. “We have won 11 in a row. We’re the team to beat. I think we have the best pitching in the tournament.”