SOUTHERN SECTION BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS : Iguana More Than Just a Pet to La Serna’s Adams

Willie Adams walked toward the cheering La Serna High School fans. He had just pitched the Lancers to a 1-0 victory over Tustin in the Southern Section 3-A baseball championship.

In one hand, Adams clutched a championship. In the other, he held his pet iguana, Max.

Or is it Maxine?

“We’re not really sure at this point,” Adams said. “But I never pitch without him at the game. He’s become our team mascot.”

Said third baseman Eric Martins: “We’re a superstitious team, especially Willie. We don’t play without Max.”

Because Adams is allergic to fur, he couldn’t have a cat or a dog so he bought an iguana this year.

He chose an iguana because his girlfriend had one and he liked the animal.

“He brought it to practice one day and we all were asking him, ‘What is that?’ ” Martins said. “It was so ugly. But we got used to it and made it the mascot.”

Adams even made a sweater with the school’s name on it for the iguana. His girlfriend keeps it in the stands during games.

“He’s become very important to these guys,” Coach Vern Hodge said. “Three weeks ago, he got lost during practice and the entire team was looking for him. I don’t mind really. The thing doesn’t bark, howl or whine. It could be the perfect player.”

With the iguana in the stands, Adams pitched a five-hitter and scored the winning run for the Lancers Saturday. It was the fifth consecutive victory for Adams, who raised his record to 10-2.

Adams wasn’t sharp when the game began and was in trouble in the second and third innings.

Tustin had runners on second and third with one out in the second, but Jim Reider missed a squeeze-bunt attempt and Ryan Relph was caught in a rundown between third and home. Adams then struck out Reider to end the inning.

“I had an idea they were going to try to squeeze,” Adams said. “So I threw a high curveball, which is tough to bunt.”

After the fourth inning, Adams got stronger. He retired 11 of the last 13 batters, allowing only singles in the fifth and sixth innings.

Adams finished with a season-low four strikeouts. He has 131 strikeouts in 94 innings this season.

Adams has signed a letter of intent to play at Stanford next season. However, he isn’t quite sure how his new teammates will like Max--or Maxine.

“It’s doesn’t matter, I got to have him with me,” Adams said. “Or maybe I’ll take her with me.”