LEGION PLAYOFFS : Chan Refuels Verdugo Hills in Arms Race

When you face the possibility of six games in five days, the endurance of your pitchers is as important as their performance.

That is why Verdugo Hills’ Spiro Psaltis could be so happy with the 16-hit complete game he got from Bryan Chan in a 5-4 victory over Panorama City in an elimination game of the American Legion District 20 playoffs Friday at Burroughs High.

Verdugo Hills (16-8) has gotten two complete games and one eight-inning effort in three playoff starts so far, and they have been far from gems.

David Gantt lost to Newhall on Wednesday and Phil Onsaga gave up nine runs in 10 innings on Thursday but won.

“That’s my No. 1 priority,” Psaltis said of his pitchers’ endurance. “This is the best-conditioned staff around.”

Verdugo Hills will play the winner of Friday night’s Newhall-West Hills game at 3 p.m. today at Birmingham High. The loser of the Friday night game will play Encino at 11 a.m. at Birmingham.

Chan (5-2) got himself out of his most-serious jam in the bottom of the eighth, when he struck out Josh Miranda with the bases loaded to end the inning with his team clinging to a 3-2 lead.

Dave Garley, Mark Martin, Fernando Rios and Ben Malen each had two hits for Verdugo Hills.

Seth Barkley and David Lusk each homered for Panorama City (14-10) and Alfredo Aleman added three hits.

John Ennis (3-1), a 6-foot-2 right-hander, who will be a sophomore at Monroe High this fall, also pitched a complete game. He gave up three earned runs and struck out seven.

“I don’t know where he came from,” Psaltis said, “but I don’t want to see him the rest of my life.”

Encino 10, Glendale 7--After falling behind, 5-0, in the first inning, Encino (17-10) got solid relief pitching and chipped away for enough runs to eliminate Glendale (15-9).

Encino starter Jason Miller hit the first two batters of the game and walked the next three before he was pulled. But Rob Hirsh came on in relief and pitched five innings without being charged with a run. Brian Felten (1-1) gave up two runs in the final four innings.

Ron Pirayoff (5-4) gave up 14 hits in seven innings and took the loss. But his defense didn’t help.

Glendale’s four errors accounted for five unearned runs.