This is the 21st Anniversary Season for the Goat Scouts. The Goats continue under the leadership of Tom Hoffman and Dave Herman. Best of luck to you both this year. Have fun and win lots of games!

The Goat record in 2007 was 5 wins, 7 losses, 1 tie and 1 cancellation (stats missing for final 3 games).

• Practice -- April 16, 2008
• April 23, 2008, HN @ Double Mercy!! (Loss)
• April 30, 2008, HS vs Crawdads (Win 27-14)
• May 5, 2008, HN vs Paper Tigers (Loss)
• May 13, 2008, HS @ Voodoo TOAD Fury (Loss)
• May 21, 2008, HS vs Eclectic Eccentrics (Win)
• May 27, 2008, HS @ Homers (Win)
• June 2, 2008, HN vs Titans (Win)
• June 9, 2008, HN @ Procrastinators (Loss)
• June 17, 2008, HS @ L.A. Radars (Win)
• June 23, 2008, HN @ Bruisers (Loss)
• July 9, 2008, HS vs Wild Turkeys (Win 27-26)
• Week of July 14 - Bye
• July 24, 2008, HS vs Homers (Loss)
• July 29, 2008, HN @ Gravity Frawgs (Loss-forfeit)
• August 6, 2008, HS vs Double Mercy!! (Win)
• August 11, 2008, HN @ Paper Tigers (Loss)
• August 19, 2008, HS vs Wild Turkeys (Win)

2008 Season Record - 8 wins, 8 losses, 0 tie, 0 cancellation

2008 Game Summaries

Five Goats attended the one practice that comprised this year's Spring Training: Co-Herder Dave Herman, Lloyd Keith, Keith Martin and Goat sophomores Will Jay and Liana Hernandez.

We dodged the sprinklers, the grounders, the flies coming out of the Sun, the other JPLers and the Little Leaguers. Most importantly, we dodged any pre-season injuries on the soggy field!

Since the majority of the team failed to adequately prepare for the season, I predict a Dodger-like start out of the gate. Let's hope the skill of our Co-Herders and the return of the Bells inspire us to surpass my prediction.

Goat Rookies Eli McMahon and Angela Wong played their first game for the herd, and Emma Bingham returned in fine form. After that, it was pretty much downhill all the way. Sure, Keizo hit a monster homerun that would still be going if the team on the other field didn't intercept it; and the Goat outfield (that's you Dave) hit the cutoff every time! Surely the universe must have been a little out of balance at game time. It seems the Double Mercy!! crew came to play and the Goats came to drop the ball. And no one does it better. Good thing the season is still early. Can I remember any highlights? No! I'm trying to forget this game. Double Mercy!! had the Goats in mercy until a fierce rally in the 5th. Fearing the continued assault in the 7th, the DM!! pulled the field after 6. Tom, I want a refund if I don't get 7 innings per game!

The Goats returned to winning form. Mr. Herman was unable to obtain the game equipment except for the Game Ball, so we used wood chips for the bases.

The defensive play of the game was Lloyd's self-preservation stab of a line drive aimed at the noggin. Toni also nabbed a hot line drive at first. Keizo had a tag on a runner advancing to third, and Keith and Cindy worked a couple of 6-4 putouts. The outfield looked better this week, which is good, because we get the Paper Tigers next week and they'll really get a workout. There were some good backup plays and some good relays to the infield.

Offensively, Toni crushed the ball every at bat - but two of those were At'em balls. Will is starting to drive the ball, showing some good RBI potential. Lloyd probably wishes we could return to the Rose Bowl so his ground rule doubles would poof back into home runs. Keith is back in the homer column, chasing Angela around the bases (memories of Bryan and Donna).

The Keizo Self-Inflicted Injury-of-the-Game Award goes to Angela, who conjured up a large purple welt after hitting her forearm with the knob of the bat after taking her swing. I'll bring my small bat to next week's game.

$50 fine to Derek for going to Europe and:
A. Not visiting Italy, in order to:
B. Bring back biscotti for Webmistress Donna.

P.S. The Ian Ruiz Fan Club is anxiously awaiting his return to the Diamond. Gee, I wish I had a Fan Club...

Also, Keizo earned a new (cumbersome) nickname courtesy of Derek: "Keizo the Lazy Base Coach who sits on a Fire Hydrant". It doesn't quite roll off the tongue so it probably won't last. Maybe we can call him "Hydrant" for short...

We could also call Keizo "Mitt-head". Photos courtesy Mr. Keith are forthcoming. (I think it's a Japanese cultural thing.)

Hoping to avenge last year's loss, this reporter looked forward to a good outing from the Goats. But with only one girl present the Goats were forced to field only eight. No Second Base and no Rover. And that's pretty much all I'm gonna say about that.

The never-say-die Goats were quickly doused in double mercy, but mounted a comeback that left them but [one] run shy.

The good news is that Angela was our "Every Woman", batting in all female slots. A star is born.

Eli, vying for Comeback Player of the Year, and our potential shortstop of the future, hit the pine and perhaps the DL after pulling a calf. Hey, Eli, leave them calves alone! You're not playing for the Rangers or Cowboys here - you're in the big leagues now.

Offensive Highlights:

• Lloyd hit a towering shot, well into the trees, that he declared "a double in any ballpark!". He also had several other "ground-rule doubles" to Right.
• Dave H. - Two "Ground-rule doubles" of his own and only a great longing for HRs
• Keith - Stand-up triple.
• Angela - Multiple hits with "Mini-Sumi", Keith's other bat.

Don Johnson, Leslie's daughter & friend, and Cindy's kids filled the stands for the big game. And it wasn't even a promotion night!

Sometimes you lick the toad, but mostly you just gotta say "wait 'till next year!". I now officially feel like the New Jersey Generals going against the Harlem Globetrotters. Year after year we stay close for a while - then get hit with a bucket full. Same story this year - very close through the first two or three innings, then Bam!, eight runs. After that, the TOADS were pretty much on cruise control. The Goats were just Asleep at the Wheel.

It's obvious that Charlie picked the south field for our game, because there were swamp-like conditions between the plate and the mound - the perfect environment for the Toads. Of course, they claimed the grass was too high all around, and that the Goats should take care of that.

Leslie, Liana, and Kevin made their first appearance of the season.

Defensive play of the game - Derek's running shoestring stab at the left field line. The outfield had several other nice plays, including a dramatic catch by Leslie in right center, battling the sun and her own inner demons. Lloyd made his second self- preservation catch of the season. Cindy passed on a 4-6-3 double play opportunity and took the 4-3 out instead.

Best Offensive Out of the Game - Kevin ran out of both shoes as he blistered past first base on a ground out. Run, Kevin, run!

The "Buy A Ticket Award" goes to Liana for watching the shortstop throw her out at first. Ok, he's young and cute; but she would have beaten the throw had she been running all the way.

Dave surmised a gathering storm, after the Goats had their tails handed to them the previous two games. So after trading punches the first couple of innings, the Goats went on a tear. The EEs were in mercy, and unlike the San Antonio Spurs, the Goats would bend but they wouldn't break.

Leticia made her first appearance of the season, and made a nice catch of an invisible popup - coming out of the sun. Leticia complained that she might split her britches stretching for throws coming to first base; and when she wouldn't stop, Larry noted that "now you're just talking dirty".

The best Goat defensive play was by Emma, who did the lumberjack log rolling thing over the bats as she ALMOST caught a foul pop. She also showed us her cheeky side when some Goats (Leticia) egged her on to dive for another foul pop. After "Those Darn Bats!", Emma declared her retirement from the Goats so she could pursue her next career with Cirque de Soleil.

Offensive highlight include: Larry, Dave, & Keith whacked back-to-back-to-back jacks (sandwiching a hit from Leticia). Homers by Keith (3), Dave (2), and Larry, a triple by Dave, and a double by Dave. (And possibly others I can't remember...)

I hit three homers (one with bases loaded - unless you count their errors; but you know I never stop running!) and had a pop out.

Larry batted one-thousand with a homer and three singles bringing home a total of five RBIs!

Keith batted one-thousand with three homers and only a mercy ruling kept him from another at bat that surely would have been a homer.

The Goats scored three in the bottom of the [7]th to take their third straight game. The Killer K's started the rally, with Kevin getting a hit and then scoring on Keith's double to tie the game. Then Sonya got a hit and took second on the overthrow, with Keith going to third. Then Mark showed how to get the game winning walk-off hit, smashing a Ground Rule Double well into the trees in right.

We started the game short on girls, with Angela as the only one expected. Emma also finally arrived, so we were able to start the game with a loaned catcher. By the second inning, the Daughters Keith were goated into taking their positions of destiny - and the rest is history. Thanks for playing! We hope you had fun.

This was another exciting back-and-forth game with many good plays from both sides. Lloyd had another self-preservation catch. He's had more line drives come back up the middle this year than in any other season. Tom and Keith closed down the left side of the infield, and Keizo was rock solid at first, probably because he was distracted by thoughts of his basketball game later in Chinatown. Will had a catch in left center. I don't think Mark had anything hit in the air to him at left. After Keizo left, Keith moved to first and Kevin took third. $50 fine to Keith for not being on the bag to receive a throw from Tom. $25 discount to Keith for erasing some of that mistake later that inning with a line drive double play at first.

Offensive highlights include a three-run homer by Keith, the game winning double by Mark, other doubles by Keith and ???, and the first hit for Sonya. Will has become Mr. Herman's Mini Me on the basepaths. He made a really nice move to avoid a tag at the plate. And Angela had a great aggressive run from second to third, distracting the entire infield in the process.

Injury Report - Derek didn't waste any time and injured himself BEFORE the game actually started - so he didn't play. He dislocated his throwing shoulder again. Derek, you're too young for this - leave the injuries to the Old Goats, like Keizo.

With Tom away, and Dave under the weather, Keith lead the Goats into battle. Goat Sophomores Derek and Will made several comments about the "Third Rate" manager, and somehow they escaped without receiving any fines. With Will's impending nuptials, I guess Keith figured he'll be a bit light in the wallet real soon anyway without any additional help.

The Turkeys opened the game with feathers flying, amassing 10 runs in the 1st. They were to keep the Goats in mercy for the first four innings. In the bottom of the 4th, the Goats got 10 of their own, to pull within one. Both teams went scoreless in the 5th, and both teams tacked on four in the 6th. The Turkeys added two in the top of the 7th, to extend their lead to three. As the Goats came in for their final at-bats, Keith reminded the team that "This is when Goats are made!" Angela started the rally with a single, followed by singles from Keizo and Larry. Keith doubled Larry home for the tying run. Then Toni, who had previously homered, smashed another deep line drive to left, which ALMOST eluded the Left Fielder - but ended up being a long out. Then Will smashed a hard liner - but right to Second Base. Tie score. Two outs. The tension builds ... but fear not, for mighty Casey, er, Lloyd came up next. And in true Mr. Clutch fashion he fashioned a hit to bring in the winning run.

This was a fun game, with many good hits and good defensive plays from both teams. Defensively, the Goats started with nine fielders until Angela made her fashionably late appearance. Every Goat had at least one good play, which made up for the at least one bad play that every Goat made. Oh well. We'll hit Spring Training a little harder next year, maybe ... Will made several nice catches in Center, and both Mark and Keizo partook of snow cones on the wings. The Keith boys finally turned a 1-6-3 double play on their third attempt. We've been waiting all season for that. Larry and Toni switched off between First Base and Third Base. After the first inning, Toni decided Third Base was too hard to play and wanted to go back to First. When she got there, the Goats showered her with overthrows - and she wanted to go back to Third! Be careful what you wish for!

Offensively, both teams were just that. The Keith boys were perfect at 6 for 6. Keith and Toni had back-to-back jacks in the 4th, capping the rally. Doubles were had by Keizo, Larry (2), Keith, Will (2), Lloyd, and Mark.

Seeking, and earning, revenge for a Game 1 loss; the Goats double(triple??)-mercied the Double Mercy!! squad.

Defensive highlights include two double plays. Keith, Dave, and Larry executed a 6-3-5 play as an aggressive base runner tested Dave's arm and situational awareness in an attempt to advance from 2nd to 3rd on a ground out. The third base coach gave us a generous call on that one. The second double play was yet another line drive to Lloyd that he turned into a 1-3 play with Keizo at 1st.

Baserunners went crazy on both teams. For the Goats, Keith's mad dash from 2nd to 3rd temporarily disoriented Amy, who couldn't make a play. Dave's crazy dancing around 2nd base received less than rave reviews from Jenny.

Offensive highlights include home runs by Keizo, Larry, and Keith. (And ???) Keith and Mark had doubles. (Who else ???)

(Guys, what else happened??? I think there was at least another homer and several doubles, but I can't remember...)

Offensive highlights according to the score sheet: Homeruns by Larry, Keizo, Keith and Eli (2), Doubles by Larry, Keizo (2), Dave (3), Lloyd, Derek, Marc (2) and Eli. For the second inning explosion, the Goats went through the line-up twice before being forced out with a mercy out!

The Goats lost. The Goats were within one, and even got the Tigers 1-2-3; and then the floodgates opened. The Goats then loaded the bases in two consecutive innings and failed to score. The Goats attempted a comeback after the Sun had dipped below the hills, but it was too little, too late.

Besides the 1-2-3 inning, there were few defensive highlights. Keith made a barehanded 1-6-3 put out off a deflection from Tom. Derek made a nicerunning catch of a line drive. Emma also made a nice catch in right field. Larry got two outs in an inning, including a 5-4 play to Liana. The porous Goat defense will be used in future training films of "How NOT to do it." We had too many overthrows in the excitement of the moment. Is it too late for end-of-season Spring Training?

Offensive highlights - probably none. I don't remember any extra-base hits. Eli had a long line drive that was chased down for an out, and several other goats had line drive outs. The Goats also had two baserunners thrown out at the plate. We definitely need a remedial Third Base Coach refresher course!

Goats will eat anything, but losses like this are tough to swallow...

Emma also nailed back-to-back at-bats with RBIs. One at-bat she got 2 RBIs and then her next at-bat she got one. 3 RBIs in a game is pretty great!

Bryan Bell made his first appearance of the season!