This is the 22nd 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 2008 was 8 wins and 8 losses.

• Practice -- April 2, 2009
• Practice -- April 15, 2009
• April 21, 2009, HS vs Crawdads (Win 28-15)
• April 27, 2009, HS vs Deep Space Cadets (Win 23-18)
• May 4, 2009, HN @ Double Mercy!! (Win 20-15)
• May 12, 2009, HN @ Homers (Loss 15-25)
• May 18, 2009, HN @ Paper Tigers (Loss 9-15)
• May 27, 2009, HS vs Wild Turkeys (Win 23-21)
• June 3, 2009, HN vs L.A. Radars (Rained out)
• June 9, 2009, HN @ Titans (Loss 12-15)
• June 16, 2009, HS @ Bruisers (Win 10-9)
• June 22, 2009, HN vs Eclectic Eccentrics (Win 15-7)
• July 8, 2009, HN vs Voodoo TOAD Fury (Win 17-15)
• July 14, 2009, HS @ Eclectic Eccentrics (Loss 18-19)
• July 21, 2009, HN vs Homers (Loss 10-15)
• July 28, 2009, HN vs L.A. Radars (Win 22-18)
• August 3, 2009, HN vs Bruisers (Loss 17-19)
• August 12, 2009, HS @ Voodoo TOAD Fury (Loss 22-32)
• August 18, 2009, HS vs Titans (Loss 12-14)
• August 26, 2009, HS @ Wild Turkeys (Loss 16-19)
• August 31, 2009, HS vs Double Mercy!! (Forfeit by Goats)

2009 Season Record - 8 wins, 9 losses, 0 ties, 1 Rain out, 1 Forfeit

2009 Game Summaries

The first Goat Scout practice for the 2009 Season was held on Thursday, April 2. That's like April Fool's Day and Groundhog Day all rolled into one. Only four Old Goats attended: Dave Herman, Lloyd Keith, Keith Martin, and Larry Hernandez. Ex 2008 Goat Recruit Eisha Matsubara also attended. (Eisha signed with other teams last year, but is willing to swing for the Goats this year on a call-up basis.)

Coach Herman advertised this as a "Light" practice, and it was. It was a black light that illuminated the Goats under the ominous dark grey skies of the arroyo. With so few on the field, it was all about batting. It should have been about fielding. The ground balls found Eisha as attractive as Donna. The bruises found Eisha as attractive as Keizo.

Ok, that's a visual I'm not ready to deal with...

Larry exhibited Chick Hearn's infamous LA Laker "Toro Defense" and later took a bad hop right in the kisser. And Keith took a Dave Herman thrown laser one-hopper to the kneecap, leaving a waffle-iron bruise. Well, it wouldn't be "Blood and Goats" without the blood.

I hope we haven't peaked to early, 'cause it looks like it's all downhill from here.

Tax Day brought cool, sunny skies and the final practice before the 2009 Campaign. Dave, Keith, Larry, Eli, Will, Angela, and Liana were there. Two other teams had already claimed the fields, so the Goats took the middle ground. Again, the emphasis was on batting.

And due to Dave's skillful negotiations with the Paper Tigers, the Goat batters were facing directly into the sun. Eventually we managed to rotate everyone around so we could almost see what we were swinging at. In the field, several fly balls were actually caught.

And Eli laughed in the face of sanity and came in close to battle the evil bad hops that claimed multiple victims at the first practice.

Toward the end of practice the Goats welcomed several of the Double Mercy!! squad to the field and to the batter's box. Ready or not, here we come! Bring on the 2009 Champagne!

Opening Day for the Goats fell in the middle of the late-April heat wave. Big skies and bright sun affected all fielders. The Goats started short of girls and were mercied in the first inning. But the defense came around and the Goats returned the favor, placing the 'dads in mercy by the fourth. Will and Angela left early for a hockey game, so Lloyd called up Sonya.

Offensive highlights include home runs by Keizo, Keith, Lloyd, and Dean; triples by Jose, Liana, and Kevin; and doubles by Lloyd (4), Keith (2), Dean (2), Jose (2), and Will. Final Score Goats 28, Crawdads 15

Under cold, grey skies the Goats had a much better turnout than last week. The Goats took the lead in the first inning and never looked back. Sonya played for the second week and Eli returned from the DL. Rookie Kevin Mercado made his first appearance and then left early like this was a Dodger or Laker game. Dean's daughter Danielle was called up from some fast pitch league and played well for the Goats. Angela had a nice catch at Rover, and after Emma caught a foul pop at Catcher she jumped for joy like a little "girlie girl". Keizo caught almost everything else hit to the outfield. He probably didn't have to move more than 10 steps total.

Offensive highlights include home runs by Keizo, Eli, and Danielle; triples by Tom and Dean; and doubles by Lloyd(3), Keith (2), Dean (2), Liana, and Kevin Mercado. Will tried to stretch a double, but was tagged out after flying past 2nd. (Slide, Will, slide!) Final score Goats 23, Deep Space Cadets 18

The Goats put the Mercy in mercy in the 2nd, then traded punches the rest of the way. In the 2nd inning Lloyd careened around the bases like Dave, Kevin, and Will were chasing after him. Larry and Keith, both at 3rd base, were targeted with moderate success by Amy T.

Offensive highlights include home runs by Dave and Dan; a triple by Eli, and doubles by Lloyd (2), Keith (2), Larry, Tom, Keizo, Dan, and Marc. Final score Goats 20, Double Mercy 15

The lead went back & forth until the bottom of the fourth, where the Homers scored 11 to put the Goats in mercy. The teams matched scores in the next two innings, ending with the Goats in perpetual mercy. Looks like I picked a bad week to give up heavy drinking...

Dave covered most of the outfield on a nice running catch of a fly ball. Later, he dropped an easier fly, but Dan backed him up and threw a strike to Keith at third for the 8-7-5 putout of a greedy Dan Limonadi. Dean had a tough night at short, pulling a hamstring and then something in the ribcage. He showed his plucky Goat spirit by refusing to leave his position. Now that's how to sacrifice the body, rookies!

Offensive highlights include a towering monster moon-shot home run by Dan; a triple by Dave; and doubles by Lloyd (2), Dean (2), Kevin, Keith, Leticia, Dan, and Marc. Dan also had another exciting high fly ball that just went for an out. He must be trying to practice hitting the ball over the Green Monster - but the only Green Monster out there is in Keizo's delusional cranial cavity. Dan's homer was so impressive that the Homers were offering him a contract on the spot. I hope the Goat management has Dan on a long term contract with no-trade clauses and extra Santa Clauses. Final score Goats 15, Homers 25

Offensive highlights include a home run by Keizo, a triple by Dave, and doubles by Keith (2), Dave, Lloyd, Eli, Marc, and Alex. Final score Goats 9, Paper Tigers 15

Offensive highlights include home runs by Dave and Dean, a triple by Tom, and doubles by Marc (3) Dave (2), Andrew (2), Leslie, Keizo, Lloyd, Keith, and Dean.Final score Goats 23, Wild Turkeys 21

Being in sunny Southern California, it gives us great joy to show the rest of the country that we too can take a day off due to the weather. So we did.

Offensive highlights include home runs by Tom and Dan, triples by Toni and Dan, and doubles by Dean (3), Andrew (2), Keizo, Keith, and Marc. Final score Goats 12, Titans 15

The Goats "won" 10-9 after five innings - when the Bruisers wanted to quit - and then "lost" 4-2 in the "post-game scrimmage" (for a final score of 13-12).

Is that enough spin for you, Mr. Herman?

We finally got Eisha on the field with us, and she got her first hit as a Goat and made a nice catch in the Sun in right field.

Offensive highlights include home runs by Dan (2) and Andrew, and doubles by Dave, Will, Dean, and Marc. Dan went 3/3 and scored all three times. Keizo also went 3/3.

Good spin-doctoring, Mr. Martin.

Will Jay also batted one thousand.

The Goats showed some strong defense, blanking the Double-Es in three innings. The Goats pulled off two double plays, and almost got two more. The first double play was a simple 1-3 putout followed by a pickle at the plate that went something like 1-3-2-5-1-5, with Lloyd, Dave, Marc, and Larry playing catch and then Larry applying the tag. The second double play was a 7-6-4 fly ball to Keith to Eli to Cindy. Eli tried to make a 6-3 double play but couldn't get off a good throw to Dave. I think if he went to Cindy for the 6-4-3 they would have got it. The other almost double play was a 6-3 out followed by a throw from Dave to Emma at the plate that was too hot to handle.

Jackie, in her first game of the season, got two hits, was hit by a batted ball, and had the most fun of her life. (At least that she'll admit to.)

The Goats also found their missing offense, exploding for eight runs in the 1st and four in the 5th.

Offensive highlights include home runs by Dave (a double, with Dave inducing wild throws, that the scorekeeper generously upgraded), Keith, and Eli; a triple by Keith; and doubles by Dave, Larry, Liana, Cindy, Lloyd, Eli, and Marc. Dave, Lloyd, and Eli went 3/3. Final score Goat Scouts 15, Eclectic Eccentrics 7

The Goats defeated the Voodoo TOAD Fury 17-15.

Batting highlights include a home run by Larry and doubles by Dave (2), Lloyd, and Marc. Jose, Dave, and Larry batted 1.000.

The Goats lost to the Eclectic Eccentrics, 19-18, in the bottom of the 7th.

Batting highlights include home runs by Jose and Keizo (2), triples by Jose (2), Keizo, and Andrew, and doubles by Dave (3), Jackie, Lloyd (3), Dean, and Marc (3).

The Goats set the stage for their famous 7th Inning comeback.

"We only need nine!", exclaimed Big Dave. But alas, we got only four and fell short, 15-10.

Batting highlights include home runs from Dave and Alex, and doubles by Dave (2) and Lloyd. Dave, Angela, and Alex had hits in every at bat.

The Goats had to borrow a Radar woman, Lina, to get started. She got two hits and made a couple catches so we decided to keep her. Lina was awesome, Sonya got a clutch hit in the big inning that brought us back followed by a three run opposite field shot by Lloyd. Keizo got two HRs. Jose continued his season long hitting streak including a Rocket HR and Keith hit a walk-off HR to win the game. The team we played was a lot of fun and good sports all around.

As Tom refused to help setup the field under the scrutiny of the Atomic Tape measurers, I refuse to declare this game a win (per Big Dave's suggestion). I'll let the managers wrangle over the official outcome.

The Goats trailed 19-17 after six innings last night.

The Goats tried a new strategy last night - go into a deep double mercy hole, get a lot of free defensive outs, and then overtake them at the end. Oops! We forgot the Bruisers don't do seven innings! But we did have the Rally Monkey on our backs and all of the momentum on our comeback drive. Oh well, we'll have to try that plan on some other teams in the far distant future...

Defensive highlights include a fine running basket catch by Tom in Center and a tag at Home by Larry.

Offensive highlights include a triple by Larry, doubles by Jose (2), Dave (2), Tom, Keith, and Dean. Sonya added a sacrifice - which she called before the play.

Injury report: Keith - right hand, left knee. Will - right knee. Sonya - facebook and twitter.

Goats Squashed By TOADS

Team Dean made 40% of the roster, Team Keith was another 30%, and Keizo, Keith and Marc threw in for the Goat Ten.

With Tom and Dave out playing elsewhere, Keith managed the train wreck. The Toads were out for revenge and sent the message by scoring 19 in the first. Hey, I thought we weren't going to try the Double Mercy!! hole until way off in the future. I guess no Goats are reading the web page ...

Defensive highlights include a tag at Home by Keizo on a perfect throw from David, a nice relay from Andrew to Keith to Dean at Third, and Keith and Danielle almost turned two. Lloyd got whacked again by another comebacker - we're waiting for the mutant lump to emerge ... It's time the Goat pitchers got hazard pay.

Offensive highlights include home runs by Lloyd and Keith, a triple by Andrew, and doubles by Keizo, Lloyd (3), Keith, Dean (3), and Marc. Lloyd would have had a five homer night except that three shots became tree doubles and one shot was erased by a great catch by the Toad center fielder.

Injury Report: Lloyd - left forehead.

The Goats had only six guys and three girls to throw against the Titans. So Dave miraculously goated Maureen into playing. How did he do that? Mighty Mo contributed a two-RBI single and a 4-3 putout to Danielle. Hey, it was Miller Time!, if only for a moment. The rest of the moments weren't so good.

Defensive highlights include a nice catch by Dean on a hot line drive, a nice relay from Will? to Keith to David M. to get another runner at Third, a long running catch by Marc in Left, and Will came in from Rover to almost turn a double play at second base. The defensive low-life of the game was Big Dave, who refused to borrow a mitt to play Center. Naturally, the first thing the Titans did was hit a two-out, two-on, lazy fly ball to Center. Well, you can guess what happened next ... The best defensive play was by Danielle, who stopped an errant throw at First to prevent even more damage. At that point we needed to stay in range for our last chance at-bats.

Offensive highlights include doubles by Dave (2), Keith (2), Dean, and Marc (3).

Only two games left this season - and maybe in my Goat career. C'mon Goats! It's winning time!

The Goats lost to the Wild Turkeys 16-19. Will and Angela left early for a hockey game. The rest of the Goats left early for next season. The Turkeys rallied for five in the bottom of the 6th for the victory.

Offensive highlights include doubles by Tom and Dean (2).

Forfeit by the Goats.