This is the 24th Anniversary Season for the Goat Scouts. This year the Goats will be under the capable leadership of Dave Herman and NEW co-manager Keith Martin. Congrats to Keith on his promotion! The team will miss Tom Hoffman, but the GRAIL launch needs him more! Best of luck to the team this year as the Goats strive to improve on last season. Remember Goats, have fun and win lots of games!

The Goat record in 2010 was 6 wins, 11 losses, 1 tie and 1 rain out.

• Practice -- April 13, 2011
• Week of April 18, 2011 -- Bye
• April 26, 2011, HS vs Titans (Loss 10-16)
• May 3, 2011, HS @ Homers (Loss 11-9)
• May 9, 2011, NH vs L.A. Radars (Win 12-11)
• May 17, 2011, HN @ Double Mercy!! (Rain Out)
• May 25, 2011, HN vs Crawdads (Win 25-24)
• June 1, 2011, HN @ Double Mercy!!(Loss 21-24)
• June 8, 2011, HS @ Bruisers (Win 18-15)
• June 14, 2011, HS @ Paper Tigers (Loss 11-18)
• June 21, 2011, HN vs Wild Turkeys (Loss 15-24)
• June 27, 2011, HN vs Eclectic Eccentrics (Win 20-8)
• July 6, 2011, HS @ Voodoo TOAD Fury (Loss 19-22)
• July 12, 2011, HN vs Paper Tigers (Win 21-18)
• July 19, 2011, HN vs Homers (Loss 9-22)
• Week of July 25, 2011 -- Bye
• August 3, 2011, HS @ Titans (Loss 14-17)
• August 8, 2011, HN vs Double Mercy!! (Loss 22-30)
• August 16, 2011, HN vs Voodoo TOAD Fury (Loss 10-21)
• August 22, 2011, HN @ Eclectic Eccentrics (Forfeit by Eclectic Eccentrics)
• August 31, 2011, HN @ L.A. Radars (Loss 15-21)

2011 Season Record - 5 wins, 11 losses, 1 rain out, 1 forfeit win

2011 Game Summaries

A beautiful spring evening, slightly on the cool side, saw the first gathering of goats on the green. Goat Rookies Eisha, Maeve & Sean, and Raquel were present, as were Old Goats Dave, Keith, Larry, Bryan, Keizo, Lloyd, Sonya, Jackie, Toni, Will, Angela, Derek, and Alex V. Dave, is Sean officially inked and on contract? We don't want him lost on waivers.

The Goat bats didn't look too rusty. The Goat fielders avoided injury, and the ball, on many occasions. And we had some good laughs - so it was a successful outing.

Now, on Monday: do we practice again, take on the Wild Turkeys in Challenge Match, or do we rest on our considerable laurels until we tackle the Titans? What say you, mighty goats?

Goats Lose Home Opener to Titans, 16-10

The usual joys of opening day were muted this year by the passing of Judy Keith this weekend. We will miss her in the stands cheering us on and keeping us humble. Our love goes out to the Keiths.

It was a beautiful spring evening, with a wonderful mountain backdrop.

The great weather, and perhaps the mistaken thought that it was already Big Dave bobble-head night, brought forth a great multitude of 21 Goats. The Goat Rookies were also in force: Raquel, Maeve, Melody, Kenny, and Sean made their big league debut. It looks like Eisha will be carrying the equipment for the next few games.

After spotting the Titans two in the first, the Goats replied with four in the second. The Titans got fat on Keith's pitching in the third and just cruised from there. Well, Eli's Titanic Blast grand slam in the fourth did get us closer, but the Goats could only muster three hits after that.

Despite the gaudy offensive numbers put up by the Titans, the Goats did have some nice defensive moments. Bryan closed the top of the first with a tag-and-throw double play. Later, he made two tags at the plate with assists from Alex V and Glenn? Sean made a bang-bang tag at third with a feed from Keith. Derek made a nice stretch at first saving Eli's Olga Korbut* throw. Bryan and Cindy tried to turn the 6-4-3 but missed it by "that much". Alex V showed great effort by going horizontal for several foul balls. And Angela sacrificed her body to stop a hard one-hopper at second.

* That's the sequence of: splits, wave to crowd, throw grounder to first, smile, wave to the crowd again. We're still waiting for a ruling from the East German judge.

Offensive highlights include Eli's Big Bang grand slam, a triple by Glenn, and doubles by Keith, Will, Dave, Alex V, and Glenn. The Reeves Boys (G&S) both went 2/2. Almost highlights were at'em ball line drive outs from Kenny, Sean, Keith, and Marc. Raquel notched the first rookie hit and score of the season, and impressed us all with her modified-Ishikawa dive/slide/tumble into home.

Goats Hobbled By Homers 11-9

Goat Rookies Eisha, Miguel, and Anna made their debut on another beautiful evening. The Goats jumped on the board with five in the 1st, then were blanked the next two innings. The Homers took the lead in the bottom of third. By the end of the fourth it was knotted at seven. The Goats retook the lead in the 5th, and then the Homers did too. The Homers extended the lead to three in the 6th. In the top of the 7th, with one in and two out, Keith and Bryan waited in scoring position for Mighty Alex V to even the score and maybe take the lead ... Oh, somewhere in the multiverse something wonderful happened, but here tonight Mighty Alex popped out!

Even more sad news: Alex V got a "real" job and declared this his last game. Can't we somehow convince his boss to put him on a flex schedule so he can still play?

Defensively, we kept the Homers to three runs or less each inning. Dave made a tag at 3rd with assist from Alex V in Center. Only Dave, Kareem, and Wilt could have climbed the ladder to make that play. Will made a tag at 3rd after a short rundown by Keith. Bryan lost the handle on a 1-6-3 opportunity. Scott M. declared this a "no double-play day", but later Keith, Keizo, and Will turned a 1-3-2 twin killing. This week Liana at 2nd took the hard grounder into the body. Oh Donna!

Offensive highlights include home runs by Alex V and Dave back-to-back, and Keith, and doubles by Alex V and Will. Keizo and Keith went 3/3. Melody would have got her first hit, but she flew high and wide past 1st base. Emphasis on wide. Just remember Goats, follow the Yellow Brick Road! And beware the Titans and Paper Tigers and Bruisers, Crawdads and Wild Turkeys. Duck under the L.A. Radars and keep your hooves out of the Eclectic Eccentrics. And whatever you do, don't stare into the eyes of the Voodoo TOAD Fury. (Unless you mean to finish the job.) Hallelujah, Double Mercy!!

Injury Report: Marc - back strain. Anna - quad pull.

The "Buy A Ticket" Award goes to Eisha, who remarked "Huh, did we win yet?" after she was awakened by the thundering Goat herd coming off the field.

Goats Scatter L.A. Radars, 12-11

Grey clouds and cool weather greeted the teams for today's game. Both teams plated two in the first inning and remained tied after three. The Radars jumped out with four in the fourth and two in the fifth. The Goats countered with two and three to trail by one. The clouds had parted in the middle innings, but new ones returned with menacing darkness, so the managers agreed to play only six innings. The Radars pushed one across in their last at bat. For the second straight week the Goats went into the final inning needing two to tie. Marc and Lloyd, both injured, doubled back-to-back. Angela brought Lloyd in with a hit. Sonya got her biggest hit ever to get Angela into scoring position. Then Sean casually sent a ringing single to left bringing home the speedy Angela with the winning run.

Defensive highlights include some fine, and some lucky, catches in the outfield. Liana used Keizo-speed to track one in right. Sean had a nice running catch toward the line in left. Marc, playing deep, easily flagged a monster line drive in left-center. Good thing there are no fences! And Keith had a running catch on a short fly to end the top of the sixth. In the infield, Bryan narrowly missed on another 6-3 double play attempt. Keith and Maeve attempted a 5-4-3 around the horn double play. In our Keystone Kops Moment of The Game, both Keith and Bryan called for a popup between 3rd and short. Both players converged on the scene, where Keith made the catch and Bryan provided close support. I think we're ready to try synchronized swimming now.

Offensive highlights include a triple by Bryan, doubles by Will (2), Bryan, Marc (2), and Lloyd (2). Jackie had a clutch RBI single in the 4th, and Angela and Sonya had clutch back-to-back hits in the 6th. Will, Bryan, and Marc went 3/3, and Will and Marc scored all three times.

Rained out in May

Goats Craw Back Over the 'Dads 25-24

It was just another beautiful day in the park. And then the slugfest started. If we had two more innings of daylight we might have matched the scores of the Cuyama Valley Bears vs. Coast Union Broncos game of a couple weeks ago. If you combined our scores, we would have just barely defeated either of those teams... The Crawdads opened with six runs. The Goats then got their first ten batters to score while sending 14 of the 15 players to the plate. The 'Dads got another six and the Goats got two to tie. Then eight more for them but only five for us. In the fourth, Lloyd finally got a shutout inning and the Goats added two to trail by one. As the day was getting late, we agreed to play one last inning. The Crawdads piled on four more runs to lead by five. Could the Goats mount another vaunted comeback? Sure! Eight batters later Jackie crushed a single to bring home Greg with the winning run. With three outs to spare!

The Goat defense was a lot like a day out fishing - we missed a lot of the easy ones, and the ones we got, we threw away. Methinks Dave needs to call another practice. Despite the systematic display of total ineptitude, Bryan did manage to pull off a 6-3 tag-and-throw double play in the 2nd.

Offensive highlights include home runs by Will and Alex R, a triple by Keith, and doubles by Bryan (3), Greg, Keizo, Lloyd (2), Marc (2), Alex R, and Glenn (2). Will, Keizo, Lloyd, Glenn, and Bryan went 3/3, with Will, Lloyd, Glenn, and Bryan scoring all three times. Marc went 2/2 before his early departure.

Injury report - Kevin R, wrist.

Goats Dumped by Double Mercy!! 24-21

We nearly started the game by giving the short-handed Mercy three of our young players: Liana, Will, and Toni; and our one mercy donation, Keizo. Slowly the opponents dribbled in, so we got all of the Goats back before starting late...

The good news is that we lead after one and again after the top of the 2nd. After that, we played a steady game of catsup, with the mustard clearly off the hot dogs. Needing seven in our last at bat, we only managed four.

Defensive highlights include a beautiful tumbling run by Dave at shortstop on the outfield grass to snag an infield single. Liana made the only catch of a fly ball in the outfield (that I can remember, anyway). Dave also completed a 6-3 double play.

Offensive highlights include home runs by Keith, Keizo, and Larry, triples by Toni and Will, and doubles by Greg, Will, Lloyd, and Marc. Sean, Lloyd, and Toni went 3/3 and scored all three times. Dave, Maeve, and Keith had at'em ball line drives.

Goats Belay Bruisers 18-15

Maeve brought the new Goat Scout t-shirts to the game, and she and Sean modeled their special-order attire. Move over Will and Angela, there's a new cute "young" couple on the team! When everybody gets their new duds we'll pick a game to be Team Photo Day. It's been years since we've had the (almost) entire team out for a photo. Maybe we can get Web Mistress Donna to do the honors...

Fans in attendance included Christina (Spencer's girlfriend), a gopher, and a baby frog.

As for the game, well, the Goats and Bruisers traded goose eggs in the first two innings, leaving the Bruisers up by two. Then the Goats jumped out with eight runs, which they then gave back up in the same inning. In the 4th the Goats got three to retake the lead. The Bruisers got two to retake the lead. As we headed to the 5th and final inning, the Goats needed one to tie, two to lead, and more for insurance. No Aflac ducks here! Would the Goats rally? Would the last team to bat win the game? Stay tuned... Keith doubled and then scored on Keizo's hit to tie the game. Will singled, then Bryan and Dave hit back-to-back doubles to plate the go-ahead and two insurance runs. Now it was up to the spotty Goat defense to hold the Bruisers. Keith promised a shutout inning, and after a comebacker and a soft popup to Bryan it looked like he might get it. With one runner on first it was nervous time at the Forum. But then Cindy was perfectly positioned for the next batter, who obliged by crushing an at'em ball towards her face. Would Cindy survive the impending doom? Would she duck and cover (seems to be a theme), stop-drop-and-roll, or take one for the team to keep the ball in the infield? When the smoke had cleared the ball was safely in Cindy's glove and a mighty roar erupted from all.

Defensive highlights start at the end, where Cindy dug in and held on to a sharp line drive to end the Bruiser hopes and the game. Bryan and Keith flirted with several double play opportunities, but came up short. Bryan also seemed to be flirting with a new career as a knife thrower - he missed Liana at 1st almost every time!

Offensive highlights include home runs by Bryan and Sean, a triple by Dave, and doubles by Bryan, Dave (2), and Keith. Keith, Will, Bryan, and Dave went 3/3. Will and Bryan scored all three times. Melody got her first Goat hit and run. Pasadena PD is still in hot pursuit. Film at 11.

Addendum: by Dave Herman

We shouldn't forget to mention Maeve's standing tough at home taking a hard throw to get the forced runner from third out-safe-out- and-finally-safe (but we all know he was really out).

Though we didn't get credit for the out, her feat was comparable to Cindy's awesome catch.

Only 11 Goats were on the lineup card to face the Paper Tigers. The good news is that everybody got at least three at bats and that we played all seven innings. The other good news is that our 11th man, Mr. Mercy, was on hand to get some outs in at least a couple of innings. The bad new is that we didn't force the Tigers to bat in the 7th.

Defensive highlights include a 1-6-3 DP turned by Keith and Bryan. Better throws by Keith would have added two more of the same. Toni snagged a low line drive above the turf.

Offensive highlights include a home run by Eli and doubles by Dave, Keizo, Eli, and Marc. Eli went 3/3 and was a triple shy of the cycle. He also scored all three times. Angela (2), Keizo, and Keith had hard-luck line drive outs.

Goats Gobbled by Wild Turkeys, 24-15

The Turkeys had been waiting to jump on the Goats all season, and they put up a ten-spot in the first inning to prove it. If that 10 had been a zero, then we would have achieved another come-from-behind victory. Maybe we should move the franchise to Montrose and rename ourselves the Single Mercy! Would the Double Mercy!! squad take us to court for infringing on their good name?

Goat Rookie Don "DC" Nelson made his game, hit, and run debut; and young Master Hoffman returned to the fold.

Defensive leather was not exactly on display, though Lloyd did snag another comebacker line drive.

Offensive highlights include doubles by Bryan (2), Dave, Lloyd, Keith (2), and Alex R (2). Bryan and Keith scored all three times, Spencer scored in both of his opportunities, and Will scored in his one at bat before running off to hockey. Alex R went 3/3, Glenn, Raquel, and Dave were 2/2, and Angela was 1/1.

Best game-face intensity award goes to Maeve, who exhibited her Harpo Marx repo man stare between innings. Now if we can just get the outfield to share that passion.

Joining Derek (back) on the season-over DL this week are Kevin R (wrist) and Tommy "the Hoff" (rotator cuff). Say it ain't so, Joe! (Momma already done took my Kodachrome away...)

Goats Electrify the Eclectic Eccentrics 20-8

It was a dark and stormy night… no wait, that’s not right. It was hot and humid, and there were many Frisbee-Golfers to be seen. Even a big Golden Retriever meandering through the outfield, while a trio of young kids begged to play (and what an arm one of them had – sign him up!). The Goats were aplenty, whereas our opponents only had 6. So Dave, Larry, Will and others all volunteered to help them out. In fact, Dave (as the opponent’s catcher) kept insisting to Maeve that the next one was her pitch, even if it then ended up landing two feet in front of home plate. Whose side are ya on? No matter, Maeve managed not one, but two hits this game. Eli hit a bomb out to left field a couple times and baffled the outfielders. Angela was quick like a bunny and managed 3 hits and getting on base for all of those. Sean got a triple, Jackie had a good hit, and D.C. made it around the bases as well. Bryan at shortstop seems to be an excellent way to get outs, as well as his hitting. Lloyd’s pitching this game should be on the highlight reel. Glenn was somewhere on the Inside Passage up to Alaska and was missed. Keith was soaking up the rays in Florida and was definitely missed.

Defensively, the Goats made several 3rd to 1st (what’s that called again?) and Short-Stop to 1st plays, ending up in mostly outs. Dave played Devil’s Advocate and pushed for a home run (I’m pretty sure he made it; I averted my eyes in terror as the ball was heading for home). The Eclectic Eccentrics put up a good fight and were great sports, with some definite heavy hitters. They will be a force to play again if they have more than 6. The game was called after the 5th or 6th inning, and the Goats ended up winning 20-8.

Offensive highlights include a home run by Dave, triples by Keizo and Eli, and doubles by Bryan, Sean, Larry, Kevin H, Will, and Lloyd.

Goats Tripped-Out by TOADS, 22-19

It was one of those warm and muggy nights, with the bugs crash landing in your eyes and nose, that would make you happy if you were a TOAD. Despite the equatorial conditions, and the fact that we're not the TOADs, the 13 Goats flung themselves into the fray with dreams of restoring the ozone layer beating the heat. Well, we at least stayed within striking distance of taming the TOADs. The Goats mounted a balanced attack that struck in every inning, but the seven tallies by the TOADs in the third was the difference.

Defensive highlights include a 1-3 line drive DP by Lloyd and Larry. In a feat not witnessed in recently recorded history, if ever, Lloyd performed the defensive equivalent of "Hitting for the Cycle" by throwing out runners at all four bases. In the "Almost" category, also known as "the game would have been much different and we would have won easily had these things happened", we offer: Bryan nearly missed a 6-3 DP with a slightly late throw on a speedy runner; Bryan nearly missed nailing a runner at third when his throw sailed away from Eli behind the runner; Bryan nearly missed nailing another runner at the plate when the relay to DC came out of the glove during the slide/swipe/tag; and, Eli would have triggered two 5-4-3 DPs had Keith been at 2nd.

Offensive highlights include triples by Kevin H, Will, and Lloyd, and doubles by Bryan, Kevin H, Keizo, Will, Lloyd, Eli, DC, and Marc. Will went 4/4, scored all four times, and was a homer shy of the cycle. Kevin H went 3/4, scored those three times, and was also a homer shy of the cycle. DC merely went 4/4, with one run. Angela and Sonya hit at'em balls to the infield, and Lloyd was robbed of extra bases when the rover made a shoestring catch of his liner. The most exciting hit was Kevin's double - because he tripped rounding first and slid 20 feet face first before getting up and moving on. Bryan had the most exciting play of the day by getting himself in a pickle between 3rd and home. Good thing he wasn't tagged out because I didn't record all of the defenders that had a hand in the play.

Manager's Notes:

1. $50 fine to Keith for being out of uniform and out of the lineup. 50 cent credit to Keith for not making any errors or outs.

2. $50 fine to Eli for being out of uniform, again. Maeve, get that Goat some duds! Eli was gowned in, as he put it, "Laker purple"; but Sonya thought he was Barney the Dinosaur and this reporter thought he was just another Fruit of The Loom.

3. The Opposing Manager, and League Commissioner, again refused the forked oak as the demarcation for ground-rule doubles, insisting upon the more northern, less center field-friendly tree. Dave, maybe your better negotiation skills will work their magic the next time we meet.

Goats Trump Tigers 21-18

It was a beautiful evening and the temperature was perfect. The Camp Sawyer girls and frisbee golfers packed the stands in anticipation of an epic showdown. And while MLB's All Star Game was held in Arizona, the Goat dugout was chock full of stars tonight.

The Goats jumped out to a seven run lead in the 1st, then both teams were blanked in the 2nd. The Tigers plated 11 in the third for a four run lead and probably thought they had the Goats in the bag. But the Goats promptly duplicated the 11 runs to restore the previous lead. Then the Goat defense dug in to erase the greedy Tiger runners and close out the victory.

Goat Rookie Chester Lim made his debut. Eisha recruited him out from under the Radar remnants.

The baserunning play of the day was again provided by Big Dave. Normally, he's barely seen zooming past bases and stop signs in super cruise as he heads for home. Tonight, he made a wrong turn at first and super collided with the Tiger first baseman. This is just his way of teaching by example. Rookies - never turn left at first unless you know you are safe! Always turn right, unless your base coach tells you. Fortunately both players were ok and stayed in the game.

This was the best defensive game of the season for the Goats. Lloyd made a line drive-and-tag DP, passing on potential triple play. DC made a nice nonchalant tag at the plate on a throw from Liana, 6-3-2. Keith made a tag at 2nd on a good backup and throw from Liana, 7-3-4. Exasperated Tiger Manager Stuart later exclaimed "Your first baseman is killing my team!" Bryan made a tag at 2nd on a throw from Keith, 10-4-6. Cindy made a perfect relay to Keith, who then had to decide between Bryan and Lloyd for the target. Keith made a tag at 2nd on a throw from Chester, after Stuart overran the base, and he had a previous force there with the assist by Will. The outfield cashed in with catches by Sean and Kevin H, and a nice running catch by Dave to end the game. It's always a thrill to see Dave getting a bead on the ball and when he opens the glove it looks like it's five feet wide.

Offensive highlights include a home run by Eli, and doubles by Kevin H, Lloyd (2), Eli, and DC. Kenny got his first hit as a Goat, and Chester got his first hit and run. Kevin was 3/3 and scored all three times. Eli was 3/3 and was a triple shy of the cycle. Lloyd also went 3/3, with two towering tree doubles.

Injury report: Maeve, strawberries/knees after tumbling safely at 2nd, Bryan, slight hamstring strain.

Oh, Donna! Goats Bruised 22-9

Once again the Goats proved the theory of limits. Every time we approach .500 we find it unattainable. Now I long for the days of old where we flirted with 1.000. After we lulled them into double-mercying us, we blanked them the last three innings. Pathetically, we only scored three in our last four at bats.

Emma returned for a visit, not intending to play. That didn't last long as we had too many guys and needed another girl in the lineup.

Defensive almosts include two almost pick-offs at first by Keith, an almost 5-3 DP by Keith, several other near 5-3 and 6-3 outs, and at least four (hundred) dropped flies in the outfield. Lloyd had a tag at third on a feed from Keith after Ron Baalke tripped rounding second and injured his leg. Good thing DC had ice on hand. Let's hope Ron's not hurt too bad.

Offensive highlights include a "Dave homer" from Dave, and doubles by Lloyd (3), Keith, Marc, and Kevin. Lloyd went 3/3, and Sean, Dave, Larry, Greg, and Chester went 2/2. So why the drought?

Goats Squished by Titans, 17-14

Just as Perseus had to deal with the Kraken, the Goats also dealt with their own Titan(s) this week. In the first meeting they pretty much shined their shoes with us, but tonight... we held our own. And although the scorecard shows differently, I think we can chalk this up in the victory column... if nothing else than a moral/karmic one (see step-in manager Will¹s notes!).

The physical field was a little difficult to get used to what with the soccer lines throwing you off, the hydrant right on the 1st base line, and no backstop but a pile of dirt and some wood ­ the gopher holes, divots and squishy mud patches don¹t help either. Goats played pretty well and the scores were back and forth, with no one team taking a commanding lead till the 3rd inning, where the Titans got some easy (questionable?) calls and the confusion seemed to rattle us Goats, and they eventually broke our concentration, if not our hearts, to grab the win. Defensively, Eli and Bryan had great throws to Maeve at 1st, and Cindy caught two pop-flies for outs. Most of the Titans were big (read: HUGE) hitters, and unfortunately the outfield spent most of the innings chasing balls, with not a lot of work for the infield to do. Methinks some team needs to bump themselves up to the ³B² league next year!

My biggest problem is remembering what happened. I felt like I missed a lot of the action with my head in the paperwork. Here's what I remember:

• We kept the score close despite all of the big bats and ex-baseball looking guys on their team. (Though to be fair, they didn't get to bat in the bottom of the final inning, but we would've shut them out.)
• Newcomer Stephen Krach (Kevin H. recruit) hitting a HR in his first AB.
• By far the hugest outcome I've ever seen at a Goat's game. We had (I think) 22 people when the game started! We could've just played against ourselves.
• Two disagreements with the other manager. The first being more memorable. I ran home while they were distracted at first, and the manager claimed the pitcher had the ball (he definitely did not and he wasn't even near the mound). They sent me back, and the rec-league softball gods frowned upon them because the next play was a popup single that 4 of them were surrounding and yet none of them made the catch. Karma, I say. The second disagreement was a ball he called fair (as catcher) that resulted in a key out for us. I don't know how it's fair when it's right next to the safety base at first, but whatever!
• Quite a few times, I didn't give players advance notice before it was their turn to bat. Oops!

Offensive highlights include doubles by Will, DC, Marc (2), Stephen Krach, and Eli, and a first-Goat-AB home run by Stephen.

Goats Clipped by Double Mercy!! 30-22

If Football is a game of inches, softball must be a game of seconds. Or milliseconds, even. So many times this game our fair Goats were just a skosh from getting the out, catching the ball, making the play. However, that does not dim the star power this week of Liana Hernandez. Two line drive catches and a pop-up catch, plus going 2 for 3 at bat. Looks like Larry taught her well! She was solid through the game. The line-up got shook up a bit this week, putting Sean in at 3rd base for a couple of innings, and although he wasn¹t always close to having the ball to make the play, he psyched the runners out by miming the ball was coming ­ and he made a great running line-drive catch on one play. Lloyd has made an art form out of the "if-it-hits-the-trees-it¹s-a-double" at-bat ­ and like Babe Ruth watches it sail off while sauntering to take his base. Marc played really well in LF, catching a couple of big pop-ups that ended innings, and also batted huge. Bryan held runners with his nimbleness at SS and prevented a few runs. Dave got tired of sitting on the bench and, as Lloyd said at the game, "smacked the snot outta that ball!" to circle the bases for an in-the-park homer. New addition Chester is ever eager and a definite addition to the "quick like bunny" club that many of the Goats are members of. Both Sonya and Maeve had singles, actually got on base, and managed to score! It is fair to say that if we had stopped before the last inning for darkness rules, Goats would have won. Double Mercy were three down and came back to score 12 runs before we could stop the bleeding. Rallied by that great inning, the Goats got just one at their last at bat. Time is a beeyotch in heels.

I'd like to point out that we won this week's game 19-18 since official game time ran out. We then played a mini-scrimmage with them, which they won. (Really we let them win to make them feel better -- what? Me delusional???)

Eisha had a nice catch at Rover, followed by the obligatory Liana/Maeve Happy/Hamster Dance. This was much later followed by Chester's catch in Center which ended the carnage of the top of the 6th and also and our last hope at legal extrication. Oh, the schemes of mice and men, and managers!

Offensive highlights include doubles by Keith (2), Lloyd (3), Bryan (2), Sean, Larry (2), DC (2), and Dave, and home runs by Larry (generous scoring) and Dave (no doubt in any league - Maeve, that was in the NEXT park).

Looks like Sean is buying the next round, what with only one extra-base hit!

The TOADs Got Our Goats, 21-10

You could tell where this game was going right away. After the TOADs scored eight in the top of the first, the Goats followed with a popup to short, a single, and a line drive DP off the bat of Keith. The Goats were in mercy in the second, which helped to keep the TOADs scoreless in two frames. Of course, it didn't help when we matched those goose eggs. The best inning for the Goats was the 6th, where six runs came across to pull us out of double mercy back into mere mercy. The TOADs added two in the 7th, and the final Goat rally could only bring in one.

Defensive highlights include some fly ball catches in the outfield, finally! Eisha had one, Angela had two, and Keith had two. Did Jackie get one too? Larry almost caught a runner at 3rd after the play at 1st, but the ball escaped from Will's glove during the tag. Larry also demonstrated a Reverse Ishikawa with a Twist as he tried to field a short popup from Charlie (I think). Gee, it's getting hard to find a spot for Larry where he won't try to hurt himself.

Offensive highlights include two tree doubles by Lloyd and a Texas-leaguer double by Larry. Both Chester and DC went 4/4.

Goats Win By Forfeit, Then Win Split-Squad Scrimmage 19-15

With Will on the DL (sunburn - only in So Cal...) and Chester defecting to the Double Mercy!! before the game, the Goats still had 18 strong to take on the EEs. Boy, mention Photo Night and they start coming out of the woodwork! Unfortunately, EE Managers Chris and Jennifer were not present to lead their six against us. So they conceded the game and then asked for four Goats. The usual defectors, Keizo and Liana, naturally went over, as did Keith and Eisha. Tom Hoffman, finally making his first game of the season, was thus once again thrust into the managerial role. In the stands were Darla (as usual), Grandma Jackie (AKA OJ), Will, and Liana's boyfriend, Khalid. Also, in a surprise appearance, was Miki with her two dogs. It was good to see her back at the ballpark! The game was a whopping three inning affair. Tied at 10 after two, the Goats knocked in nine and the EE/Goats floated five over for a final of 19-15. Fun was had by all, despite one injured EE after a collision with Larry at first.

Offensive highlights include a Texas-league triple by Keith, doubles by Keith, Keizo, Lloyd, DC, Bryan, and Marc (2). Sonya, Maeve, and Eisha went 2/2 (gee, they never do that when I'm managing!), as did Bryan, Sean, Marc, Greg, and Tom. Larry and Keizo went 3/3.

Goats Nuked by LA Radars 21-15

"One more such victory and I am undone!" Oh yeah, that wasn't a Goat victory; and I am indeed undone. With both managers absent to start the game, the Goats cobbled together a lineup that pushed across five runs in the top of the first. Good start Goats! Then the bottom fell out in what is surely a new record for Goat ineptitude as the Goats allowed 18 Radars to score! In ONE inning! Normally, that's a whole game's worth of opponent runs. Argh! After the 1st inning, the Goats scored 10 and held the Radars to 3. Hmm, what a different result if we just threw out the "terrble" start. Or, as Dave would spin it: The Radars won the first inning 18-5 and the Goats won the remaining innings 10-3 to split the double-header!

The defensive highlight was Liana covering 1st as Larry ranged to his right on a grounder. Close encounters include Bryan and Keith almost turning a 1-3-1 double play at the plate and Chester missing on a 5-4 tag-and-throw DP at second.

Offensive highlights include a home run from Keith and doubles by Bryan (2), Marc (2), and DC.

Thanks, Goats, for another fun season. Looks like next year's managers will have a lot of work to do on defensive fundamentals. We should schedule practices every week in March and April prior to the start of the next season.