Two of the best teams in the Boston West Coed Softball league will spend the week nervously checking the league’s website to see if they will be named to the eight-team playoff tournament to close out the Fall season.

Both Dizzy Llamas Softball teams, White and Green, had an outstanding Fall going a combined 14-4 through the regular season.  Unfortunately, last minute scheduling changes by the Boston West Coed Softball league saddled the club with two forfiet loses.  Now both teams are in danger of slipping out of the playoffs.

“More than half our games were blowouts,” said Mike Bizier, White’s stellar infielder.  “We’ve beaten up on everyone we’ve faced.  I’d be very dissapointed if we didn’t make the playoffs because of poor scheduling by the league.”

Despite the controversy, the Softball program has been a huge success this Fall.  After Gray winning the BWCS championship in the summer, the program was condensed into two teams and both have steamrolled through the league.

White’s infield of Kevin McKay, Mike Bizier, Mimi Drozd and Jerry Antone is one of the best in the league, while top-of-the-order hitters Tom Boates and Vincent Duong and given opposing outfielders fits with their aggresive baserunning.  Green has relied on power to fuel their offensive juggernaut.  Led by Scott Tarentino, Mark Sinnamon, Derek Price and Jen Kuzmick, they have bashed their way past opponents while the battery of Paul Costa and Carol Duffy have styfled many a bat.  More importantly, the improvement of Chris DeLuca and Cameron Stewart offensively has turned a slow part of the order into a run-scoring feast.

Fall brought two big challenges for the program.  The colder weather saw pulled muscles and injuries accumulate while the Football program stole players on a weekly basis.  Multi-sport and multi-team athletes played a huge role this season, with September Llama of the Month Danielle Sullivan leading the charge. She manned right field for both teams, and helped guide the clubs top football team to victory week after week.

It has been a trying season, but in true Llama fashion, our athletes stepped up and find themselves on the doorstep of another championship.

Many swore, some cried out and almost everyone grumbled as they fought against a daunting ninth hole. The cup sitting on a slope near the back of the green, a missed approached shot meant a long, painful roll down the fast green and an even longer putt to follow. The hole was so hard, 16 golfers we unable to sink their ball.

For 2008 Invitational Champion Dave Claffey, the ninth hole was the turning point. Down a stroke to Kevin Neville after eight, Claffey try to lay up short of the hole, but the ball carry just enough to climb the gentle incline and fall into the cup for an ace. Neville was able to par the hole, but the damage was done. Claffey took his one stroke advantage into the back nine and never relinquished the lead.

“I tried to play it safe,” said Claffey. “Neville was hitting some amazing shots, and I knew if I couldn’t get the lead soon he would never give it up. I didn’t think the ninth was the hole to do it. I just lucked out. In the first round I escaped with a par, but that hole makes babies cry.”

The hole-in-one helped propel Claffey to a record-setting round, posting a 43 and beating last year’s champion Greg Waligorski’s first round score of 44.

The Claffey-Neville battle wasn’t the only one on the course. A first round score of 52 made Jen Kuzmick a front-runner for the Women’s Championship and gave her a berth in the top grouping in the second round, but an incredible second round of 48 by Mimi Drozd and a great combined score from 2007 Women’s Champion Nora Brown forced a one hole playoff to determine the title.

With Llamas lining the first green, Brown’s tee shot slipped past the hole while Drozd kissed her tee shot off the far wall to give her an easy tap in for par. Brown had a chance to force a second playoff hole, but her difficult second shot couldn’t find its target, giving Mimi the 2008 Women’s title.

Nora did win the Battle of the Browns for the second year in a row, and Don Bizier fended off his son Mike to earn the Bizier Battle title.

2008 Dizzy Llamas Invitational Results

The numbers are flying fast and furious lately in Llama-land.

Just days after dodgeball and football standout Jared Calise earned the #2 shirt, Llamas Allie Greer and Mark Goodman were administered the #6 and #10 shirts, respectively, prior to the Llama soccer team’s 4-1 win Friday night.

Both athletes joined the Llama organization in December 2007 for indoor soccer. While the team struggled in the standings, Greer and Goodman both became stalwarts for the team with consistent attendance and enthusiasm.

Greer, a former college lacrosse player, has branched out to become one of the most involved Llamas. She turned in an excellent season for the EMAAC Ultimate frisbee championship-winning Blouses, and is a key member of the much-improved Dizzy Llama Blue dodgeball team. Greer is also occupying her Sundays with Llama football.

Goodman - who chose #10 to honor his favorite soccer player, Lionel Messi - has been a jack-of-all-trades for Llama soccer, playing primarily forward for the indoor teams before establishing himself at fullback during the full-field outdoor season. The 26-year-old Quincy native also brought his spark and trademark profanity-laced, self-criticizing tirades to the Ultimate scene this summer with the highly successful Disc Jockeys.

While continuing their involvement in outdoor soccer this fall, both are also set to compete in the 2nd Annual Dizzy Llama Invitational at McGolf in Dedham on Oct. 18.

Congratulations to both.

It is almost time for the annual Dizzy Llamas Invitational, miniature golf tournament bringing Llamas from all sports together. Whether you’re a good golfer or putrid putter, the Invitational is a festival of fun where you can meet new folks and chill with some old friends.

The tournament is Saturday, October 18th starting at Noon. It will once again be held at McGolf in Dedham. For more information and directions, check out the message board here:
http://members.dizzyllamas.com/index.php?topic=695.0

The event is open to all Llamas, whether your playing four sports or haven’t played in a few seasons. Feel free to invite friends and family. The more folks that come the better the competition. If you have any questions, feel free to email Dave at dave.claffey@dizzyllamas.com. I hope you all can make it.

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The Fall season has gotten off to a great start for Dizzy Llamas teams.

- Three of our four Dodgeball teams are ranked in the top five of the BSSC standings, with defending champion White carrying an astonishing 95% winning percentage.

- Rain has soiled many of our outdoor seasons so far, but both of the Dizzy Llamas softball teams are undefeated heading into October.

- The soccer team earned their first win of the season Friday night, but it was also their first win in nearly six months after an injury plagued summer season. This season’s squad looks strong and should pick up where last spring’s BSSC runner-up team left off.

- After an excellent outdoor season, Volleyball moved back in doors for the Fall. They’ve gotten off to a slow start, but they’re still carrying a .500 record and are poised to make a run.

- The two Dizzy Llamas Football teams have also been slowed by the rainy weather. The’ve only got a pair of games in, but one was a blowout victory.

- The Llamas new look basketball team is enjoying life in a new league.

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Congratulations to Cici Cassara and Danielle Sullivan for winning Llama of the Month for August and September respectively. Both are excellent athletes who go above and beyond for their teammates or any Llamas team that needs them. To learn more about them, and check out past LotM, check out the awards section of the Dizzy Llamas website: http://www.dizzyllamas.com/sports/awards/lotm/

See you all on the field!