It is almost spring, and while our winter season are in full force, we’re looking forward to dusting off our cleats! Signups have begun for Softball, Basketball and Soccer. For more details on our outdoor offereings, check out the message board here: http://members.dizzyllamas.com/index.php?topic=1614.0

Spring also brings the Dizzy Llama Bowlarama, and this year is no exception. This year’s tournament is Saturday, April 10th at Lanes and Games in Cambridge. There is a bar and plans are on for a party afterward. For more details on the Bowlarama, check out the signup thread here: http://members.dizzyllamas.com/index.php?topic=1601.0

Finally, keeping on the party theme, The Dizzy Llamas Poker League is closing out their season with a big tournament at Llama Central on Friday, April 9th. There be poker, food and drinks, so even if you want to skip the poker and play some beer pong come on down!

Both the Bowlarama and the Poker Finale are open to everyone and guests are welcomed. No better way to kick off the new season!

We are only two weeks away from the Golden Llama, the Dizzy Llamas annual award and casino night. For those who will be going for the first time, a flat fee covers your dinner in chips. We eat, play, drink and have fun. It is the greatest “Green Tie” event in town.

For more details and award nominees, check out the information post on the message board here: http://members.dizzyllamas.com/index.php?topic=1487.0

We also have a set of awards call the Llamas choice awards. Separate from the player-of-the-year for each sport, the Llamas Choice awards are a chance for all our athletes to select their peers in categories like captain of the year, most improved and Rookie of the year. You can find the link on the information post or you can vote here: http://www.dizzyllamas.com/sports/awards/2009/

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The winter season is mostly underway, despite a few weekend snow storms. If you’re still interested in playing some sports we’ve have some mid-season openings. Check out the about page on the DL website and email that’s sports coordinator to get started.

We are also fielding a pair of basketball teams this January after the success of our Summer basketball league, but we are still looking for players. If you played in the summer or would like to play indoor on Wednesday nights, signup on the message board here: http://members.dizzyllamas.com/index.php?topic=1492.0

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Some changes are afoot with the Llamas! Three Llamas were recently presented with numbers. Adny Hatin will now don number 34, Sean Morgan 55 and Greg Martinage (Don’t tell him. He doesn’t get it until Tuesday). Also, Soccer Veteran Mark Goodman will be taking over the club’s soccer program for Mike Bizier, whose teams earned a championship and finals appearance during his year at the helm.

Congratulations to all of you and good luck in your new roles in 2010.

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Finally, our Little Llamas sports equipment was a huge success. A lot of thanks to go around once again, but we easily topped last years total. Well done everyone. There will be a lot of happy tykes once the weather warms.

See you on the Field!

2009 kicked off with a bang as nearly fifty Llamas packed the Verona Restaurant in Watertown to celebrate the 2008 Golden Llamas award winners. Thank you for everyone one who made 2008 great, and here is looking to 2009 as a year that will eclipse it.

If you were unable to make the festivities, here is a rundown of the 2008 Golden Llama recipients:
Llama of the Year - Thomas Boates
Dodgeball Player of the Year - Shane Knowles
Softball Player of the Year - Jen Kuzmick
Soccer Player of the Year - Andrea Nykiel
Volleyball Player of the Year - Caitlyn Cassara
Basketball Player of the Year - Patrick Brown
Rookie of the Year - Scott Tarentino
Captain of the Year - Dave Claffey
Most Inspirational - Caitlyn Cassara

Most improved:
Dodgeball - Mike Bizier
Softball - Victoria Catalan
Soccer - Mark Goodman
Volleyball - Thomas Boates
Football - Danielle Sullivan
Ultimate - Erin Calamari
Basketball - Matt Guerra

Hey Llamas,

We are getting close to the start of the Winter season, and a few of our teams are still looking for players. Flag Football, Soccer, Volleyball and Floor Hockey will be starting up in December. If you haven’t signed up yet, take a look at the details here: http://members.dizzyllamas.com/index.php?topic=786.0

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December also brings Llamas, Llads and Llasses, a charity drive that aims to keep kids active by donating sports equipment to children’s organizations. We are looking for new sports equipment like balls, bats and other gear a child could use, and used books that we will sell to fund youth sports clinics in the spring.

From December 1st to December 21st, your Dizzy Llamas captain will be accepting donations at your games. Any donation of new sports gear is welcome, from a Nerf football to an aluminum bat. For more information, check out the message board here: http://members.dizzyllamas.com/index.php?topic=805.0

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The Golden Llama Casino Night and Awards Banquet is scheduled for Friday, January 9th, 2009. This “Green Tie” event will offer food, fun, gaming and prizes. At the end of the night, we will name the 2008 Llama of the Year among other awards.

Like all DL events, friends and family are always invited. As we get closer we’ll release more details, but save the date. It should be a lot of fun!

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Congratulations to Cameron Stewart for winning the October Llama of the Month.

See you on the field!

The Dizzy Llamas Athletic Club is looking for donations from friends, family and Llamas during the holiday season to help promote youth sports and activity in Boston and beyond. The Llamas, Llads and Llasses campaign seeks new sports equipment and used books to be donated to organizations like Toys for Tots and local youth leagues like South End Baseball.

From December 1st to December 21st, your Dizzy Llamas captain will be accepting donations at your games. Any donation of new sports gear is welcome, from a Nerf football to an aluminum bat. Baseball related equipment would be donated to South End Baseball, a youth baseball league serving urban neighborhoods in Boston. All other sporting equipment will be given to Toys for Tots, and will find homes across the region, in the hands of children who truly need them.

Many generous folks donate dolls and trucks, but few think about sports equipment. Many of us grew up with a ball or a bat in our hand. I had a bucket of balls in my room, one for almost every sport. The thought of a child growing up in a world absent of sports is troubling. Sports equipment and childhood should intertwined. Who better than us know the value of a soccer ball or a wiffle ball bat? Small things that don’t seem like much to most helped shape our lives today.

On top of that, we’ll be conducting a used book drive. Bring a stack of old books to a game. Your captain will also be collecting them. Any books on your shelf that you’d like to donate are welcomed. Those books will be sold and the proceeds will fund clinics hosted by the DLAC for the children of South End Baseball in the Spring.

When you’re out shopping, grab a cheap basketball. When you’re cleaning your apartment for a Christmas Party, throw some used books in a bag. Everything helps. This is the first year of Llamas, Llads and Llasses, and we’d like to make it as easy for you as possible to give during the holiday season. If we all give a little, we can make a big impact by keeping kids active like we were when we were tykes.

Again, all donations can be given directly to your captain. If you have any questions, contact Dave at info@hotmail.com.

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