The GOAT of all mascots
Nigerian dwarf ‘Roo’ brings smiles to northern Ohio softball team
The unquestioned GOATS of Suburban League American Conference softball this season are the Highland Hornets thanks to a four-legged animal named Roo.
On April 10, Amanda Martin wanted to watch her daughter, Kiley Martin, catch for Highland in a conference matchup at Cuyahoga Falls.
The only problem was the family had a 2-week old Nigerian Dwarf goat that needed to be bottle fed every four hours.
No problem. Roo hopped into the car, and the rest is history.
“She was brand new then,” Amanda said. “She needed the bottle, so we had to bring her everywhere. We thought the kids would like to see her. Everybody went nuts. They all wanted to hold her.”
Since that 15-7 win, the Hornets have come to expect their favorite 10-pound 6-week-old kicking her feet up on the hill at Highland or sitting in the dugout with the team.
She has become quite the star on Twitter as she rounds the bases after games. Roo even has her own uniform — her second because her weight has doubled since her first game.
Trip to Cuyahoga Falls had a little extra in it
“It was shocking at first because I didn’t expect my mom to bring her,” Kiley said. “Everyone loved it. She’s kind of been adopted by the team now. It’s fun because she comes on over and we pet her when she’s not running around everywhere else.”
Speaking of running around, that first game she escaped and ran into the outfield during the game.
The brief break drew smiles as Roo enjoyed her romp in the grass.
“She’s just a little reminder that you’re supposed to have fun during the game,” Highland center fielder Corinne Mutch said. “When she got onto the field, it was
pretty funny. It was like, ‘All right, we’re here to have fun, be together and play a sport that we all love.’ It’s just a good little reminder.
“She’s like a mascot. It’s nice to have that. After the game, we’ll go pet it. I’ve held it before. She’s super cute.”
Roo brings big smiles
Roo isn’t the first mascot Highland has had. Two seasons ago, 2021 graduate Riley Crandall brought Zeus, Poseidon and Hades, three ducks she received for Easter, to a game and they became part of the family.
“The goat is great,” Highland coach Brent Belsole
said. “She has brought up the dugout. They rally around it. They want it at every game. It reminds me of the rally ducks.”
Roo has become so popular that even opposing teams look for her when they know they’re playing Highland, which is in Medina.
The good news is Roo has been to eight games since her debut against the Black Tigers.
The better news is Amanda Martin has no plans of leaving her furry friend at home if the Hornets are playing.
“The goat loves people,” she said. “We’ve had it since it was brand new. She thinks it’s a person. Everybody likes her. She’s getting bigger, but she still likes to come. It seems to make everybody smile.”