Firefighters @ Indianapolis Clowns

7:40 The Banana Ball Circus is rolling

7:42 through North Dakota for the first time

7:44 ever and night one was full of fireworks

7:47 for the Indianapolis Clowns. Behind 13

7:50 hits and 14 [music] trick plays, the

7:52 Clowns earned a wire-to-wire victory

7:55 over their biggest rivals for the final

7:57 playoff spot, the Firefighters. Both

7:59 teams turning to their stallions for the

8:02 final turn in Fargo. David Griffin tries

8:05 to win the race for the Clowns while

8:07 Jared Donaldson and the Firefighters aim

8:09 to keep pace. The two teams chasing that

8:12 final playoff spot head-to-head in their

8:14 most crucial game to date.

8:18 We welcome you inside the big top

8:22 alongside Zach Zeigler, the voice of the

8:24 Firefighters. I am Cam Stewart. There's

8:27 no way to overplay this, Zach. This is

8:29 as big as it gets for these two teams.

8:31 We are past the midway point in the

8:33 season. There is a break looming in a

8:35 couple of weeks. These two teams are

8:37 fighting for that fourth playoff spot

8:38 and right now it's dead even and last

8:41 night a wire-to-wire Clowns victory.

8:43 >> Yeah, it's hard to believe we're already

8:44 at the end of June given what both these

8:46 teams have gone through in this month

8:47 from Cincinnati to Lincoln, Nebraska,

8:49 but this is a punctual point here in the

8:51 season for both the Indianapolis Clowns

8:54 and the Firefighters. Both sitting at 14

8:56 and 21. Both on the outside looking in

8:59 with five games of separation into that

9:01 fourth and final playoff spot. Both

9:03 tonight could be critical for them to

9:05 win because if they do, you get one more

9:08 series then two weeks off and then

9:10 you're in the home stretch right there.

9:11 You called it a race with David Griffin

9:13 and Jared Donaldson. Boy, it feels like

9:15 a sprint even though the season of

9:16 course in Banana Ball is a marathon.

9:18 >> Both these teams love who they're

9:20 sending out to the bump tonight and it

9:22 could be an absolute classic. Both these

9:25 teams know what's on the line. But how

9:26 do we get here? Let's take a look at

9:28 last night and it was history made. The

9:31 39th state that Banana Ball has traveled

9:33 to. We welcome you to the Peace Garden

9:35 State of North Dakota where they've been

9:36 waiting a long time. Joe Lyden didn't

9:39 have to wait long at all. South Trimble

9:41 takes a tumble and left. It's one

9:42 nothing on the first walk-off in the

9:44 bottom of the first inning. But Armando

9:46 Baceta understood the mission and then

9:48 some. Brian Dancero's sliding attempt

9:49 won't come up. Firefighters would score

9:51 three in the third and they get a pump

9:53 in on their first point of the game.

9:55 Then, bottom third to earn the actual

9:58 point, ARMANDO MUY CALIENTE, ARMANDO

10:01 BACETA. Look at this. 5 cm off that

10:05 first blade of grass spinning 360 behind

10:08 the back. One of the best plays we have

10:10 seen all of 2026. He's going to tell

10:12 Darian McDowell all about it.

10:14 >> This weekend a big homecoming for Carrel

10:17 Prime, the former Margo Fargo-Moorhead

10:19 RedHawks.

10:20 And he sends one out, Margie, to left

10:23 field for the walk-off homer. His fifth

10:25 homer of the year, his fifth walk-off as

10:28 well. [music] And speaking of, how about

10:29 walk-off number one for Brian Dancero?

10:32 Goes down the right field line. That

10:34 pushes this to a 3-1 lead. Premium shot

10:38 here from Darian McDowell. Double to

10:40 right center. Scores a run. Gives the

10:42 Firefighters another [music] point. But

10:44 then JBJ we go backside here in Fargo,

10:47 North Dakota. [music] A blazer of a

10:49 two-run shot to win another point to get

10:51 us to the ninth inning. All kinds of

10:53 power off Ohtaka and this is how the

10:55 game would finish. One more for good

10:57 measure. Bobby La Day trick play number

10:59 14 for the Clowns and it was a

11:02 comprehensive victory. 5 to 2 your final

11:06 score. The Clowns take game one looking

11:09 to make it a sweep. And the reason they

11:12 get here is typically with the bats and

11:15 they spread the love the Brooklyn way

11:17 last night in this lineup. Jackie

11:19 Bradley Jr. a showman performance at 3

11:22 for 4, but let's not sleep on Joe Lyden.

11:24 The league's leading hitter had the 12

11:26 game hitting streak snapped last Sunday

11:28 against the Bananas. All he does to

11:30 follow that up is 3 for 3, a walk-off,

11:32 and a couple RBI, and then those guys

11:34 near the top. Bobby LaDay and Dale

11:36 Francis Jr. They shift spots, LaDay to

11:39 the top spot with Joe Gray Jr. out, Dale

11:41 Francis to the three hole. They both add

11:44 a couple of hits as well. And it's

11:46 really been the bats all season long for

11:49 the Indianapolis Clowns. In fact, both

11:51 these teams, Zach, have gotten to where

11:53 they are with those bats. And speaking

11:56 of lumber, we've got some history out

11:59 here in Fargo when it comes to that

12:01 department. Michael Schwartz found out.

12:16 >> Is it real?

12:17 >> Yep.

12:19 >> It's so big.

12:22 Wow.

12:26 Anyway, uh

12:27 we're here, Big Bruce, world's largest

12:29 bat. It's here in uh Fargo, North

12:32 Dakota, but this guy, among starters and

12:35 all been animal, you're batting about a

12:36 430 right now in more than 85 at bats.

12:39 What is clicking for you?

12:41 >> Uh you know, it's just see ball, hit

12:42 ball. Um I had a

12:45 man weekend last weekend in Cincinnati,

12:47 but uh talked to the pops on the phone

12:50 uh about my swing. He said my front foot

12:52 was dang near on the white chalk line.

12:55 So, he's like, "Hey, close it up just a

12:56 little bit." And then yesterday felt

12:58 really good at the plate. Felt super

12:59 comfortable.

13:00 >> Uh the rest of your team is consistent.

13:03 Jackie Bradley Jr., I [clears throat]

13:04 was talking to Jackie last night. Uh

13:06 you know, the stats don't really reflect

13:08 what you're doing in the standings.

13:10 You're at the bottom of the league right

13:11 now, but how do you guys keep that up

13:13 jelling throughout? Just not you.

13:15 >> Yeah, we just got to stay consistent. Uh

13:18 keep putting in the work day in and day

13:19 out, and uh you know, that's just how it

13:21 goes. You know, it's baseball, I think.

13:24 >> It's baseball. It's weight.

13:25 >> Ride the flow.

13:26 >> Ride the flow. And

13:28 big Bruce, big bat. It's a lot of big

13:30 bats on these clowns. One of the

13:33 biggest. JD, you think we could carry it

13:35 through TSA on the plane back to

13:37 Savannah?

13:38 >> I don't know if it'd fit.

13:39 >> Okay. We'll we'll go through logistics

13:41 of that.

13:43 You keep swinging away [music]

13:44 and we'll keep researching away. Joe

13:46 Leto. Thanks, buddy.

13:47 >> Thanks, man.

13:51 >> [screaming]

13:51 >> World's biggest wooden bat sitting here

13:54 in the basement at Newman Outdoor Field

13:56 and it is the bats that are going to

13:58 take these two teams out of the

14:00 basement.

14:01 You look at what the Firefighters and

14:03 Clowns did this weekend just in one

14:05 game. 24 combined hits, 17 combined

14:09 runs. It's not the offense that's been

14:11 the issue for either of these teams over

14:13 the last few weeks or really the last

14:15 month or so. They've got to find it both

14:17 on defense and pitching and that's where

14:19 the Clowns really excelled last night

14:21 was the fielding. They had [music] 14

14:23 trick plays, really took the

14:24 Firefighters at the equalizer point

14:26 before things got started. Tonight, both

14:28 teams, if you're going to make a run at

14:30 that fourth playoff spot, you got to

14:32 start it before you go on this two-week

14:34 break because once you go after that,

14:36 you're right to the finish line on your

14:39 highest gear possible. And so, for both

14:41 teams sitting at 14 and 21 tonight, you

14:43 want to get that 15th win. Feel good

14:45 about yourself going into that final

14:46 series before the two-week break.

14:48 >> And it is something that is not lost on

14:50 either of these rosters. You know, they

14:52 know how big these games are. They know

14:54 where they're at in the standings. And

14:56 of course, we see how tight it is at the

14:58 top there. And that is how we look at

15:01 this Banana Ball Championship League

15:03 standings. Let's take a look at what's

15:05 going down there on the field. The

15:07 Clowns are keeping the fun alive.

15:22 >> Hello, Fargo, North Dakota.

15:25 >> Yo, yo, yo, yo, yo. HOW Y'ALL FEELING?

15:28 >> WELL, WE JUST GOT ONE QUESTION for you.

15:30 Do you need something? Are you ready to

15:31 see the original baseball circus?

15:34 >> an adrenaline jump?

15:36 >> Well, we got plenty of that coming your

15:37 way cuz we like to clown around all day.

15:39 So, get ready to [music] clap those

15:40 hands and stomp those feet because at

15:42 the end of the day, we all need somebody

15:43 to lift us up. You, me, them, everybody.

15:50 >> Oh, [screaming]

15:52 everybody

15:54 needs somebody.

15:57 Everybody [music]

15:59 needs somebody

16:01 love. Oh, yeah. Someone to love. Someone

16:05 to loves

16:07 a sweet little meat, [music] a sugar to

16:08 kiss.

16:09 >> A sugar to kiss.

16:10 >> I need you, you, you. I need you, you,

16:15 you. I need you, you, you. I need you.

16:19 >> Let's hear it FOR THE ORIGINAL BASEBALL

16:22 CIRCUS, YOUR WORLD-FAMOUS Indianapolis

16:26 Clowns.

16:53 >> FARGO,

16:56 I THINK IT'S TIME WE turn up the heat

16:59 here in NORTH DAKOTA. Please welcome the

17:02 hottest team in sports, THE

17:05 FIREFIGHTERS.

17:08 >> [screaming]

17:26 [music]

17:33 >> AND NOW THE starting lineup for the

17:36 Firefighters.

17:38 Leading off the hot shot at shortstop,

17:41 number two, Cayden "Peanut" Green.

17:48 In the two hole, center fielder, number

17:50 30, ARMANDO BECERRA.

17:56 BATTING THIRD, LEFT FIELDER, NUMBER

17:59 ZERO, Lamar

18:01 Sparks.

18:04 In the cleanup spot, behind the plate,

18:06 number four, Eric Jones, Jr.

18:12 In the five hole, designated hitter,

18:14 three,

18:15 C3,

18:17 Dalton

18:18 Cornett.

18:21 Batting sixth, right fielder, number 10,

18:24 Terrian "Premium

18:27 Big" Dell.

18:30 IN THE SEVEN SLOT AT second base, South

18:34 "Smoke" Trimble.

18:39 In the eight hole, manning the hot

18:41 corner, number 55, Tyner "Tiny" Hughes.

18:48 Batting ninth, the first baseman, number

18:51 seven, Mason "Mad Max" Maxwell.

18:58 And the decky, the extra hitter, number

19:01 24,

19:03 Dakota "Diesel Big" Batten.

19:08 The flamethrower on the mound, tonight's

19:10 starting pitcher, number 21, Jared

19:14 Donaldson.

19:20 >> There are the Firefighters taking the

19:22 field in what is a critical match-up in

19:25 our first time in North Dakota. Fargo

19:29 has been electric this weekend. And hey,

19:33 wherever the Clowns go, they are at the

19:35 intersection of the Negro Leagues and

19:37 baseball history, and North Dakota is no

19:40 different. It runs so deep in the Peace

19:42 Garden State. Our very own Michael

19:45 Schwartz sunk his teeth into just how

19:47 deep these roots go.

19:52 >> North Dakota, the upper Midwest, is a

19:54 region of the country that drew large

19:56 crowds for Negro League games. The

19:58 Indianapolis Clowns played a handful of

20:00 games here in Fargo more than 50 years

20:03 ago. Now, decades later, the team has

20:06 returned with its strong ties here to

20:08 the Midwest and a member of the team

20:10 that once played here.

20:12 >> The Indianapolis Clowns

20:14 coming back to play in Fargo, North

20:17 Dakota.

20:18 I mean, how about that?

20:19 >> Bill Hueward was one of the first white

20:21 players on the Indianapolis Clowns, a

20:23 pitcher and outfielder in the early

20:26 '70s, later becoming player-manager. He

20:28 recalls coming to Fargo with the team.

20:31 >> City wasn't like it is today, much, you

20:32 know, much smaller. We were in an old

20:34 cowboy hotel downtown.

20:36 >> From Fargo, it's a straight drive west

20:38 to Bismarck, Jamestown, or south to

20:40 Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

20:41 >> It It was just centrally located and you

20:45 had good baseball people there, and the

20:47 town baseball was very competitive.

20:49 >> Negro Leagues historian Phil Dixon

20:51 explains that this region was not only a

20:53 prime location, but more accepting than

20:56 others at that time.

20:58 >> They also were different than the rest

21:00 of the country because they used

21:02 integrated teams up in North Dakota more

21:05 than maybe down in the Midwest or even

21:08 you couldn't do that in the south or you

21:10 know, we talking about some pretty big

21:11 areas like Florida and Texas, but you

21:14 could come up to North Dakota, South

21:17 Dakota and you could be a black player

21:19 pitching for all white town.

21:22 And so a number of players did that.

21:24 >> I I just remember being very very

21:27 accepting.

21:27 >> Bill only had a love for the game and

21:30 the players he had the opportunity to

21:32 play with.

21:38 >> Certainly a great return for Bill

21:40 Heuward and for these Indianapolis

21:43 Clowns. I mentioned it, wherever they

21:45 go, there's Negro Leagues history and

21:47 it's once again a reminder of just how

21:50 blessed we are to be a part of this team

21:53 and to have the Indianapolis Clowns in

21:55 the Banana Ball Championship League. A

21:57 great group of guys who fully understand

22:00 what they take on when they put on that

22:02 uniform and Bill Heuward, assistant

22:05 coach here with the Clowns, a big big

22:08 reason why. We have resurrected them not

22:11 playing baseball, but playing Banana

22:13 Ball. What's the difference you ask?

22:15 Let's go to our great leader, Jesse Cole

22:18 in virtual Banana Land.

22:22 >> Banana Ball is the fastest and most

22:24 entertaining show in sports and the 11

22:27 rules guarantee the most fans first

22:29 experience every second.

22:30 >> Unbelievable!

22:32 >> WELCOME TO THE BANANA BALL CHAMPIONSHIP

22:34 LEAGUE.

22:35 >> RULE NUMBER ONE, win the inning, win the

22:37 point. The team that scores the most

22:39 runs in an inning wins the point.

22:41 >> IT'S A WALK-OFF WINNER!

22:43 >> FOR THE SAVANNAH BANANAS! [cheering]

22:45 >> OH MY GOODNESS!

22:47 >> With the equalizer point, trick plays

22:49 provide the away team an opportunity to

22:51 earn a point going into the final

22:52 inning.

22:53 And in the final inning, every run

22:55 counts as a point.

22:57 Rule number two, Banana Ball has a

22:59 two-hour time limit, guaranteeing that

23:02 every game is fast-paced and

23:04 action-packed.

23:05 Rule number three, no stepping out of

23:07 the batter's box. If you do, it will

23:09 result in a strike.

23:10 >> Max stepped out of the box, and because

23:12 he stepped out of the box, that's it.

23:14 >> Rule number four, no bunting [music]

23:17 cuz bunting sucks. If you bunt, you'll

23:19 be thrown out of the game. Rule number

23:21 five, batters can steal first base.

23:24 >> BALL THREE, GETTING IT TAKEN OFF FOR

23:25 FIRST THROW FROM LEROY, IN TIME.

23:28 >> RULE number six, there's no [music]

23:30 walks. Walks are ball four sprints. The

23:33 batter can advance as far as they want

23:35 until every position player touches the

23:38 ball.

23:38 >> Those defenders have touched THE BANANA

23:40 BALL. IT IS A FOUR-BASE SPRINT TO OPEN

23:43 UP the ball game.

23:44 >> Rule number seven,

23:46 no mound visits.

23:48 Nope.

23:49 Rule number eight, foul balls caught by

23:51 a fan count as an out.

23:59 Rule number nine, the showdowns. In

24:02 showdowns, the best of the best face off

24:04 in the biggest moment. One hitter versus

24:07 one pitcher with one fielder behind him,

24:10 and the hitter has to score.

24:16 Rule number 10, the banana ball

24:17 challenge rule gives the coaches and you

24:20 the fans a chance to impact a call on

24:23 the field.

24:23 >> [cheering]

24:24 >> Rule number 11, the golden batter. Once

24:27 a game, each team can give any player an

24:29 at bat regardless of the lineup. This

24:31 offers the biggest matchups on the

24:33 biggest stage.

24:35 >> Big on big.

24:36 Gamer, it's gone.

24:38 It's gone.

24:39 It's gone.

24:40 Get

24:41 out of here, ball.

24:42 That thing had a

24:44 family.

24:45 >> [screaming]

24:46 >> And those are the rules of banana ball.

24:51 >> Here we go. We're a soul man.

24:57 We're a soul man.

25:01 We're a soul man.

25:05 We're a soul man.

25:07 >> Fargo North Dakota, if you WANT SOME

25:09 BEATS, LET ME HEAR YOU SAY

25:11 >> THE CLOUDS

25:13 AND WE'RE MAKING IT BETTER

25:15 EVERY TIME we play.

25:17 We can groove it.

25:18 >> I said, if you WANT SOME BEATS, LET ME

25:21 HEAR YOU SAY SOUL

25:23 >> NOTHING YET.

25:24 WE'RE A SOUL MAN.

25:28 We're a soul man.

25:31 Come on.

25:32 We're a soul man. [screaming]

25:36 We're a soul man.

25:44 >> I said it's soul,

25:46 soul,

25:47 soul man.

25:49 >> Come on.

25:52 >> I said it's soul man.

25:55 >> [screaming]

25:56 >> We're a soul man.

26:00 We're a soul man.

26:04 We're a soul man.

26:08 We're a soul man. Come on.

26:12 >> The sun is shining through here in

26:14 Fargo, North Dakota and truly it's

26:16 always shining when you get the

26:17 Barnstorm Brass out there to perform and

26:20 it's extra sunny when you have a former

26:23 major leaguer who made an All-Star team,

26:25 won an ALCS MVP and a Gold Glove. That's

26:28 just in your lineup every day. In fact,

26:30 go and ask the Indianapolis Clowns what

26:33 a big night it was last night for Jackie

26:36 Bradley Jr. A showman performance and he

26:39 is standing by with our Michael

26:41 Schwartz.

26:42 >> Yeah, JBJ, one of my favorite people and

26:44 on his bat that he used last night, one

26:46 of his favorite people, his daughter.

26:49 Yesterday was the first

26:51 uh you used that bat and you hit a home

26:53 run. We touched on it in the postgame,

26:55 but I wanted to elaborate a little bit

26:56 more. This is the bat.

26:58 >> Yes, this is the bat. It's uh my second

27:01 daughter, Elle, and Bradley, my third

27:03 oldest, and I'm currently

27:06 trying [music] to do something that I

27:08 thought was pretty cool. Uh let my wife

27:10 and my kids all pick their own

27:12 particular color bats, and I have all of

27:14 their names on the bats. So, I'm trying

27:17 to hit a home run with everybody in the

27:19 family.

27:20 >> Wow. And they

27:22 I hope Elle could sign this bat.

27:24 >> Yes, Elle can do whatever she wants with

27:25 this bat. I I got a homer in it already,

27:27 so you know, it's pretty much hers.

27:29 >> Love it. Hey, Jackie, I just got to ask

27:31 you real quick. We're almost at the

27:32 halfway point of the season. You have

27:34 such an amazing resume. Does Banana Ball

27:37 live up to your expectations? Did you

27:38 even know what you were getting into?

27:40 >> Honestly, didn't. You know, I'm I've

27:42 heard a lot of great things about it,

27:44 and I got to experience it for myself

27:46 last year um in Boston

27:49 um and being able to kind of be around

27:51 the players, be around the the cast,

27:53 everybody that kind of makes this thing,

27:55 the upper management, they treated our

27:57 family

27:58 with such great care, and I completely

28:01 went into this with zero expectations. I

28:04 just knew that I wanted to, you know,

28:06 have a good time and and see what it was

28:07 all about, and this is absolutely

28:10 phenomenal, and you know, I can see this

28:13 place going doing a lot of special

28:14 things in the years to come.

28:15 >> Well, JBJ, we're so grateful to have you

28:17 here. We'll send it back up to you guys

28:19 in the booth.

28:21 >> Thank you, Michael, and to Jackie. And

28:23 it might have been Elle that sealed the

28:26 L for the Firefighters last night with

28:28 that eighth-inning walk-off from Jackie

28:30 Bradley Jr. And what a turbulent month

28:33 it has been for JBJ. It didn't start all

28:36 that hot, but once he got over a little

28:38 bit of a cough and the weather got even

28:40 warmer and the sun stayed out longer,

28:43 JBJ's hot. And JBJ's bat inevitably got

28:47 hot again. You've seen it over the last

28:48 2 weeks. That average nearing 600,

28:51 cutting down on the strikeouts, and

28:53 starting to hit the ball out of the yard

28:55 even more. You saw it with home run

28:57 number seven last night, a double last

29:00 weekend against the Savannah Bananas.

29:03 That bat [music] is starting to scorch

29:05 once again.

29:06 >> It's funny.

29:07 All he had to do is just go play in

29:08 another major league park, and all of a

29:10 sudden [music] JBJ found his swing

29:11 again. The World Series champion, former

29:13 star for the Boston Red Sox, goes to

29:15 Cincinnati, and just starts hitting it

29:17 out of the park once [music] again. But,

29:18 that's the kind of talent that he has.

29:20 And again, the month of June has been

29:21 incredible for a few players in this

29:23 game. Namely, the last 2 weeks, Jackie

29:25 Bradley Jr. But, you look on the

29:27 opposite side. What about Keaten Green?

29:29 400 average. Armando Becerra is hitting

29:31 429 in the month of June. E.J. is above

29:33 400. Eric Jones Jr. for the

29:35 Firefighters. This month, the start of

29:38 summer has been sweltering hot for the

29:40 bats here in Banana Ball.

29:42 >> And you can look that way at Bobby

29:43 LaDay. Joe Gray Jr. is unfortunately not

29:45 in the lineup, but Jackie Bradley leads

29:47 the way for this team. We're getting so

29:49 close to getting started. Just got to

29:51 get hyped.

29:56 >> Ladies and gentlemen,

29:59 dreamers,

30:01 believers,

30:02 and storytellers from around

30:05 the world,

30:07 for over 50 years, the Clowns

30:09 barnstormed this country, city to city,

30:12 town [music] to town, bus ride to bus

30:15 ride.

30:17 They played through rain.

30:20 They played through hate.

30:22 They played through empty crowds and

30:25 packed houses.

30:27 This is for every clown who wore the

30:31 jersey.

30:32 This is for every pioneer and showman.

30:37 This is for EVERY PLAYER WHO STEPPED

30:40 FOOT ON THE FIELD.

30:42 They They built this.

30:45 And this IS MORE THAN JUST A COMEBACK.

30:49 THIS IS MORE THAN JUST A REUNION. THIS

30:54 IS HISTORY in the making, AND TONIGHT IT

30:57 IS YOUR JOB.

30:59 FARGO!

31:08 I SAID [screaming] FARGO!

31:12 >> [cheering]

31:15 >> AFTER 37 YEARS IN THE DARKNESS, THE

31:19 ORIGINAL BASEBALL CIRCUITS IS BACK, AND

31:22 THE SHOW [screaming]

31:24 STARTS NOW!

31:29 >> FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA, IT'S TIME TO GET

31:33 LOUD AND ROWDY AND WELCOME THE STARTING

31:35 LINEUP OF YOUR INDIANAPOLIS CLONES!

31:38 [screaming]

31:41 LEADING IT OFF, A MAN OF FEW WORDS, BUT

31:43 a whole lot of trick plays AT SHORTSTOP,

31:46 BOBBY LA JAY!

31:50 HE'S AN MVP, WORLD SERIES CHAMPION, and

31:53 a two-time mathlete all-star, JACKIE

31:57 BRADLEY JR.!

32:01 MAKING A SPLASH even when there's no

32:03 water around, YAEL FRENCH IS JR.!

32:09 >> [music and singing]

32:12 >> HE'S single-handedly keeping the mullet

32:14 industry in business, THE EXTRA HITTER,

32:17 JOE LIDO!

32:23 FARGO, no need to set YOUR CLOCKS

32:25 BECAUSE IT'S PRIME TIME, NUMBER 11,

32:29 Terrell Prime! [screaming]

32:35 SIZE doesn't matter, it's literally part

32:38 of his name. Number 12, NICO HULSIZER.

32:46 HE'S our golden boy from the golden

32:49 state. Number 16, Eli Payton.

32:56 Bringing that Georgia heat to North

32:58 Dakota. Number nine, Chris

33:02 Burgess.

33:06 He's not blaming anything on the boogie.

33:08 Do your dance, Brian Danzilio.

33:12 >> [screaming]

33:16 >> Keeping it cool on the hot corner. Third

33:19 baseman, Kirkland Banks.

33:26 Feeling the fire that these firefighters

33:28 won't be able to put out on the hill,

33:31 DAVID

33:34 GRIFFIN. [screaming]

33:40 AND THE designated runner,

33:43 Malachi

33:47 Fletcher

33:48 Mitchell.

33:50 [screaming]

33:56 The ring masters of the original

33:57 baseball circus. Eric "Foxy" Fox, Willie

34:02 or won't he Carter, and Tony "Big Tone"

34:06 Royer.

34:10 >> Eric Fox and these Indianapolis Clowns

34:13 look to make it a clean two-game sweep

34:16 over the Firefighters. Let's bring you

34:19 to our national anthem.

34:21 >> With the singing of our national anthem.

34:25 Joining us to sing the anthem this

34:27 evening, please welcome Ruthie Jensen.

34:32 >> Oh,

34:34 can you see

34:38 by the dawn's early

34:42 light [singing]

34:44 what so proudly

34:47 we hailed

34:50 at the twilight's

34:52 last gleaming,

34:55 whose broad stripes and bright stars

35:01 through the perilous

35:05 [singing] fight,

35:07 o'er the ramparts

35:10 we watched

35:12 were so gallantly

35:16 streaming?

35:19 And the rockets'

35:22 red glare,

35:23 >> [screaming]

35:24 >> the bombs bursting

35:26 in

35:29 air,

35:30 gave

35:31 proof through the night

35:34 that our flag was still there.

35:40 Oh, say does [singing] that

35:44 star-spangled

35:47 banner

35:48 yet wave [crying]

35:50 [screaming]

35:53 o'er the land

35:57 of the free

35:59 >> [screaming]

36:03 >> and the

36:04 home

36:06 of the

36:07 brave?

36:08 >> [screaming]

36:10 >> Fans, give it up for 13-year-old

36:13 Ruthie Jensen.

36:19 Ruthie Jensen with a stirring rendition

36:22 of our nation's national anthem in

36:25 Newman Outdoor Field in Fargo, North

36:28 Dakota just turned 30 this past week and

36:31 it's seldom had a weekend like this.

36:34 Packed to the gills at over 4,600

36:37 in our first trip to North Dakota. We

36:39 welcome you in on the Clown's YouTube.

36:41 We are about to get started here.

36:44 Welcome America and those of you

36:46 watching in downtown Fargo at the

36:49 viewing party as well. This city, this

36:52 state has waited a long time for Banana

36:55 Ball to come here. We had a great night

36:58 one and let's get it started for night

37:01 two. Here's what the defense looks like

37:03 for the Indianapolis Clowns who will

37:06 take to the field first. It was a

37:08 dominant performance in the trick play

37:10 department. 14 of them for the Clowns

37:13 once again tying their season high for

37:16 trick plays in a game. You see Jaylen

37:18 Vázquez who got the start last night. He

37:21 is in as your designated fielder at

37:23 second base. Kirkland Banks goes over to

37:25 third. Bobby La Daye is leading the way

37:27 and it's really that left side of the

37:29 defense that has been so impenetrable

37:31 and so good at the trick plays. Kirkland

37:33 Banks holding his own but Eli Peyton

37:36 moves from third base to behind the dish

37:38 catching tonight and they find a way to

37:40 get Chris Burgess, Joe Lidle and Eli

37:43 Peyton all into the lineup and it's all

37:46 behind David Griffin, the stallion at

37:50 the top of the pitching rotation for

37:53 these Indianapolis Clowns, the pride of

37:56 Hanover, Massachusetts. He told me he

37:58 didn't love his last two starts out

38:00 there but he does like seeing the

38:02 firefighters on the other side of things

38:04 because he has had success in three

38:07 starts this year. Excuse me, three

38:08 appearances, two starts where he's gone

38:10 10 and a third, given up six earned but

38:12 struck out 10 over that span. One of the

38:15 high volume strikeout pitchers in our

38:18 league, the former Triple A right arm

38:22 for the New York Mets.

38:23 >> However, the last time he faced the Fire

38:25 Fighters in Richmond, Virginia, he gave

38:27 up a pair of home runs

38:30 to this lineup right here. Kayden Peanut

38:33 Green, 391 average. Armando Bacelo, I

38:35 told you earlier in the month of June,

38:37 429 at the plate. You notice a little

38:40 bit of moving and shuffling here in the

38:42 lineup for the second straight night.

38:43 Logan Lacey, who had previously started

38:45 90 straight games for the Fire Fighters,

38:47 not in the lineup again because of a

38:49 little issue that popped up yesterday.

38:51 Lamar Sparks now in your three spot.

38:53 Eric Jones in the four spot. DC3, Dalton

38:56 Cornett, the designated hitter tonight

38:58 in that five spot. Watch out for Darian

39:00 McDowell. Two doubles last night. And

39:01 South Trimble, this is the 10th time

39:04 he's been in the lineup this year. He's

39:06 had hits in seven of those games.

39:08 >> Oh, we cannot wait to get started here

39:11 in Fargo. Only thing we got to do is

39:14 start that clock.

39:18 >> Fans of Fargo, North Dakota, it is about

39:21 that time that we start the clock.

39:27 But ladies and gentlemen, before we do,

39:28 I want to give a huge shout out to you,

39:32 North Dakota, because this has BEEN OUR

39:34 FIRST EVER WEEKEND OF BANANA BALL

39:36 JOINING YOU HERE IN FARGO, North Dakota.

39:39 Give it up for yourselves.

39:42 >> [cheering]

39:42 >> That's right, ladies and gentlemen. And

39:44 with that said, to help us start the

39:46 clock tonight here in North Dakota is a

39:49 man who knows more about baseball

39:50 history than just about anybody. He's an

39:53 author, a historian, and a former

39:55 Indianapolis Clown who played right here

39:58 back in the day in North Dakota from

39:59 1971 to 1975. Ladies and gentlemen,

40:03 PLEASE WELCOME BILL

40:10 >> 53 years ago, I had the thrill to roll

40:14 into Fargo, North Dakota as a member of

40:17 the Indianapolis Clowns.

40:19 And that team was carrying on the

40:21 tradition that the Clowns and other

40:24 Negro Leagues teams had done for

40:26 decades, playing across this state.

40:30 Goose Tatum, Oscar Charleston, Satchel

40:33 Paige, they all played here. And tonight

40:37 the Clowns are carrying on the

40:39 tradition. And we need to help get the

40:41 show started. On my count of three,

40:45 let's do play ball. ONE, TWO, THREE,

40:49 PLAY BALL!

40:51 >> LEADING IT OFF FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS,

40:53 number two, Kayden Green.

40:54 >> Bill Heuerman getting us ready and David

40:58 Griffin dealing the Peanut Green.

41:01 Two teams tied for fifth

41:04 outside looking in in the Banana Ball

41:05 Championship League standings. Clowns go

41:08 for the sweep, Firefighters look for the

41:10 split.

41:13 Kayden Green in a good spot right here,

41:16 three and oh.

41:18 Patient approach so far from Peanut.

41:22 Takes that one, getting the over strike.

41:24 David Griffin talked about a lot of

41:26 off-speed pitches early in the count.

41:28 We'll see how much that holds up

41:30 tonight. He falls well behind and it's a

41:33 ball for Sprint to get the ball game

41:35 started. Kayden Green

41:38 With that little spitting of rain here

41:40 with the last maybe hour or so, they

41:42 didn't put the tarp back on the field,

41:43 so you wonder if the dirt's a little

41:45 clay, a little bit more mushy. Peanut

41:48 almost slipped going to second, puts on

41:50 the brakes and finds his way back to

41:51 first. That's a nice start for the

41:52 lead-off hitter.

41:54 Armando Becerra now comes in with a man

41:56 on first, made maybe the catch of the

41:59 season last night.

42:00 >> Catch of my life, man. Almost an optical

42:03 illusion.

42:06 >> Try and do it with the bat here, and

42:07 that one hops up on Jaylen Vasquez on

42:10 that mud. He tries to get up and throw.

42:12 Ball gets away.

42:14 And Peanut Green will move up.

42:17 >> That's a pretty clear error there on

42:19 Jalen Vasquez. It's not just off the

42:21 glove, but it's the throwing error

42:22 that's going to be costly cuz it gets

42:24 Kayden over to third with runners on the

42:26 corners, nobody away. Lamar Sparks, who

42:28 knows this park so well from last

42:30 season, played half the year with the

42:32 Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks, had a double

42:34 last night. He'd like to go a little bit

42:36 further here with runners on and nobody

42:39 away.

42:41 >> Traffic early in the night for David

42:43 Griffin.

42:44 Becerra down to second almost took out

42:48 the starting pitcher. And now there's

42:49 two runners in scoring position.

42:51 >> Yeah, Armando's aggressive on the base

42:53 pads and you see why right there. Not

42:55 the traditional [music] double steal you

42:56 could see. Bird just threw it down to

42:57 second, but Peanut stays at third with

42:59 both runners in scoring position.

43:02 We talked about it also in Richmond.

43:05 This is one of the two guys that tagged

43:07 David Griffin for a home run, Lamar

43:08 Sparks. [music]

43:11 >> And there's plenty of pitchers around

43:12 the league that can say that.

43:13 >> Correct.

43:16 Not.

43:17 >> [music]

43:19 >> One of the premier power bats in our

43:21 great league.

43:24 In the first year of our league.

43:27 Banana Ball Championship.

43:28 >> Yep, 100%.

43:30 You understood the mission.

43:32 >> Infield in for the Clowns

43:34 before the first out.

43:37 Speaking of out, Lamar Sparks out to

43:39 left center. That one is going to get

43:41 down and stay down, dead in the grass.

43:44 Sparks, a two-run double. The

43:47 Firefighters not waiting AROUND TONIGHT.

43:50 >> SPARKY!

43:52 LOOK AT HIM FLY. A SECOND DOUBLE OF THE

43:54 WEEKEND. He told me he hit one out to

43:57 that part of the field when he was red

43:58 with the Redhawks. About 112 mph exit

44:01 velocity and it didn't make it out.

44:02 [music] That one felt like it had a

44:04 shot, too, but that'll do just as well

44:06 clearing the bags and making way for my

44:08 friend, the mustacheless now Eric Jones

44:10 Jr.

44:11 >> Doesn't get any easier in the middle of

44:13 this Firefighters Order.

44:17 But Lamar has sparked a fire.

44:20 >> Good.

44:21 >> You ever heard that one?

44:22 >> Of course.

44:23 >> When he was drafted, the big joke from

44:25 Drake Toll. The guy with the perfect

44:27 name.

44:30 >> It is almost too perfect.

44:32 >> There's nothing

44:32 >> such thing.

44:33 >> There's no such thing as too perfect.

44:35 >> Not in Banana Ball.

44:41 This is going to be the second ball for

44:43 Sparks of the inning.

44:46 Sparks around third, and it's the third

44:49 run.

44:51 >> See Eric Foxy coming out of the dugout a

44:53 little bit.

44:55 Maybe looking to tell David Griffin just

44:57 [music] to relax a little bit. Kirkland

44:59 Banks going to the mound with a message

45:01 for his starting pitcher, but EJ makes

45:03 it four straight now that have reached

45:04 in a third run comes in before we get

45:07 another out.

45:10 >> This one straight back.

45:13 Over us.

45:15 >> Yeah, that one wasn't close.

45:17 That one made it out to the plaza right

45:19 behind us.

45:23 >> Riley Turner, official statistician, did

45:25 have the hands up.

45:27 He was calling us off. He was ready for

45:29 it.

45:30 >> You play the beats, huh?

45:34 >> [music]

45:36 >> This one up and away, and Griffin behind

45:38 in the count again.

45:42 Check that. One, two.

45:44 Check swing appeal down to third.

45:47 Eli Payton wanted it. David Griffin

45:49 probably wanted it even more.

45:51 >> Kirkland Banks wanted it maybe the

45:52 worst.

45:56 John Cross, our third base umpire, says

45:58 he did not go.

46:01 >> This time, no doubt about it.

46:04 Half-hearted swing and David Griffin has

46:06 his first out of the night and his first

46:08 K on the board.

46:09 >> Yeah, that's where he gets to be so

46:10 dangerous, David Griffin, is when he

46:12 gets you thinking about that one coming

46:14 back in on the back door bender. That

46:17 time fools Dalton Cornett

46:19 and gets the first out. Finally, it's

46:20 Darian McDowell, a man with two doubles

46:23 last night, steps back in looking for a

46:25 little more.

46:27 >> Couple of RBI to go with it, but this

46:29 one they were made for La Day to

46:31 Vasquez. 6-4-3 double play. What a trick

46:35 play in there, first one of the night.

46:38 And that Clownz defense limits the

46:40 damage, but it's three across for the

46:43 Firefighters. They wasted no time in

46:46 this top half of the first inning. Those

46:48 bats alive early in Fargo.

46:52 >> All right, so let's take a peek at what

46:54 happened last night when the

46:55 Firefighters scored three runs,

46:57 which they did twice, they won the

46:59 inning. When they scored only one run in

47:01 an inning, which they did twice, they

47:02 lost that inning. So, this is an

47:04 important one to win now. Three in the

47:06 top half of the first and the guy coming

47:08 out in Jared Donaldson, as you see my

47:10 friend Lamar Sparks coming on in to get

47:13 that third run of the inning. Now, let's

47:15 take a peek at what's happening on the

47:17 defensive side and there is a lot of

47:19 moving and shaking here for the

47:21 Firefighters. E.J. at the catcher spot,

47:24 Sam Trimble is at second base for the

47:25 first time this year. Tyner Hughes, who

47:28 at one point last year with the Visitors

47:29 played all nine positions, is now at

47:31 another spot at third base. Lamar Sparks

47:34 in left field along with Armando Becerra

47:37 and Darian [music] McDowell. Sam

47:39 Trimble, usually a designated fielder

47:40 and runner, he's in the lineup tonight.

47:42 There is no designated fielder for the

47:45 Firefighters. And how about this? For

47:46 the first time in Fargo, we celebrate a

47:49 little Donnie Day here with Jared

47:51 Donaldson coming on in to the dish. Hey,

47:54 the last two starts he's had, 11 and 2/3

47:57 innings pitched, nine strikeouts, just

47:59 three ball four sprints, and only four

48:02 earned runs allowed. If he brings that

48:04 kind of fire in his eyes again, this guy

48:07 could really present a ton of trouble

48:09 for an Indianapolis Clowns team that he

48:11 dominated in Greenville and was very

48:12 good against in Richmond.

48:14 >> And it's impressive enough. This is a

48:15 tough lineup to dominate. And it's seen

48:18 some shuffling itself. Once again, no

48:20 Joe Gray Jr., the player of the week in

48:23 the BBCL last week, dealing with an

48:25 injury, not in the lineup once again

48:27 tonight. Bobby LaDay moves up to that

48:29 top spot. And Dale Francis Jr. as a

48:31 result gets the three hole. They keep

48:33 Jackie Bradley in two. And the extra

48:35 hitter Joe Leidell batting clean up.

48:38 Brian Dansereau and Kirkland Banks have

48:40 seen a lot of time as designated

48:41 fielders this year. They are both in the

48:44 lineup to round things out for a team

48:48 that had 13 hits last night en route to

48:51 that five to two victory in night one.

48:55 Bobby LaDay gets things started, has

48:57 been one of the hottest hitters in the

49:00 league here in the month of June.

49:04 >> He'll be trying to locate that patented

49:06 splitter from Jared Donaldson.

49:09 Sends that one to the fans.

49:13 >> Oh.

49:14 We had one man with a play on it.

49:17 >> Man, this is the home college town of

49:19 Christian Watson. Catch that.

49:22 >> This one gets away. LaDay thinks about

49:24 it. Stays in the box.

49:27 Of course, if you're new to Banana Ball,

49:29 once that ball gets away,

49:31 the hitter can run and steal first base.

49:33 We saw one in our game last night.

49:37 >> But you also, once you step out of that

49:38 box, you are committed.

49:41 >> LaDay

49:42 swing and a miss there.

49:45 Two for four last night. He did have a

49:46 stolen base. That was second base.

49:49 14 of 14 on the year. He's not going to

49:52 get that opportunity this time. One

49:54 hitter, one strikeout for Jared

49:56 Donaldson.

50:04 And it's the showman of the night,

50:05 Jackie Bradley Jr.

50:08 To stand in. A three for four night.

50:10 Just Just another day at the office for

50:12 JBJ.

50:14 Opposite field two-run homer to walk off

50:16 the eighth.

50:18 His seventh homer and 32nd RBI.

50:22 The latter

50:23 leads the Indianapolis Clowns.

50:27 Under this one.

50:33 Peanut

50:34 going to track it down on a ball that

50:36 was tailing and going to take it the

50:37 easy way.

50:39 >> So, if you've watched our game so far

50:41 this weekend, which is basically nine

50:44 and two thirds innings old, you'll know

50:46 the wind here is just blistering and it

50:49 goes all over the place. On that one

50:50 with Peanut, you want the trick play. It

50:52 goes up that high, it's ready-made, but

50:54 the wind's going to make it look really

50:56 hard up in the sky. And so, for Peanut,

50:58 just get the out. Get you to Dale

51:00 Francis Jr. with two away.

51:02 >> And you saw, you know, Tyners was under

51:04 it. And you see the effect of that wind

51:06 when all of a sudden it's the shortstop

51:07 going to get it. Ryan Dancero, the

51:09 Clowns left fielder, was talking to me

51:12 about that before the game today. He's

51:14 played here before. Said it just gets

51:17 wild out there.

51:20 Ball four sprint for Dale Francis Jr.

51:25 With two outs, the Clowns do get a base

51:27 runner.

51:28 It's already the third free pass we have

51:31 seen in this game.

51:34 >> That's the second straight night that

51:35 Dale Francis Jr.'s first plate

51:36 appearance a good one. Last night a

51:37 single, tonight earns it with a free

51:40 trip via ball four sprint. Four straight

51:41 bad ones there from Donny. Now goes up

51:43 against probably the hottest hitter in

51:45 the league right now. 430 average for

51:47 the former firefighter in Joe Lindel.

51:50 >> It's tough to do at this point in the

51:51 season, but brought it up 20 points last

51:54 night with a three for three,

51:57 couple of steaks,

51:58 walk-off.

52:03 This one on one hop to Peanut, gets it

52:06 over to second, put the trick play in

52:08 the book, and put the point in the book

52:11 for the Firefighters. One nothing our

52:14 score.

52:15 >> Good job there from Nut to get that

52:17 first trick play on the board last

52:18 second smoke right there. Firefighters

52:21 lead it one nothing.

52:23 >> And let's send it down to the field.

52:27 >> All right, here in Clown Town we have

52:30 the best mascot here in Banana Ball, and

52:33 his name is PEANUT. HAVE Y'ALL HEARD OF

52:36 HEARD OF PEANUT?

52:38 >> [cheering]

52:39 >> YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT. AND SO TODAY WE'RE

52:41 GOING TO BE having our This is for

52:44 another mascot, a little mascot. And

52:47 come on out little little Peanut.

52:51 Come on out.

52:53 Come on out.

52:55 And so the baby Peanut will be racing

52:58 from that fire pole all the way to the

53:01 finish line. And now it's going to be

53:03 time to see who will be our baby Peanut.

53:07 THIS RACE IS CALLED LITTLE NUTS. LET'S

53:10 BEGIN. All right, ON YOUR MARK, GET SET,

53:13 GO! [screaming]

53:18 OH, THEY'RE OFF.

53:20 Off to a strong start.

53:23 He's starting He's starting making his

53:25 way.

53:27 Come on little nuts.

53:29 Go!

53:32 He's almost there.

53:33 HE'S ALMOST THERE!

53:35 >> [screaming]

53:36 >> AND HE GOT IT!

53:38 GOOD JOB, MAN.

53:40 DON'T LEAVE ME HANGING. THERE YOU GO.

53:42 GOOD JOB.

53:43 GOOD JOB.

53:44 ALL RIGHT.

53:49 >> If by some miracle, Peanut, the only

53:52 world's only pitching mascot, gets on

53:54 base tonight, needs a pinch runner,

53:57 just watch out for that kid.

53:59 >> Is that possible?

54:01 >> Look, we saw about five pinch runners

54:03 thrown in at one point last night.

54:04 >> Yes, that's correct.

54:06 >> It could happen.

54:07 >> I still need to find out from Josh

54:08 Tolewski if that's actually legal.

54:10 >> I'm thinking of filing a class action

54:12 lawsuit against that.

54:14 >> I believe there's a designated runner in

54:15 our game tonight who is a pitcher.

54:18 >> Yes, that is Zack Phillips who pitched

54:19 last night. In fact, the Firefighters

54:21 designated runner last night was Jovan

54:23 Ray, another pitcher.

54:25 >> So, I'd say it is possible.

54:28 Hmm. We'll just have to wait and see.

54:30 >> That's a great frame job there from Eli

54:31 Peyton.

54:32 >> Sure was. 0-2

54:35 sent out towards center. JACKIE BRADLEY

54:37 JR. through the legs.

54:41 My, oh, my.

54:44 >> Cam, I'll I'll ask for your perspective

54:46 here. Did he look like he even had to

54:48 put that much effort into that one? I

54:50 mean, look at this. He just makes it

54:51 look so simple.

54:52 >> I mean, like taking out the trash. Just

54:55 as nonchalant as you'd like.

54:59 Jackie Bradley has a history of making

55:01 things look easy, just like Jaylen

55:03 Vasquez did right there.

55:06 A quick two outs for David Griffin, and

55:08 that is exactly what he needed to start

55:10 off this frame.

55:11 >> Yeah, if David Griffin gets on his horse

55:13 here, he could have gotten himself a

55:14 sub-60-second inning.

55:17 Won't have that here.

55:19 >> Mason Maxwell

55:21 going to make him work a little bit,

55:22 anyway.

55:30 Straight back, and Griffin

55:32 is ahead 1 and 2.

55:37 Griffin one of the top strikeout

55:39 pitchers in our league. That one not

55:41 going to be one. Kirkland Banks though,

55:43 deep in the hole, long throw, and he

55:46 makes it.

55:47 A 1 minute and 25 second inning

55:52 for David Griffin.

55:54 The exact kind of bounce back you were

55:56 looking for. And the Clown's number 15

56:00 looks settled in right there.

56:04 So impressive. Just so impressive. It's

56:06 a great fielding job too by Kirkland

56:08 Banks. If you saw it again, the field

56:09 kind of pushing it up a little high. He

56:11 eats it up, does the right thing, goes

56:13 and gets the out. Mason Maxwell with a

56:14 hard 90 just not fast enough.

56:24 Fans enjoying a summer night here in

56:27 Fargo, North Dakota.

56:29 Speaking of summer nights, Jared

56:32 Donaldson.

57:01 >> [music]

57:31 >> That is Jared Donaldson. And that

57:36 is how you do a pitcher walk up right

57:38 there. Summer nights, Rascal Flats. Let

57:41 me tell you a story real quick. Let me

57:42 take you behind the scenes, behind the

57:44 travel if you will. So, Charlotte, North

57:46 Carolina, we're coming back. It's

57:48 myself, Jared Donaldson, Tyner Hughes,

57:50 Brett Loftis in a car.

57:52 What a car, by the

57:53 >> This is the start of a great joke.

57:54 >> This is No, it's not a great joke, it's

57:56 a great story. Donnie looks and tells

57:58 me, "Hey, man,

57:59 I know

58:01 every Rascal Flatts song ever. If you

58:02 guys need to have a walk-up for me." So,

58:04 we said, "Let's test you." And sure

58:06 enough,

58:07 we tested him and he just knocked that

58:09 out the park.

58:10 >> Test passed.

58:15 Like you're going back to school. And

58:17 speaking of homecomings, that is what

58:19 this weekend has been for Correlle

58:21 Prime.

58:26 >> He's spent four seasons as a

58:28 Fargo-Moorhead

58:29 Red Hawk. FANS, GIVE IT UP FOR number

58:33 11, CORRELLE PRIME.

58:43 >> Great moment for Correlle Prime.

58:46 The former Red Hawk getting a great hand

58:50 here in his return to Newman Outdoor

58:52 Field. And he returned in style last

58:55 night, walk-off two-run homer

58:58 in the fourth and brought the whole team

59:00 out with him to celebrate.

59:03 >> He had told me earlier in the day the

59:05 ball didn't fly.

59:06 I'm convinced he lied.

59:08 Cuz he tatered that one.

59:12 >> He just wanted to set you up. It just

59:14 looks even more impressive when the

59:15 ball's not flying the way he hit it out.

59:19 >> Both he and Lamar said it, so I tend to

59:20 believe he actually wasn't lying, but uh

59:24 boy, he mashed the heck out of that

59:25 ball.

59:26 >> Two [cheering] guys who know a thing or

59:27 two about the air here in Fargo, North

59:30 Dakota.

59:32 Prime

59:33 out to center.

59:35 Lasetter under it.

59:37 He's going to take it.

59:38 >> [cheering]

59:39 >> A couple of hops, NOW GETS THE

59:41 REINFORCEMENTS. OH, WHAT A PLAY! LAMAR

59:45 Sparks reaching back to get it.

59:48 >> Okay.

59:49 >> That thing hung up in the air a long

59:52 time. Crisis averted.

59:55 >> Armondo Lasetter is about to give me a

59:56 heart attack. I ain't going to lie.

59:57 Look, two, three,

1:00:00 FOUR, AND THEN

1:00:02 LAMAR JUST COMES UP WITH IT.

1:00:04 OH, BOY. UH, I waited with baited breath

1:00:06 on that one.

1:00:07 Can I breathe again?

1:00:09 >> Lamar was ready for the volleyball after

1:00:11 the volleyball set.

1:00:15 Mondo's been very good at having the

1:00:17 multiple tips there, but,

1:00:18 >> [music]

1:00:18 >> uh,

1:00:20 oh, boy.

1:00:21 I was, uh, I was scared,

1:00:23 to say the very least.

1:00:25 >> Rico Holsizer in a hitter's count.

1:00:28 Bounces this one back to Donaldson.

1:00:30 THROUGH THE LEGS! And through THE LEGS

1:00:32 FOR MAXWELL!

1:00:35 WHAT A DOUBLE TRICK PLAY!

1:00:39 >> COME ON, MAN. YOU GOT TO GIVE IT TO

1:00:41 Jared Donaldson on that one. Tossed it

1:00:43 between the legs, then Mason going

1:00:45 between the legs for a double trick

1:00:47 play. That

1:00:49 was tremendous. Oh, we're being told

1:00:51 it's one trick play. I

1:00:54 made a mistake.

1:00:55 >> Look, Riley Turner is the best. Here,

1:00:57 Eli Peyton GOING TO GO FOR IT.

1:00:59 AND HE IS CUT DOWN! CAUGHT STEALING

1:01:02 first base.

1:01:04 How about that for a wacky inning?

1:01:07 Couple of trick plays and a caught

1:01:09 stealing at first.

1:01:11 >> I would love to see a replay of this

1:01:13 because that might be one of the best

1:01:14 ricochets I've ever seen off of a

1:01:17 backstop. It bounced so hard that that

1:01:20 E.J. barely had to move. It just bounced

1:01:23 right back to him and he catches Eli

1:01:25 Peyton, who is not slow by any means

1:01:28 necessary. He's got great speed on the

1:01:29 bag, but instead, he gets caught out and

1:01:32 the firefighters get your traditional

1:01:34 F87, F1, or G13 caught stealing first

1:01:38 base inning. What a time to be alive in

1:01:40 Fargo.

1:01:41 >> Just like all the times you've seen it

1:01:43 before. One thing we've never seen

1:01:45 before is banana ball here at Newman

1:01:48 Outdoor Field [cheering] in Fargo, North

1:01:51 Dakota.

1:01:56 A beauty here on the plains. Just turned

1:01:59 30 years old last week. Of course, the

1:02:03 home to the RedHawks of Fargo-Moorhead.

1:02:05 We've seen a couple of former guys

1:02:07 there. The NDSU Bison as well. And a

1:02:10 place my good friend Zach Staten knows

1:02:12 quite well.

1:02:13 >> Yeah, I actually met Correlle Prime here

1:02:15 a couple of uh

1:02:17 summers ago in 2019 and 2020. I'll tell

1:02:19 that story maybe a little bit later.

1:02:21 But, this is a beautiful ballpark. You

1:02:23 saw it there because of the connection

1:02:25 to Roger Maris, famous Yankees legend,

1:02:27 61 home runs. You might have heard about

1:02:29 it once.

1:02:29 >> Heard of it.

1:02:30 >> They actually made the outfield

1:02:31 dimensions almost identical, right down

1:02:34 to the yards

1:02:35 of what Yankee Stadium, the original

1:02:37 Yankee Stadium, looked and felt like.

1:02:39 So,

1:02:40 this it pays

1:02:43 great homage to one of the great

1:02:44 ballparks. And then if you go around the

1:02:46 suites, they're actually named after

1:02:48 some of the great ballparks throughout

1:02:49 history. So, Fenway Park is named here.

1:02:51 The Polo Grounds are on some of these

1:02:54 suites. They truly do honor the game so

1:02:57 well here in Fargo-Moorhead.

1:02:59 >> Easy to do when Roger Maris has come

1:03:02 through this great city. 61 in 61

1:03:07 to set the new record at the time.

1:03:14 David Griffin behind in count 3-1. He's

1:03:17 already issued a couple of ball four

1:03:19 sprints early in this ball game.

1:03:23 Cota McFadden, his first time up.

1:03:26 Swung right through what might have been

1:03:27 ball four.

1:03:28 >> T Mac just looked back at his

1:03:29 firefighter crew like, "Hey, did I do

1:03:30 that?" Yeah, he did.

1:03:32 >> Full count offering in there. Frozen

1:03:35 strike three.

1:03:38 How about a work back for David Griffin

1:03:41 in that at bat?

1:03:43 >> Let's look at the replay here.

1:03:45 That's right at the knees. That's tight.

1:03:47 That's the kind of stuff that gets David

1:03:49 Griffin from independent ball

1:03:51 to a spot in the Mets organization.

1:03:53 >> All the way up to triple A.

1:03:56 Jaylen Vasquez

1:03:58 going to first on that one. Two down.

1:04:00 Count that as the third trick play so

1:04:02 far for the clowns evening up that

1:04:05 tally.

1:04:11 La Serra, first pitch swinging. Correlle

1:04:14 Prime, he'll go through the legs to

1:04:15 David Griffin. Book another trick play

1:04:18 up there in another sub 90-second inning

1:04:22 for David Griffin. A minute 25 in the

1:04:25 second, a minute 23 in the third.

1:04:30 He has settled in quite nicely.

1:04:35 Let's send it down to the field for

1:04:37 Banana Foster.

1:04:37 >> over 400,000

1:04:39 children and teens in foster care

1:04:41 without a permanent home. To raise

1:04:43 awareness and support this community, we

1:04:46 created Bananas Foster, the official

1:04:48 nonprofit of Banana Ball. Our

1:04:51 organization is dedicated to celebrating

1:04:53 those in the foster care community while

1:04:56 educating and inspiring others to get

1:04:58 involved. Tonight, we are celebrating

1:05:01 the Belzer family. Rod and Tracy learned

1:05:05 of the need for safe and loving foster

1:05:07 homes in their community, so 28 years

1:05:10 ago, they became a licensed foster

1:05:13 family. They are passionate about

1:05:15 reunification, which is the ultimate

1:05:17 goal of foster care. And in total, they

1:05:20 have welcomed 165

1:05:24 children and teens into their home.

1:05:28 >> [cheering]

1:05:29 >> Fans, please join us in celebrating this

1:05:32 incredible family for making a

1:05:34 difference right here in your community.

1:06:00 >> Fans, give it up one more time for our

1:06:02 Bananas Foster Family of the Game.

1:06:06 The Belzer family.

1:06:08 Getting the applause and the love

1:06:11 they deserve and that they give out to

1:06:13 so many here in the Fargo community.

1:06:16 Always one of the great moments that we

1:06:18 have in every Banana Ball game, getting

1:06:20 to honor these families

1:06:24 that do not get enough credit. Happy to

1:06:26 give them that moment. Let's go to our

1:06:28 Banana Ball Backstage Question of the

1:06:31 Game.

1:06:35 Hanging out at Banana Ball Backstage

1:06:37 with 12-year-old Kaya, who came all the

1:06:39 way here to Fargo, North Dakota from

1:06:42 Denver, and she has a question for

1:06:44 Clowns outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr.

1:06:47 What's your question for JBJ?

1:06:48 >> Um what was your favorite movie growing

1:06:50 up and what is your favorite movie now?

1:06:53 >> I'll say growing up as a kid, my

1:06:55 favorite movie was The Lion King.

1:06:57 Um it still is my favorite animated

1:07:00 movie. And then my favorite movie as an

1:07:03 adult or

1:07:04 is uh on Fire with Denzel Washington,

1:07:07 Dakota Fanning,

1:07:09 um a lot of great actors. It is still is

1:07:11 my my favorite movie of all time. 2004

1:07:14 is when it was released and

1:07:17 I absolutely love that movie.

1:07:21 >> The Lion King and Man on Fire. Good

1:07:24 picks for Jackie Bradley considering

1:07:27 well, he is a man on fire right now.

1:07:29 >> Yeah. Two viciously different movies

1:07:32 though.

1:07:32 >> Very different, huh?

1:07:34 He's got a range, Jackie Bradley. We see

1:07:36 it in center field, but you can also see

1:07:38 it

1:07:39 on his letter box.

1:07:40 >> I'm I'm fairly certain main characters

1:07:42 perish in both movies, right?

1:07:44 >> I think yeah. Yeah. Depending on who

1:07:46 you're saying is the main character like

1:07:48 >> Well, Simba is definitely a central

1:07:50 character in the not Simba

1:07:52 >> Mufasa.

1:07:52 >> Mufasa. I was saying

1:07:54 Mufasa definitely a main character.

1:07:57 And in Man on Fire, I mean

1:07:59 >> No spoilers.

1:08:00 >> Yeah, you know what? I'll wait.

1:08:02 >> If you haven't seen that in the last 22

1:08:04 years

1:08:05 >> I was really hoping he was going to say

1:08:06 my favorite movie.

1:08:08 >> Which is?

1:08:08 >> You'll like this cuz your Boston

1:08:09 connection, The Departed.

1:08:11 >> Yeah.

1:08:13 Seen better.

1:08:15 >> Really?

1:08:15 >> Seen better Boston movies, yeah.

1:08:17 >> Okay. Okay, but like in terms of movies

1:08:19 >> Definitely seen better movies.

1:08:21 >> Okay.

1:08:21 >> Go away.

1:08:24 Chris Burgess is saying that to the

1:08:25 banana ball right now.

1:08:27 Go away and drop in the center field for

1:08:29 a base knock.

1:08:30 >> I think you could see some of the Fargo

1:08:32 we- uh wind playing into that one cuz it

1:08:34 looked like Armando was going to have a

1:08:35 beat on it. It was hit real hard, but

1:08:37 then it just dies down midway into

1:08:39 center field. And now Flash the Kid

1:08:42 replaces Chris Burgess on the base pads

1:08:44 of Brian Danceroin.

1:08:45 >> I do wonder what is the best movie based

1:08:48 in North Dakota.

1:08:50 We'll think about it.

1:08:52 >> All I ever

1:08:56 All I ever

1:09:00 Tell me what to do now when I'm

1:09:03 when I'm down

1:09:14 >> Check over to first.

1:09:16 Donnie playing with his old mate there.

1:09:18 Want to clean up a couple things from

1:09:20 the last couple of innings. So, [music]

1:09:21 Jared Donaldson's throw over to Mason

1:09:23 Maxwell is now a double trick play.

1:09:25 There was not a trick play for Jaylen

1:09:27 Vasquez there in the top of the third

1:09:29 inning. So, it's just Correll Prime

1:09:31 strict play there. So, the count is now

1:09:32 4-3 in favor of the Firefighters in the

1:09:36 trick play battle.

1:09:38 >> Something we'll monitor all night.

1:09:41 It was a landslide in the trick plays

1:09:44 department for the clowns last night,

1:09:45 but the Firefighters have set some

1:09:47 records of their own this year looking

1:09:49 for the equalizer point here in game

1:09:51 two.

1:09:53 On the infield,

1:09:55 Tyner

1:09:58 takes it himself again. Maybe that wind

1:10:01 kind of playing with it when the ball

1:10:02 hangs up in the air that long.

1:10:04 >> And one of the things too, if you're the

1:10:05 Firefighters, remember,

1:10:07 with a runner on first, you need to get

1:10:08 the outs. You need to get out of the

1:10:09 jam. And with a guy like Flash, the kid,

1:10:11 if that tip drill goes high in the air,

1:10:13 he can steal second or he can tag up the

1:10:15 second it touches the glove. So, you got

1:10:18 to be careful there too. So, the wind,

1:10:20 all the situation, just get the out.

1:10:22 >> [music]

1:10:24 >> It's exactly what they do ahead of

1:10:26 Kirkland Banks.

1:10:30 Donnie not thrilled with the call there.

1:10:32 It's 2-0 count.

1:10:34 Trying to get our home plate umpire

1:10:35 Bryson Wheeler to see it his way.

1:10:38 And Banks has fared really well against

1:10:40 the Firefighters this year. Two doubles

1:10:42 on the season. Both of them against

1:10:45 these guys.

1:10:46 Hot shot. Tyner takes it on a hop, goes

1:10:49 to second for one, through the legs onto

1:10:51 first. Awfully close, but Banks runs it

1:10:54 out and it pops out of Maxwell's glove

1:10:56 anyway.

1:10:57 >> So, a handful of things to break through

1:10:58 here. Number one, Tiner Hughes took that

1:11:00 one to the chest. You can see it right

1:11:02 there. Still comes away with it. South

1:11:04 Trimble trying to get that trick play

1:11:05 there. This is a heck of a dig out right

1:11:07 there from Mason Maxwell. That just

1:11:09 saved potentially another base runner at

1:11:12 second base and brings up Bobby La Day.

1:11:15 >> La Day first pitch swinging out to deep

1:11:17 right field. It's twisting. It's

1:11:20 turning, but it is going to die in front

1:11:23 of the warning track.

1:11:24 Another zero put up by Jared Donaldson

1:11:28 to start off this game. I got a

1:11:30 question.

1:11:32 Will you be mine?

1:11:39 >> And and Jerious.

1:11:41 Well, hello fans of Fargo, North Dakota.

1:11:44 Here in Clown Town, we love to celebrate

1:11:46 love. And what better way to celebrate

1:11:48 that love than to serenade your lovely

1:11:51 wife. Well, ladies and gentlemen, we are

1:11:52 about to find out right here. Jerious,

1:11:55 who do we have over here to my left?

1:11:57 >> Uh over here we have Brian and Lindsey.

1:12:00 >> That's right, ladies and gentlemen. And

1:12:02 over here to my right, I have have

1:12:03 Jennifer and Jason. And tonight they are

1:12:05 celebrating their 24th anniversary.

1:12:11 Well, tonight, ladies and gentlemen, we

1:12:12 are about to find out who re-wins their

1:12:14 honey's heart tonight. Ladies and

1:12:16 gentlemen, the rules of this game are

1:12:17 simple. Jerious and I are going to sing

1:12:20 and these fellows are going to have to

1:12:21 mime out everything that we do for their

1:12:23 lovely ladies. We like to call this one

1:12:25 will you be mine?

1:12:27 All right. We are going to kick it off

1:12:29 first with Jennifer and Jason. DJ, hit

1:12:32 it.

1:12:36 >> I know you want to leave me, but I

1:12:39 refuse to let you go. [music]

1:12:42 If I have to beg and plead for your

1:12:45 sympathy, I don't mind cuz you mean that

1:12:49 [singing] much to me. Ain't too proud to

1:12:51 beg. Sweet darling, please don't leave

1:12:56 me, girl. Don't you go. Ain't too proud

1:12:59 [music] to plead.

1:13:01 Baby,

1:13:03 please don't leave me, girl. Don't

1:13:05 [music] you go. Well, all right. Jason,

1:13:09 Jennifer, not too bad. Jarius, what do

1:13:12 we got over there? Let's see what you

1:13:13 got.

1:13:14 >> That was real cute, but I got Brian and

1:13:16 Lindsey and we are ready to go.

1:13:20 >> SHARK, HIT IT.

1:13:22 HEY.

1:13:25 On that, let's do it.

1:13:28 RIDING

1:13:30 MY SADDLE.

1:13:31 MY SADDLE.

1:13:33 WAITING.

1:13:34 >> UH-OH.

1:13:35 >> COMING. Jump on that.

1:13:38 Come on.

1:13:40 Let's do IT.

1:13:40 >> OH. OH,

1:13:41 OH.

1:13:42 >> RIDING

1:13:43 >> ALL RIGHT. WAIT. WAIT. WAIT. LET'S CUT

1:13:44 THIS OFF BEFORE IT GETS TOO CRAZY.

1:13:45 >> MY SADDLE.

1:13:46 >> WHAT IS IT? OH. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

1:13:48 GIVE IT UP FOR Brian and Lindsey.

1:13:52 Well, it's now time for you, the fans,

1:13:54 to decide who wins at Will You Be Mine.

1:13:57 Ladies and gentlemen, is it Jennifer and

1:14:00 Jason

1:14:03 OR WAS IT BRIAN

1:14:06 AND LINDSEY?

1:14:08 >> [cheering and screaming]

1:14:09 >> WELL, ladies and gentlemen, please give

1:14:10 it up for your winners of Will You Be

1:14:11 Mine, Brian and Lindsey.

1:14:49 Lamar Sparks

1:14:51 up to the plate.

1:14:52 And we have got the returning legend,

1:14:56 Kahlil Prime, of over there at first

1:14:58 base. Primetime, how does it feel to be

1:15:01 back in Fargo?

1:15:02 >> Oh, it feels good, man. You feel this

1:15:03 weather and this breeze right now? I

1:15:05 can't even

1:15:05 >> [music]

1:15:05 >> I just can't get over the weather.

1:15:08 >> Kahlil, you told me yesterday at batting

1:15:10 practice the ball don't fly. Then you

1:15:11 hit one 550 ft to the Fargo Dome. You

1:15:14 lied to me, right?

1:15:15 >> I was trying to set us up. No, I was not

1:15:16 lying. This ball might come back in.

1:15:22 >> All right.

1:15:23 >> It was No, you know what I said? Mainly

1:15:24 the wind. And that goes to show you

1:15:26 right there in my last at bat. I smashed

1:15:27 that ball to center field.

1:15:29 >> Yes, you did.

1:15:29 >> Yeah, and if it does if it gets left of

1:15:30 the batter's eye, it might go again. So,

1:15:32 yeah, this is a it's a big yard, but it

1:15:35 it rewards you, you know? It rewards you

1:15:37 for the swings. Like that right there,

1:15:38 you might get rewarded. That was a great

1:15:40 swing by Lamar.

1:15:41 Yeah, look at him.

1:15:43 >> [laughter]

1:15:43 >> He Lamar told me he's been hitting but

1:15:45 he hit balls 113 off the bat here that

1:15:47 don't go out.

1:15:48 >> He told me the same thing. I just

1:15:49 >> I don't know if I believe that. 113's

1:15:51 pretty hard, man. That ball's got to go.

1:15:52 113?

1:15:54 >> [laughter]

1:15:59 >> That's two doubles there for Lamar

1:16:01 Sparks today.

1:16:02 >> Nice swing, too, by him. Great swing.

1:16:03 >> You know, Kahlil, this has been such a a

1:16:06 big part of the weekend, you know? You

1:16:08 back in town. You got a great reception

1:16:10 from the fans here earlier tonight and

1:16:12 and last night as well. And you had a

1:16:14 funny story when you tried out and got

1:16:16 the chance to play here at Fargo. You

1:16:18 said, "I didn't even know where Fargo

1:16:21 was."

1:16:22 What kind of a league was this?

1:16:23 >> no idea, man. Did some searching on the

1:16:25 interwebs. Shout out to Google.

1:16:27 Yeah, I did a lot of searching about

1:16:28 Fargo. Found out it was actually a

1:16:31 you know,

1:16:32 the home of Chris Coste, former World

1:16:34 Series winner, and uh ironically played

1:16:36 with Ryan Howard on that team with the

1:16:37 Phillies. Uh so, I did a little more

1:16:39 digging and then uh it just became more

1:16:41 and more appealing. And I didn't have

1:16:43 too many opportunities. It's It's crazy

1:16:45 when you come from affiliated down into

1:16:46 the Indy ball ranks, you got to

1:16:48 reestablish yourself. So,

1:16:49 uh took the offer and it was all she

1:16:51 wrote.

1:16:52 >> Number one shout out Chris Coste by the

1:16:54 way because number one, you played for

1:16:56 him here at Fargo-Moorhead. I've been

1:16:59 holding this story in until we got you

1:17:00 on the mic.

1:17:01 So, the beginning of the 2020 season,

1:17:04 the American Association's going to

1:17:05 bring a shortened COVID year to three

1:17:08 hub cities. Fargo-Moorhead's one of

1:17:09 them. The first day of spring training,

1:17:16 that's a heck of a play there Correlle

1:17:17 to save that one from going down the

1:17:18 line.

1:17:20 Run does score. We're going to dance

1:17:21 here a little bit.

1:17:22 >> I got it.

1:17:23 >> I want to keep talking to Correlle

1:17:25 while we're dancing here. These boys

1:17:27 aren't dancing.

1:17:28 >> South.

1:17:32 >> Getting some maintenance done. So, let's

1:17:33 watch Zach Phillips.

1:17:34 >> I got you, guys.

1:17:35 >> Indy ball Andre dance. Correlle,

1:17:38 >> Correlle having some fun with this.

1:17:39 >> Yeah, how do I not snag that

1:17:40 >> that ball?

1:17:41 >> I was about to say, that's a heck of a

1:17:42 play to come back on that one there. So,

1:17:44 2020 season, first day of spring

1:17:46 training, this is the first time I've

1:17:47 ever had a conversation with you. We

1:17:49 walked all down to the Fargo Dome about

1:17:52 100 yd down the street to watch you get

1:17:54 COVID tested and I actually have video

1:17:57 of you getting the COVID test in your

1:17:58 throat.

1:17:59 >> That's hilarious, man.

1:18:00 >> not the weirdest This is the first time

1:18:01 I've ever met you story?

1:18:02 >> so weird and honestly, not even weird

1:18:05 that it happened in Fargo. What a place,

1:18:06 you know? I tell all the guys like, keep

1:18:08 your eyes peeled in Fargo, man. A lot of

1:18:09 interesting stuff going on out here. Um

1:18:12 COVID test being one of them at the

1:18:13 Fargo Dome.

1:18:16 >> And you mentioned the Fargo Dome.

1:18:17 Obviously, this one of the hubs of

1:18:19 college football. It's a great hockey

1:18:22 state, but they're not

1:18:25 strangers to big crowds here at Newman

1:18:28 Outdoor Field. What was that like when

1:18:30 you were playing here? The crowds that

1:18:31 showed up.

1:18:32 >> It was great, man. The sun's out in the

1:18:34 summer. The sun don't shine very often

1:18:35 in the winter time from what I hear.

1:18:37 I'll never step foot up here in the

1:18:38 winter, but uh yeah, the sun don't shine

1:18:40 a lot, man. So, oh, great play right

1:18:42 there, KB.

1:18:43 Um

1:18:44 Yeah, man, anything that people can do

1:18:46 outside in the summertime is a win. So,

1:18:48 ironically, but it'd be crazy. The lakes

1:18:50 are beautiful up here, so the weekends

1:18:53 really wouldn't be it so as packed as

1:18:54 the weekdays, man. Earlier in the week,

1:18:56 that the people will really pack out the

1:18:57 stadium and uh save the save the weekend

1:19:00 for the lakes.

1:19:00 >> Prime, were you ever actually here for a

1:19:02 winter?

1:19:03 >> No. No.

1:19:04 >> Okay, I figured.

1:19:04 >> Yeah. September, that chill comes in the

1:19:06 air and I you know, I'm ready to win the

1:19:07 championship, get up out of here.

1:19:09 >> [laughter]

1:19:10 >> Strike three called David Griffin,

1:19:13 freezing him. He and Correlle Prime

1:19:16 hitting a little Michael Jackson.

1:19:17 Primetime, thank you so much for your

1:19:19 time. We really

1:19:20 >> Prime, you're a legend, man.

1:19:21 Absolutely, man. Guys, anytime.

1:19:26 >> Correlle Prime, one of the very best

1:19:28 that we have and one of the leaders of

1:19:30 this Indianapolis Clowns team. Let's

1:19:33 send it down to the field to the biggest

1:19:35 Hey Baby North Dakota has ever seen.

1:19:39 >> Cuz it is time for a little Hey

1:19:43 Baby.

1:19:45 Clap it out. Clap it out.

1:19:49 OH, YEAH, YOU GUYS LOOK BEAUTIFUL.

1:19:55 Hands up. Hands up. Hands up. Hands up.

1:20:01 >> [music]

1:20:02 >> Who.

1:20:03 Ha.

1:20:10 Oh, yeah.

1:20:16 LET ME HEAR YOU. WHO.

1:20:17 HA.

1:20:24 Shuffle to the right now.

1:20:30 >> [music]

1:20:31 >> Hey.

1:20:39 HANDS UP. HANDS UP. HANDS [music] UP.

1:20:44 Nice and loud.

1:20:52 One last time. One last time.

1:20:58 >> [music]

1:21:07 >> You guys are amazing. I didn't know

1:21:08 y'all could dance like that.

1:21:13 >> The Firefighters so far in this game

1:21:15 have been absolutely blazing at the

1:21:18 plate.

1:21:20 Five runs on the night. Lamar Sparks

1:21:22 comes across and as he looks at Carrel

1:21:24 Prime, his fellow Fargo-Moorhead Red

1:21:27 Hawk alum, you find out that's number

1:21:29 250 on the year for the Firefighters in

1:21:31 terms of runs. More importantly right

1:21:33 now, they are looking for a second point

1:21:36 tonight.

1:21:38 >> And Jared Donaldson has locked it down

1:21:40 so far. He needed innings out of him

1:21:42 today and quality innings, just one hit

1:21:45 allowed through three full.

1:21:51 And we talked about it earlier in the

1:21:52 game, you know, the three-run lead easy

1:21:54 to protect. It's that one run that has

1:21:56 bitten the Firefighters. It bit them

1:21:58 last night once as well.

1:22:01 And that's what we have right here in

1:22:03 this bottom of the third. Jackie Bradley

1:22:05 Jr.

1:22:06 That one's going to trickle to the wall.

1:22:11 Bradley, stand-up double with a big turn

1:22:14 to get things started here in the third.

1:22:17 Left field has been trouble for both

1:22:19 teams all series long.

1:22:27 Lamar Sparks, you reward him for the

1:22:29 effort, but Jackie Bradley Jr., man,

1:22:31 what can you say about the way he's

1:22:33 swinging the stick? Goodness gracious,

1:22:35 Dale Francis.

1:22:36 >> Dale Francis Jr. down the left field

1:22:39 line, and the loudest strike of the

1:22:43 season.

1:22:44 >> Dale Francis is at second. SECOND, HE

1:22:46 DOESN'T REALIZE IT.

1:22:48 >> And there is going to be a challenge.

1:22:51 >> Wow.

1:22:52 >> Dale Francis never broke his stride,

1:22:56 but the call down the third base line

1:22:58 was a foul ball.

1:23:00 Can't wait to get another look at this.

1:23:03 >> Yeah, he's dead confident.

1:23:07 Again, when you challenge this, and this

1:23:09 is a clown's challenge.

1:23:14 >> Bill Huard getting his two cents in. The

1:23:16 hat is off for Bill Huard.

1:23:19 >> So, this is a clown's challenge. Again,

1:23:20 you can challenge Oh, it is a fan

1:23:22 challenge, we're being told.

1:23:26 >> Last night, that was a challenge for the

1:23:28 firefighters from the fans. Tonight, we

1:23:30 get one that could favor the clowns.

1:23:33 Home run or strike.

1:23:38 And if this goes out, this is a walk-off

1:23:42 for Dale Francis.

1:23:44 >> So, there's the ball right there.

1:23:47 So, we can't see it there. Okay, there

1:23:48 it comes landing in. Yeah, I think

1:23:49 that's fair.

1:23:50 >> That looks like a fair ball.

1:23:51 >> Right there, it looks fair to me.

1:23:57 >> Now, we're of course not directly down

1:23:59 the line,

1:24:00 so there's a little bit you got to make

1:24:01 up for.

1:24:02 >> Now again, they have to have conclusive

1:24:04 evidence to see this

1:24:07 to overturn it.

1:24:09 The firefighters are walking off the

1:24:10 field. I think the choice has already

1:24:11 been made.

1:24:12 >> Fans, after further review, the call on

1:24:15 THE FIELD

1:24:17 IS OVERTURNED.

1:24:18 >> THERE IT IS.

1:24:18 >> IT'S A HOME RUN.

1:24:20 THE CLOWNS WIN.

1:24:21 >> Dale Francis Jr. two-run walk-off home

1:24:25 run, his sixth of the year, and he knew

1:24:29 it all the way.

1:24:33 >> And that's why the fan challenge is so

1:24:36 important.

1:24:38 Because what that just did there, it

1:24:40 didn't just give Dale Francis another

1:24:41 home run,

1:24:43 it just gave the clowns a point. That's

1:24:45 a massive massive tick in the box for

1:24:47 the fans.

1:24:49 >> It's all about fans first here in Banana

1:24:53 Ball, and this no different. Let's go

1:24:56 down to the field.

1:25:01 >> Don't have shoes on, and they're going

1:25:04 to be trying to find them. And it looks

1:25:06 like there are some shoes at second

1:25:09 base. So, THESE GENTLEMEN WILL BE

1:25:10 RUNNING AROUND the bases. They will find

1:25:13 their shoes at second base, AND THE

1:25:15 FIRST GENTLEMAN to cross the finish LINE

1:25:18 WILL BE OUR WINNER OF SHOE [screaming]

1:25:22 SHUFFLE. GENTLEMEN, are you ready?

1:25:25 >> Yeah, let's go.

1:25:26 >> Ah, you don't sound ready, buddy. Are

1:25:28 you ready?

1:25:29 >> Yes, sir.

1:25:29 >> ALL RIGHT, GET READY. ON YOUR MARKS, GET

1:25:32 SET, GO! [screaming]

1:25:35 AH, THEY'RE SPEEDY.

1:25:37 GET AROUND THOSE BASES.

1:25:39 HEADING FOR SECOND.

1:25:42 FIND THOSE SHOES.

1:25:45 LOOKS LIKE THEY HAVE ONE ON.

1:25:47 FIND THAT SECOND ONE.

1:25:49 AH, [screaming] AND ONE OF THEM IS OFF.

1:25:51 HEY, YOU GOT TO RUN FASTER THAN THAT.

1:25:53 Come on, who's going TO MAKE IT? WHO'S

1:25:55 GOING TO MAKE IT TO THE FINISH LINE?

1:26:02 AH, GIVE IT UP FOR OUR WINNER OF SHOE

1:26:04 SHUFFLE, BRENDAN!

1:26:06 >> [screaming]

1:26:18 >> AND IT LOOKS LIKE OUR own Michael

1:26:20 Schwartz is standing by with a very

1:26:23 special fan.

1:26:24 >> Home run celebrations, more

1:26:25 celebrations. Grayson's ninth birthday.

1:26:27 How's your first Banana Ball game?

1:26:29 >> Um it's going pretty well.

1:26:31 >> All right. Well, we got a special guest

1:26:33 and Fisher Palidor knows how to sing

1:26:35 Happy Birthday. Take it away.

1:26:37 >> All righty, group. On the count of

1:26:38 three, we're going to sing Grayson a

1:26:39 happy birthday. You guys ready? 1 2 3

1:26:42 Happy birthday to [singing] you.

1:26:46 Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday,

1:26:50 [singing]

1:26:51 dear Grayson.

1:26:54 Happy birthday to you.

1:26:57 >> Happy birthday, Grayson!

1:27:02 >> [music]

1:27:03 >> I'll tell you what.

1:27:04 >> I never got a birthday present as good

1:27:06 as Old Knuckles singing to me.

1:27:09 >> I'm hoping we can change that

1:27:11 this year.

1:27:13 >> What a special moment.

1:27:18 >> Fans first, always, here in Banana Ball.

1:27:21 We've got a 1-1 game and David Griffin

1:27:24 is really settled in after giving up

1:27:26 three in the first. Did give up a run in

1:27:28 that fourth.

1:27:30 But Dales Francis Jr. gets it back and

1:27:32 then some on one swing. Two hitters.

1:27:35 Jackie Bradley Jr. double. Dale Francis

1:27:38 Jr. Upon further review, walk-off home

1:27:41 run.

1:27:43 This one headed down that left field

1:27:45 power alley again.

1:27:48 And with

1:27:49 less fanfare, that one is ruled foul

1:27:52 and out of the ballpark.

1:27:54 >> I thought Tyner had just hit the big

1:27:56 shot

1:27:57 for the second time this year. He has

1:27:59 had some shots to left field that have

1:28:01 pulled foul that would just break your

1:28:03 heart.

1:28:06 >> Add this one to the list?

1:28:07 >> Oh, that one certainly. I thought that

1:28:09 was dead gone.

1:28:10 Again, I'm

1:28:12 thinking

1:28:14 >> Jaylen Vasquez through the legs. Put

1:28:17 that one on the trick play board.

1:28:20 Let's have our firefighter of the night.

1:28:22 >> Welcome tonight's firefighter of the

1:28:24 night, Brandon Farley.

1:28:29 Brandon has been with the Fargo Fire

1:28:30 Department for 4 years wearing many hats

1:28:34 such as a driver operator, hazmat

1:28:36 awareness and operations instructor,

1:28:39 officer, and rescue diver just to name a

1:28:42 few. Farley has served his country as a

1:28:44 United States Marine rifleman with a

1:28:47 second battalion first Marines.

1:28:50 When he's not battling blazes, he spends

1:28:53 his spare time on the ice. Brandon is

1:28:55 the founder of the Battle of the Badges

1:28:57 Police First Fire Hockey Game as well as

1:29:00 the coach for the West Fargo Stampede

1:29:03 Youth Hockey. Let's hear it for

1:29:05 tonight's firefighter of the game

1:29:07 escorting Mason Maxwell to the plate,

1:29:10 Brandon Farley.

1:29:16 >> Brandon Farley is North Dakota tough.

1:29:20 Just look at what this guy has done here

1:29:22 in the Fargo Fire Department, just 4

1:29:24 years. He's a driver and an operator.

1:29:27 He's helped with hazardous materials

1:29:29 awareness and operations, which is some

1:29:31 absolutely incredible stuff that you

1:29:33 have to get right in order to protect

1:29:35 firefighters' health and long-term

1:29:37 well-being. He's a guy who has gotten

1:29:39 the police and the fire units together

1:29:42 for charitable hockey games. He's a head

1:29:44 coach here.

1:29:46 An impressive resume for Brandon Farley.

1:29:48 >> Finding so many ways to give back to his

1:29:50 community. Kirkland Banks on a hop. What

1:29:53 a dig out by Carell Prime.

1:29:57 >> KB, man.

1:29:59 That's a great play.

1:30:01 Digging it out, running it up to it, and

1:30:03 then no trick play. You just got to get

1:30:04 that second out with some momentum on

1:30:06 your side, and Carell Prime at first,

1:30:08 veteran play.

1:30:10 >> Rocket into left field.

1:30:13 Dakota McFadden

1:30:15 in that 10 hole

1:30:18 with a hard base hit.

1:30:20 >> McFadden now seven for 12 D-Mac is

1:30:23 against these Indianapolis Clowns, add

1:30:25 another single to the record books. He

1:30:27 is just locked in when he sees that team

1:30:30 in copper and blue.

1:30:32 >> And a guy who's locked in about every

1:30:35 team he plays against, Peanut Green.

1:30:38 >> Yep, Young Nut.

1:30:42 >> With a man at first, takes one across

1:30:43 for strike one. I will

1:30:45 >> have this point in my back pocket till

1:30:47 I'm blue in the face.

1:30:50 That's a great pitch from David Griffin.

1:30:51 If there's a most improved player in

1:30:53 Banana Ball this year, you're probably

1:30:55 looking at him right there in Kaden

1:30:56 Green.

1:30:57 >> This one goes back to Griffin. Griffin

1:30:59 between the legs, but loses it on the

1:31:02 transfer, gets the out at first to end

1:31:04 the inning. No trick play on the play,

1:31:07 but talk about a guy who has had a

1:31:09 comeback in this game, David Griffin.

1:31:12 Settled in nicely in a 1-1 ball game. I

1:31:15 hear the sirens. We got to find Fargo's

1:31:18 most wanted.

1:31:19 >> Peanut Green, it's just got a whole lot

1:31:21 taller down along the third base line.

1:31:23 Let's send it down to Kaz.

1:31:25 >> Ladies and gentlemen, here in Banana

1:31:27 Ball, we're traveling to different

1:31:29 states every week, and I always like to

1:31:31 do my research. So, when I Googled North

1:31:35 Dakota, I found out there is a law where

1:31:38 you're not allowed to dance while

1:31:39 wearing a hat. It's true. It's true. You

1:31:42 can Google it. Well, I found three of

1:31:46 the biggest rebels here in Fargo.

1:31:48 They're going to put on the show of a

1:31:50 lifetime, and you are going to determine

1:31:52 who is Fargo's most wanted. Introducing

1:31:57 first, please welcome 25-year-old Anton.

1:32:03 All right, Anton. Let's see what you

1:32:05 got. DJ, hit it.

1:32:08 Uh-oh.

1:32:10 Okay. Oh, jeez.

1:32:13 He's bringing it around town.

1:32:16 Okay. Okay. Okay. That's good. That's

1:32:18 good, Anton. Not bad. Not bad. All

1:32:20 right. You wait right here. You wait

1:32:22 right here.

1:32:23 Up next, we have 41-year-old Brian.

1:32:34 Let's see what you got, Brian.

1:32:37 A little sprinkler action.

1:32:40 Uh I'm not sure what he's doing with his

1:32:42 hands.

1:32:46 Oh.

1:32:47 Sir, there are children present.

1:32:50 Okay. Okay. All right, Brian. Brian,

1:32:52 that's good. That's good. Stand stand

1:32:53 right over here. Ladies and gentlemen,

1:32:55 last but certainly not least, we have

1:32:58 66-year-old

1:33:00 John.

1:33:03 John, bring it home.

1:33:08 That's got to be a 20-gallon hat. Oh,

1:33:10 no.

1:33:20 All right. All right, John. John, we're

1:33:22 good. We're good. Thank you. Thank That

1:33:23 was That was fantastic. You wait right

1:33:25 here. Now, Fargo, you are going to

1:33:27 determine who is Fargo's most wanted. Is

1:33:30 it 25-year-old Anton?

1:33:36 It's not bad. Or is it 41-year-old

1:33:39 Brian?

1:33:42 >> [cheering]

1:33:44 >> Or is it the man in the 20-gallon hat,

1:33:47 66-YEAR-OLD JOHN? [screaming]

1:33:52 LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, we have done it.

1:33:54 We found Fargo's MOST WANTED.

1:33:58 BOYS, get him.

1:34:02 >> [laughter]

1:34:08 >> I think John could fit the whole of

1:34:10 Newman Outdoor Field under that hat.

1:34:13 >> I need to make a collect call to Joe

1:34:16 Lidle.

1:34:27 >> [music]

1:34:31 [singing]

1:34:55 [music]

1:35:29 [music]

1:35:33 [music]

1:35:40 [music]

1:35:52 >> Joe Lidle, playing the part of Adam

1:35:54 Levine.

1:35:56 He said to us in the pregame, made a

1:35:59 call back to pops after finally not

1:36:01 getting a hit. Had three last night and

1:36:04 he's calling the record books with a 430

1:36:07 average coming into this ball game.

1:36:09 Oh,

1:36:10 Nick Wilson was still frozen.

1:36:13 Vinny Citarciaro gets him out of there.

1:36:17 >> [music]

1:36:22 >> Into the bottom of the fifth, Lidle 0-1

1:36:24 tonight.

1:36:26 Did not like that one.

1:36:29 >> This is an important inning for the

1:36:30 Firefighters to respond right back after

1:36:33 giving up the two-run blast.

1:36:36 >> And it has been a really strong

1:36:38 performance from Jared Donaldson so far.

1:36:40 Those are only the second and third hits

1:36:42 that he gave up in the ball game that

1:36:44 came in that last inning.

1:36:45 >> He's induced a lot of really soft

1:36:46 contact given his defense chance to make

1:36:48 plays.

1:36:49 It's been a real effective start through

1:36:51 three innings for Donnie.

1:36:53 >> 1-2, Lidle pokes out to left.

1:36:56 Sparks under it and just takes it

1:36:58 himself.

1:37:06 >> [music]

1:37:23 >> Don't know if Correlle Prime is

1:37:25 superstitious, [music]

1:37:26 but this is the second straight game the

1:37:28 clowns have worn the same uniform.

1:37:31 So, maybe a little stitious.

1:37:33 Or maybe just appreciative of one of the

1:37:36 20 greatest songs ever written.

1:37:37 >> Yeah, I was about to say, number one, it

1:37:39 is a banger of a song. Number two, I

1:37:40 think it's more Eric Fox that's

1:37:42 stitious.

1:37:43 >> Some stitious there.

1:37:45 >> Slightly stitious.

1:37:46 >> [music]

1:37:47 >> A dash of sticious, if you will. How

1:37:50 about this by the way? Former Savannah

1:37:52 Banana last year pitching to a former

1:37:54 Savannah Banana last year and catching

1:37:56 him is a former Savannah Banana. That is

1:37:59 destroyed, but about 3,000 ft foul.

1:38:03 No review necessary. Yeah, that time we

1:38:05 can hold it. Yep.

1:38:08 >> [music]

1:38:10 >> 1-1

1:38:11 Sinking line drive, but stabbed out of

1:38:14 the air.

1:38:15 Salty!

1:38:17 Welcome to it. The magic man doesn't

1:38:20 have to make it disappear with his hat.

1:38:21 He just does it with a poof of smoke,

1:38:23 which might have been coming out from

1:38:25 the trail of that ball cuz it was a hit

1:38:26 100 miles an hour, [music]

1:38:28 but Salty right there to make the play.

1:38:30 The guy who can hit IT HARD, NICO

1:38:32 HOERNER SIZER.

1:38:35 THAT ONE IS LIGHT TOWER POWER.

1:38:40 LOOK OUT MINNESOTA.

1:38:43 Nico Hoerner Sizer for sending THAT BALL

1:38:46 ACROSS STATE LINES. FEDERAL CRIME FOR

1:38:50 THE WALK-OFF.

1:38:55 WOAH!

1:39:03 Nico Hoerner Sizer nearly sent that ball

1:39:07 into orbit.

1:39:13 And that is how the Clowns win their

1:39:16 second point in as many innings and take

1:39:19 the lead.

1:39:20 >> [cheering]

1:39:26 >> I mean, that's an incredible shot from

1:39:28 Nico Hoerner Sizer.

1:39:30 >> [cheering]

1:39:30 >> Pulls it from the inside.

1:39:33 Again, we talked about it yesterday. The

1:39:35 strikeout numbers are high,

1:39:37 but when he makes contact with the ball,

1:39:39 it's explosive

1:39:40 and it's impactful. And he just did it

1:39:43 right there.

1:39:44 >> A guy who knows a thing or two about

1:39:46 home runs in North Dakota, the great

1:39:49 Roger Maris.

1:39:55 >> [screaming]

1:40:12 >> Roger Maris, [music]

1:40:14 legendary in the city of Fargo

1:40:17 and in baseball lore. We talked about

1:40:19 the connection [music] to baseball in

1:40:21 this state and it goes right here to

1:40:23 Fargo with Roger Maris. You know him

1:40:25 well from the famous 61 in 61. [music]

1:40:28 The man held the single-season home run

1:40:31 lead for quite some time. This is a man

1:40:34 revered here in Fargo, North Dakota and

1:40:37 in baseball lore. His number retired by

1:40:40 the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks and [music]

1:40:42 it's a proud honor of ours to be playing

1:40:44 in a city where he helped baseball grow

1:40:47 so very, very much in the same state. We

1:40:49 talked about the Bismarck club and the

1:40:51 honor of Satchel Paige playing here.

1:40:53 There's great baseball history here and

1:40:55 we're so proud to bring Banana Ball to

1:40:57 it.

1:40:58 >> And how about

1:40:59 his idea?

1:41:01 Bring baseball where the people are at,

1:41:03 where they don't have to pay. Very fans

1:41:06 first of Roger Maris. Oh, that wasn't

1:41:09 very hitters first of David Griffin.

1:41:12 Another strikeout for Griff.

1:41:16 >> Yeah, that first inning feels like a

1:41:17 year and a half ago right now cuz David

1:41:19 Griffin has been tremendous.

1:41:22 Especially overpowering. Lamar Sparks

1:41:24 had HIS NUMBER. KIRKLAND BANGS! NO, IT'S

1:41:27 A SINGLE.

1:41:29 >> The fact that that was even a play

1:41:32 is a testament to Kirkland Banks there,

1:41:35 but just perfect placement from Lamar

1:41:37 Sparks. He doesn't always need to put it

1:41:39 out in the gaps.

1:41:40 >> And I think part of that that was giving

1:41:42 him a chance is because it went off of

1:41:43 David Griffin just a hair.

1:41:46 But Lamar Sparks now three for three on

1:41:47 the night with two doubles and a single.

1:41:49 EJ swinging bunt down the line.

1:41:54 Oh,

1:41:55 did Kirkland Banks blow that foul?

1:41:59 Blowed it foul, willed it foul, I don't

1:42:00 know, but it went foul.

1:42:02 >> Man, the next birthday you've got and

1:42:06 you need someone to put out those

1:42:07 30-plus candles, Kirkland Banks is your

1:42:10 man.

1:42:13 >> And after a hard 90 from EJ,

1:42:16 he's going to have to go back and try it

1:42:17 again.

1:42:26 >> So Eric Jones Jr. has gotten on base via

1:42:28 a ball four sprint. That was back in the

1:42:31 first inning. He got an RBI for that.

1:42:36 Since Since that first inning, as Zach

1:42:38 talked about, it has been all David

1:42:40 Griffin. Four strike outs since then.

1:42:43 And has only allowed one run. Both

1:42:46 points that have been awarded in this

1:42:48 game since then have gone to the clowns.

1:42:50 Let's make it strike out number five

1:42:53 for David Griffin.

1:42:55 >> Yeah, EJ didn't like that one. You

1:42:56 rarely see him not protect the plate.

1:43:00 Does it right there.

1:43:03 David Griffin works backside awful well

1:43:06 on the plate. Dalton Cornett trying to

1:43:08 find him something here. He got himself

1:43:11 on via single that tipped off the glove

1:43:13 of Correlle Prime in the fourth. Can he

1:43:14 find something again

1:43:18 on the left side of the plate?

1:43:20 >> He's ahead of the count 2-0.

1:43:22 He was the first of the five strikeout

1:43:25 victims.

1:43:29 Kept that one on the outer half did

1:43:30 David Griffin.

1:43:31 >> That's where you just saw a guy strike

1:43:33 out looking and you got to protect it.

1:43:40 It's one a chance for the fans.

1:43:43 Oh,

1:43:44 wow.

1:43:45 Oh, okay, so we just saw a fan have

1:43:47 their moment in the spotlight. You see

1:43:49 it right there. She's holding her head

1:43:51 her hand over her mouth. She had her

1:43:53 chance for a fan caught foul ball in the

1:43:55 last second pulled back. YOU GOT TO TRY

1:43:57 FOR it there.

1:44:00 Oh, the fans have not yet to make the

1:44:02 impact on one of these games here in

1:44:04 Banana Ball's first show in Fargo.

1:44:06 DEUCES WILD, NOT ANYMORE.

1:44:10 David Griffin has the strikeout stuff

1:44:12 tonight. Six

1:44:15 so far and protecting that 2-1 lead. No

1:44:19 clowning around for them, just the guys

1:44:21 on the field right now.

1:44:26 >> Brandon, what is going on down there on

1:44:29 the field, my

1:44:30 >> friend? Ladies and gentlemen of Fargo,

1:44:32 we have got a very fun game in store for

1:44:34 you here in Clown Town. We're going to

1:44:36 play our own version of musical chairs,

1:44:38 but ladies and gentlemen, there is a

1:44:40 twist. These four clowns here are going

1:44:43 to spin around their bats as fast as

1:44:45 they can while that music plays. Once

1:44:48 the music stops, they will sprint to

1:44:50 each of these chairs that you see around

1:44:52 us. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to

1:44:55 clowning around. DJ, hit that music.

1:44:59 >> All right, it's going to get real dizzy

1:45:02 in here, fellas. Let's make sure that

1:45:05 we've got our wits about us.

1:45:08 Okay, we're still spinning. They're

1:45:09 getting real dizzy, DJ. Oh, AND THE

1:45:12 MUSIC STOPPED. WHERE ARE WE GOING? OH,

1:45:14 HE OH, AND HE PUSHES HIS HOMIE OUT OF

1:45:16 THE WAY. OH, and he is left Oh,

1:45:19 absolutely terrible. Ladies and

1:45:21 gentlemen, let's get in for round number

1:45:23 two. We are We're removing a chair. The

1:45:26 music's back on. It's time to spin

1:45:28 around our bats. Come on, fellas. Let's

1:45:31 do it.

1:45:35 All right, Corey, Sam, and Emmett are

1:45:37 last. We've only got two chairs, ladies

1:45:39 and gentlemen. It's getting real dizzy.

1:45:41 DJ Oh, AND THE MUSIC STOPS. YOU GOT OH,

1:45:43 HE HE BUMPS IT. COREY, NO.

1:45:47 IT'S ALL RIGHT, BUDDY. Let's go.

1:45:50 Well, let's kick it off with our final

1:45:52 round. Come on, fellas. Bring it on back

1:45:53 in.

1:45:55 That's what I'm talking about.

1:45:57 All right, DJ. Hit that music. They're

1:45:58 going to spin around.

1:46:09 >> [music]

1:46:10 >> All right, DJ. They think

1:46:12 that they're going to have to All right,

1:46:14 it stops. OH, THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE THE

1:46:15 CHAIRS ARE. And he's sprinting toward

1:46:17 the chair. I think EMMETT'S GOING TO

1:46:18 TAKE IT HOME. AND ladies and gentlemen,

1:46:21 EMMETT IS YOUR WINNER OF CLOWN AROUND.

1:46:34 >> [music]

1:46:37 >> WHEN IT'S ALL KNUCKLES TURNED, he does

1:46:39 it in style.

1:46:42 >> Time [music] to show them how a real

1:46:43 clown gets busy.

1:46:47 >> This magic moment

1:46:52 so different and so [singing] new was

1:46:55 like any other

1:46:58 until I kissed you.

1:47:01 And then it happened.

1:47:08 Leading off

1:47:09 >> Fisher, Polidor off.

1:47:11 One of one.

1:47:13 Is this a magic moment?

1:47:16 Wow. He didn't even look down to

1:47:20 down back to the backstop.

1:47:22 >> To be fair, he was born in the 1950s, so

1:47:24 I don't know if his legs

1:47:26 could move fast enough for EJ to not

1:47:28 throw him out.

1:47:30 He's just standing in the box and

1:47:31 dancing around.

1:47:32 Now, I don't know if Jared Donaldson

1:47:34 will appreciate that very much.

1:47:38 But Donny looks to lock back in.

1:47:41 Old Knuckles, this one will leave the

1:47:43 yard, just not the way that you want to.

1:47:46 Now, you mentioned earlier, Zach, we do

1:47:47 have the Polo Grounds box up here. That

1:47:49 was Fisher's favorite ballpark growing

1:47:52 up. Even though he's from Brooklyn, Old

1:47:55 Knuckles is a New York Giants fan,

1:47:58 baseball Giants.

1:48:02 And he claimed that he snuck into the

1:48:04 Polo Grounds before they tore it down.

1:48:06 And once they moved to San Francisco, he

1:48:08 said,

1:48:09 "I'm moving to the year 2025." [music]

1:48:12 So, it was that, huh? That was the

1:48:14 reason.

1:48:15 Saw a tryout for Banana Ball

1:48:18 3 days after getting to the 2020s.

1:48:22 And here he is with the Indianapolis

1:48:23 Clowns, the only team he recognized.

1:48:25 >> So, that's a question to ask.

1:48:29 If Banana Ball didn't exist, what would

1:48:30 Fisher Polidor off be doing

1:48:32 here in the

1:48:33 year of our Lord 2026?

1:48:35 >> Wandering aimlessly around Coogan's

1:48:37 Bluff.

1:48:38 >> But I will tell you what he's doing

1:48:39 right there. He's swinging and missing

1:48:42 for strikeout number two for Jared

1:48:44 Donaldson today. So, a 3-2 count goes

1:48:46 the way of my friend Jared Donny

1:48:49 Donaldson.

1:48:50 >> And Fisher,

1:48:51 >> that right leg bent every which way on

1:48:53 that swing.

1:48:55 >> That's two strikeouts in two at-bats

1:48:57 this weekend for Fisher Polidor off.

1:49:01 >> Now, a massively important inning to

1:49:04 follow up here for the Firefighters, who

1:49:06 are right there in trick plays. You're

1:49:08 down by one,

1:49:10 but you more so just need to get a clean

1:49:11 inning out of here after back-to-back

1:49:13 innings walked off by back-to-back home

1:49:15 runs. And no margin of error.

1:49:19 Chris Burgess, he knows a thing or two

1:49:21 about the walk-off. He's got five of

1:49:23 them this year.

1:49:24 That ties

1:49:26 the Clown's team lead.

1:49:29 Raul Prime also tied that last night.

1:49:36 He's a guy who knows his way around the

1:49:38 ball for Sprint. Only behind Jaylen

1:49:40 Vasquez in Sprint percentage. He's one

1:49:43 pitch away from another one

1:49:45 and tying Nico Hulshizer for the team

1:49:47 lead.

1:49:49 But he's swinging.

1:49:51 >> Donny really working the outside part of

1:49:53 the plate here trying to go away from

1:49:55 hitters after Nico Hulshizer just pulled

1:49:57 one that looked like it was breaking

1:49:59 towards him

1:50:00 to the left field wall.

1:50:02 >> Full count offering.

1:50:05 OUT TO RIGHT. OH, THAT ONE'S GOING TO

1:50:07 GET DOWN.

1:50:10 Burgess will end up at second base.

1:50:14 But there has been a tricky outfield for

1:50:16 the Fire Fighters tonight and Darian

1:50:18 McDowell looked like he had that one

1:50:20 lined up,

1:50:21 but it gets down.

1:50:24 >> That's an awfully tough play for Darian

1:50:26 to make cuz it just hung up there so

1:50:28 much.

1:50:29 That's a tough play to make. It's going

1:50:31 to get officially scored as a double for

1:50:32 Chris Burgess.

1:50:34 >> So, Burgess a single and a double

1:50:36 tonight.

1:50:37 Flash the kid will run for him at second

1:50:40 base. Inning winning run in scoring

1:50:42 position.

1:50:44 Brian Dansereau, he got his first

1:50:46 walk-off of the season last night.

1:50:51 A guy who used to play independent ball,

1:50:54 had to drive the van from up here in

1:50:56 Fargo all the way to Texas in his first

1:50:59 drive. This one is going to be off the

1:51:01 glove of Trimble. Safe at first base.

1:51:03 They hold Flash at third. Brian

1:51:06 Dansereau going to get on.

1:51:10 And that is going to go down as an error

1:51:12 on South Trimble and a rare one at that.

1:51:16 >> Southy is about as sure fire as you can

1:51:18 get on the base pads right there.

1:51:21 Excuse me, in the field. He actually got

1:51:23 there I think in time. But trying to

1:51:25 flip that up with the glove is just not

1:51:27 going to help and now with runners on in

1:51:29 the corners and one away, you need to

1:51:30 strike out or you need a double play and

1:51:32 that's a nice way to start out to

1:51:33 Kirkland Banks.

1:51:34 >> All kinds of ways for Kirkland Banks to

1:51:36 walk it off.

1:51:38 He did it via a sprint last weekend.

1:51:41 But he's in the hole 0 and 2.

1:51:49 >> One of the things we're seeing here,

1:51:50 too, there's been grounders

1:51:52 for the Firefighters, there's been soft

1:51:54 contact, but it's just not getting in

1:51:57 the places where they think they can get

1:51:58 trick plays [music] and that is oh so

1:51:59 important here.

1:52:01 It's KB. If Banks could really help the

1:52:02 Fighters out. Aw.

1:52:06 >> A chance over the railing.

1:52:10 And that guy and his friends really

1:52:12 can't believe it.

1:52:14 >> Swing and a miss. Jared Donaldson pumped

1:52:17 the fist. Huge out right there. Big time

1:52:21 K on Donnie Day.

1:52:25 Gets KB chasing and now he just needs

1:52:28 one away as he goes right back to the

1:52:30 splitter and it works to perfection.

1:52:32 That's the pitch Donnie wants, it's the

1:52:33 pitch he got.

1:52:37 >> Bobby La Day good take to start it off.

1:52:40 >> Donnie walked straight forward. He is

1:52:43 going after Bryson Wheeler. Wanted that

1:52:45 as a strike, it was in the last AB.

1:52:48 There is no need to have a conversation

1:52:50 there.

1:52:51 >> La Day also one of those four clowns

1:52:54 tied for the team lead with five

1:52:56 walk-offs.

1:52:58 La Day OUT TO LEFT!

1:53:00 THAT WILL BE WALK-OFF NUMBER SIX

1:53:03 ON the season FOR BOBBY LA DAY AND THE

1:53:07 CLOWNS WALK IT OFF IN three straight

1:53:11 innings.

1:53:23 >> [music]

1:53:36 [music]

1:53:39 >> It's been all about the walk-offs in

1:53:40 this game. One of them was Nico

1:53:42 Hulshizer on the bomb. He's with our

1:53:44 Michael Schwartz.

1:53:45 >> Yeah, guys. The Clowns seeing the ball

1:53:47 really well. Seventh home run of the

1:53:49 season. What did you see on that pitch?

1:53:50 >> You know, that was actually my eighth.

1:53:52 >> Time out. I'm sorry.

1:53:55 I stand corrected. That was your eighth.

1:53:56 >> Eighth, you know, me and Joe Gray tied

1:53:58 with it now.

1:53:58 >> Ooh, how do we feel about the in-team

1:54:00 competition?

1:54:01 >> I love it, you know, it keeps us both

1:54:03 pushing and I think we both want to get

1:54:05 as many as we can, so.

1:54:06 >> All right. Bobby LaDay, hit walk-off

1:54:08 him. By the way, I have to ask you, JBJ

1:54:11 has his daughter's name on the bat.

1:54:12 You're a dad. Do you think you'll do

1:54:14 that maybe one day?

1:54:15 >> Oh, 100%. He inspired me. I'm definitely

1:54:17 getting my next bats with that on it.

1:54:19 >> Ooh, okay. There we go. Well, future

1:54:21 story. Eight home runs

1:54:23 on the season.

1:54:25 >> JBJ leading this team in quite a few

1:54:28 ways, but Nico Hulshizer tied for the

1:54:31 team lead in home runs. Bobby LaDay just

1:54:35 walking off that inning. He's got the

1:54:37 team lead in walk-offs and that has been

1:54:40 three straight innings

1:54:42 that the Clowns have earned the point

1:54:44 with their offense.

1:54:46 >> And look at Donnie. He's got a point.

1:54:47 That first pitch of the AB is as middle

1:54:50 as you can get. He's got an absolute

1:54:51 point

1:54:53 to make there with Bryson Wheeler who's

1:54:54 done a great job behind home plate, but

1:54:56 when you start off with a ball there, it

1:54:58 changes the way that you You pitch to a

1:55:00 guy who's so dangerous as Bobby La Day.

1:55:03 He's got a point to be upset. Now,

1:55:05 Bryson Wheeler just went to Val Perez.

1:55:07 They had a conversation. Again, don't

1:55:09 want to speculate on what that might be.

1:55:11 But, Donnie has [music]

1:55:12 gotten after Bryson Wheeler a couple

1:55:14 times. And you saw it right there. The

1:55:16 emotion pouring out for Jared Donaldson.

1:55:19 He knows [music] how important this game

1:55:20 is, too. And after three straight

1:55:22 innings getting walked off,

1:55:24 you don't love to see one that's right

1:55:26 there get called a ball.

1:55:29 >> David Griffin goes into inning number

1:55:31 seven and pitch number 85.

1:55:34 We'll see what the strike zone looks

1:55:36 like for him

1:55:38 in this top half of the seventh.

1:55:42 2-0 gets one for a called strike one.

1:55:49 And Michael Schwartz talking with Nico

1:55:51 Holizauser. Nico now tied with Joe Gray

1:55:54 Jr. for the team lead with eight homers.

1:55:56 And he's got one coming his way right

1:55:57 now.

1:56:00 Just takes it the old-fashioned way with

1:56:03 Jackie Bradley coming in for support to

1:56:06 finish that point. The Unction, Kyle

1:56:08 Martin,

1:56:09 >> [laughter]

1:56:10 >> running away with things. The new BBCL

1:56:12 record, 16 homers. [music]

1:56:14 But, it's two clowns. Nico Holizauser

1:56:18 and Joe Gray Jr. right there in second

1:56:20 place in the league

1:56:22 in a tie.

1:56:25 >> South Trimble at the plate has been so

1:56:27 effective when he's [music] in the

1:56:28 lineup. Again, this is 10th time he's

1:56:30 had a hit in seven games that he's been

1:56:32 in the lineup. Can he scoot this one by?

1:56:35 >> La Day through the legs.

1:56:37 Too tall for Carell Prime.

1:56:42 Firefighters getting a much-needed base

1:56:44 runner.

1:56:45 >> And it's a good base runner, too, in

1:56:47 South Trimble. Bobby La Day goes between

1:56:49 the legs.

1:56:50 That's a trick play missed right there.

1:56:53 >> Confirmed by Riley Turner, our scorer in

1:56:55 the booth tonight, always great having

1:56:57 Riley here.

1:57:00 >> He said, "I agree."

1:57:02 >> Good, Riley.

1:57:03 >> The third person in our booth just

1:57:05 agrees with it. It just happens to be

1:57:07 Riley Turner.

1:57:08 >> Tyner Hughes was about 3 in away from

1:57:10 having home run number two on the year

1:57:12 in his last AB. Instead, had to settle

1:57:15 for a groundout.

1:57:19 >> He didn't like settling for that pitch

1:57:20 as a strike.

1:57:22 0-2

1:57:26 Sent out Jackie Bradley Jr.'s way. And

1:57:29 he tracks it down. He's got the range in

1:57:31 his movies, and he's still got the range

1:57:34 in center field.

1:57:36 >> Man, the last second it looked like he

1:57:38 didn't have the beat on it cuz he kind

1:57:39 of changed his trajectory. South Trimble

1:57:42 was all the way to second, had to tag

1:57:43 back up, go back to first. He remains

1:57:46 there with two outs. This is where you

1:57:48 got to have something to feed the

1:57:49 Firefighters. Give your pitcher some run

1:57:51 support here.

1:57:53 With two away and one on.

1:57:55 >> In desperate need of an answer.

1:57:57 Just nine combined hits

1:58:00 in this ball game, but a two-point lead

1:58:02 right now for the Clowns. The only point

1:58:04 they surrendered in the first inning.

1:58:14 >> Yeah, you're going to check back on

1:58:15 South a couple different times. He is a

1:58:17 danger to steal.

1:58:18 Speedy threat on the base bag or base

1:58:20 pads.

1:58:24 Now with the 3-0 count, he might unleash

1:58:26 the wheels a little bit more here. It's

1:58:28 not a certainty like it would be on a

1:58:30 3-2 count. A ball four sprint though

1:58:32 moves South to third pretty easily.

1:58:35 >> And when you're looking for runs, that

1:58:37 might just be a guy you trust on the

1:58:39 base paths.

1:58:42 Of course,

1:58:43 head coach Val Perez is coaching third.

1:58:47 So, it'll be her best judgment to see

1:58:48 how this sprint defense lines up if

1:58:51 there is one because now David Griffin

1:58:53 has worked from 3-0 to 3-2.

1:58:56 He struck out the side in the last

1:58:58 inning. He's got six on the night.

1:59:06 That one goes to Correlle Prime. Eats

1:59:07 him up, but still gets to go through the

1:59:10 legs for the trick play.

1:59:13 What a performance from David Griffin.

1:59:16 Seven strong and holding on to a

1:59:19 three-run lead. A 3-1 lead, excuse me.

1:59:24 Fisher, Brandon, what are you guys

1:59:26 cooking?

1:59:31 >> Yes!

1:59:33 Ladies and gentlemen, here in Banana

1:59:34 Ball, we have some of the most talented

1:59:37 singers in the world. And right now, I

1:59:40 wanted to put their skills to the test

1:59:42 with a game of music roulette. We're

1:59:45 going to give them a random song that

1:59:47 they have to sing in a random style, and

1:59:49 you, with the crowd here in Fargo, is

1:59:51 going to determine the winner of music

1:59:53 roulette. Up first, we have the

1:59:55 Indianapolis Clowns player, Fisher

1:59:58 Polidora.

2:00:00 >> Salutations. Salutations. Watch how we

2:00:02 be singing.

2:00:03 >> Let's see what you got, Fisher.

2:00:10 Looks like Party Rock Anthem in the

2:00:12 style of funk. Okay, take it away.

2:00:19 >> Oh,

2:00:21 yeah. Party rock is in the house

2:00:23 tonight. Everybody just have a good

2:00:26 time, and we going to make you lose your

2:00:28 mind. We just want to see you shake it.

2:00:31 Party rock is in the house tonight.

2:00:34 Everybody just have a good time, and we

2:00:36 going to make you lose your mind. We

2:00:39 just want to see you shake it.

2:00:41 >> All right, Fisher. That was awesome. Up

2:00:46 next, we have the host of the

2:00:48 Indianapolis Clowns, Brandon. All right,

2:00:50 let's see what you're going to have to

2:00:51 do.

2:00:55 The Friends theme song in the style of

2:00:57 musical theater. All right, take it

2:01:00 away, Brandon.

2:01:03 So

2:01:06 So no one told you life was going to be

2:01:10 this way. [singing]

2:01:13 Your life's a joke, you're broke, your

2:01:16 love life's DOA.

2:01:20 It's like we're always stuck in second

2:01:24 gear.

2:01:26 When it hasn't been your day or month or

2:01:29 your year.

2:01:33 >> [cheering]

2:01:34 >> Fargo, it all comes down to you. Do you

2:01:36 think the winner of Music Roulette was

2:01:39 Fisher Polidora?

2:01:43 Not bad, not bad. Or do you think the

2:01:45 winner of Music ROULETTE WAS BRANDON?

2:01:48 >> [cheering]

2:01:49 >> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE have a winner.

2:02:01 >> Firefighters

2:02:03 needed a zero once again, they turned to

2:02:05 Blake Morgan.

2:02:06 Former UNC Wilmington Seahawk.

2:02:11 An eighth round pick in the inaugural in

2:02:13 the inaugural There we go. There it is.

2:02:16 Minne of all Championship League draft.

2:02:18 Played college ball

2:02:20 alongside these names you might know,

2:02:22 Zachary Bridges, Noah Bridges. You might

2:02:24 You might have heard of them. Hey, last

2:02:26 week in a Manchester

2:02:28 game three, Firefighters needed a zero

2:02:30 to get to the ninth inning with a

2:02:31 chance. Blake Morgan came in in a big

2:02:33 time situation, got them that zero. Can

2:02:36 he do it again here against the Clowns

2:02:38 offense that is firing on all cylinders?

2:02:40 As JBJ does not check the swing.

2:02:43 >> JBJ a an extra base hit in three

2:02:47 straight games.

2:02:49 With this double earlier tonight.

2:02:51 Can he make IT FOUR?

2:02:54 NOPE. THAT'LL [screaming] HOLD UP.

2:02:56 Armando Basabe.

2:02:59 With the full extension. Two nights in a

2:03:02 row he has robbed JBJ.

2:03:04 >> So last night we heard him say he knew

2:03:06 JBJ was up so he had to go for the trick

2:03:09 play. Look what he just did there diving

2:03:11 out and quickly Val Perez has put in a

2:03:14 new arm. It's Jovan Rey that's now

2:03:16 coming. Did you see Amadou doing things

2:03:18 with [music] his body that I can't do?

2:03:21 I don't think Cam Stewart could do.

2:03:24 >> To be fair, you haven't seen me try.

2:03:26 >> I don't think you'd want to try.

2:03:29 >> What a

2:03:30 What?

2:03:34 This guy

2:03:39 >> If you didn't see Amadou in the ballpark

2:03:42 or with us on YouTube, you might think

2:03:43 it's AI.

2:03:45 But that is all real.

2:03:47 >> So Jovan Rey is now in. Blake Morgan

2:03:49 goes one batter and steps steps aside

2:03:53 for Jovan Rey. Firefighters really

2:03:55 trying to get their pitcher some work.

2:03:57 Huge chance for a trick play. MONDO TIP

2:04:00 DRILL IT FALLS.

2:04:08 >> And this is going to be

2:04:10 a tight tight contest when it comes to

2:04:12 the trick plays. Haven't been many with

2:04:15 the way the wind's been going here in

2:04:17 Fargo. That was a big chance.

2:04:20 >> [music]

2:04:21 >> That's just Armando's fifth trick play

2:04:23 missed all year long. He has been so

2:04:25 sure handed with the glove.

2:04:28 Still opportunities for the Firefighters

2:04:29 to earn that equalizer point but you're

2:04:31 down two.

2:04:33 You got to be able to execute them

2:04:35 there.

2:04:38 >> Joe Lidle has only had one hitless game

2:04:40 in the last month and a half.

2:04:42 He's 0 for 2 tonight.

2:04:44 But with a stirring rendition

2:04:47 of Payphone by Maroon 5.

2:04:54 He's one pitch away from getting on base

2:04:55 without needing to get a hit.

2:04:57 3-0.

2:04:59 >> [music]

2:05:04 >> And oh, that is taken for strike one.

2:05:07 Dale Francis Jr. WAS RUNNING AND HE IS

2:05:09 OUT.

2:05:12 >> [cheering]

2:05:13 >> He thought it was a ball four sprint.

2:05:15 Joe Lidle thought it was a ball four

2:05:17 sprint. Eric Fox is going to challenge

2:05:20 this.

2:05:21 And they will go to the monitor to see

2:05:23 if Dale Francis Jr. got in there. A

2:05:26 critical call is coming.

2:05:28 Peanut, did you ever get the tag in

2:05:30 there?

2:05:32 I can't tell from this angle if he hit

2:05:33 the underside of the armor or not. I

2:05:35 think he does.

2:05:40 It's so [music] tough to see. I don't

2:05:42 know that you have enough evidence with

2:05:43 this angle to overturn it. This is

2:05:45 massive because if it stands, it's two

2:05:48 outs.

2:05:49 >> And the bases empty.

2:05:51 >> Correct. If he goes [music] through,

2:05:53 it's one out, 3-1 count, and runners in

2:05:55 scoring position for a potential ball

2:05:56 four sprint.

2:05:58 >> [music]

2:05:58 >> In what would be a walk-off ball four

2:06:01 sprint.

2:06:01 >> And this is an understandable challenge

2:06:04 here

2:06:05 from Eric Fox.

2:06:07 Let's see.

2:06:09 Is the tag laid there on the hip? I

2:06:12 can't tell you for sure. Our second base

2:06:14 umpire tonight, Brett Bullard, is right

2:06:16 there. Got a heck of an angle.

2:06:19 The foot doesn't hit the bag till right

2:06:21 there. You see it start to move.

2:06:24 I don't see enough evidence to overturn

2:06:26 this.

2:06:28 >> The call on the field stands. The runner

2:06:32 is out.

2:06:32 >> stands.

2:06:34 So, the confusion leads to a caught

2:06:37 stealing and a big time break for the

2:06:40 Firefighters, but also some excellent

2:06:44 execution.

2:06:44 >> And that, you tip the cap right there to

2:06:46 both Eric Jones Jr. and Caden Green

2:06:48 because they were Johnny-on-the-spot.

2:06:52 Realizing he's going for it and there's

2:06:53 the ball for Sprint. That would have won

2:06:55 the Clown's a fourth point in this game

2:06:57 tonight, but instead it's just a two-out

2:07:00 ball for Sprint with the bases cleared.

2:07:02 You give a huge tip of the cap to EJ

2:07:05 [music] and Peanuts.

2:07:07 >> A huge swing in that game in this game

2:07:11 on that review right there.

2:07:15 So, Joe Lidle on with the Sprint.

2:07:18 He is still the inning-winning run, but

2:07:20 there's two outs.

2:07:27 Jovan Ray to Correlle Prime.

2:07:30 Will the fans do it?

2:07:33 >> [cheering]

2:07:34 >> YES! [screaming] YES, THEY WILL!

2:07:36 >> OH MY GOODNESS, THEY CALLED HIM OUT.

2:07:38 HOLD ON, BRYSON Wheeler is coming back

2:07:40 from home plate. Trey Hudson is the one

2:07:43 who called him out at first base.

2:07:45 Bryson, if he's got the angle to show

2:07:47 that it was bobbled

2:07:51 can overrule him and they have overruled

2:07:53 him. You see it right here. It's in the

2:07:55 hat right there AND THEN IT POPS right

2:07:57 on out.

2:07:58 >> A fitted hat might have ended the

2:08:00 inning.

2:08:02 >> Now, if that had stood

2:08:04 the Clowns do not have a challenge.

2:08:06 They just used it. And not only that,

2:08:10 the fans don't have a challenge to help

2:08:12 the Clowns. So, the Firefighters would

2:08:14 have gotten a massive break. Instead

2:08:17 it will stay just a normal foul ball.

2:08:20 >> Wow.

2:08:22 That would have been the first

2:08:23 fan-caught foul ball, too, in a hat here

2:08:25 in Fargo.

2:08:28 Jovan Ray one strike away from a crucial

2:08:32 ball

2:08:34 at zero. He just did not give up another

2:08:36 walk-off.

2:08:41 Prime again.

2:08:43 This time leaves no doubt.

2:08:46 >> He had to run through that

2:08:47 snow cone house over there on the right

2:08:49 field line in order to get that one.

2:08:54 >> The one two again.

2:08:56 Gets to the backstop. Joe Lidle can walk

2:08:59 down to second base.

2:09:02 >> [music]

2:09:04 >> And once again, danger looms. A runner

2:09:07 in scoring position.

2:09:09 Just like they thought they had with the

2:09:10 Dale Francis Jr. not steal of second.

2:09:17 Deuces wild. Two two. Two outs. Number

2:09:20 22 on second.

2:09:23 And will stay

2:09:25 at that two two count.

2:09:27 >> This is the kind of AB from Carell Prime

2:09:29 that kept him in minor league ball and

2:09:31 independent ball for so long.

2:09:34 >> [cheering]

2:09:37 >> And once again, just as we were before

2:09:40 the review,

2:09:42 a pitch away from a walk-off ball four

2:09:45 sprint.

2:09:47 Lidle will be off with the pitch.

2:09:51 Prime stays alive again.

2:09:53 >> Anything that Jovan has thrown over the

2:09:56 plate, Prime is connecting with.

2:09:58 He's just elongating this AB, making it

2:10:01 so tough

2:10:03 to find an opening.

2:10:05 >> High drama in the seventh.

2:10:08 >> [cheering]

2:10:10 >> BECERRA ON HIS HORSE AND WITH A SLIDE,

2:10:14 THE BIGGEST OUT of the night for the

2:10:16 Firefighters.

2:10:19 They escape the danger

2:10:21 and do not another walk-off of the

2:10:24 clowns.

2:10:25 >> So, how about we book in this frame

2:10:28 with a diving catch on Jackie Bradley

2:10:30 Jr. to start, and we end it with a

2:10:32 sliding catch on Correlle Prime with a

2:10:34 runner in scoring position. Ball four

2:10:37 sprint would have won the inning and

2:10:39 made it a three-point game. Armando

2:10:41 Bacchetta, unbelievable defense to start

2:10:45 and end that frame. And you take a look

2:10:47 at the defense now with trick plays. The

2:10:49 clowns lead at 6-4. Remember with the

2:10:51 equalizer points, the away team

2:10:54 if they have more trick plays going into

2:10:57 the final inning, will get that

2:10:59 equalizer point added to their score.

2:11:01 Home team gets it with most trick plays,

2:11:04 it is nullified. The equalizer point is

2:11:07 denied. Again, the clowns have the lead

2:11:10 6-4. [cheering]

2:11:11 So, they need trick plays here, too.

2:11:12 Maybe just as much as the Firefighters.

2:11:15 >> This thing very much still up for grabs

2:11:17 in the trick play department. And I want

2:11:18 to point out something, too.

2:11:20 Zack Phillips just got the entire

2:11:22 Firefighter team gathered around

2:11:24 and gave what I assume is an impassioned

2:11:27 implored speech. This is a team that

2:11:29 understands

2:11:31 what this game and next week and against

2:11:33 the Savannah Bananas at Kinne Stadium in

2:11:35 Iowa City mean.

2:11:37 They have to find a way to show some

2:11:39 grit here in this eighth inning. Get a

2:11:41 couple of runs and find a way to go

2:11:43 after a Kobe Robinson who has been

2:11:45 unbelievable over the last couple of

2:11:47 weekends. He has found his stuff and

2:11:49 shown why he is here in Banana Ball.

2:11:52 He's a guy who from the start of the

2:11:53 year to the to right now has improved so

2:11:55 much.

2:11:57 >> He has found a role in this clowns

2:11:59 bullpen that continues to evolve. And

2:12:02 what value. The penultimate pick for the

2:12:05 clowns in the BBCL draft, 11th round,

2:12:09 81st overall. The kid from Chattanooga,

2:12:14 Kobe Hot Sauce Robinson.

2:12:17 He's got Dakota McFadden to start things

2:12:19 off here in the eighth. The first

2:12:22 pitcher not named David Griffin to tow

2:12:24 the rubber tonight for Indy.

2:12:27 >> And if you're the Fireflies here again,

2:12:30 if you can avoid soft contact or

2:12:32 grounders, you try it, but you've got to

2:12:34 get base runners.

2:12:36 >> So, for Griffin, seven innings,

2:12:39 the only point he lost was in the first.

2:12:43 Came back with six strikeouts after

2:12:45 that.

2:12:47 And this will be the seventh for the

2:12:48 staff and the first for Kobe Robinson.

2:12:51 He sits down Dakota McFadden. [music]

2:12:53 Second time he's gone down by way of the

2:12:55 K.

2:12:59 >> Runs it high up,

2:13:00 right towards the chin.

2:13:02 That one goes away from Eli Payton, but

2:13:04 not nearly strong enough to try to

2:13:06 [music] get Caden Green to steal.

2:13:09 >> Kobe's fastball with a sink action gets

2:13:12 up to about 92.

2:13:14 A slider and a changeup in there as

2:13:16 well. He's got some heat that's been

2:13:18 left up and in.

2:13:20 >> Trying to back him off the plate.

2:13:27 >> Easier said than done against Peanut

2:13:29 Green.

2:13:31 Four pitches, ball four sprint.

2:13:34 Green took a big turn earlier.

2:13:36 He's looking at second.

2:13:39 And he's in there.

2:13:41 Aggressive base running from Peanut

2:13:43 Green at a critical time.

2:13:46 >> Fortune favors the brave.

2:13:50 And Caden Green took a brave turn around

2:13:52 first, saw he had a shot, put his head

2:13:55 down, put the bit in his mouth, and got

2:13:57 to second base. Critical, critical

2:14:00 runner in scoring position.

2:14:04 >> And so, Armando Becerra,

2:14:06 with two

2:14:09 spectacular catches

2:14:12 in the bottom of the seventh, now gets

2:14:13 his shot to add a run to the total

2:14:17 in the top of the eighth.

2:14:25 This one is going to stay in the field

2:14:26 of play. Dancero moving back on it.

2:14:29 Behind the back and it's off the glove.

2:14:32 Peanut Green rounding third, he's in to

2:14:35 score.

2:14:36 >> [cheering]

2:14:38 >> AND IT'S A TWO-BASE TRICK pit trick play

2:14:41 missed for Armando Becerra.

2:14:45 >> The Firefighters have a lot to celebrate

2:14:48 here as we get some push-ups in.

2:14:54 Oh, get you one, MARSHALL. GET YOU ONE.

2:14:56 GET THEM BOTH, BO AND MARSHALL. YES,

2:14:59 SIR. AND WHAT A critical

2:15:02 momentum swinger that is because now if

2:15:05 you're the Clowns,

2:15:06 you surrendered a run on a trick play

2:15:08 missed. Are you a little bit hesitant to

2:15:11 keep going for trick plays when it's so

2:15:13 critical here now? Brian Dancero is a

2:15:16 sure fire of a left fielder as you can

2:15:18 get. That one goes off the old backside

2:15:20 and now Lamar Sparks with a runner on

2:15:22 second, just one away. That's a critical

2:15:25 runner right there.

2:15:27 >> And maybe it's when you think about with

2:15:29 a two-point lead, but with such a tight

2:15:31 race in the equalizer point, that could

2:15:33 turn like that into a tie game if the

2:15:36 Firefighters win this inning and

2:15:38 continue their trick play rate. This one

2:15:41 gets behind Peyton

2:15:43 and Becerra GOES DOWN TO THIRD AND THE

2:15:44 THROW GETS AWAY.

2:15:48 >> [cheering]

2:15:48 >> TWO RUNS IN IN THE FRAME FOR the

2:15:50 Firefighters

2:15:52 and the ball is going all over the place

2:15:54 for the Clowns in this eighth inning.

2:15:58 >> Eli Peyton trying his darnedest to get

2:16:01 Armando Becerra to hold at third

2:16:04 or out at third, but the throw a little

2:16:07 too slow low for Kirkland Banks. And now

2:16:10 Lamar Sparks, base is cleared. Can he

2:16:12 find something as he sends that one over

2:16:15 to Si Hall across the street on the

2:16:16 campus of North Dakota State?

2:16:19 >> Firefighters had not scored since the

2:16:22 fourth.

2:16:23 Their only point came in the first.

2:16:28 >> And the rain is beginning to pick up

2:16:30 just a little bit here.

2:16:32 Starting to see it on our screen in

2:16:34 front of us just a hair.

2:16:37 >> Sparks under this one.

2:16:39 Vasquez started out, now comes in, and

2:16:41 it's actually going to be Carrel Prime

2:16:42 on the tip, and into the bare hand.

2:16:46 Rain coming down, no problem

2:16:49 for the former

2:16:50 Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks.

2:16:53 >> So now you have guaranteed the

2:16:55 Firefighters have to get at least one

2:16:57 double trick play in the bottom half of

2:16:59 the frame. You have guaranteed it. That

2:17:01 is an important trick play there for

2:17:03 Carrel Prime, and maybe

2:17:05 it's fate that gives the veteran the

2:17:07 first chance

2:17:09 at the trick play after the TPM as Eric

2:17:11 Jones Jr. That ball literally is still

2:17:13 not landed. Now it finally does in the

2:17:15 greenhouse across the street.

2:17:18 >> It's been some loud contact down that

2:17:20 left field line.

2:17:23 Fair, foul, all over.

2:17:31 Kobe tried the trick pitch there.

2:17:35 >> [laughter]

2:17:35 >> He's like, "Ah, I'm just going to try it

2:17:37 regular."

2:17:39 And that works for him. Backwards K for

2:17:42 Kobe Robinson to end the top of the

2:17:45 eighth. A couple runs in, two for the

2:17:48 Firefighters, and a crucial opportunity

2:17:51 here to cut into the lead. A two-point

2:17:55 lead for the Clowns right now as we head

2:17:57 to the bottom of the eighth. Rain or

2:17:59 shine, wherever we are, it is a

2:18:02 wonderful world here in Banana Ball.

2:18:11 What a wonderful world.

2:18:30 >> [music]

2:18:41 >> Sounds beautiful, Fargo.

2:19:19 >> [music]

2:19:27 [music]

2:19:27 >> All together, Fargo. As loud as you can.

2:19:36 The rain's coming down on us, but it's

2:19:38 still a wonderful world. Ladies and

2:19:40 gentlemen, one last time.

2:19:50 What a wonderful world it truly is,

2:19:51 Fargo, North Dakota. We love you. And

2:19:54 let's go, Clouds.

2:20:00 >> We head to the bottom of the eighth in

2:20:02 Fargo, North Dakota, and this is

2:20:05 crucial. The equalizer point is what the

2:20:09 firefighters are chasing in this bottom

2:20:11 half of the inning, as well as holding

2:20:14 on to another point as they lead this

2:20:16 two nothing. And a reminder, if the away

2:20:18 team has more trick plays going into the

2:20:21 final inning, that is an automatic point

2:20:24 added to their total before the final

2:20:26 inning where every run counts as a

2:20:29 point.

2:20:30 >> And remember, the firefighters down 4 to

2:20:32 7 in the trick plays, they don't need

2:20:34 three, they need four. If they tie the

2:20:36 trick play battle up,

2:20:38 the equalizer point is done. It's It's

2:20:40 denied anyway. You have to have more.

2:20:46 >> And one more element added is the

2:20:49 elements. The big sky here in North

2:20:52 Dakota has opened up. Pouring down. And

2:20:56 Javon Ray pours in a strike out of Nico

2:20:59 Hulsize.

2:20:59 >> And if you looked, he went under THE

2:21:01 LEGS. THAT IS A TRICK PLAY STRIKE OUT

2:21:03 FOR JAVON RAY. The firefighters are now

2:21:05 within two. Big time moment for Baby G.

2:21:10 >> Aidan down the left field line, that

2:21:12 one's going to fall foul.

2:21:16 If only we had windshield wipers.

2:21:18 >> Yeah, we can barely see.

2:21:24 >> But yeah, what a crucial crucial play.

2:21:28 Trick pitch strike out. And this is very

2:21:31 much still in the balance.

2:21:33 >> Oh, here's a huge chance.

2:21:34 >> Through the legs, one trick play.

2:21:37 >> THROUGH THE LEGS, TWO TRICK PLAYS!

2:21:40 WE ARE EVEN IN THE TRICK PLAY COLUMN.

2:21:44 SOUTH TRIMBLE,

2:21:47 MASON MAXWELL HAVE KNOTTED US UP AT

2:21:50 SEVEN

2:21:51 EACH. AND NOW

2:21:53 ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL AT BATS YOU ARE

2:21:55 GOING TO FIND HERE.

2:21:57 And a new pitcher in Johnny Hummel.

2:22:01 Bring him in for one AB in the eighth

2:22:04 inning. Can he induce a trick play? CAN

2:22:07 HE GET A TRICK PITCH STRIKEOUT?

2:22:10 CAN YOU FEEL THE DRAMA? TWO POINTS ARE

2:22:13 ON THE LINE RIGHT HERE.

2:22:19 WOW. I WISH I COULD SEE OUT OF THE GLASS

2:22:21 IN FRONT OF ME.

2:22:23 >> This game

2:22:25 might just turn right on its head.

2:22:27 >> Oh my goodness.

2:22:32 >> Burgess

2:22:34 to shallow center.

2:22:35 PEñA AND TRIMBLE AND IT FALLS.

2:22:40 BURGESS UP TO second as no one covers.

2:22:44 It's going to be a trick play missed.

2:22:47 And now Burgess takes OFF FOR THIRD.

2:22:51 ALL KINDS OF CONFUSION on the field and

2:22:54 Chris Burgess

2:22:55 takes a shallow fly ball to center field

2:22:58 and ends up on third base. Peña and

2:23:01 Trimble run right into each other.

2:23:04 >> Yeah, that is a massive

2:23:05 miscommunication. You have got to You've

2:23:07 got to let the other guy know who's

2:23:09 getting the pop.

2:23:17 >> And with this deluge coming down on

2:23:19 Fargo

2:23:21 it all hangs in the balance right now.

2:23:25 Going for the trick play of course to

2:23:27 get that equalizer point and get a

2:23:29 two-point inning.

2:23:30 >> Yep, you have to if you're Caden Green

2:23:31 and South Trimble there. You've got to,

2:23:33 but someone has got to clearly call that

2:23:35 one off.

2:23:37 >> Dancer out to left.

2:23:40 It's going to get in the stands. Stay in

2:23:42 play.

2:23:45 >> These brave souls here in Fargo

2:23:49 are braving these elements. Mason

2:23:51 Maxwell just went up to Johnny Hummel. I

2:23:53 wonder if he just told him try for

2:23:54 something tricky here.

2:23:56 It's an 0-2 count. Brian Dansereau

2:24:00 can swing away.

2:24:02 Does Johnny go for something tricky on

2:24:04 the mound?

2:24:06 Yes, he does.

2:24:09 >> It will not be a trick pitch as it's

2:24:11 taken anyway. There needs to be one

2:24:14 continuous

2:24:15 motion with the trick.

2:24:17 >> Try it again.

2:24:20 >> High.

2:24:21 >> Oh.

2:24:23 Oh my goodness.

2:24:29 Johnny try for a third straight time.

2:24:31 Yes, he does.

2:24:35 >> That one would have counted, but it's

2:24:37 outside to run the count full.

2:24:38 >> The last two would have counted and man,

2:24:40 that 1-2

2:24:45 boy, it looks good.

2:24:48 >> Ball four sprint.

2:24:50 That inning lead is going to be cut in

2:24:52 half. You can do a lot when you've got a

2:24:54 two-run lead in the inning, but now

2:24:56 that's down to just one.

2:24:58 As Chris Burgess comes in to score after

2:25:01 reaching on a mistrick play.

2:25:03 >> And this is where

2:25:05 and again, we'll we'll go back and we

2:25:06 can we can look at the replay and see if

2:25:08 you think that was a strike on 1-2. I

2:25:10 thought it was from my view, but again,

2:25:12 the rain makes it tough. But you've got

2:25:14 to find again, you're not out of the

2:25:15 water yet.

2:25:17 If you can get yourself a trick play

2:25:18 here, you have tied the game up.

2:25:21 Yes, you've given up a run. Don't give

2:25:23 up the fight for it.

2:25:30 Kirkland Banks ahead of the count 2-0.

2:25:33 The rain's starting

2:25:35 to dim or off just a hair. Johnny Hummel

2:25:37 gets a towel ran out there by Bradford

2:25:39 Webb.

2:25:40 >> That might be just to see, not even a

2:25:42 crib.

2:25:43 Without the hat on.

2:25:46 Just giving himself a little windshield

2:25:48 wiper action.

2:25:49 >> At this point, you just got to find the

2:25:50 strike zone. The trick plays do not

2:25:52 matter in this juncture.

2:25:56 Runner goes.

2:25:57 >> That's in there for a strike, and

2:25:59 Dancero is down to second with a stolen

2:26:01 base.

2:26:04 >> And that's massive here.

2:26:06 Because a ball four sprint is going to

2:26:07 tie the inning up.

2:26:10 And negate the good work the offense did

2:26:12 in the top half of the frame.

2:26:15 >> Banks swinging though, and that's going

2:26:17 to run the count full.

2:26:20 Dancero will be off with the pitch. So

2:26:22 much

2:26:24 that rides potentially on this next

2:26:26 pitch.

2:26:27 >> And Johnny Hummel's not going for a

2:26:28 trick pitch here. You go for the out

2:26:29 first.

2:26:31 Trust your defense.

2:26:33 >> BANKS SHALLOW LEFT CENTER, THAT'S GOING

2:26:36 TO DROP. DANCERO GETS THE WAVE, AND he

2:26:38 scores easily.

2:26:41 From a trick play missed that could HAVE

2:26:43 BEEN A TWO-POINT SWING, instead it

2:26:47 cancels out in this inning

2:26:50 at 2-2.

2:26:52 >> And it shows you the importance of

2:26:53 communication in the field.

2:26:56 It was so tight between South Trimble

2:26:58 and Caden Green. Both of them trying to

2:27:00 go for the play.

2:27:03 >> Keep in mind, the trick play equalizer

2:27:05 point is still on the table.

2:27:07 >> Mhm.

2:27:08 >> If the Firefighters can keep their heads

2:27:10 about them here, you could still make

2:27:11 this a one-point game going into the

2:27:13 final frame. But you've got to find it

2:27:15 here.

2:27:18 >> Bobby La Day could walk off for the

2:27:20 second time today.

2:27:24 >> By the way, neither of those runs are

2:27:25 going earned against Johnny Hummel.

2:27:28 Neither of those. This one might.

2:27:30 Neither of those.

2:27:32 Even this one will not go earned against

2:27:33 Johnny Hummel. This is a clean inning

2:27:35 for him with the ERA. And now with a 1-2

2:27:38 count,

2:27:39 do you try it again?

2:27:43 Again, one-point game is a heck of a lot

2:27:45 easier to stomach than a two-point game

2:27:46 in the ninth inning.

2:27:50 Yes, he does.

2:27:53 >> Methodical and La Vega gets a piece of

2:27:55 it.

2:27:56 >> And KB was off to second.

2:27:59 That's the risk you take with going for

2:28:00 the trick pitch,

2:28:02 but it fouled off, so the runner goes

2:28:03 back to first.

2:28:07 What a crowd here in Fargo, North

2:28:09 Dakota.

2:28:10 They're still with us, man.

2:28:12 Staying with us through all these

2:28:14 elements.

2:28:15 What a special group of folks we have

2:28:17 here in North Dakota seeing banana ball

2:28:19 for the first time.

2:28:22 Rain seems to have lightened up here.

2:28:24 Now again, it's 1-2.

2:28:29 Is Johnny try going back under the legs?

2:28:34 >> He does. Runner off again, and this time

2:28:37 Kirkland Banks will just swipe second

2:28:39 base without a throw.

2:28:40 >> And now with the runner in scoring

2:28:41 position, you're pitching normal.

2:28:43 >> You're you're going through whatever it

2:28:44 is your windup is.

2:28:46 You've tried everything

2:28:48 with this trick play in the in this

2:28:49 inning to get the equalizer point.

2:28:56 And now one ball away

2:28:58 from another walk-off for the Clowns.

2:29:06 In there, called strike three.

2:29:09 Johnny Hummel bears down.

2:29:13 They do not lose the inning, but they

2:29:15 also do not get the equalizer point

2:29:19 as we head to the final inning in Fargo.

2:29:24 And here's where it gets really

2:29:26 interesting. Equalizer point or not, any

2:29:30 run that is scored in this final inning

2:29:33 becomes a point in the game.

2:29:37 >> But here's the thing about Banana Ball,

2:29:38 IN THE FINAL INNING

2:29:40 >> THIS IS

2:29:42 WHERE it becomes critical for the

2:29:44 Firefighters as you

2:29:46 get a new pitcher in Deion Rinoso. The

2:29:48 equalizer point denied.

2:29:50 It's a 7-7

2:29:52 trick play battle. And again, that trick

2:29:55 play missed

2:29:57 is now a two-point swing. This would

2:29:58 have been a tie game if that one is

2:30:00 knocked in clean.

2:30:01 Instead, it's not. And now Deion Rinoso

2:30:04 has a chance to close this thing out, to

2:30:06 get the save. But the Firefighters will

2:30:08 send Dalton Cornett,

2:30:10 Darian McDowell, and Sal Tremble

2:30:13 to the dish.

2:30:15 We have not seen the golden batter used

2:30:17 all weekend. Do the Firefighters pull it

2:30:20 out here? There is a line forming. There

2:30:24 is a tunnel starting.

2:30:29 Has Val Perez elected to go for the

2:30:31 golden AB right off the rip?

2:30:35 This would be in the place of Dalton

2:30:37 Cornett.

2:30:40 And I don't see DC3 with a bat and

2:30:42 helmet on.

2:30:44 They have decided to use the golden AB

2:30:48 right here, right now.

2:30:51 Cornett one for three with an infield

2:30:54 single, a couple of strike outs. Who's

2:30:57 going to be golden?

2:31:03 >> Ladies and gentlemen,

2:31:05 the Firefighters are invoking the golden

2:31:08 batter rule. Hitting in the place of

2:31:12 Dalton Cornett.

2:31:15 HERE IS LAMAR

2:31:19 SPARKS.

2:31:19 >> [screaming]

2:31:20 [groaning]

2:31:20 >> SO,

2:31:22 WE HAVE IT.

2:31:24 FOR THE first time

2:31:26 in his Banana Ball career. Golden batter

2:31:29 opportunity for Lamar Sparks. Returns to

2:31:32 the place where he played ball last

2:31:35 year.

2:31:36 Tonight, two doubles and a single.

2:31:39 He has had power to burn.

2:31:42 Now, can he find something here? As he

2:31:44 sends one to the press box in foul.

2:31:47 Lamar Sparks has the most home runs in a

2:31:50 World Tour Firefighter has ever hit.

2:31:53 Gets another one here. And it's a

2:31:55 one-point game.

2:31:58 >> One of the great

2:32:00 rules here in Banana Ball, the Golden

2:32:02 Batter.

2:32:04 Where you can put in any hitter

2:32:07 in this spot.

2:32:08 And if he gets on base, the guy behind

2:32:10 him and Darian McDowell can change this

2:32:12 game. Deion Rhenoso working away.

2:32:16 Rhenoso, a couple of saves on the year.

2:32:19 Two for two.

2:32:21 Last one came June 5th against the

2:32:23 Bananas.

2:32:25 He gets Sparks to get under one.

2:32:28 Through the the sprinkle.

2:32:31 Jackie Bradley Jr. hauls it in.

2:32:34 Golden batter used

2:32:37 and does not work for the Firefighters.

2:32:40 And Gage Voorhees is warming up with

2:32:43 Flash the Kid Mitchell over on the

2:32:45 sidelines just in case there's some

2:32:46 trouble made.

2:32:48 JBJ really calling that one off.

2:33:09 Little samba from Deion Rhenoso.

2:33:15 Who says you can't dance when the

2:33:16 moments are this tense?

2:33:21 One all.

2:33:23 DEEP OUT TO LEFT FIELD.

2:33:25 GOING BACK DANCERO.

2:33:29 THAT BALL IS GONE.

2:33:32 >> [cheering]

2:33:33 >> TREYON MCDOWELL

2:33:36 HAS FIGURED HIMSELF OUT HERE IN FARGO.

2:33:40 SOLO [screaming] SHOT

2:33:42 AND IT'S A ONE-POINT GAME AS PREMIUM

2:33:45 UNLEASHES.

2:33:49 PUT THE HALO

2:33:50 >> HALO HELMET ON.

2:33:53 >> HERE'S MICHAEL.

2:33:55 >> HOW DO YOU FEEL in that moment to get

2:33:56 your team to that lead? That within

2:33:59 what?

2:34:00 >> That was a great feeling. I loved it. I

2:34:01 mean, what helped me out a little bit,

2:34:02 so

2:34:03 >> [music]

2:34:03 >> but I still love it.

2:34:04 >> His team, he's got the Halo on him.

2:34:06 Backed up TO YOU GUYS.

2:34:07 >> SOUTH GOING TO FIRST.

2:34:09 IT'LL BE A STEAL OF FIRST BASE.

2:34:12 SMOKE IS ON WITH ONE AWAY.

2:34:17 >> THIS GAME'S getting nuts here in the

2:34:20 final inning.

2:34:20 >> Getting?

2:34:23 >> What a time for the Firefighters to have

2:34:25 their first dinger of [music] the

2:34:26 weekend?

2:34:30 3-2 ball game.

2:34:31 >> In Tyner Hughes, we have seen him pull

2:34:33 one nearly for a homer tonight. Can he

2:34:36 do it with a little more accuracy?

2:34:40 Boy, he wanted it there.

2:34:42 >> Clark Gilmore starting to throw on the

2:34:44 sidelines as well for the Clowns.

2:34:50 1-1 misses upstairs.

2:34:52 >> And you wonder too if you're starting to

2:34:54 get some arms ready in the case of

2:34:56 showdowns as well. That is still very

2:34:58 much on the table for both of these

2:35:00 teams.

2:35:04 >> Check on the runner, South Trimble at

2:35:05 first, but back in.

2:35:07 >> Does South dare lean too much off the

2:35:09 bag here on a 3-1 count?

2:35:12 If it's a ball for sprint, he's going to

2:35:13 third.

2:35:18 >> Upstairs. ball four sprint.

2:35:22 Trimble

2:35:24 going to get to third.

2:35:27 The tying run is 90 ft away.

2:35:31 And so, we have it here.

2:35:35 What a massive moment

2:35:38 for Mason Maxwell, the 11th round pick

2:35:41 for the Fire Fighters, their last pick

2:35:43 of the Banana Ball Player Draft. He came

2:35:45 into this weekend 452 average with

2:35:48 runners in scoring position. He just

2:35:50 needs one to get here.

2:35:53 A sacrifice fly will tie us up. Anything

2:35:56 into the field of play that lands and

2:35:58 Tyner is going to try his hand to go to

2:36:00 third. South Trimble is at third base

2:36:04 Tyner at first. The steal there, Mason

2:36:06 did not check the swing. Tyner's at

2:36:08 second.

2:36:10 >> Too risky a throw potentially for Eli

2:36:12 Peyton.

2:36:15 K.C. Trimble comes home. The infield is

2:36:17 in

2:36:18 with one out.

2:36:20 THE O2

2:36:22 >> ON THE GROUND AND THROUGH! THE FIRE

2:36:24 FIGHTERS HAVE TIED IT! THE WAVE AROUND!

2:36:28 THE FIRE FIGHTERS HAVE THE LEAD! ARE

2:36:31 [screaming] YOU kidding me? MASON

2:36:35 MAXWELL

2:36:36 IN THE BIGGEST MOMENT OF THE WEEKEND

2:36:39 COMES UP CLUTCH, SNEAKS ONE IN THE RIGHT

2:36:42 FIELD, AND GIVES THE FIRE FIGHTERS AN

2:36:45 UNBELIEVABLE 4-3 LEAD!

2:36:56 What a turn of events

2:36:58 from missing the TRICK PLAY AND

2:37:00 POTENTIALLY TYING THE GAME

2:37:04 TO TAKING THE LEAD. STEAL! SAFE!

2:37:08 AND THERE IS NO CHALLENGE for for

2:37:10 Clowns.

2:37:11 >> Insanity

2:37:13 in Fargo.

2:37:18 >> Is this really happening?

2:37:22 Who is challenging? Bryson Wheeler

2:37:24 saying there's a challenge. The fans

2:37:25 have already used it.

2:37:26 >> Yeah, there's no challenge here.

2:37:29 >> The fans cannot pop the challenge cork a

2:37:32 second time. Bryson Wheeler is arguing

2:37:35 with Joe Mayer. Joe Mayer is the show

2:37:37 caller for the Clowns. He's saying

2:37:39 there's no challenge.

2:37:40 >> Yeah, this This can't go through as a

2:37:43 challenge.

2:37:44 >> Val Perez is making the same argument

2:37:46 here. The Clowns have already used their

2:37:48 challenge. [music]

2:37:48 The fans have used theirs.

2:37:52 >> It was a one challenge, but it has been

2:37:54 used.

2:37:57 >> Okay, now Bryson Wheeler and this

2:37:59 umpiring crew can challenge this if they

2:38:02 wanted to, but if they're saying it's a

2:38:03 fan challenge, that has already been

2:38:05 used. That has already been unpopped.

2:38:07 They cannot do it again, and Bryson

2:38:09 Wheeler has said there is no challenge

2:38:11 now officially at the ruling of Joe

2:38:13 Mayer.

2:38:15 What is happening?

2:38:18 >> Welcome to Banana Ball,

2:38:22 North Dakota.

2:38:31 McFadden reaches out, slices this one

2:38:33 foul, but still only one out in the

2:38:36 inning.

2:38:41 And it is

2:38:43 the first blown save of the season

2:38:46 for the Indianapolis Clowns.

2:38:48 >> And if you're the Firefighters,

2:38:51 you need insurance, cuz the guy leading

2:38:53 off

2:38:54 is a guy who homered yesterday in Jackie

2:38:56 Bradley Jr.

2:38:57 A guy who's hit everything he's seen

2:38:58 this weekend in Fargo.

2:39:01 >> They are one pitch away from that

2:39:03 insurance.

2:39:05 Count four.

2:39:14 Low ball four.

2:39:17 Maxwell on his horse. It is a [cheering]

2:39:20 another run in for the Firefighters.

2:39:23 The fourth of the inning.

2:39:27 A 5-3 ballgame. From down two to

2:39:31 breathing room here in the ninth.

2:39:35 >> Prior to that AB, Dakota Mcfadden was

2:39:37 240 with runners in scoring position

2:39:39 this year. That is his first ball four

2:39:41 sprint with runners [music] in scoring

2:39:42 position and they are still just one

2:39:44 away with Caden Green, one of the most

2:39:47 consistent at bats in this sport at the

2:39:50 dish.

2:39:56 >> Green swinging a miss, but the

2:39:58 Firefighters will have another runner in

2:40:01 scoring position.

2:40:03 >> And it's a designated runner in Zach

2:40:05 Phillips. Remember, we mentioned this

2:40:06 already. It's a pitcher running for the

2:40:08 Firefighters with Philly. They do not

2:40:10 have another position player available

2:40:13 to designate run for them because of the

2:40:15 Bridges brothers absence this weekend.

2:40:17 So, it's Philly and Javon Ray that have

2:40:19 taken the DR spot this weekend.

2:40:22 >> 0-2

2:40:23 >> goodness.

2:40:23 >> Gets away.

2:40:25 Green is going to reach at first base.

2:40:28 The wheels have come all the way off.

2:40:32 >> Caden Green tonight has reached base

2:40:34 three times and he has not had at all to

2:40:37 take the bat off his shoulders.

2:40:40 And at this point, too, if you're Foxy,

2:40:41 do you think about making a pitching

2:40:43 change?

2:40:45 Because a three-run inning is an awfully

2:40:47 tough one to come back from. When the

2:40:48 Firefighters have put up three runs or

2:40:50 more, they have won every inning they've

2:40:52 scored in.

2:40:53 >> They've had two pitchers get loose.

2:40:56 >> And if you're Johnny Hummel on the

2:40:57 Firefighters side, you got to make sure

2:40:59 you're staying warm, too, cuz this is a

2:41:00 long inning.

2:41:03 We're working on our eighth minute.

2:41:08 Trail runner off with the pitch, but

2:41:11 he'll go back.

2:41:13 That was of course Kaden Peanut Green.

2:41:18 Man.

2:41:20 Four runs in in the frame.

2:41:22 And only two hits.

2:41:25 The home run by Darian McDowell, the

2:41:27 Mason Maxwell base hit. Make it three

2:41:29 hits.

2:41:31 And five runs in for the Firefighters.

2:41:35 Armando Beserra comes through.

2:41:38 And this is an avalanche in the

2:41:41 summertime in North Dakota.

2:41:43 >> And the guy who was the golden AB to

2:41:45 start this inning out, Lamar Sparks is

2:41:47 coming in. And Clark Gilmore is the new

2:41:50 pitcher on the mound for the Clowns.

2:41:55 >> Eric Fox says we need to limit the

2:41:58 damage here. Only one out in the inning,

2:42:02 and five runs across and here in the

2:42:05 final inning. That's five points across.

2:42:09 A game the Clowns had control of for so

2:42:12 much.

2:42:13 Clark Gilmore now comes in to try and

2:42:16 put some gauze on this one.

2:42:19 >> Clark Gilmore, you know him as a trick

2:42:21 pitcher for these Clowns. If he breaks

2:42:23 one out, I'd be floored. He's

2:42:25 communicating to his defense now.

2:42:28 Again, both these teams have been inches

2:42:29 away from saving something. That was

2:42:31 just a mere couple centimeters away from

2:42:33 the glove of Jaylen Vasquez.

2:42:35 >> [music]

2:42:35 >> Remember the trick play missed. If that

2:42:37 gets nailed down, this is an 8-3 game

2:42:40 now.

2:42:41 It's a game of horseshoes, or excuse me,

2:42:42 inches, like horseshoes and hand

2:42:44 grenades.

2:42:46 I was trying to work in I was trying to

2:42:48 work in a saying, man. I really was.

2:42:51 My friend Brett lost his would have

2:42:52 gotten that one from our our shared

2:42:53 fandom of NASCAR.

2:42:56 >> The inches we need are all around us.

2:43:00 >> And you can look down third base line,

2:43:02 Johnny Hummel is also getting loose

2:43:04 again, too. He's got to stay warm. He

2:43:07 potentially has a three-point lead to

2:43:10 protect in the bottom of the ninth.

2:43:12 >> Comes in down two and in a second inning

2:43:14 of work, he could be working

2:43:16 on a save opportunity.

2:43:19 Could but the Firefighters could add

2:43:21 here.

2:43:24 Clark Gilmore Mr. Irrelevant, the final

2:43:26 pick in the BBCL draft.

2:43:30 Two-two on the ground to Banks. He's

2:43:31 going to step on third. They go to

2:43:33 first. Prime digs it out. That is a huge

2:43:37 huge double play to limit the damage.

2:43:41 But damage was done. Five runs therefore

2:43:46 five points

2:43:49 for the Firefighters to open this game

2:43:51 up.

2:43:52 >> And again, cannot be stressed enough.

2:43:55 When the Firefighters have scored three

2:43:57 runs or more in this weekend, they have

2:44:01 won each of those innings. When they

2:44:03 have only scored two or one, it's been

2:44:06 much more trepidatious. They just put up

2:44:09 five and that guy right there, Johnny

2:44:11 Hummel, two weekends ago, might I take

2:44:14 you back to Lincoln, Nebraska.

2:44:17 Runners on second and third.

2:44:20 One away.

2:44:21 Two-two game. He had to have two outs to

2:44:25 give the Firefighters a chance. He got

2:44:27 back-to-back outs on back-to-back

2:44:31 strikeouts.

2:44:32 Gave the Firefighters a chance to walk

2:44:34 it off in the ninth inning and he set up

2:44:37 Eric Jones Jr., his fellow Charlotte

2:44:39 native,

2:44:41 for a storybook ending against his

2:44:43 former team.

2:44:44 Now tonight, on one of the craziest

2:44:47 ninth innings we have ever seen in

2:44:50 Firefighter history,

2:44:51 can the guy who was cool, calm, and

2:44:53 collected under so much pressure perform

2:44:57 at Piston Cup levels in honor of his

2:44:59 hero Lightning McQueen?

2:45:02 >> He was rolling and he's got stones.

2:45:06 Eric Jones Jr., the only firefighter

2:45:10 not to have his spot in the lineup come

2:45:12 up in that ninth inning.

2:45:17 They send eight to the plate

2:45:20 and send five across it.

2:45:22 But what a way to start this bottom of

2:45:24 the ninth if you're the Indianapolis

2:45:26 Clowns. Mr. All Everything, Jackie

2:45:29 Bradley Jr.

2:45:31 >> [screaming]

2:45:32 >> Johnny Hummel has struck out JBJ in the

2:45:35 ninth inning before in Richmond,

2:45:37 Virginia as a golden AB. Can he get the

2:45:40 World Series champ again?

2:45:42 Or does JBJ have another magical hit on

2:45:44 what has been a tremendous weekend for

2:45:46 old number 19?

2:45:48 >> Showman of the night in the Clowns win

2:45:52 a night ago.

2:46:01 >> These conditions much more suitable

2:46:04 for a pitcher than what Hummel came into

2:46:06 in the eighth inning, where it was

2:46:07 raining

2:46:09 almost sideways.

2:46:12 >> How about that? The long inning, the

2:46:15 difference in the elements, a muddy

2:46:17 pitcher's mound.

2:46:18 Jackie Bradley

2:46:20 with the exact start the Clowns were

2:46:22 looking for. His second hit of the ball

2:46:24 game.

2:46:25 >> And again, with a three-point lead, you

2:46:27 can afford to give up base runners

2:46:30 a little bit. What you cannot do is

2:46:32 allow them to grow.

2:46:34 Johnny Hummel has been so good at

2:46:35 getting out of jams. We just told you

2:46:37 about it in Lincoln. But JBJ in the

2:46:40 clutch, that's the kind of guy you want

2:46:41 at the dish.

2:46:43 >> Tail Francis Jr. has reached three times

2:46:46 tonight.

2:46:47 But one of them he got to trot around

2:46:49 the bases, a walk-off homer. Off the

2:46:52 glove at third base of Tyner Hughes. The

2:46:54 first two runners are on here in the

2:46:57 bottom of the ninth.

2:46:58 >> And that's critical communication from

2:47:00 Peanut there telling

2:47:03 Tyner, go back to third cuz if you come

2:47:05 with me, JBJ's going to third untouched

2:47:08 and you might have a runner go to

2:47:09 second. And what about this situation?

2:47:12 Joe Lidle, the firefighter for the last

2:47:14 two years, not kept by the team, now

2:47:16 steps in with a chance to really impact

2:47:19 this game.

2:47:22 >> The first two runners have reached.

2:47:27 The Clowns need three to send it to

2:47:29 showdowns.

2:47:30 Four

2:47:32 will get the sweep.

2:47:38 Joe Lidle, the league's leading hitter,

2:47:40 430 coming into today.

2:47:43 Does not have a hit yet.

2:47:46 But, reached on a sprint his last time.

2:47:51 And I know he's going up to the plate

2:47:53 with the Vince Carter mentality.

2:47:56 I got one more in me.

2:47:59 >> And the guy on deck

2:48:01 is Correll Prime.

2:48:03 Oh, oh, oh.

2:48:08 Lidle stays alive.

2:48:10 Remember last week in game two, the one

2:48:12 game the Firefighters won in Manchester,

2:48:14 Johnny Hummel let the first runner on

2:48:16 then got a double play ball in a golden

2:48:18 AB to Eric Jones Jr. at first base. He

2:48:21 just needs the outs. Doesn't matter how

2:48:22 you get them.

2:48:28 Lidle really making Hummel work.

2:48:30 This is why Joe Lidle has such an

2:48:32 impressive batting average.

2:48:34 He's just able to connect with anything

2:48:38 that's over the plate.

2:48:42 >> Got some coaching from his dad over the

2:48:43 week, the Hall of Famer.

2:48:46 In the Juco ranks.

2:48:57 Man.

2:48:58 We've got the drama for you.

2:49:06 Upstairs.

2:49:10 >> Number Joe Lidle caught Johnny Hummel a

2:49:12 lot last year. He knows

2:49:16 what this pitcher likes to throw, but

2:49:18 Johnny also knows what Joe likes to see.

2:49:24 >> Lidle again staying alive.

2:49:27 There was a bit of this crowd that left

2:49:29 with the downpour when the Clouds had a

2:49:31 two-run lead in the eighth.

2:49:33 They're all trying to find a way to get

2:49:35 back in.

2:49:37 >> This is the eighth pitch of the AB.

2:49:39 This is the ninth pitch of the AB.

2:49:42 Thank you, Riley Turner.

2:49:47 >> LIDLE INTO LEFT FIELD, BASE HIT.

2:49:52 LIKE NIRVANA, everyone moves station to

2:49:55 station. The bases are loaded and the

2:49:59 winning run is coming to the plate and

2:50:02 guess who it is.

2:50:06 >> [cheering]

2:50:09 >> You cannot write scripts like this.

2:50:15 The former Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks.

2:50:19 This weekend has been Correlle Prime's

2:50:21 homecoming.

2:50:24 Does he have a storybook moment left in

2:50:27 him?

2:50:32 >> [cheering]

2:50:34 >> This one's GOING TO STAY FAIR. A TAG ON

2:50:37 THE BAG AT THIRD. THROW GETS AWAY.

2:50:39 ONE RUN WAS ALREADY IN.

2:50:42 FLASH HAS TO SEND JOE LIDLE BACK TO

2:50:44 SECOND. NOW THEY'RE IN A RUNDOWN.

2:50:48 LIDLE TRYING TO GET TO THIRD.

2:50:50 >> [screaming]

2:50:51 >> HE'S OUT.

2:50:55 I'LL ASK AGAIN.

2:50:57 WHAT JUST HAPPENED?

2:51:04 Lidle

2:51:05 was going to third. Flash was telling

2:51:07 him

2:51:08 to stay there or to slide, excuse me.

2:51:14 And he thought he meant go back. Is

2:51:18 >> So remember, Tiny stepped on third to

2:51:20 get the force out. The throw over to

2:51:22 first, not there. Joe Lidle comes

2:51:24 running to third trying to advance.

2:51:27 But he stayed on there.

2:51:29 There was confusion.

2:51:33 >> And all kinds of it.

2:51:35 The tying run now at the plate, but

2:51:37 there's two outs. Nico Holsizer does

2:51:40 have a homer in this game.

2:51:50 Two outs and two strikes.

2:51:53 Improbable comeback hangs in the

2:51:55 balance.

2:51:58 UP THE MIDDLE, BASE HIT.

2:52:01 THIS game continues.

2:52:04 And really highlights that play at

2:52:06 third.

2:52:08 Nico Holsizer

2:52:09 keeps it alive.

2:52:11 The winning run comes to the plate, and

2:52:13 we will have a golden batter.

2:52:33 >> The Indians with the clowns are invoking

2:52:35 the golden batter rule. COMING TO THE

2:52:38 PLATE RIGHT NOW IS DALE FRANCIS JR.

2:52:43 >> [screaming]

2:52:49 >> IT'S DALE Francis Jr.

2:52:57 With his first golden batter opportunity

2:53:01 of the year.

2:53:04 He has a homer tonight.

2:53:07 Another one

2:53:09 would mean a victory.

2:53:11 >> And these are former teammates at

2:53:13 Erskine College in 2023.

2:53:17 You don't think they know what each

2:53:18 other's what they're looking for, what

2:53:20 they want?

2:53:25 >> Insanity.

2:53:30 Did he check the swing? Yes, he did.

2:53:36 Red forward at first base, emphatic

2:53:39 about it.

2:53:43 Brian leads off second, Holsizer leads

2:53:46 off first.

2:53:49 >> [music]

2:53:51 >> Down low.

2:53:53 Chris Burgess

2:53:55 sits on deck if the game were to come to

2:53:58 him.

2:54:08 Big cut

2:54:10 from Francis, and the clowns are down to

2:54:13 their final strike again.

2:54:28 That pitch just upstairs.

2:54:31 The count runs full.

2:54:35 Oh, oh, man.

2:54:37 Shakespeare's got nothing on this.

2:54:42 3-2 inside ball for Spriggs.

2:54:45 PRIDE IS GOING TO COME AROUND THIRD. Two

2:54:47 guys ARE COMING IN BEHIND HIM.

2:54:49 [screaming] THIS GAME IS TIED.

2:54:59 ARE you serious?

2:55:04 THIS GAME HAS GONE OFF THE RAILS IN THE

2:55:07 MOST entertaining way here in the ninth

2:55:11 inning. Eight runs across

2:55:15 and this game IS VERY MUCH ALIVE.

2:55:17 >> AND there's a new pitcher for the Fire

2:55:19 Fighters in Marshall Shill.

2:55:24 This is his first appearance in the

2:55:26 ninth inning all year long.

2:55:30 And think about the twists and turns

2:55:32 that we have seen in this game

2:55:35 over the last inning.

2:55:37 >> There's so many.

2:55:38 >> A trick play and missed has made this a

2:55:40 6-6 game instead of an 8-6 game in favor

2:55:42 of the Fire Fighters.

2:55:45 Multiple two-strike hits have given the

2:55:48 Clowns a chance.

2:55:50 And Marshall Shill is now tasked with

2:55:52 getting the most important outs

2:55:55 he has ever gotten

2:55:57 in his Banana Ball career.

2:55:59 >> Burgess flare in the right.

2:56:01 It's going to hold up.

2:56:03 6-6. [screaming]

2:56:05 >> [cheering]

2:56:05 >> We have Showdowns.

2:56:10 IT IS THE FIRST time the Indianapolis

2:56:14 Clowns will head to Showdowns.

2:56:20 Wow.

2:56:21 Brandon, tell us what this means.

2:56:26 >> That we are ENTERING THE SHOWDOWN RIGHT

2:56:30 HERE IN FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA, LADIES AND

2:56:33 GENTLEMEN. Welcome to the final

2:56:36 showdown.

2:56:52 >> Showdowns in Fargo.

2:56:56 Clark Gilmore will return to the mound.

2:56:59 Malachi Flash the Kid Mitchell, the

2:57:03 fastest man in Banana Ball, will be the

2:57:06 fielder.

2:57:07 >> And who are the Firefighters sending to

2:57:09 the plate? So far, nobody has come out

2:57:12 with a helmet or a bat.

2:57:14 Who are they sending against Clark

2:57:16 Gilmore?

2:57:18 Lamar Sparks has his helmet on.

2:57:21 If there's anybody that could be the one

2:57:22 to do it, it's him. And remember, he

2:57:24 just saw Clark Gilmore in the last half

2:57:27 inning.

2:57:29 So, if it's Lamar Sparks, what a

2:57:31 storybook this could be for him.

2:57:34 But what a game we have seen.

2:57:37 If you wondered why Banana Ball is the

2:57:39 craziest, wackiest, wildest, and best

2:57:43 show in all of sports and entertainment

2:57:45 in this world, go back and watch this

2:57:48 last inning. Five runs for the

2:57:51 Firefighters in the top half of the

2:57:52 ninth, only to get responded to by the

2:57:55 three the Clowns needed. And the second

2:57:57 that they scored that THIRD RUN, THEY

2:57:59 POP OUT TO DARIAN MCDOWELL.

2:58:01 JUST SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED THAT EXPLAINS

2:58:04 TO YOU THE CHAOS OF BANANA BALL. And now

2:58:07 you see the best rule in this sport, in

2:58:10 my opinion, showdowns.

2:58:13 And here's how it works.

2:58:15 First round,

2:58:17 it's the pitcher with the fielder

2:58:20 against the hitter.

2:58:22 Second round, should we get to it, it's

2:58:24 just pitcher versus hitter. Should we

2:58:25 get to the third round, we're going to

2:58:27 put runners on all the bases and give

2:58:29 you the fielder back.

2:58:31 If you hit a homer over this over the

2:58:33 fence, this game is over instantly.

2:58:35 If the firefighters score,

2:58:38 you have got to respond if you're the

2:58:40 clowns

2:58:41 in the bottom round part of the round.

2:58:47 >> Lamar Sparks, a guy very capable of

2:58:50 ending this right here.

2:58:52 >> And if you give him four straight balls

2:58:53 or you give him four balls, that runner

2:58:55 is going to second.

2:58:58 >> We're one pitch away from that.

2:59:00 >> But remember, it doesn't have to be

2:59:01 Lamar that goes to second. It could be

2:59:03 literally any runner and Lamar can stay

2:59:04 in the batter's box.

2:59:08 He can force Clark Gilmore to pitch to

2:59:09 him.

2:59:11 Like he just did there.

2:59:20 >> SPARKS, UP THE MIDDLE. THIS ONE'S GOING

2:59:23 TO GO A LONG WAY.

2:59:24 FLASH, THE FASTEST GUY ON THE FIELD WILL

2:59:27 get to it.

2:59:28 >> Oh, we got to go, Lamar.

2:59:29 >> [screaming]

2:59:29 >> SPARKS HEADING FOR THIRD.

2:59:31 >> GOT TO GET ON YOUR HORSE, LAMAR.

2:59:32 >> AND THEY HAVE GOT him

2:59:35 at home plate or somewhere NEAR IT.

2:59:39 THAT'S WHY FLASH IS YOUR FIELDER. HE

2:59:42 DOES NOT PLAY IN THE FIELD, doesn't take

2:59:45 the at-bats, but you can't teach the

2:59:48 speed.

2:59:50 >> And now, who's going to pitch for the

2:59:51 firefighters?

2:59:53 Is it Marshall Shull again?

2:59:58 Normally, the fielder is Noah Bridges.

3:00:00 It's now Armando Becerra because they're

3:00:03 no There is no Noah Bridges.

3:00:05 And they're going to bring out Austin

3:00:07 Temple.

3:00:08 So, for the first time in this series,

3:00:11 AT

3:00:12 gets to come in for a round of work, and

3:00:15 it's the most important round he will

3:00:16 have all year.

3:00:18 You have got to put a zero up in the

3:00:20 bottom half of this round of showdowns,

3:00:22 or this game is over.

3:00:25 >> Where else would you rather be?

3:00:28 It's going to be Joe Lidle who comes to

3:00:31 the plate.

3:00:33 >> And let me tell you this.

3:00:35 In showdowns last year,

3:00:37 Joe Lidle was the lead-off batter for

3:00:39 the firefighters.

3:00:41 One year later, how appropriate could it

3:00:43 be that he's the lead-off against the

3:00:46 firefighters in the clowns' first ever

3:00:48 showdown opportunity?

3:00:52 >> Just bonkers stuff, man.

3:00:55 Lidle, who got caught in a mini rundown

3:01:00 in the bottom of the ninth with all

3:01:01 kinds of confusion on the field, could

3:01:03 have been the winning run. He gets that

3:01:05 opportunity again.

3:01:07 >> The problem for Austin Temple this year

3:01:09 has been ball four prince, but he has

3:01:11 been excellent with strikeout stuff.

3:01:13 But he's going up against one of the

3:01:15 hardest batters to strike out.

3:01:18 This

3:01:20 is banana ball, baby.

3:01:25 >> Lidle gets ahead.

3:01:26 >> And you must locate. You must locate.

3:01:30 >> The center behind Temple.

3:01:34 2-0.

3:01:37 This crowd is way into it.

3:01:46 Groove one in there at 2-1.

3:01:56 Temple works back. It's 2-2.

3:01:59 >> And if that does land in the [music]

3:02:01 fans, they can end a round of showdown.

3:02:02 Fan-caught foul ball still happen.

3:02:05 >> To send us to A SECOND ROUND.

3:02:09 LIDLE TO LEFT FIELD. THIS ONE'S GOING TO

3:02:12 ROLL A LONG WAY, TOO.

3:02:15 IT STOPS IN THE HIGH GRASS.

3:02:18 LIDLE IS CHUGGING.

3:02:21 AND HE WALKS IT AWAY.

3:02:23 >> [screaming]

3:02:23 >> TO the plate.

3:02:24 They've got Lidle.

3:02:27 BOTH BATTERS GET PAST THIRD, but go NO

3:02:30 FARTHER.

3:02:32 WE'VE GOT A SECOND-ROUND SHOWDOWN.

3:02:35 >> SO, here

3:02:37 is where the the elements just [music]

3:02:39 played a massive factor. If that's hit

3:02:42 almost anywhere else, that ball is

3:02:45 rolling to the track, and so might be

3:02:47 Lamar Sparks. But, there's two things

3:02:49 you need to know. Number one, the grass

3:02:51 here at Newman Outdoor Field is very

3:02:53 high. It does not lead to a ton of long

3:02:56 rolling grounders. The second point is

3:02:59 the rain is really going to slow some of

3:03:01 these balls down until it dries, and you

3:03:04 just saw it there. Joe Lidle's a fast

3:03:06 catcher, but Armando Becerra got to that

3:03:08 before he had even rounded second.

3:03:11 That is a critical point here in this

3:03:13 showdown. So, now, in round two, it is

3:03:16 just pitcher versus batter. It is your

3:03:19 best arm versus your best bat. And it's

3:03:22 Clark Gilmore out there for the Clowns,

3:03:25 and Darien McDowell for the

3:03:28 Firefighters. It is rookie versus

3:03:31 rookie.

3:03:33 Cam Stewart's

3:03:34 welcome to it.

3:03:39 >> As good as it gets

3:03:42 on the world tour.

3:03:46 It goes without saying,

3:03:49 strikeouts are what you're looking for

3:03:51 if you're Clark Gilmore.

3:03:54 This is out to right.

3:03:56 IT'S GOING TO STAY

3:03:58 BARELY THE FENCE.

3:04:00 DARIEN!

3:04:02 IT WENT OVER THE FENCE! [screaming]

3:04:05 >> WAIT A SECOND HERE.

3:04:06 >> OH!

3:04:07 WOAH!

3:04:08 >> THEY'RE GOING TO SAY THAT ONE HOPPED

3:04:10 OVER THE WALL?

3:04:13 COREY PI IS BEGGING FOR A CHALLENGE. VAL

3:04:16 PEREZ, BEGGING FOR A CHALLENGE.

3:04:21 NOW THEY'RE SENDING DARIAN HOME.

3:04:26 What has happened?

3:04:34 In a game where confusion

3:04:36 has been the norm,

3:04:38 we take it to another level in round two

3:04:41 of showdowns. So, here you go.

3:04:46 Also, it hopped over the fence and then

3:04:48 into foul territory. Is that what

3:04:50 they're saying?

3:04:54 >> did in fact count.

3:04:56 >> Wow.

3:04:59 >> [screaming]

3:05:00 >> We'll be going into another showdown.

3:05:02 >> in the field of play. We do have another

3:05:03 round of showdown.

3:05:04 >> Once again, WELCOME TO THE FINAL

3:05:07 SHOWDOWN!

3:05:10 RETURNING TO THE MOUND FOR THE final

3:05:14 >> We'll get another look here.

3:05:18 There's dirt that comes up. It's a fair

3:05:20 ball and then leaves Newman Outdoor

3:05:23 Field. So,

3:05:24 >> He's in foul territory.

3:05:25 >> Here's the official rule. In the event

3:05:26 of a ground rule double that occurs in a

3:05:28 showdown tiebreaker, it shall be ruled

3:05:31 as an inside-the-park home run. The

3:05:33 batter and any additional runners are

3:05:36 counted as runs. So,

3:05:38 that does mean the run counts. What it

3:05:40 does not mean is that this game is over.

3:05:42 >> Again, from our angle, because it was in

3:05:44 front of a white sign, everybody up here

3:05:46 thought it was gone.

3:05:47 Darian McDowell thought it was gone, but

3:05:49 it stayed in the park, then bounced

3:05:51 over. It's a ground rule double,

3:05:52 therefore it counts as an

3:05:53 inside-the-parker. And now it's JBJ

3:05:56 against Austin Temple. Holy cow, what is

3:05:59 happening? Strike one. What am I

3:06:02 watching? I need oxygen.

3:06:05 >> You and me both, partner.

3:06:08 >> Oh my goodness.

3:06:09 >> [cheering]

3:06:10 >> The Firefighters are one strike away.

3:06:14 >> Austin Temple takes a breath of fresh

3:06:16 air and walks back onto the rubber.

3:06:25 >> O2 misses upstairs.

3:06:27 >> And you're just trying to get him to

3:06:28 chase.

3:06:29 >> [screaming]

3:06:30 >> JBJ

3:06:33 What an opportunity.

3:06:35 >> SWING AND A

3:06:37 >> [cheering]

3:06:38 >> AUSTIN TEMPLE SHUTS THE DOOR.

3:06:41 AND THE FIREFIGHTERS WIN IN Showdown in

3:06:44 ONE OF THE CRAZIEST BANANA BALL GAMES

3:06:47 YOU'LL EVER SEE.

3:06:50 >> AUSTIN TEMPLE WELCOME TO YOUR SPOTLIGHT

3:06:54 MOMENT, YOUNG MAN.

3:06:56 COMES IN FOR HIS FIRST PITCHES OF THE

3:06:58 WEEKEND AND GETS THE STRIKE OUT OF JBJ

3:07:02 TO GIVE THE FIREFIGHTERS

3:07:04 AN INSTANT CLASSIC WIN IN FARGO, NORTH

3:07:08 DAKOTA.

3:07:10 WHAT A MOMENT.

3:07:12 WHAT A NIGHT. SOMEBODY GIVE ME OXYGEN

3:07:16 AND THE FIRE. [screaming]

3:07:35 >> THE Firefighters have a win.

3:07:37 I don't have a voice.

3:07:39 No one here knows exactly what just

3:07:42 happened.

3:07:45 >> Oh my goodness.

3:07:48 >> [cheering]

3:07:49 >> When the Firefighters had to have it the

3:07:51 most, they put five runs up in the top

3:07:53 of the ninth. THEN THEY ABSOLUTELY HAD

3:07:55 TO HAVE IT IN SHOWDOWNS. AND DARIAN

3:07:57 MCDOWELL COMES UP CLUTCH. AND AUSTIN

3:08:00 TEMPLE

3:08:02 WHO DOESN'T PITCH UNTIL SHOWDOWNS ON

3:08:04 NIGHT TWO, COMES IN AND STRIKES OUT ONE

3:08:07 OF THE BEST HITTERS IN THIS SPORT.

3:08:11 You couldn't HAVE DREAMT THIS ANY

3:08:12 BETTER, SCRIPTED IT ANY BETTER. AND

3:08:14 MICHAEL SCHWARTZ, HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE IT

3:08:17 WITH DARIAN MCDOWELL?

3:08:18 >> KNOW HOW you describe it. Pressure is

3:08:20 what firefighters need to put out fires.

3:08:23 Pressure is what these guys embrace

3:08:26 tonight to put out that fire. What did

3:08:30 Zack Phillips say to you guys? And what

3:08:31 was everyone else saying? We saw Zack

3:08:33 Phillips say a speech to the rest of the

3:08:34 team. What was everyone saying in those

3:08:36 final innings?

3:08:37 >> Basically, we know we got to play for

3:08:38 each other. We know that.

3:08:39 Everybody was picking each other up

3:08:40 tonight and that's what we needed.

3:08:42 >> I mean, what does it say about this

3:08:44 team? You guys just avoided going into

3:08:47 sixth place, last place in the Banana

3:08:49 Ball Championship League.

3:08:50 >> We never quit.

3:08:51 We got some dogs on the team. We never

3:08:52 quit on the team.

3:08:54 >> Uh speaking of barking, Austin Temple's

3:08:56 over there. He He's shaking hands. He's

3:08:58 being a great sport. Jovan, I don't know

3:08:59 if you want to chime into this, but what

3:09:01 about that performance to strike out the

3:09:04 former World Series champion?

3:09:06 >> I mean, Temple's a dog. Temple's a dog.

3:09:07 He has some of the best stuff in the

3:09:09 league. And as a team, we just had his

3:09:10 back. It's a team win today. It was a

3:09:12 team win. Good job, bro.

3:09:14 >> Can I wear the Halo helmet?

3:09:15 >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

3:09:18 >> Firefighters, we'll see you guys soon.

3:09:20 Tiny, anything to say for your final

3:09:22 time in North Dakota this year?

3:09:26 >> I love my mama.

3:09:27 >> Hey, mama, we love you. Halo, back up to

3:09:30 you.

3:09:32 >> Michael Schwartz,

3:09:34 I don't know how you have any oxygen

3:09:35 left in your lungs.

3:09:38 I don't think I can understand at all

3:09:41 what just happened or describe to you

3:09:43 what just happened

3:09:44 with just mere English words.

3:09:47 I I need another language. I need

3:09:49 languages that haven't been described

3:09:52 in the history of humanity.

3:09:55 But what just happened is the

3:09:56 Firefighters just showed you

3:09:58 what it means to have grit. What it

3:10:00 means to have

3:10:02 strength, toughness,

3:10:05 and desire.

3:10:06 Zack Phillips gathered that team around

3:10:09 and told those guys

3:10:12 to play for each other, to play for

3:10:14 themselves, to play for this brand. And

3:10:16 that's exactly what they just did.

3:10:18 Darian McDowell, the showman of the game

3:10:21 for great reason. What a game. Look at

3:10:23 this, 11 to 9 runs, 9 to 11 hits, 7 to 7

3:10:27 trick plays. And if the Firefighters

3:10:28 don't miss one one trick play,

3:10:33 they might win that game 8 to 6 without

3:10:35 going to showdowns, Camp Stuart. That is

3:10:38 what Banana Ball is all about. The

3:10:40 chaos, the unexpected, the

3:10:45 but it's the best show in sports, it's

3:10:47 the best show in entertainment, Camp

3:10:48 Stuart.

3:10:49 >> What you have just gotten

3:10:51 is the very best that our great game has

3:10:54 to offer. I mean, wild stuff. Eight

3:10:58 combined runs in the final inning. We go

3:11:01 to showdowns. We get a Darian McDowell

3:11:03 homer in the ninth. We technically get

3:11:05 an inside-the-park homer

3:11:06 >> Yes. in showdowns.

3:11:07 >> Yes. And there were so many twists and

3:11:09 turns [music] that led us to this point.

3:11:12 One of the critical ones was in the

3:11:13 bottom of the ninth. Remember, Joe Lidle

3:11:15 is going to third. I think we have the

3:11:18 replay right here. So, Tiner Hugh steps

3:11:20 on third base right there. At that

3:11:21 point, Flash the Kid is out. But he

3:11:23 stays at FIRST BASE. HE'S TRYING TO TELL

3:11:25 Joe to slide. Joe thinks he's telling

3:11:27 him hold up. SO, HE GOES BACK TO SECOND,

3:11:29 GETS CAUGHT IN A RUNDOWN, and that gives

3:11:31 you two away.

3:11:33 If that's only one away, the

3:11:34 Firefighters may very well have not

3:11:36 gotten to showdowns.

3:11:38 LOOK AT THIS AGAIN. TINER steps on

3:11:40 third. At that point, he's out.

3:11:43 But, Malachi is telling Joe to slide. He

3:11:46 gets caught into a rundown. And that

3:11:49 Those are the small things. We talked

3:11:50 about it in in Banana Ball before. The

3:11:53 small things in this sport can lead to

3:11:55 massive wins or massive moments missed.

3:11:59 And that's a massive moment for the

3:12:01 Firefighters cuz you can make the case

3:12:04 that that very much won them this game.

3:12:06 >> It you can absolutely make that case.

3:12:08 And the little things back to the bottom

3:12:10 of the eighth, you know, the equalizer

3:12:12 point, the two points swing that was

3:12:13 right there, one trick play away. The

3:12:15 Clowns come back. They nullify that

3:12:18 inning. Then we get just all kinds of

3:12:21 banana land in the ninth inning.

3:12:23 Showdowns. I mean, what more could you

3:12:28 ask for for the two teams that are

3:12:30 battling for that final playoff spot? It

3:12:32 is as close a split as you can get.

3:12:34 Let's see what we got coming up

3:12:36 tomorrow. If you want more Banana Ball

3:12:39 in your life after tonight, good news

3:12:41 for you. We have got one of the biggest

3:12:43 events in Banana Ball history in Eugene,

3:12:47 Oregon tomorrow afternoon. For the first

3:12:49 time on ABC. Yes, that's the American

3:12:53 Broadcasting Company. You have a TV, you

3:12:57 have ABC. The Bananas and the Party

3:12:59 Animals from the University of Oregon.

3:13:03 Look, I mean, we're still searching for

3:13:06 oxygen. We're still trying to figure out

3:13:08 what happened there. But, at the end of

3:13:10 the day, you have two teams who are very

3:13:12 evenly matched, two teams coming off

3:13:14 series losses that were desperate

3:13:16 desperate looking at that fourth place

3:13:18 spot in the BBC playoff race. And what

3:13:21 you got was two terrific games and

3:13:23 nothing to separate them.

3:13:24 >> And Cam Stewart, I think both teams can

3:13:25 make the point going into this last

3:13:27 weekend before we go on a break for 2

3:13:28 weeks that they have a lot to build on.

3:13:30 The Clowns to find a way to fight back

3:13:32 after losing in the top of the ninth

3:13:34 inning the way you did, five runs to

3:13:36 none, to find a way to get into

3:13:37 showdowns is a critical juncture and you

3:13:39 won on Friday. For the Firefighters,

3:13:41 look at how they responded in that

3:13:43 eighth and ninth inning to get to that

3:13:46 point. That is a massive feather in the

3:13:49 cap and now they go to Kinnick Stadium

3:13:50 next week and in Iowa City against the

3:13:52 Savannah Bananas with a lot of purpose,

3:13:54 a lot of poise, and a whole [music] heck

3:13:56 of a lot of confidence. Meanwhile, the

3:13:58 Clowns, finally you get to see a

3:13:59 visiting game for the first time ever.

3:14:01 >> When y'all head down to Jacksonville,

3:14:02 [music] Florida to face those Coconuts

3:14:05 of Loco Beach.

3:14:06 >> We will see you there in Jacksonville.

3:14:08 [music] For Zack Staten, I'm Cam

3:14:10 Stewart. Special thanks to our executive

3:14:12 producer Josh Richardson, our director

3:14:14 [music]

3:14:15 Alex Gross, our statistician in the

3:14:17 booth with us Riley Morgan, Chadwick

3:14:19 Folkestad, [music] our producer of

3:14:21 course Michael Schwartz down on the

3:14:23 sideline. Once again, we will see you

3:14:26 next week in the greatest show IN

3:14:29 SPORTS.

3:14:30 >> PLAY ON.

3:15:01 >> [music]