Savannah Bananas @ Texas Tailgaters

0:12 It's a Sunday funday as we bring you

0:15 Banana Ball live from Chapel Hill, North

0:17 Carolina, where for a second straight

0:19 day over 50,000 Banana Ball fans have

0:22 converged on Kenan Stadium to see the

0:24 top two teams in the sport due battle.

0:27 The Savannah Bananas won a thriller last

0:29 night after three rounds of showdowns to

0:31 improve to a league best 9 and one.

0:34 While the Tailgator were on the wrong

0:35 end of the heartbreaking loss, evening

0:37 their record at 5 and five. But they can

0:39 lock up the two seed in the Banana Ball

0:41 Open with a victory this afternoon. You

0:44 couldn't build a better day for Banana

0:46 Ball in a lap. 80° and sunny here about

0:50 15 minutes before first pitch. And I

0:53 couldn't think of two cats I would

0:54 rather share the booth with. with Josh

0:56 Tvki and Brett Loftess Bo Scala. Happy

0:59 Sunday in virtual Banana Land. Thank you

1:01 for spending it with us here live from

1:03 Chapel Hill. We've got to start with you

1:05 Brett. You were down on the field. You

1:07 were in the tailgator dugout. It was a

1:09 heartbreaking loss. How are the vibes

1:11 down there?

1:12 >> They're still really, really high. It

1:13 was a really strong text as I said about

1:15 1:00 a.m. this morning from our captain,

1:17 Jordan Hussein. He said, "The locker

1:19 room that we have is noticed by the

1:21 other five teams in Manhattan about that

1:23 family atmosphere." And they've been

1:24 putting up wins this year too. Joshky

1:26 with trick plays with the way the

1:28 offense was going. They had it for the

1:29 first eight and a half innings last

1:30 night. And then Coach Rack happened.

1:33 >> Coach Rack happened. Josh, what a win

1:34 for the Bananas. Yeah, I mean the game

1:36 tying two-run home run in the final

1:38 inning reminiscent of the walk-off home

1:40 run he had in Baltimore a season ago

1:42 sends us to showdown tiebreakers. And

1:45 from there, the Bananas got to lean on

1:47 veteran experience. Danny Hosley with

1:49 three showdown shutdowns. And of course,

1:51 Dan Overs, a world tour banana since

1:54 2022. He was the hero with the walk-off

1:57 single in round three thanks to the

1:59 firefighters victory last night. They

2:01 are tied at five and five when it comes

2:03 to record with the tailgator, but the

2:04 tailgator have that tiebreaker thanks to

2:07 the trick plays. So, there is a lot on

2:09 the line today, but let's take a journey

2:11 back in time and see how it really went

2:13 down an evening ago. We'll pick it up

2:15 top of the second inning. Couple ducks

2:17 on the pond for Taylor Justice. And what

2:19 a second world tour it's been for the

2:21 former collegiate banana as he will

2:23 drive in Kyle Martin getting the

2:25 tailgator on the board runs-wise

2:26 >> due to number four under right now. I

2:28 mean it's absolutely insane. This guy

2:30 looks like the all-star he was last year

2:31 and Christian Davis gets trick play

2:33 number two in his sophomore campaign.

2:36 >> So that's a point when it comes to the

2:37 tailgator and Austin Drury downright

2:40 disgusting unearned run against him.

2:42 That was his sixth strike out right

2:44 there through three innings of work. And

2:46 then with the bases juiced bottom of the

2:49 third, there's the second out. Good fake

2:51 by Taj Porter. And now Jordan Bar's got

2:53 Dr. Meadows in a pickle. But Bar fails

2:56 to get out of the base running path and

2:59 Dr. gets absolutely trucked. That's

3:01 obstruction. A really bizarre walk-off

3:02 to tie the game at one. But there goes

3:04 that man again. Taylor Justice to the

3:06 deepest part of the park. ties JBJ, Kyle

3:09 Jackson, and his teammate Jose Gonzalez

3:11 Jr. for the tour lead with three homers

3:13 each.

3:13 >> The thing he told me all about is

3:15 perspective this year. Keeping that

3:16 perspective, something that both he and

3:18 Jonathan Sunshine Looters have done oh

3:20 so well this year and a lot of trick

3:22 plays, too.

3:23 >> So now 2-1, top of the fifth. And how

3:26 about Nick Lopez? His second home run of

3:29 the year. He's got Joe Mikolick doing a

3:31 little dance over there, getting to rock

3:32 the home run helmet.

3:33 >> Lopey, man, like you said, two home runs

3:35 both in football stadiums this year. All

3:37 the dude does is hit it. And how about

3:38 Jimmy Lewis earning his first point of

3:40 the year for the Texas Tailgator with

3:43 another trick play.

3:44 >> Yeah, and you see Taylor Justice with

3:46 the knee juggle as well. So putting some

3:48 new things in his trick play arsenal at

3:50 first base. Now Jacob Aela on the mound

3:53 top six to Porter starting to heat up

3:56 for your Texas tailgator. Brad

3:57 >> man had a a single last night. This home

3:59 run and a ball for sprint and threw a

4:01 guy out Bryce Gabby who had not been nab

4:03 caught stealing yet. Yeah, Taylor or

4:06 Josh Porter rather, absolutely fantastic

4:08 game last night. And then a little

4:10 collision here between Justice and

4:12 Sunshine. How about Jason Arn cleaning

4:14 it up. Gets it to Hussein between the

4:15 legs. That is a 3961

4:18 double play.

4:19 >> And Taylor who was miked up said he

4:21 couldn't hear Sunshine and that led to

4:23 one of the best double plays of all

4:25 time. And then one of the best moments

4:26 of the night for Miss Whitmore.

4:27 >> She has faced seven batters here in

4:29 2026. She has retired them all. Jordan

4:31 Bar was her third strikeout victim of

4:33 the year. And then bottom half of the

4:34 inning with two outs. Tough hop for

4:36 Justice. And Grisappi racing around from

4:39 second to score. It is a 4-2 game going

4:41 to the bottom of the eighth inning when

4:43 Kyle Martin happens. How about that? Two

4:46 heater. He sends it to the land of

4:48 Shadow and Flame. His second home run

4:50 for the Tailgator this year.

4:51 >> Welcome to the action, man. Over a,000

4:53 ops. Leads the BBCL in ball force

4:56 sprints. And as you mentioned, his

4:57 second yaya of the year.

4:59 >> But the bananas with a counter punch

5:01 when it comes to trick plays. A double

5:03 trick play. KJ to Alex Ziggler. That

5:05 would tie the game at 11 trick plays

5:07 each. And then Grand Besser 360 strike

5:09 out. Bananas ahead 1211. Second trick

5:11 play strike out of the season for Grand

5:13 Besser and he knew the exact right time

5:15 to do it. Speaking of good timing, how

5:18 about Ryan Cox with the Tailgator up a

5:20 run in the eighth inning. Coxy inning

5:23 tying home run for the Savannah Bananas.

5:25 His first of the year. And then the

5:27 Bananas load the bases. This is where

5:29 the tailgator come up clutch when it

5:31 comes to trick plays.

5:32 >> T5 baby book it. One of the best plays

5:35 of the night. Getting the trick play in

5:37 the force out. I told him I said we need

5:39 two here. He told Sunshine and Sunny

5:41 booked it again 13 to 12. Tailgator win

5:44 the equalizer point.

5:45 >> Sixth trick play of the game for

5:47 Jonathan Lutters. The designated fielder

5:49 up to 29 to lead the tour. But then

5:50 Danny Hosley able to strand a runner on

5:53 second base thanks to this fantastic

5:55 catch by the fans. That was backto back

5:57 at bats that Jos Gonzalez Jr. fouled out

5:59 to the fans. That's a fans first

6:01 mentality from brother. And a bow and a

6:03 bow return from Hosley to the fan who

6:05 got the out. And then after two sprints

6:07 to start the bottom of the ninth, the

6:08 Robert Anthony Cruz. What a time for

6:10 your first home run of the year. He's

6:12 got that clutch gene for the Savannah

6:14 Bananas. We have seen it time and time

6:15 again. A guy who comes through a lot in

6:18 those late game situations. And that

6:20 spike of the bat, it just says it all.

6:22 Send us to showdowns. This is where

6:24 Hosley and Reese Miller were matching

6:26 each other pitchfor pitch. Hosley with

6:28 the K in the first half of round one.

6:30 Reese Miller matches him and gets his

6:32 revenge on rack. So we go to round two.

6:35 Danny Hosley, what say you? How about a

6:37 beautiful front door strikeout looking

6:40 of Jos Gonzalez Jr. And then Reese

6:43 Miller says, "Yeah, I can match that as

6:45 well." Sits down, Reese selects Yiata

6:47 swinging. It's the first time in Banana

6:49 Ball history, four straight strikeouts

6:50 to open up showdowns. Bases loaded. 3-2

6:53 pitch to Kyle Martin. Hosley is able to

6:56 get the towering pop up to David Meadows

6:58 in the infield. And then Dan Overburst

7:00 with the bags juiced. Robert Anthony

7:02 Cruz 90 ft away. First pitch he sees

7:04 from Miller. He sends out to left.

7:06 Thrilling victory for the Nanners.

7:08 >> Yeah, it was really impressive what the

7:09 Bananas were able to do. And by the way,

7:12 you saw two clutch home runs from Rapin

7:14 Cox. For more on the story with the bat,

7:16 we send it to Sam Bowman.

7:20 Well, Saturday's miraculous comeback win

7:22 for the bananas could be attributed to a

7:24 lot of things. Hosley shutting him down.

7:26 The home runs, the showdown walkoff. But

7:29 perhaps the thing that deserves the most

7:31 credit is this bat. Robert Anthony Cruz

7:35 has tied this game at five.

7:38 Ryan Cox and he is no strus tonight.

7:43 >> It was a night that was going anything

7:45 but the way of the bananas. as Kyle

7:47 Martin smashed out to center. See you

7:50 later. It is gone. Threerun shot.

7:56 >> No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

7:58 >> It would be one of my worst days at the

8:00 ballpark. That turns into one of my best

8:02 days.

8:02 >> That is until a crack

8:04 >> led to the walk-off

8:05 >> of the bat.

8:05 >> And sure enough, the bat breaks. I'm

8:07 down 02 in the count.

8:09 >> And that's going to be a broken bat. So,

8:11 a new weapon needed.

8:12 >> That new weapon courtesy of teammate

8:14 Ryan Cox. got a cool opportunity to

8:16 share the bat with coach rack down the

8:18 stretch.

8:19 >> A bat that just the inning before did

8:21 this

8:22 >> a day one pick in the banana ball draft

8:24 instead an eighthrounder who's going to

8:27 give up this one to Ryan Cox

8:29 >> and apparently had some juice left in

8:31 it.

8:32 >> Two two. That's a highf fly ball deep to

8:35 right center.

8:36 >> Cox and rack coming into the game

8:38 without a home run on the year.

8:40 >> I swap out bats. Swung a bat I haven't

8:42 swung all year. Throws me a slider. We

8:44 were sitting on it and we barreled it.

8:46 >> Now giving credit where the credit seems

8:49 to be due.

8:49 >> I mean, it wasn't me by any stretch, but

8:51 a good piece of wood.

8:55 >> Now, for the time being, it looks like

8:56 Ryan Cox is the only guy using this bat

8:58 today, unless maybe we see another

9:00 broken bat and a little more magic out

9:02 of this boy. Guys,

9:07 >> there there have never been bigger

9:09 stakes in the history of the Texas

9:11 Tailgators than the banana ball game

9:12 they're about to play here this

9:14 afternoon. So, what do you say we beat

9:16 the boys from Texas?

9:44 And now the starting lineup for the

9:46 Texas twoers.

9:51 Leading off the center fielder number

9:54 seven, Indie Stanley.

10:02 >> The DH number nine, Nick Lopez.

10:11 >> At third base, number six, Jordan Bar.

10:20 Second baseman number 27, Kyle Martin.

10:30 >> The catcher number 85, Taylor Justice.

10:39 Right fielder number 28, Jose Gonzalez

10:43 Jr.

10:47 At first base, number 11, Matt

10:52 Panther.

10:55 >> The extra hitter number 26, Taj the Claw

10:59 Father, Porter.

11:03 The left fielder number two, Zack

11:06 Watson.

11:10 And a shortstop number five, Jordan Hus

11:18 on the mound for the tailgator. Number

11:20 44,

11:22 Chris Flor.

11:27 The tailgator are led by Joe Nichollet,

11:30 assisted by Coach Penny, and Coach Love

11:33 Shack Baby.

11:46 Yeah.

12:10 Let's hear it for the Texas Tailgator.

12:26 Ladies and gentlemen, I am bringing some

12:30 bananas power

12:32 >> to the plate. His name is Jakari. Jakari

12:37 is four years old and he's attempting to

12:40 hit a home run against these tailgators.

12:44 So, can I hear some noise?

12:57 Yeah, there we go.

12:58 >> Grab that bat.

13:00 >> Here we go.

13:03 >> He's digging in the box. Here comes

13:05 pitch number one.

13:07 >> The high fast ball. Got him. The count's

13:10 and one.

13:12 >> Here comes the wind up. Pitch number

13:13 two. And a curve ball. That's not very

13:17 fair, man. Jakari's only four years old.

13:20 Split. Whoa. Split.

13:23 >> Oh my goodness.

13:29 >> I mean, Split has had enough. He's going

13:31 to make this fight more fair for Jakari.

13:33 The ball's on the T. Here comes the

13:36 swing.

13:39 >> Boom.

13:40 That ball is crushed into right field.

13:44 Jakari's going after it. Oh my goodness.

13:48 He's trying to tackle the tailgator.

13:52 I've never seen this in my life.

13:55 Coach M helps him out. Get to first

13:57 base. And now he's on his way to second.

14:01 Make some noise with Jakari.

14:05 He's rounded first. Rounded second base.

14:08 Jordan Hussein misses the tag. He's

14:12 fumbling, tumbling, stumbling his way.

14:16 Here comes the play at the plate.

14:19 Sunshine is chasing him down. He falls

14:23 down. He is saving it all.

14:30 Oh, we got a brawl.

14:32 Jakari was in the middle of it. I mean,

14:35 that was madness.

14:38 Another look. Looters couldn't track him

14:40 down on the unicycle.

14:41 >> But like Walt Weiss right there.

14:45 Oh, Jakari legendary 360 ft actually

14:48 plus since he ran out into the middle of

14:50 the infield to start it. This is how the

14:52 standings look right now. These are the

14:54 final two games today as we speak.

14:57 Bananas tailgators, firefighters, party

14:59 animals will be getting going at the

15:01 exact same time over in Albuquerque, New

15:03 Mexico before we get the Banana Ball

15:06 open this coming Thursday. The Savannah

15:08 Bananas still waiting to see as the one

15:10 seed who will be the four seed and who

15:12 they're facing Thursday night. Yeah,

15:13 there were a lot of things that shook

15:14 out last night. The Texas tailgator, the

15:16 firefighters both punching their tickets

15:18 into this open. And for the Loco Beach

15:20 Coconuts, all they had to do was win one

15:22 game this weekend and they were going to

15:24 earn a spot in this Banana Ball Open.

15:26 Instead, they are the first team that's

15:28 going to miss out on being one of those

15:30 four teams playing in the open next

15:32 week.

15:32 >> Yeah, with Tailgators there sitting

15:34 currently at the two seed. You mentioned

15:35 it, they control their own destiny. They

15:37 win today. They will be the two seed,

15:39 but they can be no lower than the three

15:41 seed. So, they know that they will be

15:42 playing Friday night in the Banana Ball

15:44 Open. But two through five, man.

15:46 Something's got to give here in Chapel

15:48 Hill and Albuquerque this afternoon.

15:49 >> And it all comes down to the

15:52 firefighters and party animals battle

15:54 over on the Party Animals YouTube

15:57 channel. And it's pretty simple. If the

16:00 Party Animals win, they will be in to

16:03 the Banana Ball Open. If the

16:04 firefighters are victorious for a second

16:07 straight day in Albuquerque, then the

16:09 clowns out of nowhere sweeping the

16:12 coconuts in Charleston, South Carolina

16:14 wins Friday and Saturday night. They

16:16 will sneak in as the four seed in the

16:18 Banana Ball Open. And you take a look at

16:20 the tiebreakers. It starts with your

16:21 head-to-head records, then total trick

16:23 plays. If those are both tied, you go to

16:25 point differential. If all that is tied,

16:27 which is very unlikely, then you go to

16:29 head-to-head trick plays in the exact

16:31 battle between the teams that are tied.

16:33 >> Yeah. And the tailgators currently lead

16:34 the league in trick plays. The party

16:36 animals second. So they really got the

16:37 heads up over everybody else. But it's

16:39 simple for those animals today, Josh.

16:41 They have to win. Losing three straight

16:44 ball games. Got to feel like there's a

16:45 chip on their shoulder. Yes, certainly

16:47 for the party animals in there without

16:48 Jake Skull, who's not going to start in

16:50 this game due to some injury. That makes

16:53 things even more interesting. But the

16:54 Animals, they're throwing out one of the

16:56 best big game pitchers in Banana Balls

16:58 history. Brett Helton's the guy getting

16:59 the ball for them. But the Indianapolis

17:01 Clowns, they are hoping that they could

17:03 be that open Cinderella story if the

17:06 Animals can't get that dub.

17:07 >> We're going to do a lot of scoreboard

17:09 watching this afternoon and checking in

17:11 on that battle out in Albuquerque.

17:13 They're playing by the same rules that

17:15 we are here in Chapel Hill. Let's check

17:17 them out.

17:18 The name of the game is Banana Fall. And

17:21 this is the fastest, most entertaining

17:23 game in sports. Rule number one, win the

17:26 inning, win the point. If you score the

17:28 most runs in an inning, you get a point.

17:31 The most points wins the game. If the

17:34 away team has more trick plays going

17:36 into the final inning, they will earn

17:38 the equalizer point. And in the last

17:40 inning of Banana Ball, every run counts

17:43 as a point. Rule number two, there is a

17:46 2hour time limit. No new inning can

17:49 start when the clock hits zero. Rule

17:52 number three, if you step out of the

17:54 batter's box, it is a strike. Rule

17:57 number four, no bunting. If you bunt,

17:59 you're thrown out of the game. Rule

18:01 number five, batters can steal first.

18:04 Rule number six, no walks allowed. It

18:07 becomes a ball for sprint until every

18:09 position player touches the ball. Rule

18:12 number seven, no mound visits.

18:15 Nope. Rule number eight, if a fan

18:17 catches a foul ball, it is an out. In

18:19 Banana Ball, everything's in play, so

18:21 you better be ready. Rule number nine,

18:23 the showdown tiebreaker. If the game is

18:26 tied at the end of nine innings or when

18:28 time expires, it is pitcher versus

18:30 hitter with one fielder and the hitter

18:33 has to score. Rule number 10, the banana

18:36 ball challenge rule. You, the fans, have

18:38 the opportunity to challenge a ruling on

18:40 the field. Rule number 11, the golden

18:42 batter rule. A team can send up any

18:44 batter to hit in any spot in the lineup.

18:47 This is guaranteeing the best possible

18:49 matchup at the end of the game when it

18:51 matters most. These are the official

18:53 rules of Banana Ball.

18:56 Well, the the role that might have

18:58 loomed the largest last night is a new

19:00 one here in 2026, only dating back to

19:03 the Banana Ball playoffs last year. The

19:05 equalizer point. If the away team has

19:07 more trick plays than the home team,

19:08 entering the final inning, then the away

19:10 team gets a point. And how about

19:12 Jonathan Lutters last night? Six trick

19:14 plays, all of them at second base as the

19:17 tailgator designated fielder. And talk

19:19 about changing the game. Tailgators got

19:21 the equalizer point on the last two outs

19:24 they had in the eighth inning. In the

19:26 eighth inning, we showed you those trick

19:27 plays by Hussein and then Ludas.

19:29 >> Yeah, I mean, we've talked about the

19:30 strategy of it this year of maybe you

19:32 just strike out if you're the team

19:34 trying to negate the equalizer point

19:36 right there though. The Texas tail has

19:37 just been so strong been powered by, as

19:40 you mentioned, Sunshine there pitching

19:41 the designated fielder to Jesse Cole and

19:43 Jordan Hussein who were the two main

19:45 culprits last night. both of those guys

19:46 up the middle.

19:47 >> And again, those Texas Tailgators

19:48 pitchers just kept the ball on the

19:50 ground all night long. That's why you

19:52 saw 10 between Jonathan Lutters and

19:54 Jordan Usain. It's the second time this

19:56 year the Texas Tailgator have earned the

19:58 equalizer point. Now, four of the six

20:01 teams in Banana Ball have earned the

20:02 equalizer point at least twice. The only

20:05 two teams that have only done it one

20:07 time, the Indianapolis Clowns and

20:09 surprisingly the Savannah Bananas.

20:11 Although they are certainly hoping that

20:13 they'll earn that equalizer point

20:15 playing as the visiting squad today

20:16 against the Tailgator. Bananas come in

20:19 with the most defensive veterans in

20:22 Banana Ball with the most combined trick

20:24 plays out of any team in the history of

20:26 the sport. So, you would think that they

20:29 would be able to secure the equalizer

20:31 point. Of course, a tall task. The

20:33 Tailgators, the 2026 leader in trick

20:36 plays coming into this game. Jesse Cole

20:39 getting the people ready to rumble down

20:41 on the field. Let's get it down to Big

20:43 Yelling.

20:44 >> All right, Railen, this is very

20:45 important. We got to get the crowd going

20:47 wild for today's game. Are you ready for

20:49 this?

20:49 >> Yeah.

20:51 >> Yes, you are, Railen. Whatever you do,

20:54 the crowd is going to do. Let's bring

20:56 the energy. Get him loose. Here we go.

21:00 Oh, he's jumping. Clapping. I like it. A

21:04 lot of energy.

21:06 Okay, baby. Oh, yes. We know this one.

21:10 Keep it going.

21:13 Oh, we're raising. How do you know this

21:16 gesture?

21:18 All right, keep it going. Oh, we're

21:21 spinning. We're spinning.

21:25 Oh, staying alive. Really? All right.

21:29 Oh, jumping jacks.

21:34 Good job.

21:37 >> We're back clapping.

21:41 >> Railen, look around. 50,000 fans going

21:45 crazy for you fans. Let's hear it for

21:48 six-year-old Railan.

21:56 Heat. Heat.

22:26 Ladies,

22:28 gentlemen, boys and girls, and potassium

22:32 enthusiasts from around the world today,

22:35 you and thousands of your friends here

22:37 live and millions more watching at home

22:40 have gathered here to witness something

22:42 beyond your wildest imagination. From

22:46 Montana

22:47 to Savannah, from the aisle of man to

22:51 Tokyo, Japan, the banana maniacs come

22:54 from across the globe to witness this.

22:57 This is not baseball. This is the

23:01 crucible where the fastest, hungriest,

23:04 and most entertaining players are

23:06 forced. This is a game of the fans, by

23:09 the fans, and for the fans. But this is

23:14 not your granddad's pastime. This is not

23:17 just another day at the ballpark. This

23:20 game is baseball by birth, fruit by

23:23 name, and an absolute worldwide

23:26 phenomenon by the grace of God. This is

23:29 the time for all 50,000 people here at

23:33 the University of North Carolina to get

23:37 on your feet and give me your voices.

23:45 Because this is the greatest show in the

23:49 sports. Ladies and gentlemen, this is

23:52 Betta P.

23:57 Now it's time to meet the starting

24:00 lineup for your Savannah Banana.

24:06 Leading off the center fielder, number

24:09 five, Dr. the Doc Meadow.

24:16 The left fielder number two, Reese

24:19 Superman, Alexis.

24:25 At first base, number nine, Max Young

24:29 Goldberg.

24:32 The DH number 19, Dan Over.

24:41 The third baseman number four, Kyle KJ

24:47 Jackson.

24:52 Behind the plate, number one, he is the

24:54 captain, Bill Law.

25:02 Over at second base, number eight. He's

25:04 our greatest showman, Jackson.

25:08 Oh,

25:13 the right fielder number 15, we call him

25:16 rack. Robert Anthony Cruz,

25:23 the extra hitter number seven. Tie 25,

25:27 Jack.

25:32 And at shortstop number six, he is our

25:36 glove magician Ryan K.

25:43 On the mouth, Savannah Bananas today,

25:46 number 88, Noah

25:50 N.

25:54 Your Savannah Bananas are led by Tyler

25:56 Gillum, assisted by Adam Pyro, Pirates,

25:59 Ryan Kellogg, Bryce Stober, and Reggie

26:04 Hort.

26:23 fans. At this time, we ask that you

26:25 please rise if you're able and remove

26:27 your caps.

26:29 >> Here to honor America with the singing

26:32 of our national anthem.

26:34 >> Please welcome

26:35 >> Adam Lee Decker.

26:41 Oh, say can you see

26:46 by the dawn early light

26:50 what so proudly we held at the twilight

26:56 last gleaming

26:59 who brought stripes and bright stars

27:04 through the barrelless

27:07 fight

27:08 for The ramparts we watched were so

27:13 gallently

27:15 streaming.

27:18 And the rockets red glare, the bombs

27:23 bursting in air

27:27 gave proof through the night

27:31 that our flag was still there.

27:39 Oh, say does that star spangled

27:44 ber

27:46 yet?

27:52 Or the land of the free

27:59 and the home

28:03 of the brave.

28:07 Ladies and gentlemen, Adam Lee Decker.

28:13 >> Phenomenal rendition of the national

28:15 anthem. I got to get me a pair of those

28:16 pants. Let's go. Sweet with that yellow

28:19 bananas jersey.

28:21 And we are about to be underway. Game 32

28:27 in the history of the Banana Ball

28:28 Championship League. It's the third time

28:30 that the Savannah Bananas and the Texas

28:33 Tailgators do battle.

28:35 for the second time this weekend. A

28:37 thriller last night.

28:39 >> Tailgator domination through eight

28:41 innings.

28:43 >> And then a three-run rally by the

28:45 Nanners in the ninth. And after three

28:47 rounds of showdowns, the boys in yellow

28:51 earned their fifth straight win. Reggie

28:54 Horton and company trying to make it six

28:56 straight this afternoon. The Tailgator

28:58 with their ace on the mound, a win away

29:01 from clinching the two seed in the

29:02 Banana Ball Open this coming week and a

29:05 heck of a defense behind Chris Clark.

29:08 Only five errors on the year. Tied with

29:10 the Bananas for the lowest in the BBCL.

29:12 Left to right in the outfield. You see

29:14 Zack Watson, Indiana Stanley, and Jose

29:16 Gonzalez Jr. third to first in the

29:17 infield. It's Jordan Bar, Jordan

29:19 Hussein, Kyle Martin at second. Doubt we

29:22 will see him there. And then M. Danford

29:24 at first. Taylor Justice behind the

29:26 dish. this afternoon. Jonathan Lutters,

29:28 the designated fielder. I'd bet he

29:29 spends all nine innings at 2B.

29:31 >> Yeah, 100%. I think the biggest reason

29:33 the tailgator were the first team to

29:35 reach triple digits in the trick play

29:36 category this year because you got

29:38 Jordan Hussein who's third in trick

29:39 plays and Jonathan Sunshine Lutters who

29:41 leads the Banana Championship League in

29:43 that category. But the most important

29:45 connection is not who's going to be up

29:47 the middle today, but rather who's in

29:48 the battery. Taylor Justice has been the

29:50 personal catcher the entire year for the

29:53 ace who's on the bump. Big number 44,

29:56 Chris Clark. These two guys ever since

29:58 spring training just works so so well

30:00 together. There's actually Darius Tro

30:02 who's the bullpin catcher for the Texas

30:03 Tailgator. He came up to me one day. He

30:05 said, "You know, I usually catch all the

30:06 guys bullpens and and I love catching

30:08 Chris." He goes, Chris pulled me aside

30:10 one day and was like, "How much sense

30:13 does it make if Taylor just catches my

30:14 bullpens?" the the chemistry that both

30:17 of these guys have, which is why this

30:19 has been such a successful battery for

30:21 the Texas Tailgator and why Chris Clark

30:23 has had so much success in his first

30:25 year of an animal. I mean, look at that.

30:26 A66 ER 22% whiff rate. What does that

30:31 mean? That means on 22% of all the

30:33 pitches Chris Clark has thrown this

30:35 year, it has been a swing and a miss.

30:37 Just for comparison, Shi Otani has a 22%

30:40 whiff rate this year in Major League

30:42 Baseball. Chris Clark down there. He's

30:44 the leader of this pitching staff. He's

30:46 one of the leaders here on this team and

30:47 he's getting the boys fired up. Celeb,

30:49 >> there's a reason he was the third

30:50 overall pick in the Banana Ball player

30:52 draft. He had arguably the best pedigree

30:54 of any pitcher and he's backing it up on

30:56 the mound. A 159 opponent's batting

30:59 average this season. He's having

31:00 righties only batting 107 against him.

31:03 It feels nearly impossible for those

31:05 right-handers to get hits against big

31:07 Chris Clark.

31:10 We'll take a look at that aforementioned

31:13 Savannah Bananas lineup going up against

31:16 the 67 right-hander. Dr. at the top as

31:19 per usual. Then Reese selects Yiotis.

31:20 Max Young Goldberg cleaning it up. Dan

31:23 Obur the walk-off winner in the third

31:25 round of showdowns last night. Then Kyle

31:27 Jackson, Bill Loy Jackson Olsson in the

31:29 bottom three. Robert Anthony Cruz who

31:31 had that game-tying homer in the ninth.

31:33 Ty Jackson and Ryan Cox to round it out.

31:35 >> And it's Ryan Cox. I mean, he just

31:37 continues to excel at the bottom of this

31:39 order for the bananas. You don't want to

31:40 sleep on him. You see the ops north of a

31:43 thousand for Coxy. He had the home run

31:45 last night for the bananas. I mean, this

31:47 guy's doing everything right both

31:49 defensively and especially in the

31:51 batters box. He's prolifically one of

31:53 the games best batters in the months of

31:56 February and March. That's continued

31:58 into early April.

31:59 >> I think it's so key in this sport to

32:01 have a 10-hole guy who could turn it

32:02 back up to that top of the order. Coxy

32:05 has been one of the biggest reasons that

32:06 this Bananas lineup has had the

32:08 offensive success they have had this

32:09 year. Boico

32:11 >> 1.370 OPS from your 10 hole hitter is

32:15 downright ridiculous.

32:17 Especially when you're talking about

32:19 Banana Ball's all-time leader in trick

32:21 plays as well, the shortstop captain of

32:23 your infield, Ryan Cox. The offensive

32:26 renaissance continues. It's fantastic

32:29 with the stick a year ago. Even better

32:31 here in 2026. Let's get it down to Big

32:33 Yellow

32:35 >> fans. Today we have a special first

32:38 pitch and today's first pitch will

32:40 actually count in the game for either a

32:43 ball or a strike. So for today's first

32:46 pitch, please welcome a first team all

32:50 ACC member, a second team allame from

32:55 your Tarheel basketball team. Please

32:58 welcome Caleb Wilson.

33:06 Caleb Wilson, one of the very best

33:08 players in all of college basketball. In

33:11 a year where there were so many freshman

33:13 phenoms, there was a guy who played over

33:14 in Durham who was the national player of

33:16 the year. We don't have to talk about

33:17 Mr. Boozer. Let's talk about Caleb

33:20 Wilson, who still has yet to make the

33:22 decision whether he's going to stay here

33:23 or go play in the NBA. And he's throwing

33:25 out the first pitch with a tailgator hat

33:28 on.

33:29 This is a projected top five pick in the

33:32 NBA if he does choose to go pro.

33:35 >> Good looking pitch. That's a strike.

33:37 >> A perfect strike. One more time.

33:41 >> Easy call for Trey Hudson.

33:54 >> All right, Jesse, we're going to start

33:55 this clock, buddy.

33:57 Here

33:59 we go.

34:00 >> And now it is time on three. I need

34:04 everyone here to yell start the clock.

34:08 One, two, three.

34:13 >> Showtime.

34:15 >> What a pleasant surprise to get thing go

34:17 get things going this afternoon. We had

34:18 no idea Caleb Wilson was throwing out a

34:21 first pitch that counts. We had no idea

34:22 there was a first pitch that counts. I

34:24 didn't think there was anybody in the

34:25 ballpark taller than Chris Clark. And

34:27 then you break out Caleb Wilson. That's

34:29 cool, man.

34:30 >> Pulled out the 610 superstar for the

34:31 Tarheelss.

34:34 >> Chris Clark, as we mentioned, 6'7. It is

34:36 easy gas. And the first batter he faced

34:39 in his Banana Ball career. Dr. Meadows

34:41 struck out looking on a 3-2 fast all the

34:44 way back on February 28th in

34:46 Tallahassee. This time shoots the O2

34:48 foul. And Chris Clark, that big body,

34:51 seven years in the Chicago Cubs minor

34:52 league system. It is such easy velocity,

34:55 but not many guys tougher to strike out

34:57 in the sport than the doctor. Six

34:59 sprints, 5ks this year. Comes in with

35:02 the bananas team best 472 batting

35:04 average. And the broadcasters jinx in

35:07 full effect. Two times DR has seen Chris

35:10 Clark two strikeouts. Now

35:11 >> Chris Clark, there's something about

35:13 that fast. He loves going a two- strike

35:15 fast ball right there. Goes to his

35:17 change up to left. Well, you see nice

35:19 movement on that change up as well.

35:20 Running just a little inside on Dr.

35:22 Meadows as well. That's traditionally a

35:25 good way to work on Dr. Meadows. He's

35:27 always trying to fight off those inside

35:28 pitches. You're hoping you can jam him,

35:30 roll one over to third, but instead

35:32 Clark gets the punchy

35:35 misses tie. Theresiatis

35:37 one for four last night with the ball

35:39 for Sprint. The numbers still fantastic

35:41 as you can see here in his third world

35:43 tour.

35:43 >> I got something controversial for you. I

35:45 like that navy blue cape better than the

35:47 red one.

35:49 >> I agree

35:51 >> with the white. Most definitely.

35:53 >> Compliments it way more.

35:57 >> 2-1.

35:59 >> Fouled away.

36:01 >> And you see why Chris Clark is such an

36:03 uncomfortable at bat for righties in

36:05 particular. You've got that fast ball

36:06 and the change up both bearing in on

36:09 right-handed hitters.

36:11 >> Does not feel like he's 60t 6 in from

36:14 you.

36:15 feels a lot closer as he just misses the

36:17 inside corner with the slider. He's got

36:19 a nine pitch mix.

36:23 >> Kitchen sink kind of offering and that's

36:26 another strike out.

36:29 >> Pce

36:30 for the first two outs of this ball

36:32 game. Chris, he's got a plethora of

36:34 celebrations, a plethora of pitches, and

36:36 a plethora of ways to get you out right

36:38 there. Full count. He goes a little

36:40 slider action.

36:43 Yeah, I mean through the first month of

36:44 this year's World Tour, only one pitcher

36:46 had more value over a replacement

36:48 pitcher than Chris Clark. It was David

36:51 Griffin of the Indianapolis Clowns. But

36:53 these guys were practically matching

36:55 each other as far as the new rookie arms

36:58 are concerned.

37:00 Now Max Young Goldberg

37:02 with a smile for the menacing righty on

37:05 the bump. Count even at a ball and a

37:08 strike. MJG odd evening 0 for one. Got a

37:12 walk-off on a ball that didn't leave the

37:14 infield. Hit by a pitch twice and worked

37:17 a ball for sprint. So good ball game for

37:20 the hold on base percentage. 0 for two.

37:22 He was the golden batter as well last

37:23 night.

37:26 >> Yeah. Little flare out in the ninth to

37:28 Jordan Bar.

37:33 >> Fouls that one off himself. Count even

37:34 at two and two.

37:39 Dare I say Chris Clark strikes out the

37:40 side. One, two, three to begin the ball

37:42 game here.

37:47 >> The two swing and a miss. That's a sword

37:50 for MJG. Chris Clark does strike out the

37:53 side and it comes in 3 minutes and 14

37:56 seconds for the rightander. Impressive

37:59 stuff from Chris Clark.

38:02 >> Here's the first one against the dock.

38:04 Goes front door change up. The second

38:06 one against Reese Alexi goes a little

38:09 slider action. Swinging, swinging, and

38:12 then here comes the sword on the third

38:15 punch of the inning against Max

38:17 Goldberg.

38:19 Chris Clark wants to win more than

38:21 anybody else in that entire locker room,

38:23 but he's got to face an awfully good

38:25 defense here in the Banas.

38:28 >> Nanners with the classic setup for a

38:30 second straight game. Left to right in

38:32 their outfield. Super Reese the Doctor

38:34 and then rack third to first in the

38:36 infield once again. It's KJ Cox Olsen

38:39 and Young Goldberg Loy behind the dish.

38:41 He has caught every single inning but

38:43 one this year and Alex Ziegler the

38:45 designated fielder once again. And we

38:46 saw Dr. Meadows make history last night.

38:49 The first outfielder to ever reach 300

38:51 career trick plays. Ryan Cox also had a

38:53 big impact on the game for the Bananas.

38:56 started April with three trick plays in

38:58 the contest and Alex Ziggler had two at

39:00 first base as the designated fielder.

39:02 You will likely see him at first through

39:05 most of this game for the bananas. In

39:07 the center of it all, Noah Nisnik here

39:10 in his third Banana Ball World Tour, the

39:13 2024 Rookie of the Year. A stalwart at

39:16 the top of this Bananas rotation for a

39:18 third straight tour now. And you see

39:20 that 1.64 ERA, third best in the league.

39:23 And the only two guys above him are also

39:24 playing in this ball game. And Denn Hley

39:26 and Chris Clark.

39:28 >> Yeah, for Noah Nisnik, he's believe it

39:30 or not, still without a decision this

39:32 year for the Savannah Bananas. It's

39:34 really just due to a lack of run support

39:36 for Niz Nasty who goes to work against

39:39 Indiana Stanley and will miss inside

39:41 with his first pitch.

39:44 Ball and a strike on Indie. He didn't

39:46 get the start last night. We didn't see

39:48 him in the ball game until he came in as

39:50 a defensive replacement in the ninth

39:52 inning in center field. His head coach

39:54 Joe Miklick as this one scorched foul

39:57 was talking about bringing him in in the

39:58 sixth, but this is a hometown weekend

40:01 for Jason Arant grew up about 30 minutes

40:03 away in Holly Springs. And Indie said,

40:05 "No, you know what? I want Jason to get

40:07 to experience a few more innings of this

40:09 game." and Jason back, excuse me, Indie

40:11 in the back at the top of the order

40:12 here. Had two home runs the last time he

40:14 hit lead off in Sacramento trying to go

40:17 inside out to right field.

40:21 Where' the ball go? It's going to be a

40:23 ground rule double.

40:27 >> No ground rule single.

40:29 >> Just broke the fence.

40:35 >> Bo Jacksonesque.

40:38 It's only 205 down the right field line.

40:41 Indie in his first plate appearance of

40:43 the weekend able to nestle it between

40:45 that 50ft net courtesy of netting pros

40:48 and Robert Anthony Cruz. Kind of an

40:50 optical illusion. Looked like he might

40:51 have snagged it. No luck. How about

40:53 Donnie Allen?

41:06 down.

41:20 You better

41:23 dance. Let's

41:26 remember

41:33 it. I

41:36 >> always thought Brett Allen reminded me a

41:38 lot of pit bull.

41:40 >> It's the float coming out of the bald

41:42 cap.

41:43 >> Looks a lot like Tipsky over here,

41:44 right? Got the little hair coming out of

41:46 there. I know how to wear a bald cap.

41:51 >> That's a guy that doesn't need a bald

41:52 cap. Just a bandana and a stick in his

41:54 hand. Nick Lopez, all he's done is swung

41:56 it well since he entered banana ball

41:58 last year. An all-star, one of three for

42:00 the tailgator. Last night we seen it in

42:02 the open. went yaya to right center

42:04 field and he's getting another

42:05 opportunity to swing it from the right

42:06 side against this left-handed laden

42:08 banana's pitching staff.

42:10 >> That one bounced off the wall. Stanley

42:13 will go station to station as Rack plays

42:15 it well

42:16 >> and Lopez his second knock of the

42:18 weekend. The homer came from the left

42:20 side off Derek Cla.

42:22 >> A lot of guys had the yard card out and

42:23 that was a tough position for Derek to

42:25 be put in. Had that long walk up there

42:27 as see Mr. for Wilson hanging out behind

42:30 home plate there near the Tailgator

42:32 dugout as Jordan Bart steps up.

42:34 >> Flare down the right field line. That is

42:36 fair. And it'll be out of play. So

42:39 everybody advances one more base. How

42:41 about that? Three straight opposite

42:44 field singles by the Tailgator. They've

42:47 got him loaded and Stanley at third base

42:50 is going to be allowed to score on the

42:52 ground rule singles. That's going to be

42:53 a walk-off single from Jordan Bar.

42:56 Little confusion on the ground rules

42:58 here.

43:03 >> It felt like a walk-off maybe inevitable

43:05 with the bags juiced, no outs, and Kyle

43:08 Martin coming to the dish, but Jordan

43:10 Bar is going to grab his second of the

43:12 year as you get another look at that

43:13 one. One hop over the wall.

43:18 >> Either way, Tailgator leading one to

43:20 nothing against a really tough couple of

43:22 pitchers here, Bo and Josh. Two of the

43:24 best three. We mentioned David Griffin,

43:26 but those have been the three best

43:27 pitchers in all of our sports so far

43:29 this year. The ERAs really stick out,

43:31 but Josh, something you talk about so

43:33 much in our sport, if you fill up the

43:35 zone, you're going to win a lot of ball

43:36 games. The ball for sprint ratio for

43:38 both of these guys.

43:39 >> Yeah, both of these guys are ranking

43:40 within the top 10 in banana ball this

43:42 season. And you see because they're able

43:44 to stay in the zone, not only are they

43:46 also going to get their strikeouts.

43:48 Chris Clark, I mean, just striking out

43:50 the side in the top of this first

43:51 inning, but also you're going to get a

43:53 lot of balls put in play. And you see

43:55 Nisnik 13 trick plays induced this

43:57 season. Clark up to 20 for the Texas

44:00 Tailgator. So, both of these guys are

44:02 excelling in very similar fashions, and

44:05 that's why this is such a fascinating

44:07 pitching matchup on day two here in

44:09 Chapel Hill. And quite a contrast of

44:11 styles. Chris Clark sits 90 to 95. It is

44:14 easy velocity. Noisik is pretty thrilled

44:17 when there's a nine in front of his fast

44:19 ball when it comes to the VO. Uh he sits

44:22 more 87 to 89. He'll reach back 9091

44:25 when he's feeling spicy.

44:26 >> You know something I really love about

44:27 this graphic though, NPI, we preach

44:29 quick innings, quick innings, quick

44:31 innings. That 3 minute and 14 second

44:33 inning for Chris Clark in the first,

44:35 that's one of the quicker ones he's had

44:36 this year. These both of these guys work

44:38 in a sport where everyone works so fast,

44:39 a rather rapacious pace, but it works

44:42 cuz they're getting a lot of outs and

44:43 not letting up a lot of rounds.

44:44 >> Well, also you're seeing with two guys

44:45 who have strikeout rates north of at 20%

44:48 or higher, that slows you down just a

44:50 little bit on the pitchers, man. So,

44:52 that's why you're not necessarily seeing

44:54 the quickest innings yet from these guys

44:56 because they're throwing a couple more

44:58 pitches than a lot of other guys on

45:00 average every inning. It was the best of

45:02 times. It was the worst of times type of

45:05 situation for our aces in the first.

45:07 Three batters faced, three strikeouts

45:09 for Chris Clark. Three batters faced

45:12 three singles and a walk-off against

45:13 Noah Nisnik. So one nil tailgator ahead.

45:17 A reminder they led 52 going into the

45:19 ninth last night before the Bananas

45:21 rallied for three thanks to the Robert

45:23 Anthony Cruz two-run gametying shot.

45:27 Rack is in the pit. It's Dan Oers, Kyle

45:30 Jackson, Bill Loy, and Jackson Olsen

45:33 before we see the former Nationals minor

45:35 leager as Clark is going to shovel this

45:37 one over to first just in time to take

45:39 care of Danny O. Four Bananas faced,

45:42 four retired. That's the first ball put

45:43 in play then.

45:45 >> Yeah, you look and you say no trick

45:47 plays after one frame. But just like you

45:48 said, Bo, three hits for the tailgator,

45:50 three strikeouts on the end for the

45:53 Bananas. And right there, Denny O runs

45:55 really well for big man. Just had to get

45:57 that out at first.

45:59 Now Kyle Jackson is Chris Clark's going

46:02 to play a little cornhole. Oh, couldn't

46:05 get it on the board.

46:07 >> That always feels bad to open up a ball

46:08 game.

46:11 It's like you want to at least hit some

46:12 lumber.

46:13 >> 60 ft 6 in I don't think is regulation

46:15 for cornhole though. Be

46:16 >> Oh, I remember way back in the day 2022

46:20 2023 Jackson Olsen participated in ESPN

46:25 8 at the Oo, their cornhole

46:26 championship. had some influencers

46:28 involved. I think it's more like 30

46:31 feet, right? Who knows? Josh, you got

46:33 cornhole knowledge?

46:36 >> Oh, not off the top of my head, but I

46:39 I've played plenty of it.

46:40 >> I played inside at Jimmy Lewis's house.

46:42 We were at Lake Travis a few weekends

46:44 ago. We were playing no farther than 10

46:46 ft apart. He absolutely smoked me in the

46:47 mouth on one of them. I don't think

46:48 that's regulation either.

46:50 >> 27 ft is what it's supposed to be. Man,

46:52 that was going to be my guess. I bet it

46:55 was.

46:57 ball in two strikes on Kyle Jackson

47:01 >> and a little excuse me swing shoots that

47:04 right into his dugout says my bad boys

47:08 for three last night with a hit by pitch

47:11 still hitting 400

47:14 and that batting average is going to

47:17 rise one hop off the wall KJ thinking

47:19 about two stops right there oh no Indie

47:22 sail it goes all the way towards the

47:24 bananas dugout Kyle Jackson is going to

47:26 end up on third base.

47:30 The two base error from the tailgator

47:32 center fielder team that had only three

47:36 errors in their first nine games this

47:38 season. That's their third error this

47:39 weekend.

47:41 >> Yeah, it's awfully surprising to see

47:43 from Indiana Stanley

47:46 Kyle Jackson. He just reached third base

47:48 and turns out we're having picture day

47:51 in Chapel Hill. He's He's going in the

47:54 UNCC yearbook this year. Problem was the

47:57 fly was down. He didn't want it to be

47:59 enshrined in the yearbook forever. I

48:02 don't know. I I don't know if the co-eds

48:03 would have a problem with that. I don't

48:05 think they would.

48:08 I certainly don't.

48:10 KJ, he had a business decision to make

48:13 there.

48:15 He's starting to get sped up. The

48:16 camera's zooming in. The flies down.

48:18 He's like, "We got a timer on this ball

48:21 game." And he's like,

48:23 It's great decision by Kyle Jackson. He

48:25 sees nobody occupying third after the

48:28 throwing air. So, he gets the third

48:29 base, but then you see a little lack of

48:32 judgment for KJ where you know he forgot

48:34 about the whole fly thing.

48:37 >> Don't we all?

48:39 >> Amen, brother.

48:41 >> I remember a few weeks ago playing the

48:42 firefighters in Scotsdale. Brian Japan

48:44 has a walk out. Fly was also not all the

48:47 way zipped up. So maybe it's just a

48:48 running joke in banana ball right now. I

48:50 don't know. Well, that would be

48:52 historically accurate for the sport.

48:53 2022 World Tour, 90% of the flies

48:56 wouldn't even go up. It's not possible

48:57 on those pants back in the day.

49:00 >> We were balling on a budget in the early

49:02 days of banana ball. As Bill Loy

49:05 survives that foul ball into the seats,

49:07 heck of a ball game last night for the

49:09 Ners captain. Two for two, two ball four

49:11 sprints, batting average up to 323. OBP

49:14 up to 432 with the infield in here

49:18 trying to plate the bananas first run of

49:19 this afternoon.

49:24 >> Clark can't front door the slider ball

49:26 in two strikes.

49:28 >> This Bazela got a $100 bill in his

49:30 jersey. What is happening down there?

49:37 >> Bouncer right back up the middle and

49:40 through. Kyle Jackson scores an unearned

49:43 run against Chris Clark and Bill Loy

49:46 redhot. He has reached base all five

49:48 times this weekend.

49:52 >> Oh, this is a banger.

49:57 >> You guys watch the new Spongebob movie?

49:59 >> Not yet.

50:01 >> I only believe in one Spongebob

50:03 Squarepants movie. Oh my gosh. Grim

50:06 Basser. Was that supposed to happen?

50:09 But I do like Ice Spice. It makes two of

50:12 us.

50:14 >> Fantastic

50:16 song. You know, you get that song like 5

50:18 minutes into the movie. Spoiler alert.

50:21 Yeah. I thought it would be like the big

50:23 massive dramatic conclusion. You get the

50:26 Spongebob Big Guy Pants. Okay. Song. And

50:29 Ice Bice at the top of the show is a

50:30 heck of a way to start off.

50:32 >> Makes sense.

50:34 Jackson Olsson fouls that one off

50:36 himself. Not a comfortable experience.

50:40 One run in. Nanders's looking for more.

50:42 By the way, you mentioned this hot

50:44 series for Bill Loy across his last six

50:47 games. Now he is 8 for6 at the dish for

50:50 the Savannah Bananas. And the difference

50:52 for him lately, he's seeing more pitches

50:54 per played appearance than he was at the

50:56 start of the year. as Jackson Olsen

50:58 rolls this one into right center field

51:01 and Bryce Grizzafi who's the designated

51:03 runner for Bill Loy. He will go first to

51:06 third and put men on the corners for the

51:08 Nanners with one out. You know in the

51:10 bottom of the first where the Tailgators

51:12 got those three straight singles. Three

51:14 straight inside out. Oh, oppo tacos. All

51:16 three of these singles here in the

51:17 inning for the Bananas have been the

51:19 same exact thing. Right up the middle.

51:21 Great approach right now by the Bananas.

51:23 Just thinking straight up the middle of

51:24 the diamond. Yeah, if you're going to

51:25 try and turn it around on Chris Clark,

51:27 that's a pretty tall task. Robert

51:30 Anthony Cruz is one of the few guys I

51:33 think would be thrilled to try and pull

51:35 the ball. He's a pretty pole happy

51:36 hitter and for good reason. He's got all

51:40 the pop in the world.

51:42 >> Couple ducks on the pond. Runners on

51:44 first and third.

51:47 And a ball and a strike on one of the

51:49 Nanner's offensive heroes last night.

51:52 That ball struck well out to left

51:54 center. It will be plenty deep to bring

51:56 in Grizz from third. So a sack fly for

51:59 rack and that is a very helpful run when

52:04 it comes to insurance and earning the

52:06 nanners first point in this ball game.

52:08 And we're going to get another picture.

52:09 Grace Gafi joining in on the picture day

52:12 experience.

52:15 >> That's the same charcoal black backdrop

52:17 that we had when I was in the second

52:19 grade at Buffalo Elementary School.

52:21 Buffalo Elementary School in South

52:24 Carolina.

52:24 >> That's right.

52:25 >> Clinton.

52:26 >> No, it's in Union, South Carolina.

52:27 >> Yep, that's right.

52:28 >> Charcoal grade though. I had a little

52:29 red polo on. It was a good look.

52:31 >> They tell you to tilt your head a little

52:33 bit, too.

52:34 >> I always got that. Every time I had to

52:36 sit down, they're like, "Tilt your head

52:37 a little bit." I I never really

52:38 understood that.

52:39 >> Mine would always to tilt it up because

52:41 my chin would be pointed too far down.

52:43 >> Bouncer to Jordan Hussein. He whips it

52:45 between the legs. Bounces it to Jonathan

52:48 Lutters.

52:49 25 trick plays on the year for Hussein.

52:52 But a golden opportunity for the Nanners

52:54 to not this game at one. They've got two

52:56 runs here in the second.

53:02 >> Travel Hill. The Masters wraps up today.

53:04 So, we thought it was time to play some

53:06 golf. But this is banana ball. So, we're

53:08 going to put a little bit of a spin on

53:10 that classic game. And when I say spin,

53:12 I mean literally. Over here on the T-

53:14 box, we got Jacob and we got Hunter. And

53:17 they're going to have to hit their golf

53:18 balls into that bucket over there. But

53:21 before they hit the ball, they're going

53:22 to have to spin around 10 times, get

53:24 nice and dizzy, which is why we call

53:26 this one the dizzy masters. Boys, go

53:29 ahead and tee up. And now start

53:32 spinning.

53:34 Now's a good time to tell you that this

53:36 is about a 40yd par three, but I'm

53:39 expecting a couple double bogeies at

53:40 least. They look ready to go. They're

53:43 going to tee off right now.

53:46 Big swing. But now we got to get to the

53:48 ball.

53:49 >> When they get there, we got to drop over

53:52 here. And we got to drop right there,

53:54 too, fell in with his knees.

53:57 Hunter with a commanding lead. This

53:59 game's about speed more than anything.

54:01 How fast can you spin? How clean can you

54:04 hit it? He's stumbling. Hunter swings

54:07 and misses. Hunter swings and misses

54:10 again. Hunter swings and misses again.

54:13 There we go. approaching the green.

54:17 Jacob finally catches up. We're going to

54:19 have them spinning right next to each

54:21 other.

54:23 We don't get any relief here, boys. This

54:25 is the Dizzy Masters.

54:28 You got to go and get it on that bucket.

54:33 The first one there. You're right there.

54:35 We need 10 more spins if you want to hit

54:37 that thing.

54:39 Hunter is approaching the hole. This

54:42 could be it, ladies and gentlemen.

54:43 Chapel Hill. Give him some support while

54:45 he spins.

54:50 He's stumbling. Could this be it? He

54:52 lines up the putt. He's dizzy. He's

54:54 moving. He misses.

54:56 The door is open for Jacob. Someone's

54:59 got to hit the bucket. Jacob, this could

55:02 be it right here.

55:03 >> Big swing out to the right.

55:06 >> We got to go.

55:08 >> Miss it. Not even close.

55:11 >> Oh, he missed it. Pulled it long.

55:13 We got to get the bucket. Here we go.

55:16 >> Right here, boys. I'll help you out.

55:19 Someone hit the bucket.

55:21 >> Boom. There it is. A come from behind

55:23 victory. Your winner, Jacob.

55:28 >> Now, batter number 2. An

55:31 >> impressive come from behind victory

55:33 right there. That's exactly what Rory

55:35 Mroy is trying to hold off this

55:37 afternoon. Still in the lead last I

55:39 checked. Tied for it. Oh,

55:44 that's pretty spicy. Four, five, and six

55:47 due to swing it in the tailgator lineup.

55:51 Kyle Martin, Taylor Justice, Jose

55:54 Gonzalez Jr. Big Boppers with the Gator

55:58 chasing two runs.

56:01 Kmart with his second home run of the

56:03 year last night. Came in the eighth

56:05 inning left on left against Grant

56:06 Besser. gave him the outright lead and

56:09 runs batted in for the Texas Tailgator

56:11 this season. Now pops one up over on the

56:14 left side of the diamond. Kyle Jackson

56:16 in shallow left will tip this one up to

56:19 himself and haul in the first trick play

56:21 of the afternoon for the Savannah

56:23 Bananas.

56:24 >> I think they want to try to go double

56:26 trick play there between KJ and Coxy. KJ

56:29 lost that one in the sun just ever so

56:31 slightly. Still able to get the trick

56:32 play and out number one. Well, I don't

56:34 think he was expecting to tip it behind

56:36 himself, more over to the left of him to

56:38 Ryan Cox. That didn't happen. And in

56:41 those scenarios, you know, the Bananas

56:42 are just making sure that they at least

56:44 get one. Say, let the guy who tips it

56:47 stay with it to make sure the outs

56:48 recorded. What a pick for the Dunkin

56:50 Donut hitter of the game. Taylor

56:52 Justice, if he goes down on strikes over

56:55 50,000 fans on hand, get a free donut.

56:59 But this is your tour leader with his

57:02 well your tailgator leader rather with

57:04 his 429 batting average. Tour leader

57:06 with his 952 slugging percentage and

57:09 1.430 OPS. Taylor Justice

57:14 came into Banana Ball known for his

57:16 defense.

57:19 Lifts this one out to shallow right

57:21 center. It's going to fall. Bermuda

57:23 Triangle right between Meadows Cruz and

57:26 Cox. And when it's going right, it's

57:28 going right. Yeah, I was going to say

57:29 when you're hot, you're hot. Taylor

57:30 Justice has been hit his third home run

57:33 of the year last night, which again,

57:34 playing at a football stadium, it was by

57:36 far. It would have went out in the

57:37 baseball stadium, dead center here at

57:39 Chapel Hill.

57:40 >> Any baseball stadium on the planet

57:42 >> and now just continues hitting. He has

57:45 now gotten hit in seven out of the last

57:46 eight games that he started here for the

57:48 Tailgator. Was Jacob Pipper now running

57:50 at first

57:51 >> and Justice three for four on the

57:53 weekend. Well, I'll tell you something

57:54 to follow here, although I know it's

57:55 early. We've seen four of the first five

57:58 guys for the Texas Tailgator batting

58:00 from the right side. All four of them

58:01 have a base knock off of Noah Nisnik

58:04 today. And all four of them going the

58:06 opposite way.

58:09 That ball is smoked. Jos Gonzalez Jr.

58:11 peppering it off the net. It comes back

58:14 into play and Pipper getting a stop

58:16 sign.

58:19 Well done by Dr. Meadows

58:22 >> to keep the speedy kid out of Long

58:24 Island University from scoring.

58:27 >> Pimp was ready to go. Joe Mikolik threw

58:29 up that stop sign and was all the way

58:31 down the sideline there trying to get

58:32 him to stop. Couple of ducks on the

58:34 corners here and you got Mcadoodle up.

58:40 >> That was a smart play by Mick Pipper's

58:42 not the runner who matters. Jose

58:43 Gonzalez Jr. on first is the inning

58:45 tiein run. And now we got ourselves a

58:48 pickle. Jackson Olsson is going to apply

58:50 the tag as Pipper scores. And pretty

58:53 similar to a situation that happened the

58:55 exact opposite way last night where it

58:58 was Bryce Grazafi who got thrown out

59:01 trying to steal with the Tailgator up

59:04 two runs in an inning. Tailgator traded

59:06 an out for a run. Bananas do the exact

59:08 same thing today because it's exactly

59:09 what you should do defensively. It

59:11 looked like brother was just caught

59:12 napping there. I mean, didn't even dart

59:15 back towards first on the pickoff from

59:16 Nisnick. Well, before Noah ever threw a

59:18 pitch to M. Dadford, Jose Brother

59:21 Gonzalez was dancing around an awful lot

59:23 over there at first. So, I think brother

59:24 was trying to make something happen over

59:26 there. A plus runner, but again, you

59:28 don't want to train it out for a run

59:29 there if you're the tailgator.

59:31 >> Well, and Ziggy originally was not

59:33 holding him on at first, actually.

59:34 That's Max Young Goldberg still out

59:36 there at first base.

59:41 Big swing, a miss. M Danford helping

59:44 Dnick out on the 3-1 offering. Count is

59:46 full. Bounced to Kyle Jackson between

59:50 the legs across the diamond in plenty of

59:52 time.

59:54 And thanks to a base running blunder,

59:56 the Savannah Bananas win the second

59:58 inning, two runs to one, they tie this

1:00:00 game at a point each.

1:00:03 Another look at trick play number 14.

1:00:06 Make it number 15 on the year for Kyle

1:00:07 Jackson. He had a pair in the frame.

1:00:09 Let's get going. He's going to sing it.

1:00:11 >> It's something we talk about all the

1:00:12 time, making those fans first moments

1:00:14 here with Fans First Entertainment. The

1:00:17 guy who's on the pitching mound today

1:00:18 for the Texas Tailgator done an awful

1:00:20 lot this year. Chris Clark has these

1:00:22 beautiful custom pair of spikes. He's

1:00:25 pitching in today. Painted up University

1:00:27 of North Carolina colors. You can scan

1:00:29 that QR code right there on your screen

1:00:31 and you can bid to win those. Bidding

1:00:34 starts at $1. All proceeds go to Bananas

1:00:37 Foster. The bidding just began at 300

1:00:39 p.m. Eastern this afternoon. Chris

1:00:42 Clark, three strikeouts, three up and

1:00:44 three down there in the first. Conceded

1:00:46 a couple runs there in the second. The

1:00:48 ace of the Texas Tailgator pitching

1:00:50 staff. You can bid to win those shoes.

1:00:52 And again, all proceeds go directly to

1:00:55 Bananas Foster. This isn't the first

1:00:56 time he's done something like this this

1:00:58 year. My favorite thing that he's done

1:01:00 so far with his spikes. A couple weeks

1:01:02 ago, he's done it each of his outings so

1:01:03 far. Actually, I was talking to him and

1:01:05 I see him in the crowd, seen him

1:01:06 wandering around. I said, "Chris, what

1:01:08 were you doing after you threw four

1:01:09 scoreless today?" He said, "Well, I I

1:01:11 went to go find a kid, farthest part of

1:01:13 the yard, took my shoes off and said,

1:01:15 "Here, here you go." He We were in

1:01:17 Scottdale. He took a ball wrapped up

1:01:19 with $40 on it, threw it to a guy with a

1:01:21 note in there and said, "Bear on me." I

1:01:23 mean, this is just a guy who knows all

1:01:25 about making those fans first moments.

1:01:27 And it just so happens he's been the

1:01:28 best starting pitcher in the sport this

1:01:30 year as well.

1:01:32 >> And I don't know if I'm allowed to say

1:01:34 this, but I'm going to. Chris Clark.

1:01:36 It's gonna be a bonus surprise. He's

1:01:37 also gonna add a signed banana ball, a

1:01:40 signed Major League Baseball. And he's

1:01:42 gonna write a little handwritten thank

1:01:44 you note with a funny MLB story and a

1:01:46 funny banana ball story in there. So,

1:01:47 like this is this is not just a custom

1:01:49 pair of cleats that he's literally

1:01:51 pitching in right now. It just goes back

1:01:54 to everything you were saying. He fans

1:01:55 first through and through. It's all

1:01:56 about plusing the experience. And uh

1:01:58 Chris Clark, this is this is really cool

1:02:00 stuff from a Banana Ball rookie.

1:02:02 completely understands what this

1:02:03 organization and this sport is all

1:02:05 about. And no surprise from a guy who

1:02:07 spent seven years in minor league

1:02:08 baseball. Clark said that he always

1:02:11 loved after his outings going out and

1:02:13 signing autographs with the fans.

1:02:14 Normally it was maybe 500 fans at games,

1:02:17 not 50,000 as Ryan Cox bounces it to

1:02:20 Matt Danford between the legs over to

1:02:22 Clark covering and a trick play for

1:02:25 McAdoodle.

1:02:26 We're noted at two trick plays each as

1:02:28 the Nanners trying to earn the equalizer

1:02:30 point. new

1:02:33 >> just the second bucket of the afternoon.

1:02:36 Chris Clark does a really good job of

1:02:37 getting over there covering the back as

1:02:39 now Josh got a new guy hitting the top

1:02:42 of the order here for the ban.

1:02:43 >> Yeah, it's Houston Parish coming into

1:02:45 the box getting a report from Sam Bowman

1:02:47 down on the field saying that Dr.

1:02:49 Meadows is questionable the return to

1:02:51 this game dealing with a little bit of a

1:02:52 hamstring injury at the moment. So, he's

1:02:55 currently getting evaluated. We will see

1:02:57 if Meadows potentially re-enters this

1:02:59 game, but for right now, Eastston Parish

1:03:02 will replace Meadows in the batting

1:03:04 order.

1:03:06 Banana Ball rookie and her seventh round

1:03:08 draft pick out of Leveria, Texas.

1:03:12 Started his college career at Pona

1:03:14 College. JO finished up with three years

1:03:16 at St. Mary's University out in San

1:03:18 Antonio.

1:03:19 >> Peter just misses the outside corner.

1:03:22 Homeplay umpire Trey Hudson making the

1:03:24 call.

1:03:32 big swing and a miss

1:03:35 >> and the count even at two and two.

1:03:38 Well, obviously the Meadows situation

1:03:40 not ideal, but you do get another

1:03:41 left-handed bat in the box trying to go

1:03:44 over the 50ft nets here in Chapel Hill.

1:03:47 And Matt Danford was eyeing another

1:03:49 trick play here in the inning. struggled

1:03:52 with the ball, didn't even get any kind

1:03:54 of transfer off, but because you didn't

1:03:56 see anything like that, just a routine

1:03:58 error there for Matt Danford.

1:04:00 >> Yeah, I'd agree with you there, Josh.

1:04:01 Like you said, you could see the

1:04:03 potential intent to go between the legs,

1:04:05 but never even made it there as the ball

1:04:07 pops out of his glove.

1:04:08 >> But it looks like he was potentially

1:04:10 thinking behind the back flip and the

1:04:12 feed to Chris Clark.

1:04:14 >> I bet he was, but since you can't see

1:04:16 the attempt, you you can't be completely

1:04:19 confident of that, right?

1:04:23 shdy defense from the Tailgator this

1:04:25 weekend continues. Mentioned it an

1:04:26 inning ago. They only had three errors

1:04:28 coming into the weekend. They now have

1:04:29 four errors across

1:04:32 about a game and a third now. Not even.

1:04:34 Quick 02 count on Reese Select. He

1:04:37 struck out swinging his first time

1:04:42 as Eastston Parish leads off first.

1:04:45 And that is a three pitch strikeout.

1:04:48 Chris Clark going right after Alexiatis.

1:04:50 His fourth punch out,

1:04:52 >> his first strikeout since the one he had

1:04:55 to conclude the first against Max

1:04:57 Goldberg. Reese Alexi going down twice

1:05:00 via the strike out. Been a long time

1:05:01 since that happened in his first two

1:05:03 abs. I bet Josh.

1:05:05 >> Yeah, you got Alexi, a guy eight ball,

1:05:08 four sprints, leads the bananas. He's

1:05:10 now up to nine strikeouts, but he's

1:05:12 trying to make it two straight tours

1:05:13 with more sprints than K's. Very

1:05:15 impressive for a guy who swings the

1:05:17 absolutely lights out of it as far as

1:05:20 max effort hacks.

1:05:22 Two count now on MJG.

1:05:25 It's

1:05:25 >> kind of the approach of this Bananas

1:05:26 lineup. Nico, heading into this weekend,

1:05:28 the Bananas only had one more strike out

1:05:30 than they did all four sprints. 49 to

1:05:32 48. I mean, this is such a patient

1:05:34 lineup here. In fact, Sean Goldberg

1:05:36 thought he was putting that on display

1:05:38 right there instead. Strike number one.

1:05:40 >> And safe harbor roll in place with three

1:05:42 balls. Young Goldberg left the box, but

1:05:45 no penalty

1:05:46 >> since there were three balls.

1:05:51 >> Still his count and there is a very easy

1:05:54 decision on ball four.

1:05:57 >> Eastston Parish getting a stop sign. He

1:05:59 will hold up at third. Sticky situation

1:06:02 now for Chris Clark. Runner on the

1:06:04 corners with two outs.

1:06:08 >> Tough situation here. Got Dan Over

1:06:10 runners on the corners. Another inning

1:06:12 that is being furthered because of an

1:06:14 error in the field. Chris Clark really

1:06:16 trying to bear down here in a throw up

1:06:17 his second zero of his outing here in

1:06:19 the top of the third.

1:06:20 >> And you've got a guy in Over batting 357

1:06:22 this year with runners in scoring

1:06:24 position.

1:06:27 All right, Jonathan Lunters the foot

1:06:30 juggle. Trick play number 30 on the year

1:06:32 for Sunshine. And it's a goose egg for

1:06:35 Chris Clark stranding a pair.

1:06:37 >> So huge in the grand scheme of the ball

1:06:40 game right there. Jonathan Sunshine

1:06:42 looters another trick play, hangs up a

1:06:43 zero, and now it's time for Bananas

1:06:45 Foster.

1:06:49 >> Across the United States, there are over

1:06:52 400,000 children and teens in foster

1:06:55 care without a permanent home. Look

1:06:57 around. That's enough to fill Keenan

1:06:59 Stadium seven times with the number of

1:07:01 children currently experiencing care. To

1:07:04 raise awareness and support this

1:07:05 community, we created Bananas Foster,

1:07:08 the official nonprofit of Banana Ball.

1:07:10 Our organization is dedicated to

1:07:12 celebrating those in the foster care

1:07:14 community while educating and inspiring

1:07:16 others to get involved. Today, we are

1:07:19 celebrating the Macaulay family. 7 years

1:07:22 ago, Randa was called to make a

1:07:25 difference in her community, so she

1:07:27 became a single licensed foster mom. On

1:07:30 top of being a foster parent, Randa is

1:07:33 also deeply rooted in advocacy and runs

1:07:35 a local foster closet that serves over

1:07:38 400 children within her community.

1:07:42 In total, Randa has welcomed 28 kiddos

1:07:46 into her home while impacting hundreds

1:07:49 of children across the state of North

1:07:51 Carolina. Fans, please join us in

1:07:54 celebrating this amazing family for

1:07:56 making a difference right here in your

1:07:58 community.

1:08:24 Ladies and gentlemen, one more time for

1:08:26 the one Remember,

1:08:35 you still have time to win big and help

1:08:37 out USC restaurants and bananas foster

1:08:39 with this weekend's 50/50 raffle. If you

1:08:42 want tickets, just stand with the big

1:08:44 board. The winning ticket number for the

1:08:46 two combined jackpot will be announced

1:08:50 later.

1:08:52 Keep your eyes peeled to the big board.

1:08:54 And now I need you to keep your eyes.

1:08:57 Well, another massive shout out

1:09:01 >> to Ronda McCaulay,

1:09:04 superhero in the foster care community

1:09:06 here in the Tarheel State.

1:09:11 And we get to watch the Banana Band

1:09:13 blast away as we head to the bottom of

1:09:15 the third. currently nodded at one point

1:09:17 each.

1:09:18 Chris Clark nice bounceback inning after

1:09:21 he allowed two unearned runs in the

1:09:23 second

1:09:25 leading to the bananas point this

1:09:27 afternoon.

1:09:28 Stranded a pair in the top of the third.

1:09:32 Now he's going to have Taj Porter, Zack

1:09:34 Watson, and Jordan Hussein bottom three

1:09:37 in the tailgator lineup due to swing it

1:09:39 in the last of the third.

1:09:43 Always

1:09:45 a fun match up to begin this inning.

1:09:47 Guys who are roommates for two years

1:09:49 with each other. A rare time you get to

1:09:52 see Tai swing it from the right side. A

1:09:54 side which he has worked so much in on

1:09:56 from his right side. And Josh, you

1:09:58 mentioned that update from Sam Bowman.

1:09:59 You got some more for us.

1:10:00 >> Yeah, you see Reese Alexi. He has moved

1:10:02 from left field now to center field for

1:10:04 the Savannah Bananas. Ty Jackson now

1:10:06 manning left field. I think the move is

1:10:09 to put Alexi Ois center and hope that

1:10:11 you can maximize his trick plays with a

1:10:13 lot of balls going out there today.

1:10:17 And as you see, Eastston Parish will

1:10:20 take Dr. spot at the top of the lineup

1:10:22 and into the eh spot as Taj Porter down

1:10:25 on strikes. Four pitches down swinging.

1:10:32 Macio's out on the mound dancing with

1:10:34 Niz Nasty, who it is well documented if

1:10:38 you ask any of Noah Nisnik's teammates,

1:10:40 it's most likely that's the guy they're

1:10:42 going to say is the best dancer on the

1:10:44 Savannah ban. You know, every now and

1:10:46 then there are competitions, danceoffs

1:10:48 for who's going to throw the 322 pitch

1:10:50 in a weekend. And I've heard the likes

1:10:52 of Cowboy Kyle and others just say,

1:10:55 "What's what's the point of the

1:10:56 competition here, guys? We just know

1:10:58 Mystic's going to get it." I got a dark

1:11:00 horse guy in there, Jacob Baylor. Man, I

1:11:03 was watching him during rehearsals the

1:11:04 other day. Guy can move. I was talking

1:11:06 to Danny Esley about him. I said, "The

1:11:08 guy can move." He said, "Yeah, he's

1:11:10 probably third or fourth best dancer on

1:11:11 the team already as a rookie."

1:11:14 >> Ball in two strikes on Zack Watson. 0

1:11:17 for four last night with three

1:11:19 strikeouts.

1:11:23 Go

1:11:23 >> for three rather. Had the golden batter

1:11:25 Kyle Martin hit for him in the ninth.

1:11:29 as this one a jam shot in pursuit. Kyle

1:11:33 Jackson over the shoulder catch. KJ

1:11:37 makes a really tough play look easy.

1:11:39 Yeah, he is splashing the leather early

1:11:42 in this game. Two trick plays in inning

1:11:44 number two and now ranging out into foul

1:11:47 territory. It's Kyle Jackson, by the

1:11:49 way, moving from the dirt in the grass

1:11:51 into the turf. He makes that over the

1:11:54 shoulder catch. That's a little bit of

1:11:56 an adjustment you have to make as a

1:11:57 defender considering that turf is a

1:12:00 little more slick compared to playing on

1:12:02 dirt and playing on grass. Yeah, that

1:12:05 tur turf is very very tough here. Your

1:12:07 spikes are playing on that dirt. Tough

1:12:08 to go over there in that in that softer

1:12:11 area I should say as Jordan Hussein

1:12:12 already down 0 and two.

1:12:16 >> Pop up right side. Olsson getting called

1:12:20 off by rack. Back flip in the infield.

1:12:23 Robert Anthony Cruz. Ridiculous trick

1:12:26 play and a one two three inning for Niz

1:12:28 Nasty. And that was the smart call from

1:12:30 Robert Anthony Cruz as well. Has all the

1:12:33 momentum going his way to complete his

1:12:36 fourth rack whip catch. And then son of

1:12:39 a gun. Yeah, he's taking part of picture

1:12:41 day two.

1:12:43 >> Hey Jesse, what are you doing out there?

1:12:45 We're going to pump it up and make it up

1:12:47 to a level right now.

1:12:49 >> Let's get it down to Jesse. Now, time

1:12:51 for the famous baby race, also known as

1:12:54 the world's slowest race. We've got

1:12:57 Beckham, Jouri, John Allen, Asher,

1:12:59 Maline, Joey, Eli, Liam, Kelly, and

1:13:02 Poppy. If you're keeping track at home

1:13:05 and fans, it is about to get to a

1:13:07 blistering pace. On your mark, get set,

1:13:10 go. Go.

1:13:14 >> We have 10 babies on the grass in front

1:13:17 of over 50,000 fans here on the campus

1:13:21 of UNC. Nobody moving out of the gate.

1:13:28 >> 10 babies. Everybody sitting on their

1:13:30 tush.

1:13:32 Who's going to make the first move?

1:13:35 It's anybody's race.

1:13:38 So far, we only have a baby scooting

1:13:40 backwards.

1:13:45 >> And here we go. The crawling starts. Not

1:13:50 quite in the right direction.

1:13:53 And only about a foot and a half gained.

1:13:56 >> The finish line is going to start moving

1:13:58 towards the babies.

1:14:01 Oh no. Oh, that's not what you like to

1:14:05 see.

1:14:07 I mean, sports can be a brutal affair.

1:14:10 Looks like an absolutely lovely outing

1:14:12 for that little lass.

1:14:15 >> Parents begging their children. We are

1:14:19 but 10 ft away. All you have to do is

1:14:21 crawl to me. You will be a champion of

1:14:23 the world's slowest race. Not one single

1:14:27 child is listening. Every baby content,

1:14:31 hanging out where they are. Some padding

1:14:34 of grass, some kicking of feet.

1:14:38 >> Multiple babies looking the wrong

1:14:39 direction. And now we've got a scooter.

1:14:43 It's not a crawl. It's a little scad.

1:14:46 The scoot. A hip heist of sorts. Can it

1:14:50 be the method of victory?

1:14:53 One more scoot and you can get there. So

1:14:56 close yet so far away. The scoop into

1:15:01 the finish line. You bet.

1:15:09 What a victory.

1:15:13 Not the normal method, but it did the

1:15:15 job.

1:15:16 >> True comeback story, too. That young lad

1:15:18 was faced backwards for about the first

1:15:19 two and a half minutes. Somehow he just

1:15:22 figured it out.

1:15:23 >> He looked terrified to touch the finish

1:15:25 line.

1:15:27 A

1:15:28 >> giant floating yellow line. I'd be

1:15:30 scared, too, if I were him. Could be

1:15:32 anything.

1:15:34 >> Still trying to figure out what this

1:15:36 whole world is, right? Could be

1:15:38 dangerous.

1:15:39 >> Looks like pollen. I wouldn't want to

1:15:41 touch it either. You know,

1:15:42 >> maybe it's scorching hot. Who knows? He

1:15:43 probably hasn't touched the finish line.

1:15:45 If Drake was here, he'd say he's taking

1:15:47 benadryil and seeing a yellow line in

1:15:49 front of him someday.

1:15:52 >> Another one of Drake Tol's sleep

1:15:54 paralysis demons.

1:15:55 >> Make sure you stay away from that title.

1:15:56 >> Sleep paralysis yellow line.

1:15:59 Kyle Jackson is going to dunk this with

1:16:03 a hop over that wall. So, after seeing

1:16:06 no ground rule singles last night, we've

1:16:08 already gotten two of them. Just three

1:16:11 plus innings here. Two ground rule I get

1:16:14 three ground rule singles. You're right.

1:16:16 Jordan Bar had to walk off to end the

1:16:18 first.

1:16:20 >> First time we've seen a lefty pull one

1:16:22 into the net. The other two have been

1:16:24 righties going oppo tacos there.

1:16:26 >> So, Kyle Jackson two for two.

1:16:31 scored one of the two runs that led to

1:16:33 the inning win for the Nanners back in

1:16:35 the second. And now Bill Loy digs in.

1:16:39 He drove in KJ with a bouncer right back

1:16:42 through the shoot.

1:16:46 Bill now three for three on the weekend

1:16:47 with two ball for sprints as Kyle

1:16:49 Jackson. He got a heck of a jump. Yeah,

1:16:51 no chance for Taylor Justice

1:16:53 >> to catch KJ. Perfect three for three in

1:16:56 his stolen base tries this year.

1:17:03 Daddy shark

1:17:07 >> and a dangerous pitch

1:17:09 >> from Chris Clark coming to Bill Loy. Two

1:17:11 out runner in scoring position

1:17:15 >> and Bill hunting that short porch

1:17:18 comes up short. Not the right direction

1:17:21 either.

1:17:22 >> Brother just almost broke the fence out

1:17:23 there again in foul territory.

1:17:26 Well, if Rack can go through it, I think

1:17:28 brother might be able to tear a hole

1:17:29 right in it.

1:17:30 >> Getting shades of Jonathan Stewart last

1:17:32 year in Charlotte.

1:17:35 >> One of my favorite moments of the toy.

1:17:39 >> Scoring an inning winning run.

1:17:44 >> Really nice slider to even up the count

1:17:46 there for Clark.

1:17:55 Two- two coming to the bananas catcher

1:17:59 >> able to just get bat on ball. Flips it

1:18:01 foul

1:18:03 >> and collides with the netting.

1:18:05 This is kind of that difference I was

1:18:07 alluding to in Bill's last AB. Started

1:18:09 the season, he was averaging 3.4 pitches

1:18:11 per plate appearance. Since that, he's

1:18:14 been averaging four and a half per game.

1:18:17 And that's what's made the difference in

1:18:19 his batting average as the appeal goes

1:18:21 down to first base. And they will say

1:18:24 that Bill Loy went around Bryson

1:18:26 Wheeler, the first base umpire, ringing

1:18:28 him up.

1:18:29 >> Five strikeouts for Chris Clark today.

1:18:31 All have been swinging.

1:18:35 >> It's a disgusting arsenal. referenced

1:18:38 nine pitches, four seam, two seam, cut

1:18:40 fast balls, slider, curve ball, change

1:18:43 up, knuckle ball, gyro ball, and then a

1:18:45 top secret pitch that Chris would not be

1:18:48 happy if I shared on the broadcast.

1:18:50 So, we'll have to wait until he breaks

1:18:52 it out.

1:18:55 >> KJ off for third and once again stealing

1:18:58 that one on Clark.

1:19:00 So he doubles his stolen base total on

1:19:02 the tour just to

1:19:06 >> this fourth inning.

1:19:07 >> And now the infield has to come in for

1:19:09 the tailgator. Jackson Olsson singled

1:19:11 his first time.

1:19:18 >> Something Chris has talked a lot about

1:19:20 with his pitching staff and talked a lot

1:19:22 about here in Banana Ball. Josh, we've

1:19:24 talked about a lot how hard it is to

1:19:25 hold runners on. I think that was

1:19:26 something that Tyler Gillum and KJ

1:19:28 obviously had talked about. KJ's getting

1:19:30 first to third there.

1:19:32 >> And you've seen the Bananas. They've

1:19:34 really done this against the rookies.

1:19:36 They ran all over the Loco Beach

1:19:37 Coconuts when they played their twoame

1:19:39 series in San Diego. A lot of newcomers

1:19:42 on that squad doing very much the same

1:19:44 thing against Chris Clark today. But

1:19:47 Clark continues to rack up the

1:19:49 strikeouts in today's contest. Now he

1:19:52 has matched what Austin Drury did last

1:19:55 night for the Savannah Bananas. Six for

1:19:58 CC.

1:19:59 >> Last two coming off fast balls there.

1:20:01 Really starting to pump up the gas here

1:20:03 in the fourth inning. And coach Rex's

1:20:05 got something for us.

1:20:18 That is a

1:20:22 easy

1:20:45 feeling.

1:20:54 Saturday night.

1:21:09 >> That's about as calm, relaxing of a walk

1:21:11 up as you'll ever get in banana ball.

1:21:13 How about the camera guy stilts? Come on

1:21:16 now.

1:21:19 He's not just up there to hit and pitch

1:21:21 and every now and then knows how to hold

1:21:23 the camera. I thought it was Caleb

1:21:25 Wilson again. You know, he's just

1:21:26 towering over everybody.

1:21:29 >> Oh man.

1:21:33 >> They probably just forgot to ask Caleb,

1:21:35 right? Caleb Wilson's 6'10. Stilts 10'

1:21:38 11. So still little difference between

1:21:41 those two twin towers.

1:21:50 Bouncer to the right side. Jonathan

1:21:52 Lutters between the legs. Second trick

1:21:54 play of the ball game for Sunshine.

1:21:56 Chris Clark strands another runner on

1:21:59 third and it is four innings without an

1:22:02 unearned without an earned run for

1:22:04 Clarky. Book it bad. Tailgator now lead

1:22:07 the trick play battle four to three

1:22:09 after Sunshine. Yet another trick play

1:22:12 31 for him on the year. leading the BBCL

1:22:14 Jessica. Hey baby now

1:22:18 >> all the way around the stadium. Everyone

1:22:20 on your feet. Let's we're going to pump

1:22:23 it up with some Hey baby now. So let's

1:22:25 get those hands up in the air. All the

1:22:27 way up in the air. Get everybody's

1:22:28 hands. We're going to pump it up and

1:22:31 follow along. Here we go.

1:22:34 >> Clap those hands.

1:22:59 Keep it going.

1:23:13 Now, keep it clapping as we shuffle.

1:23:28 >> Now, let me hear you sing it.

1:23:42 One more time.

1:23:56 >> You guys are amazing. Give yourselves a

1:23:58 round of applause.

1:24:00 into a beautiful scene here in Kanan

1:24:03 Stadium. Over 50,000 fans moving it and

1:24:06 grooving it

1:24:08 to the timeless banana ball tradition of

1:24:11 Hey Baby. And you want to talk about big

1:24:13 boys, Connor Harris, the 68 righty,

1:24:17 first man out of the pen for the

1:24:18 Nanners. Yeah. And I like the thought

1:24:20 behind putting Connor Harris the first

1:24:22 man out of the bullpen. Noah Nisnik, a

1:24:24 pretty cra crafty left-hander. not a guy

1:24:27 who's going to overpower you like we

1:24:29 spoke about earlier. Meanwhile, Connor

1:24:31 Harris, a pretty live fast ball. So,

1:24:33 you're forcing these tailgators bats to

1:24:35 try and speed up against the

1:24:37 right-hander who's got a lot of moving

1:24:40 pieces that you see on the pitcher

1:24:41 mound.

1:24:41 >> And when you face the tailgator at FSU,

1:24:43 a scoreless frame and his debut banana

1:24:46 ball outings, a lineup he doesn't know

1:24:48 too well, but did throw up a zero back

1:24:49 at FSU against him.

1:24:52 >> 2025 visitor

1:24:55 >> and the bananas

1:24:58 eighth round draft pick

1:25:01 >> with a ball and a strike on Indiana

1:25:03 Stanley. Top of the lineup. Lope on

1:25:05 deck. Bar in the hole and Connor Harris

1:25:09 going from the wind up for the first

1:25:11 time in his banana ball career.

1:25:14 He was with the visitors injured his

1:25:17 thigh in a danceoff before he ever

1:25:19 played a banana ball game. because of

1:25:22 that didn't have the push off that he's

1:25:24 used to as he gets Indie out in front

1:25:27 flailing at the big bender strike out to

1:25:30 start Connor Harris's afternoon.

1:25:33 So he went from the stretch also good

1:25:36 for just increasing his NPI less time

1:25:38 between pitches

1:25:40 worked out well with the visitors. So he

1:25:41 started his bananas career the same way

1:25:43 and

1:25:45 hasn't been as pinpoint with his

1:25:48 accuracy on the mound as he would like.

1:25:50 He's thrown from the wind up for the

1:25:52 first time since he finished up at

1:25:54 Winthre University spring of 2025.

1:25:57 And

1:25:57 >> I got to watch him last year at Western

1:25:59 very successful working out that wind

1:26:01 up. You mentioned that injury kind of

1:26:02 limited him. It's good to see him back

1:26:04 to 100% and working out of what is

1:26:06 natural for him working out the wind up.

1:26:09 >> Balling a strike on Lopez who turns

1:26:11 around to hit from the left side after

1:26:13 he singled from the right side against

1:26:14 No,

1:26:15 >> that's what he got going on with his

1:26:16 uniform today.

1:26:18 Never seen him wear an unbuttoned and

1:26:20 untucked.

1:26:22 >> Getting some inspiration from the

1:26:23 bananas designated hitter.

1:26:25 >> That's what I was about to say. Great

1:26:27 minds think alike.

1:26:29 Except an undershirt for Loki.

1:26:32 Dan Ober has never heard of the word.

1:26:35 That was filthy from Connor Harris. Kick

1:26:39 change and backto-back strikeouts.

1:26:43 >> Well, here's the thing. Right now, the

1:26:45 stuff looks incredible and everything

1:26:46 gets the table off of the heater for

1:26:49 Connor Harris, much like we saw from

1:26:51 Austin Drury last night. And there's

1:26:53 that signature strikeout celebration

1:26:55 Conor Harris was posting all across

1:26:57 social medias before he started this

1:27:00 2026 season.

1:27:02 And look at Dr. Meadows

1:27:05 out for the game.

1:27:08 Sound like you might have pinged a

1:27:09 hamstring.

1:27:10 Certainly hope it's not serious as this

1:27:12 one is bounced to Cox. 360 behind the

1:27:14 back throw to first and Ziggy can't

1:27:16 scoop it. Official scoring decision. I'm

1:27:20 going to lean hit. I agree with the

1:27:23 range up the middle. And just because I

1:27:26 I don't think again the transfer there

1:27:28 is the thing that's stopping Jordan Bar

1:27:31 from reaching base. That that's that's

1:27:33 got to be a single. And Bar looked like

1:27:35 he was going to beat that either way.

1:27:36 >> Yeah.

1:27:40 So Bark, who walked off the first with a

1:27:42 ground rule single to right,

1:27:45 >> something you can only get when you play

1:27:47 banana ball in football stadiums,

1:27:50 is two for two now.

1:27:53 And Kyle Martin looks to play hero.

1:27:55 Inning winning run aboard.

1:27:58 Big swing to miss on that change up.

1:28:01 It's just a three- pitch mix from

1:28:02 Harris. Fast ball about 90 to 93. Big

1:28:05 looping 126 knuckle curve. It's how he

1:28:07 got the strike out of Indiana Stanley.

1:28:10 And then the kick change up. Does Bill

1:28:11 Loy have room to play with? Yes, he

1:28:13 does.

1:28:15 And Big Bird strands a man. Couple

1:28:17 strikeouts, scoreless inning of relief

1:28:19 for Connor Harris.

1:28:21 >> Tuddled so well there. You mentioned it.

1:28:24 That fast ball and then catching such a

1:28:26 big bat like Kyle Martin out front. That

1:28:28 was an excellent inning there from

1:28:30 Connor Harris.

1:28:30 >> And efficient as well for Harris. 3

1:28:32 minutes and 29 seconds for the rookie.

1:28:37 So, we are still tied at one point a

1:28:39 piece through four innings of action.

1:28:42 Chris Clark fantastic this afternoon. I

1:28:44 mentioned earlier, no earned runs.

1:28:45 Actually, one earned run in that second

1:28:47 frame, but six strikeouts, one point

1:28:50 earned, one point lost. And the first

1:28:52 man out of the pen, Brett Sanchez, and

1:28:55 with a mic on him. Brett, how do you do

1:28:57 today?

1:28:58 >> How's it going? I'm doing great.

1:29:00 >> Fantastic, my friend. What's it like to

1:29:02 pitch?

1:29:02 >> Are y'all Where y'all at? the 50 yd line

1:29:04 all the way up on the fifth level.

1:29:07 >> What's it like to be in the middle of

1:29:08 this madness, man?

1:29:10 >> Man, it's awesome. This is my first time

1:29:11 in North Carolina and you know, I didn't

1:29:14 know that how big their football stadium

1:29:17 was.

1:29:18 >> And for an ACC school, it's not that

1:29:21 bad.

1:29:24 >> You know, Brad comes from Louisiana, so

1:29:26 he's more of an SEC guy. Uh Stank Stank,

1:29:29 this is the first football stadium we

1:29:31 played in since FSU. the second of five

1:29:34 this year. What What has been the the

1:29:36 biggest difference as you noticed from

1:29:38 playing at a football stadium to just

1:29:40 your traditional old baseball stadium?

1:29:42 You know, uh my football stadium debut

1:29:45 was very shortlived. Uh I gave up a

1:29:48 pretty solid homer down the right field

1:29:51 line to Jackson Nelson.

1:29:53 >> So,

1:29:54 uh but looking over there, it does look

1:29:57 intimidating over, you know, a baseball

1:30:00 field where it's a normal field. So,

1:30:02 >> you just don't have to look over there

1:30:03 then. You just look at home plate and

1:30:05 look at Ty Jackson.

1:30:06 >> I get to look at Ty Jackson. Look at

1:30:08 that beautiful face.

1:30:09 >> You just got to boot up the Christian

1:30:10 Davis ground ball machine.

1:30:13 >> Christian Davis ground ball machine. Go

1:30:15 burr.

1:30:16 >> You know, I'm not really a ground ball

1:30:18 guy.

1:30:20 >> That's okay, Brett. Yes, you you have

1:30:22 been inducing a lot of fly balls this

1:30:23 year. 20 count on Tai Jackson. Ryan Cox

1:30:27 and Eastston Parish waiting in the

1:30:29 wings. And this is going to be a tough

1:30:31 play. Wow. Couldn't have placed it

1:30:33 better between Gonzalez Stanley and

1:30:36 Lutters. And that's an Aaron throw,

1:30:39 >> but great backup. Taylor Justice keeping

1:30:42 his former Bananas teammate on first

1:30:44 base.

1:30:44 >> You see that fly ball I gave up.

1:30:48 >> You know what? We just need you to get

1:30:49 the ground ball machine going. You know,

1:30:51 you've induced 20 trick plays this year,

1:30:53 which you did want to know that. You

1:30:54 asked me for that one the other day. We

1:30:56 could use one right here. A little

1:30:57 double play action, huh? Stank tank.

1:31:01 Brent, I don't believe in the

1:31:02 broadcasters jinx. So, this is where I

1:31:04 tell the world you have nine and two/3

1:31:06 straight innings without allowing an

1:31:07 earned run.

1:31:08 >> Why would you do that, Ba?

1:31:10 >> Because I trust in your stuff.

1:31:14 >> Yeah, but still. What are we doing here?

1:31:16 Th

1:31:16 >> This is our job. We have to tell the

1:31:18 world how good you've been pitching. Oh,

1:31:20 360. That was dope.

1:31:23 >> You saw Ty Jackson go back there.

1:31:27 >> Dang it. We were working on that in the

1:31:29 locker room the other day, huh?

1:31:30 >> I was.

1:31:31 >> Was it 3-2, Bo?

1:31:32 >> Yes. Payoff coming.

1:31:34 >> All right. Thank you.

1:31:36 >> It's what we're here for. Cold. Strike

1:31:38 three. out looking as Tai steals

1:31:41 second.

1:31:41 >> Do the thing. Do the thing. Thank you.

1:31:44 Thank you. Thank you. I've been looking

1:31:46 forward to that one all year. Miked up.

1:31:49 >> That's awesome.

1:31:51 >> The miked up thank you celebration.

1:31:54 Can't make it up. Uh, can I get an

1:31:55 explainer on where the nickname stank

1:31:57 stank comes from?

1:31:58 >> Uh, I'm a very gassy human being.

1:32:02 >> I was last night, too. So, here, I'll

1:32:05 give a story real quick.

1:32:06 >> Yes. Uh, I had Grant Besser and Tristan

1:32:09 Lec sitting behind me

1:32:13 >> on the bus. Catch it. Catch it.

1:32:17 >> Yeah.

1:32:21 >> See you, Eastston Parish.

1:32:23 >> I love you. fouls out to that fan.

1:32:27 What a snag. Gets an out for a man on

1:32:29 the mic, Brett Sanchez. All right, back

1:32:31 to my story now. I was sitting in front

1:32:33 of Grant and Tristan. Yes.

1:32:34 >> And I farted

1:32:36 >> and both of them gagged. It was awesome.

1:32:38 >> I don't know if you can say fart.

1:32:41 >> Okay. Well, I I stunk it up.

1:32:44 >> What is that? Not Does the FCC not like

1:32:46 that word?

1:32:47 >> No, the FCC loves that word. It's the

1:32:49 ACC that has a problem with it.

1:32:50 >> Okay, there it is.

1:32:51 >> I'm just kidding. North Carolina fans, I

1:32:53 love you.

1:32:55 Pride of Sladell, Louisiana, everybody.

1:33:00 >> All right. Now, Reese, select.

1:33:02 >> No.

1:33:05 >> All right. I think this was my fault.

1:33:07 >> Yeah. Big, I'm 100% blaming you here.

1:33:09 >> That's on me cuz that's two really good

1:33:12 pitches where in a normal stadium, Ty

1:33:16 Jackson's out there. Oh, here. Tai Jack

1:33:21 just hit you with the thank you.

1:33:22 >> Did he look like he did it first?

1:33:27 >> Imitation is the highest form of

1:33:28 flattery. Something like that, right?

1:33:31 >> Move, Brett Loft.

1:33:33 >> I like it. I love it. I love watching

1:33:35 your outings here.

1:33:37 >> Give me another.

1:33:39 Dang it. I got Bring a glove. Why? Why

1:33:42 is everybody bare handing these?

1:33:43 >> Hey, what's the story why you don't wear

1:33:44 socks when you pitch? You see how

1:33:46 everybody's sweating out here?

1:33:48 >> Yep. Yeah. I'm not I'm cool. The wind's

1:33:51 hitting my legs. It's hitting bare skin.

1:33:56 >> So,

1:33:59 >> the 360 is awesome.

1:34:01 >> I love how the f the people on first

1:34:02 base go back cuz it looks like a

1:34:04 pickoff.

1:34:06 >> Banana ball.

1:34:09 >> Watch some.

1:34:11 >> Yep.

1:34:14 >> Strike three.

1:34:17 Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Clip it

1:34:20 and post it everywhere. I'll collab with

1:34:22 you. Steak stake.

1:34:23 >> Brett Loftess, I love you. Pico, I love

1:34:24 you a little less right now.

1:34:26 >> Yep. That's super fair. Hey Josh, charge

1:34:27 that earned run to me. Okay.

1:34:29 >> Yeah, I can do that.

1:34:31 >> Thank you, Brent.

1:34:34 >> Hey, we're going to call it a

1:34:44 We say goodbye to Brett Sanchez.

1:34:48 We say hello to Alan Sat

1:34:53 >> chugging some Duncan.

1:34:57 >> Oh,

1:35:02 >> big Bon Joby face.

1:35:07 >> Okay.

1:35:29 She keep grabbing this.

1:35:51 Oh gosh,

1:35:53 >> he's okay.

1:36:00 >> So, a little backstory behind that if I

1:36:02 may,

1:36:03 >> please.

1:36:03 >> Big Al who is a rather shy guy, right? I

1:36:07 think Bo, Josh, we all three of us could

1:36:09 agree on that.

1:36:10 >> Maybe the shiest in banana balls. the

1:36:12 shiest guy of all time.

1:36:13 >> 100%.

1:36:14 He texted Zack Fangelo, the director of

1:36:17 entertainment here with the Savannah

1:36:18 Banatanas, and sent him a video from a

1:36:21 Celtics fan, I don't know, about 12

1:36:22 years ago, doing that in the old DD

1:36:25 garden. He said, "I want to do this in a

1:36:27 football stadium this year." Fraud said,

1:36:29 "What?" But sure enough, Big Al just

1:36:32 absolutely killed that as he enters the

1:36:35 ball game here for the Bananas. Three

1:36:36 home runs he's conceded this year. Josh

1:36:39 Sleski. All three have come from the

1:36:41 Texas Tailgator. That was back at

1:36:43 Florida State in the eighth inning of

1:36:45 that ball game. But Big L otherwise

1:36:48 the past couple of weekends again still

1:36:50 trying to drive that erra down. Yeah,

1:36:51 he's been getting hit a little harder

1:36:53 than I think he expected. I mean, it's a

1:36:56 little bit of bad luck for Allen Sat

1:36:58 Hoff to start his young banana ball

1:37:00 career, but you see only two ball force

1:37:02 sprints, five strikeouts. He has clearly

1:37:04 flashed a weak stuff to be able to

1:37:07 strike out a lot of guys. And so Allan

1:37:10 Sadhoff just looking for a little bit

1:37:12 softer contact and some better results

1:37:14 here in Chapel Hill. And mind you, you

1:37:17 mentioned three home runs for the Texas

1:37:19 Tailgator against him in Florida State.

1:37:22 Of course, that was with favorable

1:37:24 dimensions over to right field, very

1:37:26 much like we're seeing here in Chapel

1:37:28 Hill this weekend. So keep that in mind.

1:37:31 >> Set off has Justice

1:37:33 Gonzalez and Danford. 56 and seven in

1:37:37 the lineup.

1:37:40 >> And a big swing and miss

1:37:43 >> on the cutter from Big Al. Four pitch

1:37:45 mix, fast ball in the low 90s. Sweeper

1:37:48 and change up.

1:37:51 Will also be employed from time to time.

1:37:55 Spent three years in the Seattle

1:37:56 Mariners minor league system.

1:38:00 and another one of the many Mark Crocco

1:38:04 disciples.

1:38:05 Spent three years at Erskin

1:38:08 with Croc as his head coach.

1:38:11 Peter dots the inside corner to even up

1:38:13 the count.

1:38:15 Justice a single his first time.

1:38:19 Able to get get a piece of the slider.

1:38:27 >> Taylor three for four on the weekend.

1:38:30 with the moonshot home run last night.

1:38:33 Swing and a miss here.

1:38:39 >> Slider for the strike out for Big Al

1:38:41 after the huge walk up. And he's going

1:38:43 to get himself a picture.

1:38:46 And this is what we were talking about

1:38:47 with Sat. great strikeout ability at 19%

1:38:51 entering today's contest and broke out

1:38:54 that great breaking ball against the

1:38:56 hottest bat in the Texas Tailgator

1:38:58 lineup right now, Taylor Justice.

1:39:00 >> And everybody just got him some Dunkin

1:39:02 Donuts after Taylor struck out right

1:39:04 there.

1:39:06 >> Allan Sat, man of the people, faces a

1:39:09 fellow former minor leager, Jose

1:39:11 Gonzalez Jr.

1:39:15 time in the Astros minor league system.

1:39:16 And that ball blasted to dead center and

1:39:21 off the netting. Alexi fires it in. He's

1:39:24 got a cannon and Gonzalez respects it.

1:39:26 Ball gets all the way to Bill Loy. But

1:39:29 by that time, Jos back at first base.

1:39:31 He's two for two on the afternoon. You

1:39:32 know, we've seen some errant throws back

1:39:34 in from center field. But guys, I want

1:39:36 to pose a question here. Do we think the

1:39:38 depth perception from these infielders,

1:39:40 something's messing with them by looking

1:39:42 out to center field? The reception from

1:39:44 the ball here in this day game has been

1:39:46 a little subpar from both sides from

1:39:48 balls coming in from center field.

1:39:50 >> Yeah, we've seen it a handful of times

1:39:51 now.

1:39:52 >> Well, there's, you know, no batters eye

1:39:54 in these parks, which of course can

1:39:56 affect the batters in the batters box. I

1:39:58 mean, I would think it can kind of be

1:40:01 the same way for your middle infield

1:40:02 duo. They see a lot of balls coming in

1:40:05 through that batter's eye as well. So,

1:40:07 yeah, depth perception could certainly

1:40:09 be a little bit of an issue here today.

1:40:14 Matt Danford here in his second tour

1:40:16 with the Tailgator.

1:40:18 Popped up right side. Fans do not catch

1:40:21 it in the second deck.

1:40:26 >> Bounced into a trick play from KJ at

1:40:28 third his first time.

1:40:31 >> Swing and a miss. High stinky cheese

1:40:34 from Big Al for his second punch out of

1:40:36 the frame.

1:40:40 Taj Porter, you got something special

1:40:42 for us?

1:40:49 >> Exclamation point.

1:41:08 They call him the quad fell cuz all them

1:41:10 train trucks he's walking on.

1:41:12 >> Get low TP. Get low.

1:41:17 >> Joe Sperone was another one of Greg

1:41:18 Tol's sleep paralysis demons just

1:41:21 mirroring Todd in the background. It's

1:41:23 >> cuz Joe doesn't want to wear a shirt

1:41:25 ever anymore. Ever since FSU, I hadn't

1:41:27 seen that guy in a shirt ever. If

1:41:30 >> I was Joe Sperone, I wouldn't wear one

1:41:31 either.

1:41:31 >> 100%.

1:41:33 Throw behind brother. He's back in time.

1:41:36 >> Wise to the back pick from his former

1:41:38 collegiate Bananas teammate Bill Laroy.

1:41:46 >> Ball and a strike on Tage who went down

1:41:48 swinging his first time. That was from

1:41:50 the right-handed batters box against

1:41:52 Nisnik.

1:41:56 >> Swings through the fast ball.

1:42:00 >> See what Sat goes to here.

1:42:04 Swing and a miss. Sticks with the heat

1:42:06 and Allen Satov strikes out the side.

1:42:09 Cartwheeling

1:42:11 off the field.

1:42:15 We saw Clark strike out the side in 3

1:42:17 minutes and 14 seconds. How about 337

1:42:20 there for Allen Sat? These rookies

1:42:23 carving out of the bullpen. Well, here

1:42:26 on the campus of UNC, let's send it to

1:42:28 our resident unk Sam Bowman. What do you

1:42:30 got for us?

1:42:32 >> Hey. Yeah. What's up, guys? I know you

1:42:34 see people be saying, but I don't know

1:42:36 what they're talking. They're capping.

1:42:38 Hey, you know, you see any UNKs down

1:42:40 here?

1:42:40 >> No.

1:42:41 >> You didn't see any. Hey, do you guys

1:42:42 even know what an UNCK is?

1:42:44 >> No.

1:42:45 >> Nobody sees no. Hey, can we try and

1:42:47 educate our viewers on how to be young

1:42:49 and hip like us? You got some words for

1:42:50 me?

1:42:52 >> Chickad, Chad, cooked, chopped,

1:42:57 sigma, wrizzler.

1:43:00 That's all.

1:43:01 >> That's all. Hey, we just got educated.

1:43:03 Hey, what would you say about the How

1:43:04 would you describe the game like to kids

1:43:06 like us?

1:43:07 >> Um,

1:43:09 >> I'm guessing that they're having a bunch

1:43:11 of fun.

1:43:12 >> Fun. That That word's cool all the time.

1:43:14 Anybody else got a new word for me? Keep

1:43:16 me young. Yeah. What we got here?

1:43:18 >> I love

1:43:20 >> love. Hey, love is cool all the time.

1:43:21 It's my bros. Uh, any messages for the

1:43:24 unks out there? The old heads.

1:43:26 >> Don't think you're ank if you think you

1:43:28 are. Just just think of the positive,

1:43:31 not the negative.

1:43:35 >> Hey, I needed that today. No down here.

1:43:38 Just UN andC fans with my boys.

1:43:40 >> Josh big Brett. Give me a minute. Give

1:43:43 me take all the time you need. Sam, we

1:43:46 got a gig of chat up here. Chad Reese.

1:43:48 He's getting kind of teary eyed.

1:43:50 >> He really he really believed in that

1:43:52 sentiment.

1:43:55 My favorite part is when the the young

1:43:57 man asked him a word to describe his

1:43:59 ball game today. He used the word love.

1:44:02 >> Fantastic.

1:44:03 >> Young, old, whatever. Man,

1:44:04 >> that's a

1:44:06 that's an early contestant for sideline

1:44:08 hit of the year.

1:44:12 >> It was inspiring stuff from our youth

1:44:14 here.

1:44:15 >> Yeah.

1:44:15 >> And I include Sam Bman in that. Brent,

1:44:18 did you have any chungusioli with your

1:44:20 biscuits this morning? I'm just curious.

1:44:22 No, but I I felt like a little bit of a

1:44:26 >> me and Vico are taking our coffee the oy

1:44:29 way.

1:44:31 >> Can't forget the b.

1:44:36 >> Oh man,

1:44:38 >> I hope Sam's doing okay.

1:44:39 >> I'm feeling like ug right now. I was

1:44:41 trying to think of a comeback that with

1:44:42 some young lingo. I don't I don't know

1:44:43 anything to come back with you on that

1:44:45 one with. I don't know.

1:44:46 >> Young blood Josh just mogged you on the

1:44:49 broadcast. Straight mogging, bro.

1:44:52 >> Sorry, I'll just mute to make him feel

1:44:54 better about himself.

1:44:58 >> And this is a banana ball game that

1:45:00 we're watching, everybody. Top of the

1:45:01 sixth inning. Bananers lead two to one

1:45:06 thanks to their fifth inning victory.

1:45:10 Oburst,

1:45:12 KJ, and Loy due to swing against Brett

1:45:15 Sanchez, the victim of the broadcasters

1:45:17 jinx a frame ago.

1:45:23 ended up going 10 and a third innings

1:45:25 without allowing an earned run

1:45:30 >> as this one is shot past the dive of

1:45:32 Danford and Overst was looking like he

1:45:35 was going to round first and Jason Art

1:45:37 fresh into the game in right field

1:45:38 thought about throwing a first.

1:45:39 >> Yeah, Jason Art now in right. Jos

1:45:42 brother Gonzalez has moved to left. Zack

1:45:44 Watson out of the ball game there.

1:45:47 KJ.

1:45:53 >> KJ having a real nice afternoon. Two for

1:45:56 two, two singles, two stolen bases.

1:46:02 >> Statistically, he's always been one of

1:46:03 the most impressive bats in Banana Ball

1:46:05 against the Texas Tailgator. A batting

1:46:08 average nearly 400. As a leaping grab is

1:46:13 made by Indiana Stanley, we think in

1:46:16 center field. He crashes over the wall

1:46:20 and now all of his tailgators teammates,

1:46:22 at least three of them out to check and

1:46:25 see if he is okay.

1:46:29 Brian Chopare,

1:46:32 the tailgator at is racing out to check

1:46:34 on Indiana Stanley. That's one of the

1:46:36 best catches you'll see in your life.

1:46:38 And you just hope he didn't hit his head

1:46:40 going backwards.

1:46:42 >> Crashed into the net. Completely

1:46:44 disappeared from sight.

1:46:52 and his teammates Tyler Gillum, his at

1:46:56 all.

1:46:58 Checking on Indie here in his second

1:47:00 full world tour. There's the banana ball

1:47:01 to the sky. It's an out.

1:47:05 That was a ridiculous catch.

1:47:11 >> Oh my gosh.

1:47:12 >> And certainly Brian is going to check

1:47:14 Indie for a concussion here. I mean,

1:47:16 that's a play that just knocks all the

1:47:18 wind out of you. You see Stanley go over

1:47:20 this wall and then yeah, you're worried

1:47:22 about him hitting his head on the

1:47:24 ground, but it also looks like you see

1:47:26 his legs hitting up against that bench

1:47:28 behind him as well. So, it's a little

1:47:30 bit of a double whammy. Not only do you

1:47:32 hit the ground, your legs hit that

1:47:34 bench. Hurts you in two different spots.

1:47:37 >> And that's straight concrete. I I walked

1:47:38 over there yesterday when I walked up in

1:47:40 the crowd. That is straight concrete.

1:47:43 Looks like Indie is going to be taken

1:47:44 out of the game. And like you said,

1:47:46 Josh, you put it so well. When you're

1:47:47 hitting that concrete, hitting the back

1:47:49 of that fence, Indie, the safest play

1:47:51 here is to make him sit here. You want

1:47:53 to make sure everything is all good with

1:47:54 him. But what a way. I mean, still make

1:47:57 that catch. Hopefully, he'll be all

1:47:59 right. I would assume. Still waiting to

1:48:02 see who we're going to see come in the

1:48:03 ball game for Indie.

1:48:04 >> I mean, no regard for his health at all.

1:48:07 >> That was zero. He said, "I'm going to do

1:48:10 everything I can to catch this ball."

1:48:14 >> And an interesting decision here. Do you

1:48:16 burn your designated runner and send out

1:48:18 Jacob Pipper? You

1:48:19 >> sure? That's That's

1:48:21 >> That's what's going to happen.

1:48:21 >> You've taken Zack Watson out of the

1:48:23 game, so you don't have the luxury of

1:48:25 putting him back into this ball game

1:48:26 anymore,

1:48:27 >> right? You do have José Gutierrez. This

1:48:29 is his first action in banana ball. He's

1:48:33 your last guy on the bench right now as

1:48:35 far as position players. primarily a

1:48:37 corner infielder, but has played a

1:48:39 decent amount of right field throughout

1:48:41 his baseball career. And this past year

1:48:43 in spring training in the Mexican

1:48:44 League, was playing some right field

1:48:47 south of the border. So, Jacob Pippers

1:48:50 is in. That means the tailgator no

1:48:52 longer have a designated runner.

1:48:53 >> Not the first time Pip has played the

1:48:55 field defensively this year. Did play

1:48:57 right field in Sacramento. First time

1:48:59 he's ever playing the field in

1:49:01 centerfield in Banana. Well, we also saw

1:49:02 him come in as a defensive replacement

1:49:04 as well in last night's game. Manning

1:49:06 right field from the Texas Tailgator in

1:49:08 the ninth.

1:49:13 One of the better plays you're going to

1:49:14 see in your entire life by Indiana

1:49:16 Stanley. We're back to the action.

1:49:19 That's the loan out here in the top of

1:49:20 the sixth. Two to Bill Loy is popped a

1:49:23 mile high. Home run in an elevator

1:49:26 shaft. Sneaks into the seats. Not

1:49:28 caught.

1:49:33 Rob KJ of his third knock in this ball

1:49:36 game.

1:49:41 Please, I beg of you, if you're scoring

1:49:43 this game at home, slap a star on that

1:49:47 F8 for Indiana Stanley as the heater

1:49:49 just misses to Bill Loy and he goes down

1:49:52 swinging on the next pitch.

1:49:55 >> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. After

1:49:57 that, Ponte from Old Stake State. Brett

1:50:00 Sanchez will exit the ball game after

1:50:02 getting out number two. And another

1:50:05 strike out for him on his day, which

1:50:07 will conclude his day after inning in

1:50:08 2/3. And a man you guys all know and

1:50:11 love making his first appearance of 2026

1:50:14 and his first in Banana Ball since 2024.

1:50:17 Zack Blankenship.

1:50:20 >> Yeah, this has been a long time coming

1:50:21 for Zack Blankenship. finally out on the

1:50:24 mound for the very first time with the

1:50:26 Texas Tailgator and the first time he

1:50:28 has pitched since October the 12th, 2024

1:50:31 in Miami, Florida as a member of the

1:50:34 party animals. This is very cool for

1:50:37 Zack Blankenship and I know all of his

1:50:39 tailgators teammates going to be giving

1:50:41 him a lot of high fives whenever he's

1:50:43 able to make it back to the dugout.

1:50:45 Yeah, this is tour number four for Bam

1:50:47 Bammy. Joined towards the end of the

1:50:50 2023 campaign, part of that magical

1:50:52 party animals nineame winning streak at

1:50:55 the end of 2023.

1:51:01 >> And Bam Bam, he threw 30 and two3

1:51:03 innings for the Party Animals in 2024.

1:51:05 Pretty dependable arm in that bullpen

1:51:09 >> as Jackson Olsson is having a whole

1:51:10 dance party here.

1:51:18 Big Al playing a prominent role again

1:51:20 >> dancing through at the end. It's

1:51:22 >> infectious energy.

1:51:29 >> Hot shot straight to brother.

1:51:34 >> That would be M Danford.

1:51:36 >> Ladies and gentlemen,

1:51:38 >> brother's in left field. And what about

1:51:40 that with Zachary Blankenship coming in

1:51:43 faces one batter gets his first out in a

1:51:45 year and a half. That is so big from

1:51:47 morale. A guy that has helped lead that

1:51:49 team last year from entertainment

1:51:50 perspective and now able to come in

1:51:52 there and get the final out here in the

1:51:54 sixth.

1:51:55 >> Trick play on that Josh.

1:51:58 >> I didn't think so.

1:51:59 >> Okay.

1:52:03 >> We got a very meaningful game going on

1:52:05 in Albuquerque, New Mexico as we speak.

1:52:08 nodded at two points each and the

1:52:11 offense for the party animals went

1:52:13 absolutely ballistic. They scored four

1:52:14 runs in the first inning. Shless Andy

1:52:17 Cosgrove and company plating six in the

1:52:19 second. That was plenty for Brett Helton

1:52:21 to work with. So two innings in two

1:52:23 points on the board. But then Eric Jones

1:52:25 Jr. after tying a banana ball record

1:52:28 with five hits last night tied him with

1:52:29 Reese Hampton most hits ever in a banana

1:52:31 ball game. He had the walk-off to win

1:52:33 the second inning. And then the

1:52:34 firefighters right back at it. walk-off

1:52:37 winners of the fourth. Kaden Green, that

1:52:40 is your tour leader in batting average

1:52:43 and on base percentage. Peanut having an

1:52:46 insane second tour.

1:52:50 And how about the athleticism from EJ to

1:52:53 slap the tag down on that grounder to

1:52:55 short a reminder. We talked about it on

1:52:57 the pregame show, but if the party

1:52:59 animals win, they are in when it comes

1:53:01 to the Banana Ball Open. If the

1:53:03 firefighters earn the series sweep this

1:53:05 afternoon, then the Indianapolis Clowns,

1:53:08 thanks to their sweep this weekend, will

1:53:10 get in as the four seed in the open.

1:53:15 Beautiful afternoon here in Chapel Hill,

1:53:17 North Carolina.

1:53:20 Bananas take a 2-1 lead in points to the

1:53:22 bottom of the sixth inning. And Tristan

1:53:24 Lec, third man out of the pen for the

1:53:27 Nanners.

1:53:33 Yeah, LC just continuing that long

1:53:35 string of lefties here in this rotation.

1:53:37 I mean, especially what we've seen in

1:53:39 game number two. Really, really strong

1:53:41 rookie campaign from Tristan as well.

1:53:43 Really has had only one subpar outing.

1:53:45 Came in Anaheim 318 RA. I mean, he's

1:53:47 been wonderful. Strikes to ball force

1:53:49 sprints 5 to1. Again, that's a ratio you

1:53:51 love to see, but a guy who's going to

1:53:52 let a lot of balls in play behind him.

1:53:55 >> Proud of Niantic, Connecticut, the

1:53:56 Banana's fifth round draft pick. their

1:53:58 final selection on day one of the 2026

1:54:02 Banana Ball player draft.

1:54:05 Rolls a fast ball past Jason Arin coming

1:54:08 off the bench after starting in right

1:54:10 field yesterday

1:54:19 >> and that ball blasted out to left wrong

1:54:21 part of the park. Ty Jackson behind the

1:54:23 back.

1:54:27 Third trick play of the year for Taiu

1:54:29 Fly. And he comes off the bench and he's

1:54:32 well from the extra hitter spot I should

1:54:34 say indefensively and has the behind the

1:54:37 back catch for the second time this

1:54:39 season for the Savannah Bananas. And you

1:54:41 see Tristan Lec the wow on the pitcher

1:54:44 mound. He's dazzled by Tai Fly.

1:54:48 >> Olsson and Cox are going to join their

1:54:51 rookie teammate on the bump.

1:54:54 >> How about this dance?

1:55:10 You can't help yourself, Bumper.

1:55:15 >> And these guys are getting after it. Oh,

1:55:17 yeah. Dueling golf swings. And Jordan

1:55:21 Hussein with a hot shot out to right

1:55:23 center. That'll bounce off the 50 ft

1:55:27 net.

1:55:29 >> And a long single for Fiverr.

1:55:32 >> Scoop. There it is for your captain of

1:55:34 the Texas Tailgator, Jordan Hussein.

1:55:36 Puts it out there. Another one off the

1:55:38 fence in right center field. First hit

1:55:41 for him in this ball game. And now Jacob

1:55:43 Pippers coming in for the injured

1:55:45 Indiana Stanley in the top of the order.

1:55:49 >> This is Pip's second career played

1:55:52 appearance in banana ball. strongly

1:55:53 disagrees with the strike call from Trey

1:55:55 Hudson.

1:55:57 He doubled in Sacramento and

1:56:02 the batting average and on base

1:56:04 percentage both remain a thousand.

1:56:07 >> Keep putting this guy in the lineup.

1:56:11 >> Last year at Liu had three pops out of

1:56:13 the yard. We got to talk to him. He said

1:56:15 he wanted to show him some value by

1:56:16 running. I mean, the dude can really

1:56:18 swing it. Plus, plus defender as well. I

1:56:21 think you're not opposed to having your

1:56:24 DR also be able to hit and Jacob

1:56:26 Peppersick an inseason signing for the

1:56:28 tailgator.

1:56:28 >> Bouncer to Olsen. He will flip it over

1:56:30 to Cox who gets taken out by Pippers. Oh

1:56:34 boy. And now we hope Ryan Cox is okay.

1:56:44 >> Yeah, the glove magician up quickly. He

1:56:46 took a good tumble after the collision

1:56:49 with Pipperick. You could see

1:56:52 Jacob tried to slide. He just got his

1:56:54 foot caught in the dirt.

1:56:56 Head collided with Cox's knee

1:57:01 and Pipperick is shaken up.

1:57:04 >> And you know, Bo, they've been talking

1:57:05 about the playing surfaces here. All the

1:57:08 dirt that was put on this field,

1:57:10 >> 450 tons.

1:57:11 >> Still very, very firm on top of this

1:57:13 playing surface. I think you might have

1:57:15 seen Pips's foot kind of flip up because

1:57:18 of that. Not not quite the softer dirt

1:57:20 that your traditional baseball surfaces

1:57:22 may have.

1:57:23 >> Yep. Late slide going in hard trying to

1:57:25 break up the double play and flipped

1:57:27 forward

1:57:29 as you get another look. Olsson had to

1:57:31 wait for Cox to get to the bag and yeah,

1:57:33 that was not a fun collision for either

1:57:36 of them. This is such a special weekend

1:57:37 for Pipperick, too. guy who grew up a

1:57:39 diehard University of North Carolina fan

1:57:43 and college baseball fans will remember

1:57:45 in 2024 in the regional right across the

1:57:49 street here at UNCC. He had that

1:57:50 three-run homer to take the lead against

1:57:52 UNC. Legendary moment for Pip.

1:57:54 >> And who was sitting behind home plate

1:57:56 other than his teammate Tyler Rick man

1:57:59 made of Charlotte, North Carolina.

1:58:01 Obviously big rig out for the whole year

1:58:03 due to a arm injury in preseason. I was

1:58:05 able to meet his mother though

1:58:06 yesterday. special weekends for both of

1:58:08 them. Pip and I, he actually gave me a

1:58:10 tour around campus during a rehearsal

1:58:12 day on Friday. He is a huge University

1:58:14 of North Carolina basketball fan, but

1:58:16 that was cool for him to see Caleb

1:58:17 Wilson today. Hopefully, Pimp will be

1:58:18 okay and be able to remain in this ball

1:58:20 game.

1:58:20 >> Inning winning run on third base. Jordan

1:58:23 Bar had the walk-off single to win the

1:58:25 first inning. He's two for two.

1:58:42 High fly ball shallow left. Ty Jackson

1:58:46 attacking and he has it for the third

1:58:50 out. Tristan Lec bends but does not

1:58:53 break. Strands the inning winning run on

1:58:55 third and maintains the one-point lead

1:58:58 for the Nanners.

1:59:00 And he's going to get himself a picture.

1:59:03 >> Good work, Ty Jackson. Classic pose,

1:59:06 too. A

1:59:06 >> little pooky picture time, huh?

1:59:13 >> It's been a fun back and forth affair

1:59:15 when it comes to trick plays this

1:59:16 afternoon. It started with Jordan

1:59:19 Hussein. First trick play we saw was to

1:59:21 put a close to the top of the second and

1:59:23 then Kyle Jackson in the bottom half had

1:59:26 a pair of trick plays. A reminder with

1:59:30 the Tailgator up 5-4 in the trick play

1:59:32 battle. If the Bananas get more trick

1:59:35 plays as the away team, then the

1:59:36 Tailgator going into our final inning,

1:59:39 the Bananas will earn the equalizer

1:59:40 point. Tailgator earned it last night in

1:59:43 thrilling fashion. Two trick plays on

1:59:45 the last two outs in the bottom of the

1:59:47 eighth inning to out trick play the

1:59:49 Nanners 13 to 12. Really seems like the

1:59:51 equalizer point could be a big time

1:59:54 point that could teeter tire this ball

1:59:55 game right now. Two to one. The Bananas

1:59:57 lead it. A guy who's trying to keep it

1:59:58 that way is another inseason signing

2:00:01 here for the Texas Tailgator. And

2:00:03 Matthew Fletcher, another guy from the

2:00:05 Northeast, a division three guy, Fletch

2:00:08 really been trying to find his change up

2:00:10 early on in Banana Bowl. That was his

2:00:12 best pitch last year at Lel College

2:00:14 where he had 79 strikeouts and only nine

2:00:17 walks. Talk about that first strikeout

2:00:19 to walk ratio. And Mystic Schooners

2:00:21 fans, all the prides of growing,

2:00:23 Connecticut rejoice. This is our third

2:00:26 2024 member of the Mystic Schooners in

2:00:29 the New England Collegiate Baseball

2:00:30 League. Their ace was Connor Harris.

2:00:32 Their number two pitcher in their

2:00:34 rotation was Tristan Lec. Here's their

2:00:36 number three starter in Matthew

2:00:38 Fletcher. All three Connecticut guys uh

2:00:40 became really good friends over that

2:00:42 summer. They ended up getting knocked

2:00:44 out in the first round of the playoffs,

2:00:45 but it was a special team and they all

2:00:47 formed a really special bond as the

2:00:49 three top arms on that pitching staff.

2:00:51 Yeah. And the crazy calling card about

2:00:53 all of these guys when you looked at

2:00:55 their pedigrees going into the player

2:00:57 draft was their strikeout to walk

2:00:59 ratios. These guys just pounded the

2:01:01 strike zone consistently.

2:01:04 And now Matthew Fletcher

2:01:07 and a little bit of a standoff with

2:01:09 Robert Anthony Cruz. Matt Danford jump

2:01:11 pitch. Fast ball. That was a pretty good

2:01:13 looking pitch. Just misses up and out.

2:01:16 >> Gives you shades of Dr. Meadows in

2:01:19 Houston 2024. You know why I know that,

2:01:22 Bo? Cuz that was the inspiration when I

2:01:24 made the pitch to Ivon Trazak right

2:01:26 there. Exactly that there. Oh, that

2:01:28 pitch there on the standoff pitch

2:01:30 >> jumping over the 6'6 Ryan Kellogg. Real

2:01:33 ball knowowers remember Tulsa.

2:01:37 >> 2023. That's right. It preceded what

2:01:41 Tulsa's known for in 2023.

2:01:47 Peter just misses up and out.

2:01:50 >> Talk about that strikeout to walk ratio.

2:01:52 Matthew Fletcher, D3 Leel last spring.

2:01:55 79 Ks to nine walks.

2:01:58 The best in all of D3 baseball and the

2:02:01 appeal down to Vincent Chapman. Robert

2:02:03 Anthony Cruz not able to hold up. Fletch

2:02:05 with the K.

2:02:06 >> Second strike out in banana ball for

2:02:08 Fletch. And again, we talked about

2:02:10 tunneling his fast ball. His fast ball

2:02:12 is going to sit about 85 to 88 right

2:02:14 there. Just running it way up. And

2:02:16 that's kind of one of Rag's hot zones

2:02:18 able to get him to go around.

2:02:19 >> Ty Jackson flips this one out to center

2:02:22 just in front of Pipper. Gets by him,

2:02:24 but great backup. Jos Gonzalez Jr. keeps

2:02:27 tied to just a single.

2:02:31 >> What a bare-handed snag by Brother.

2:02:33 Saved the day there.

2:02:36 >> Second single for Ty Jackson. Also good

2:02:38 news to see Jacob Pipperk back out there

2:02:40 in the ball game in center field.

2:02:42 >> Massive.

2:02:44 >> Like we said earlier, Jose Gutierrez is

2:02:46 the only position player still on the

2:02:48 bench for the Tailgator with Indiana

2:02:50 Stanley and now Zack Watson both burned.

2:02:56 >> Brian Cox for two. Tie off for second.

2:02:58 Throw from Justice from his knees. And

2:03:01 there's another great backup. Jonathan

2:03:03 Lutter's in the right spot. Fundamental

2:03:05 baseball

2:03:07 being shown defensively by the

2:03:08 tailgator.

2:03:12 We take another look at

2:03:15 >> Ty grabbing his third steal of the year

2:03:16 in as many tries.

2:03:21 >> Lutters once again showing his value as

2:03:23 the designated fielder.

2:03:34 2-1.

2:03:38 >> Bender just misses the outside corner.

2:03:43 >> It's a slider, but it's cuttery

2:03:45 according to the man himself on the

2:03:47 mound.

2:03:48 >> Fast ball about 86 to 89. He's touched

2:03:51 91 in his career. did it last spring at

2:03:54 Lel change up in a curve ball. It's a

2:03:56 much loopier breaking ball than the

2:03:58 slider.

2:04:00 Look out, Ryan Cox. That's going to be

2:04:02 ball four. Ty Jackson will score easily

2:04:05 from second. Good sprint defense by the

2:04:07 Tailgator. They get it to every fielder

2:04:09 behind the pitcher and catcher in short

2:04:11 order. Cox at first. And now each of the

2:04:14 last two runs that the Bananas have

2:04:15 scored, it's been because Ty Jackson has

2:04:18 swiped second base for the Savannah

2:04:19 Bananas. He was then able to come around

2:04:21 on an Alexiotis RBI single. And now that

2:04:25 steal of second pays off with Cox

2:04:27 drawing the RBI sprint.

2:04:32 >> It's big part of why this is year number

2:04:34 five for Ty Jackson on the bananas.

2:04:37 Tyler Gillum his green light special

2:04:38 base running system. It's motto is

2:04:40 pressure bursts pipes. And Tai two fly

2:04:44 just the perfect ball player for Gillum.

2:04:46 >> Been extremely efficient this year as

2:04:47 well. lead the banana ball championship

2:04:50 championship league in stolen bases.

2:04:51 Well, they've been caught stealing

2:04:53 twice. FSU recitis and last night Bryce

2:04:56 Gap. That's the only two times the

2:04:58 Bananas have been caught stealing on the

2:04:59 base pad. So, they've ran a lot, but

2:05:01 they've also stolen a lot.

2:05:03 >> Oh, good pickoff by Fletcher. And he's

2:05:05 able to snag

2:05:08 right there. How about that?

2:05:10 >> First time a tailgator's pitcher has

2:05:12 picked off a man this year. right there.

2:05:15 Matthew Fletcher never crosses the

2:05:17 threshold. Sidearm over the first.

2:05:19 Beautiful stuff and great tag from

2:05:20 McAdoodle.

2:05:22 >> Yeah, clear as day. Grayson Wheeler had

2:05:24 an excellent view. Easy call. Mo coming

2:05:27 to East Parish.

2:05:30 >> Slatter misses wide

2:05:41 >> and from O2 to 22.

2:05:46 Perisho for two. Fouled out to the fans

2:05:48 his last time.

2:05:51 >> Able to hold up.

2:05:52 >> See the movement on the slider is

2:05:55 ridiculous.

2:05:57 >> He says cutter. It's more of a looping

2:05:59 slider every so often as well. 100%.

2:06:02 >> Payoff.

2:06:04 That'll miss above the zone.

2:06:07 >> Parish with his second sprint this year.

2:06:10 Great defense again by the Gator. He

2:06:12 stays put at first base.

2:06:16 >> Super important spot, guys. I feel like

2:06:17 in the grand trajectory of this ball

2:06:19 game, already one across here in the top

2:06:20 of the seventh. Lefty righty matchup

2:06:22 against such a powerful bat. And Rhysa

2:06:24 likes the oddest. This has to be an out

2:06:26 the tailgator to have here.

2:06:30 Sarice

2:06:32 has to be thrilled.

2:06:34 >> Chris Clark only went four innings

2:06:37 today. Struck out both times he faced

2:06:40 him. And

2:06:42 then against Brett Sanchez, that RBI

2:06:43 single in the fifth. They're trying to

2:06:45 slow down the bat of Alexiotis by

2:06:47 bringing in Sanchez to follow Clark.

2:06:49 Didn't seem to do much harm to

2:06:51 Alexiotis.

2:06:53 And really not a big adjustment going

2:06:54 from Sanchez now to Matthew Fletcher,

2:06:57 but we've seen yet another big cut and a

2:07:00 miss from Alexi. Now

2:07:04 >> deuce is wild. Two outs, two count.

2:07:08 >> Parish leads off first.

2:07:12 And a slow tapper. Going to be a really

2:07:14 tough play. Bar gets rid of his glove

2:07:16 and he makes it

2:07:18 >> barehanded it with the left hand. Jordan

2:07:21 Barf.

2:07:23 Fantastic play to gun down the speedy

2:07:25 Alexiatis.

2:07:26 >> JB with a big play and Matthew Fletcher

2:07:30 with a big timeout. One does score there

2:07:32 for the Bananas.

2:07:35 >> Hey Jess, let's have some fun. What do

2:07:38 you say? You got that right, fans. It's

2:07:41 about to get weird. Joining me on the

2:07:43 field, we have three pregnant women.

2:07:47 >> And this is the pregnant woman danceoff.

2:07:51 Let's meet our contestants. Your name?

2:07:54 >> Mary.

2:07:55 >> Mary. And how long you pregnant?

2:07:57 >> I'm seven months.

2:07:58 >> Seven months. All right. 10 seconds to

2:08:01 show what you can do. Fans, you're going

2:08:03 to be the judge of who wins. Here we go.

2:08:15 All right,

2:08:17 that was intense. And your name?

2:08:20 >> Amanda.

2:08:21 >> Amanda. And how many months?

2:08:23 >> Nine.

2:08:24 >> Nine

2:08:25 months.

2:08:27 Good luck to us all. Here we go.

2:08:31 All right.

2:08:34 Okay.

2:08:36 All right.

2:08:38 Not bad.

2:08:41 What are we doing? All right.

2:08:44 And your name?

2:08:45 >> Jen.

2:08:46 >> And how long?

2:08:47 >> Do any day.

2:08:51 >> Any day. God help us all. Here we go.

2:09:12 All right, we actually have to vote now.

2:09:17 Was it our first contestant? Seven

2:09:19 months.

2:09:22 >> Pretty good. Nine months.

2:09:27 Any day right now. What are you

2:09:32 Let's hear it for Jen, the winner of our

2:09:34 pregnant woman danceoff. Fans, you can't

2:09:38 unsee that.

2:09:40 >> No, we cannot, Mr. Cole.

2:09:44 >> Heck of a ball game on our hands this

2:09:46 afternoon here from Chapel Hill. Bananas

2:09:48 up 2-1 in points. They lead this seventh

2:09:50 inning by one run and are sending

2:09:53 Tristan Lec out for a second inning of

2:09:55 relief. He's got four, five, and six in

2:09:59 this powerful tailgator lineup. Kyle

2:10:01 Martin, Taylor Justice, Jos Gonzalez Jr.

2:10:09 >> Beefy part of this order and a dangerous

2:10:11 20 count on Martin.

2:10:12 >> It's exactly what I was going to say. If

2:10:14 there was ever an inning where you could

2:10:15 overcome a one to nothing deficit, it's

2:10:17 having these three guys do well.

2:10:18 >> Highf fly ball deep out to right. Kyle

2:10:22 Martin home run in a second straight

2:10:26 game here in Keenan Stadium. Third of

2:10:29 the year for Kmart, tying him for the

2:10:30 tour lead. Welcome to the auction.

2:10:36 Back-to-back ball games with a yaya. And

2:10:38 the tailgator now have an opportunity to

2:10:41 tie this ball game up at two points a

2:10:44 piece.

2:10:46 Taylor Justice, Jose Gonzalez,

2:10:49 and now Kyle Martin. Three home runs a

2:10:53 piece this year. Three guys that two of

2:10:56 which you would expected from with

2:10:58 brother and Kyle Martin. And then you

2:11:00 throw Taylor Justice in there. The power

2:11:01 surge in the middle of this order.

2:11:03 >> And they've just stuck with that guy in

2:11:04 the cleanup. Now up to 11 ribbies for

2:11:07 the Texas Tailgator just extending his

2:11:10 team lead. You know, underrated aspect

2:11:13 of Martin Zir. was now his 11th run

2:11:16 scored, fifth of the weekend. He's

2:11:18 leading the tailgator in runs scored in

2:11:20 the cleanup spot. He's supposed to be

2:11:23 driving the runs in.

2:11:25 Little flare to Kyle Jackson takes care

2:11:27 of Taylor Justice.

2:11:31 How about that? The three guys we just

2:11:32 talked about, Martin, Justice, and

2:11:34 Gonzalez. The three guys do up there. KJ

2:11:36 just playing catch with the handle there

2:11:39 of Taylor Justice's bat as now Jos

2:11:41 Gonzalez gets a chance to swing in a

2:11:43 potential walk-off opportunity. Nice of

2:11:46 KJ's former visitors teammate to give

2:11:48 him some action in the field.

2:11:52 So three out of the five guys tied for

2:11:54 the tour lead in home runs and they hit

2:11:57 backto back to back in this tailgator

2:11:59 order. We get to see them all swinging

2:12:02 here in the bottom of the seventh. Ziggy

2:12:04 glove flip between the legs. Look out.

2:12:07 That was athleticism on display by both

2:12:10 Ziggy and Jose Gonzalez Jr. not to

2:12:12 destroy Tristan Lec.

2:12:14 >> Now coming to the world,

2:12:18 >> tallest pitcher,

2:12:22 Dakota Stilts. Oh, Britain.

2:12:35 The tallest athlete in the known

2:12:37 universe,

2:12:40 >> Dakota Stilts Albert. We saw him swing

2:12:42 it last night.

2:12:44 He takes over in an inning tied at a run

2:12:47 each with two down here in the bottom of

2:12:49 the seventh.

2:12:52 Pretty fantastic so far here in his

2:12:54 sixth world tour on the mound yet to

2:12:56 allow a run.

2:12:58 and he's, you know, just as effective as

2:13:00 he's always been. Not a guy who's thrown

2:13:02 a lot of pitches when he's taken the

2:13:04 mound. Didn't even think he was up to a

2:13:06 full inning pitched after Anaheim. Kind

2:13:08 of broke the news, surprised himself

2:13:11 that he had taken the mound. He's been

2:13:13 spending a lot more time in the batters

2:13:14 box early this season. But this is

2:13:17 Stilts bread and butter as this is a

2:13:19 hard hit liner. Fair down the left field

2:13:22 line. Great piece of hitting from M.

2:13:25 Danford trying to stretch this into two

2:13:27 bases and he is in safely.

2:13:31 M Danford now has doubles in each of his

2:13:34 last six games for the Texas Tailgator.

2:13:39 >> Took the stat right out of my mouth

2:13:41 there, Josh. He's had multi-hit games in

2:13:45 four of those six. Mcadoodle has just

2:13:47 been absolutely on fire. And what a safe

2:13:51 slide. Came up a little bit gimpy there

2:13:53 on the backside. walked it off. Max all

2:13:55 good. And now the quadfather has an

2:13:59 opportunity to walk it off with the

2:14:01 inning run standing 180 ft away.

2:14:14 on the ball that gets little away from

2:14:15 Loy.

2:14:18 >> Tajo for two with a couple strikeouts

2:14:20 today.

2:14:22 >> Highf fly ball. Yanked foul. Chance for

2:14:26 the fans. They do not catch it.

2:14:33 >> Pretty similar trajectory to Taja's

2:14:35 three-run home run last night.

2:14:48 The man out of Mandeville, Louisiana

2:14:50 with a 3-1 count. Ball four from Stilts

2:14:53 will win the inning for the Tailgator.

2:14:55 >> Stilts only has issued out one ball for

2:14:57 a sprint so far.

2:15:01 Pors in a strike.

2:15:07 >> Tosh thought he had the walk-off.

2:15:10 >> Instead, he gets a payoff pitch.

2:15:13 And there it is. Ball four. Patient

2:15:16 approach from the quadfather. He earns

2:15:19 his first walk-off of his third world

2:15:22 tour. And we are knotted at two points a

2:15:24 piece.

2:15:27 >> We're tied up in everything right now.

2:15:29 Two points a piece. Five trick plays a

2:15:32 piece. My goodness, Bo and Josh, the

2:15:35 eighth inning is about to be so

2:15:37 paramount. And it's only a taste of what

2:15:39 we're going to see as we head towards

2:15:41 Grayson Stadium next weekend for the

2:15:43 inaugural Banana Ball Open. Cannot wait

2:15:47 to see how it shakes out. The only thing

2:15:49 we currently know is the Savannah

2:15:50 Bananas are the one seed. The Texas

2:15:52 Tailgator and Firefighters will be in

2:15:55 it. What happens currently in

2:15:57 Albuquerque, New Mexico, will decide if

2:16:00 the Party Animals

2:16:02 or the Clowns are the fourth team to

2:16:05 join it. Currently, Party Animals

2:16:07 leading the firefighters four to3

2:16:11 innings of action.

2:16:14 And take a look at the standings at this

2:16:17 very moment. See the tailgator and

2:16:20 firefighters kned at five and five. If

2:16:22 the Gator win this afternoon, they

2:16:24 secure the two seed and know they will

2:16:26 be the home team on Friday night in

2:16:27 Grayson Stadium.

2:16:28 >> Correct. And if the party animals hang

2:16:30 on, they only have five trick plays. So,

2:16:32 let's not play into a world of

2:16:33 hypotheticals, but there's not going to

2:16:35 be a way where they're going to out

2:16:36 trick play these tailgators. So, if the

2:16:38 Animals are able to win that ball game,

2:16:40 the tailgator would still get the two

2:16:42 seat. However, firefighters come back,

2:16:44 complete the sweep of Albuquerque, they

2:16:46 will be the two seed. So, there's a

2:16:48 myriad of possibilities that we have in

2:16:50 Albuquerque and still here in Chapel

2:16:52 Hill as it's Flowery Branch's finest,

2:16:54 Jonathan Hughes, who now comes in to

2:16:56 pitch here for the tailgator.

2:16:58 >> John Boy being used for a second

2:17:00 straight ball game.

2:17:03 looked fantastic last night. And what an

2:17:06 important eighth inning this is.

2:17:09 >> As it stands, the Bananas would just

2:17:11 need one trick play in the bottom half

2:17:13 to earn the equalizer point. So, the

2:17:16 Tailgator

2:17:18 looking to make that task a lot trickier

2:17:21 as it's 345 for the Nanners. Max Young

2:17:23 Goldberg,

2:17:25 fourth offering from Hughes as the first

2:17:27 strike. Dan Ober on deck. Kyle Jackson

2:17:31 in the hole.

2:17:34 >> And did he go around or was it a called

2:17:37 strike?

2:17:38 Strike.

2:17:39 >> Yes.

2:17:42 >> So the counts full on MJG.

2:17:47 >> And that is a fast ball that just

2:17:49 misses. Ball four.

2:17:51 >> Came in with two strikeouts and one

2:17:53 sprint. Now

2:17:55 >> two sprints and two Ks on the afternoon.

2:18:01 A three true outcome

2:18:04 >> affair for Max Young Goldberg

2:18:08 >> who now has three smile

2:18:11 >> three sprints on the weekend plus a

2:18:13 couple hit by pitches.

2:18:16 >> Oh man, you ever seen a deer in a

2:18:18 headlight? What about a max in a camera

2:18:19 lens?

2:18:22 >> Brace Gafi, the bananas designated

2:18:24 runner, will take over for young

2:18:26 Goldberg at first.

2:18:30 Saw him go one for two in stolen base

2:18:32 attempts last night. Caught for the

2:18:34 first time this year. That was a very

2:18:35 good looking pitch. Did not get the

2:18:37 strike call from Trey Hudson.

2:18:44 >> Peter in two balls and a strike on Dan

2:18:46 Ober who swung at all eight pitches he

2:18:48 saw last night.

2:18:51 Said he just had a lot of trouble

2:18:52 picking up the banana ball. Of course,

2:18:54 in these football stadiums, no batters

2:18:56 are. And so he said, "Well, if it looked

2:18:58 like it was anywhere close to the zone,

2:18:59 I was just going to swing hard." Ended

2:19:01 up getting the game-winning walk-off.

2:19:03 The third round of showdowns thanks to

2:19:05 that approach. Jacob Pipper had no idea

2:19:07 where the ball was, and it's going to

2:19:09 end up bouncing off the wall in right

2:19:11 center. Grisafi with a great read.

2:19:13 Nobody covering second, so Dan Scampers

2:19:15 in with a double.

2:19:18 And why Jonathan Lutters was out in the

2:19:21 outfield is kind of beyond me because

2:19:24 Jordan Usain was not towards that second

2:19:26 base bag. Ober spotted that and that

2:19:29 puts him into scoring position alongside

2:19:32 Grisafi. It's guys at second and third.

2:19:34 It's been a few defensive miscues from

2:19:36 these tailgators today that have allowed

2:19:38 a few runs and have led to a few points

2:19:40 here for these bananas.

2:19:41 >> And Arent was in right field. He was

2:19:43 there. M Danford flip between the legs.

2:19:46 What a play by John Hughes. Did he keep

2:19:48 the bag? Yes. But Dan Ober racing in.

2:19:51 Two-run score.

2:19:54 >> So KJ will pick up two RBI's

2:19:58 on a ground out to first. And now we

2:20:00 hope John Hughes is okay.

2:20:04 >> Yeah. Got his foot on the bag. Oh my

2:20:06 gosh.

2:20:08 >> Tried to get his foot back on there.

2:20:09 That didn't look good, boys.

2:20:12 He's back to his feet, though. And folks

2:20:15 here in Chapel Hill begin to applaud.

2:20:17 >> Yeah, he's walking towards the mound,

2:20:19 which is a great sign. And that was a

2:20:21 really important trick play. Two runs

2:20:23 come across,

2:20:25 but M Danford flipping it between the

2:20:27 legs

2:20:29 as the Tailgator ahead 65 in trick

2:20:31 plays. Jason Art and Danford are

2:20:35 pleading their case with the crew chief,

2:20:37 Bryson Wheeler, that time should have

2:20:39 been called. Maybe there's interference

2:20:41 on Kyle Jackson. Now Joe Mikolik and

2:20:43 Andrew Bartman getting in on the

2:20:45 discussion with Trey Hudson.

2:20:47 >> What Bartman's saying, I just you can

2:20:48 read his lips when he's talking to Trey

2:20:50 Hudson. He's saying that Dan Ober should

2:20:52 have not been allowed to come home and

2:20:53 score because the runner there in KJ

2:20:56 grabbed Jonathan Hughes because he was

2:20:59 it was it was sportsmanship grabbing him

2:21:01 trying not to let him fall down to the

2:21:03 ground. So therefore, they're saying the

2:21:04 play should have been dead and Dan

2:21:06 should have to go back to third is the

2:21:07 argument being posed by the tailgator.

2:21:09 hands together.

2:21:12 >> It looks like neither Trey Hudson nor

2:21:14 Bryson Wheeler agrees with

2:21:18 that opinion coming from the Tailgator

2:21:19 Dug.

2:21:20 >> And to be fair, I think the correct call

2:21:21 is made. I think Dan should have been

2:21:22 allowed to come home and score. That

2:21:24 play happened way down the line. Dan was

2:21:26 already halfway home before KJ and

2:21:29 Jonathan Hughes ever made contact.

2:21:30 >> He was already off and running.

2:21:34 >> Bill Loy deep drive out to right. Papo

2:21:36 Taco, the Nanners captain, gets in on

2:21:40 the action. First home run of year

2:21:42 number nine for Billy Barrels. Again, he

2:21:46 is redot right now for the Savannah

2:21:48 Bananas. And last season, Bill had the

2:21:51 opposite field home run against the

2:21:53 Tailgator in Citizens Bank Park. Now he

2:21:56 has the opposite field home run here in

2:21:59 Kenan Stadium for the Bananas.

2:22:02 And Bill crossing the plate and he's

2:22:05 going to catch up with Sam Bowman who's

2:22:07 got it.

2:22:08 >> Bill, your first home run. Your first

2:22:10 home run. Sam

2:22:12 >> first run is an engaged man. What's love

2:22:14 got to do with it?

2:22:16 >> It's got everything to do with it. Sam,

2:22:17 I love you, Lexi.

2:22:19 >> Hey, where's that one going? Hold on,

2:22:20 guys.

2:22:23 >> That's going to go into the glove of Jos

2:22:25 Gonzalez Jr. Sam

2:22:28 >> Jacob Peppers was calling for a tip

2:22:30 drill there. Instead, Brother calls him

2:22:32 off and catches it for out number two.

2:22:35 And with the trick play battle being as

2:22:36 close as it is, Tailgator only up by

2:22:38 one, six to five right now. Equalizer

2:22:41 point looms large in the home half of

2:22:42 this inning.

2:22:46 Robert Anthony Cruz ahead 10

2:22:52 for two on the afternoon.

2:22:55 Sack fly back in the second inning.

2:22:57 Ground out and a strikeout since then.

2:22:58 And he bounces this one to Lutters.

2:23:01 Sunshine between the legs. Third trick

2:23:02 play of the ball game

2:23:05 and 32nd of the year for our tour leader

2:23:08 in trick plays. An important one as the

2:23:09 Tailgator now up seven to five in trick

2:23:12 plays. Go to the bottom of the eighth

2:23:14 inning. The Bananas push three runs

2:23:16 across. A great chance to take a

2:23:19 one-point lead, maybe two.

2:23:22 >> So I need everyone on their feet. Yes.

2:23:26 Everyone on your feet. Put your arms

2:23:29 around your neighbor and get your

2:23:31 singing voice turned up loud because

2:23:32 it's time for yellow.

2:23:52 >> Sing it loud. Chapel Hill.

2:24:09 And what was it called?

2:24:17 So my heart

2:24:53 We love you so much, Banana Nation. And

2:24:56 my friend McKenzie has something to say,

2:24:57 too.

2:24:58 >> Go, Banana.

2:25:11 Coming in number 99

2:25:14 >> to the bottom of the eighth inning we

2:25:16 go.

2:25:18 >> The Bananas trying to make it six

2:25:20 straight victories. Their captain with

2:25:23 his first home run of 2026.

2:25:28 A cute little smile for his picture

2:25:30 rounding third. And it's a three-run top

2:25:34 of the eighth inning.

2:25:36 will send Frankie Moscatello out to try

2:25:39 and secure it. If he keeps the Tailgator

2:25:42 to two runs or less, the Bananas lead

2:25:43 3-2. If the Bananas can grab three trick

2:25:47 plays or more, then we'll earn the

2:25:49 equalizer point and could take a 4-2

2:25:51 lead into the ninth. But Frankie

2:25:53 Moscatello, he's another one of those

2:25:55 guys with a pretty high strikeout rate

2:25:57 for the Savannah Bananas.

2:25:59 And the thing with Frankie is he's still

2:26:01 got to continue to work on his pace on

2:26:03 the pitcher mound. That MPI still

2:26:06 incredibly high for Moscatello and he's

2:26:08 just trying to throw with full strength

2:26:10 every single pitch on the mound. And in

2:26:14 little ways that's kind of been what's

2:26:15 really slowing him down in addition to

2:26:18 at certain times frustrations

2:26:20 compounding for him when things aren't

2:26:22 exactly going his way. Well, it went his

2:26:24 way against Jason Art. Takes care of the

2:26:27 hometown kid. Three pitches, three

2:26:29 strikes, and it is a nasty arsenal that

2:26:32 Gazoo employs right of Rocky Point, New

2:26:34 York. And her sixth round draft pick,

2:26:37 fast ball sits 92 to 96. He's touched

2:26:40 99. Curveball and a splitter to round it

2:26:43 out. It's a very uncomfortable at bat.

2:26:45 If he's hitting his spots, he can be as

2:26:47 tough to hit as anybody in the sport.

2:26:49 And uh that was not his spot right

2:26:50 there.

2:26:54 >> Usual ballpark. You might try to see a

2:26:56 guy try to steal first.

2:26:58 Yeah, the back stops in the football

2:27:00 stadiums are very close to home plate.

2:27:06 >> Two to Hussein

2:27:10 and Jordan ahead. Three balls and no

2:27:11 strikes.

2:27:13 Tailgators in the business of base

2:27:15 runners. They need two guys to reach

2:27:16 before they can think about tying this

2:27:18 inning.

2:27:22 And Heater scrapes the bottom of the

2:27:24 zone.

2:27:26 Pitchers pitching a hitter's count

2:27:29 >> and that fast ball misses up. So Hussein

2:27:32 aboard for the second time today. One

2:27:35 for two on the afternoon. Adds a sprint

2:27:37 to his ledger

2:27:40 and does his job. Won aboard to the top

2:27:44 of the order we go. Jacob Pipper

2:27:47 now two career banana ball plate

2:27:49 appearances. A double in Sacramento

2:27:52 and a hit by pitch today.

2:27:59 It

2:27:59 >> was pretty poetic the double he hit in

2:28:01 Sacramento. He actually ended up on

2:28:02 third base thanks to an error from Reese

2:28:04 Hampton in center. Pipper started his

2:28:08 college career at St. Elizabeth

2:28:10 University with a triple. Ended his

2:28:12 college career at Long Island University

2:28:14 with a triple. So starting his banana

2:28:17 ball journey, ending up on third base in

2:28:19 his first career plate appearance. He

2:28:20 said it was pretty full circle. Felt

2:28:22 like it was confirmation he's in the

2:28:24 right place.

2:28:35 >> The ball in two strikes

2:28:41 >> and Gazu will check on Hussein.

2:28:47 >> Not a spot I would expect Jordan to run

2:28:49 in.

2:28:53 So naturally he takes off.

2:28:57 >> Still second without a throw. Got a

2:28:59 killer jump.

2:29:00 >> I was thinking the same thing. Beaks

2:29:02 Frankie is a little long sometimes

2:29:04 delivering to the plate.

2:29:06 >> Think that was like 3 seconds to home

2:29:07 plate on that one.

2:29:10 >> Big swing and a miss. Pipper down on

2:29:13 strikes. Another K for Moscatella. Well,

2:29:16 the reason you can see him being so long

2:29:18 in that delivery is because again, he is

2:29:20 raring up to throw as hard as he

2:29:22 possibly can. And you see some guys for

2:29:24 the sake of their pace on the pitcher

2:29:26 mound, they'll take a couple miles off

2:29:28 of those fast balls and whatnot just to

2:29:31 make sure that they're keeping their

2:29:33 pace up and also to make sure they're

2:29:35 hitting the strike zone more

2:29:36 efficiently.

2:29:39 >> Two strikeouts have been the two outs

2:29:43 here in the inning thus far for the

2:29:44 tailgator. That is not the worst thing

2:29:47 in the world. You're down three to

2:29:48 nothing in the inning. Not saying you're

2:29:49 going to battle over and concede the

2:29:51 inning by any means as Jordan Hussein

2:29:52 will advance up on the wild pitch

2:29:54 another 90 ft. But now with just one

2:29:57 more out remaining in the inning even if

2:29:59 the Bananas get a double trick play.

2:30:01 They can only tie the trick play battle

2:30:03 at seven. So the Tailgator have all but

2:30:05 negated the equalizer point with those

2:30:07 two strikeouts.

2:30:08 >> Right. And per the rules of Banana Ball,

2:30:09 you can't get more than two trick plays

2:30:12 with only one out to remain.

2:30:17 See triple trick play, double plays,

2:30:26 >> but now Nick Lopez in company

2:30:30 >> trying to mount a two out rally. Throw

2:30:32 behind Hussein. It was close at third.

2:30:36 He went back in standing. Kyle Jackson

2:30:38 thinking that the Bananas maybe should

2:30:40 challenge that.

2:30:43 Another look on the broadcast. Oh boy,

2:30:46 that is tight.

2:30:49 The Bananas will let this game play on.

2:30:56 >> Flare into the seats.

2:30:59 Not caught.

2:31:05 >> Lopey one for three today.

2:31:08 The tying run for the inning in the on

2:31:10 deck circle in the form of Jordan Bar.

2:31:15 Payoff pitch to Lopez.

2:31:18 And that ball shot out to left center.

2:31:20 Ty Jackson will take care of it to close

2:31:24 the eighth. The Bananas win the frame

2:31:27 three runs to nothing. They lead three

2:31:30 points to two going to our ninth and

2:31:32 final inning.

2:31:36 >> Top of the ninth inning. score is three

2:31:39 is three points for the Savannah Bananas

2:31:41 to two points for the Texas Tailgator.

2:31:43 But here's the thing about the game of

2:31:46 Banana Ball in the final inning. Every

2:31:49 run counts for a point. So that means

2:31:52 while the Savannah Bananas do have a

2:31:54 lead, they should not get comfortable

2:31:57 here. Ladies and gentlemen, these two

2:31:59 teams have been battling it out. They

2:32:02 are as evenly matched as Banana Ball

2:32:04 teams can be. So, let's go ahead and get

2:32:09 loud right here and right now because

2:32:12 ladies and gentlemen of Chapel Hill,

2:32:15 this is the final in.

2:32:24 It all comes down to this in

2:32:25 Albuquerque.

2:32:27 John Reed, the former Washington

2:32:29 Nationals minor leager,

2:32:32 will take over with the Tailgator

2:32:34 trailing by one here in the top of the

2:32:36 ninth.

2:32:42 Johnny Boy has missed a couple weekends

2:32:44 this year. Again, has dealt with some

2:32:46 injuries, dealt with again just just

2:32:48 trying to get back in the groove of

2:32:49 things. And now, will you want to see

2:32:52 him return to the 2025 All-Star? closer

2:32:55 that we did see from last season. Reese

2:32:58 Miller has assumed the closer role. Not

2:32:59 going to see him here this afternoon

2:33:01 because of all the pitches he threw in

2:33:02 the ninth inning and then the showdowns

2:33:04 last night. So, John Reed, who was the

2:33:06 closer last year for the Tailgator,

2:33:07 going to pitch the ninth here and he'll

2:33:09 have to face Ty Jackson. And what you

2:33:10 got to remember, the Bananas, a very

2:33:12 good team in the ninth inning of play

2:33:14 this season. 10 runs that they have

2:33:17 scored in the ninth inning, that is

2:33:18 equated to 10 points for the Savannah

2:33:21 Bananas. And they would like some

2:33:23 insurance as things start with Ty

2:33:24 Jackson who takes ball one. Tai's got to

2:33:28 be a favorite for Showman of the game if

2:33:29 the Bananas can hold on to this thing.

2:33:32 Two for three, two singles, two stolen

2:33:34 bases, two runs scored and now he's

2:33:36 plunked that one right off the kester

2:33:40 and tied no worse for wear.

2:33:52 if you're going to get hit anywhere.

2:33:54 >> Yep.

2:33:55 >> The dairy air is choice number one.

2:33:58 >> Especially if you're Ty Jackson. A lot

2:34:00 of meat down there.

2:34:04 >> He's a thick boy, Bo.

2:34:06 >> Yes, he is.

2:34:06 >> That's what you're trying to say. Thick

2:34:08 fella down there over there running at

2:34:09 first. This is the first time we've seen

2:34:11 John Reed since Round Rock. Been nearly

2:34:13 a month since John Reed's last outing.

2:34:16 So again, maybe you're seeing a couple

2:34:17 errant throws here. It's because he

2:34:19 hasn't pitched in a very long time here

2:34:20 for the Tailgator in the span of a

2:34:22 banana ball season. He's been working

2:34:24 through some shoulder soreness

2:34:27 as he gets the fast ball by Ryan Cox.

2:34:31 0 for two on the day. An RBI ball for

2:34:33 sprint back in the seventh.

2:34:38 I mean Reed is a super uncomfortable AB

2:34:41 for a lefty. Forcing change up slatter

2:34:44 three pitch mix. Good vlo

2:34:48 and paints the outside corner. That

2:34:50 should be strike three. Yep, there it

2:34:51 is. And rare for Ryan Cox. That's his

2:34:54 second strikeout looking this afternoon.

2:34:56 >> Number 17 is

2:34:59 just 5ks on the year.

2:35:01 >> That's just a cutter up and away that

2:35:03 caught the outer half. Great pitch by

2:35:05 John Reed for out number one.

2:35:07 >> Check on tie over at first. A wise move

2:35:10 as Eastston Parish digs in.

2:35:14 EP ahead. A ball in no strikes. Worked

2:35:17 the sprint his last time. He's also

2:35:19 reached on an error and fouled out to

2:35:21 the fans. There goes Ty. Throw from

2:35:23 Justice. Not in time. And it gets away

2:35:26 from Lutters. Ty Jackson over to third

2:35:29 base on a rare error from Taylor

2:35:33 Justice.

2:35:35 And that's Jackson's third steal of the

2:35:37 game. He's five for five now on the

2:35:39 year.

2:35:44 And backing up that play in center

2:35:46 field, Zack Watson, who has reentered

2:35:48 the ball game. Jose Gonzalez is back in

2:35:50 right. Jacob Pipper in left.

2:35:55 Infield in against the Banana Ball

2:35:57 rookie.

2:35:59 >> And Parish with a three- count.

2:36:06 >> And that's an easy take and insurance

2:36:08 for the Nanners. Every run scored counts

2:36:10 for a point in the final inning of

2:36:13 Banana Ball.

2:36:16 Heck of a time for Parish's first career

2:36:18 run batted in in the sport. And Tai

2:36:21 scores his third run of the game. Once

2:36:23 again, Ty Jackson, he's just been this

2:36:26 guy feeding the top half of this bananas

2:36:29 order. And it's because of his stolen

2:36:31 base ability in today's contest. Three

2:36:34 of them. And every time he swiped that

2:36:36 bag, he has come around to score for his

2:36:38 squad.

2:36:42 You know, the Nanners are not content

2:36:46 with just a two-point lead going to the

2:36:49 bottom of the ninth inning as Bryce

2:36:50 Bafi, the Nanner's designated runner,

2:36:52 takes over for Parish.

2:37:00 >> Reese selects one for four on the game.

2:37:03 RBI single back in the fifth

2:37:08 and this John Reed just uncompetitive

2:37:09 pitches trying to find his form.

2:37:13 >> Got to put one in the zone here. Cannot

2:37:14 afford backto-back ball force sprints.

2:37:16 >> Big swing and a miss. Fast ball blown by

2:37:19 Alexi as Grizz swipes second.

2:37:23 He's now nine for 10 in stolen base

2:37:25 tries here in his rookie season in

2:37:28 banana ball.

2:37:29 >> Just a good old four seamer right there.

2:37:31 You'll see John Reed go to his cutter a

2:37:32 lot in two strike counts able to put him

2:37:35 away with the four seam.

2:37:38 A fast ball blown by Max Young Goldberg

2:37:40 with a runner in scoring position and

2:37:42 two outs. Now, two strikeouts, two

2:37:45 sprints on the day for MJG.

2:37:48 When you think about John Reed, think

2:37:50 about the upside of this guy. Go right

2:37:52 back to that semiinal game, do or die,

2:37:54 against the party animals in the semis

2:37:57 last year as Grizz swipes third base. He

2:38:00 went four scoreless innings to keep the

2:38:02 tailgator in that ball game and send it

2:38:04 to showdowns. The upside for John Reed

2:38:07 is massive.

2:38:08 >> Incredibly massive. That's why he was

2:38:10 voted an all-star by his peers last

2:38:11 year. What he did in September last year

2:38:14 was nothing short of remarkable. And now

2:38:16 he's one strike away from sending it to

2:38:18 the home half. Tailgators would need two

2:38:19 runs to tie it up as we stand.

2:38:22 >> The 2-2

2:38:24 and it plunks Young Goldberg. Second

2:38:26 time that he has been hit in this

2:38:29 series. I mean, this has been a bizarre

2:38:31 one. Max doesn't have a hit. He's been

2:38:34 out three times, but three ball, four

2:38:37 sprints, and three hit by pitches.

2:38:40 >> Yeah, you're seeing the signs of rust,

2:38:42 too, for John Reed with the ball four

2:38:44 sprint, two hit by pitches. Two of the

2:38:47 last three batters now have been in

2:38:49 three ball counts. And if he hadn't have

2:38:51 hit Young Gober, you would have seen a

2:38:52 third straight three ball count.

2:38:57 ducks on the corners

2:38:59 >> for Danny Ourst.

2:39:03 >> Two ground outs to start his day. A

2:39:04 single and a double. His last two trips

2:39:06 to the dish.

2:39:10 >> And that one all the way to the back

2:39:11 stop, but there's that bounce right back

2:39:13 to Justice. Gafi doesn't advance. And

2:39:17 Young Goldberg stays put at first as

2:39:19 well.

2:39:20 >> It giveth and it taketh right there. The

2:39:22 short back stop here at these football

2:39:23 stadiums. Almost caught a piece of Danny

2:39:25 Oo there as well on its way back down.

2:39:27 >> Big swing miss on the slider.

2:39:30 >> Filthy from John Reed. A strike away

2:39:32 from escaping again trying to limit the

2:39:35 damage to just one run scored.

2:39:41 >> The one two

2:39:45 doesn't bite on the slider.

2:39:48 >> Deuce is wild with bananas on first and

2:39:51 third base.

2:39:55 Liner dead center. That is big time

2:39:58 trouble. Deepest part of the park. It

2:40:00 bounces into the seats. Ground rule

2:40:03 double will only score one. Max Young

2:40:06 Goldberg is going to be sent back to

2:40:07 third base.

2:40:16 >> Yep. There he goes.

2:40:19 But back-to-back two baggers for Oburst.

2:40:22 Three hits on the afternoon. All the guy

2:40:23 does is absolutely demolish banana

2:40:26 balls.

2:40:26 >> Started the ball game 0 for two. You

2:40:28 mentioned those three hits. Three

2:40:29 consecutive abs as well. Danny O's just

2:40:31 got hotter as the ball games with and

2:40:33 again more volume in their abs is the

2:40:35 away team. We've seen it a lot with the

2:40:37 Madanas when they're the team. They just

2:40:39 continue to hit throughout the game.

2:40:40 Kyle Jackson

2:40:43 fly ball that should end the frame. Tip

2:40:46 drill looters to Hussein. They grab a

2:40:49 couple trick plays, but the damage done.

2:40:52 Two runs across for the Bananas. They

2:40:54 lead 52 going to the bottom of the

2:40:56 ninth. But this is the score the Gator

2:40:58 led last night going to the bottom of

2:41:00 the ninth. Remember how that ended,

2:41:07 >> making their lead a little more

2:41:09 comfortable at 5-2. But in banana ball,

2:41:13 you can't get too comfortable because as

2:41:15 a reminder, ladies and gentlemen, in the

2:41:17 final inning, every run counts for a

2:41:20 point. The Tailgator came to play here

2:41:25 today and here is their chance. If they

2:41:27 are able to tie this game, they will

2:41:29 send it to a showdown.

2:41:31 But I know that the University of North

2:41:34 Carolina is not trying to see that. So,

2:41:37 ladies and gentlemen, it's almost time.

2:41:40 The Bananas are looking to sweep, so

2:41:42 let's get loud because it all comes down

2:41:45 to this.

2:41:50 The plot thickens.

2:41:54 Grant Besser, the new man on the mound

2:41:57 for the Savannah Bananas.

2:42:00 Guy who came in after appearing with the

2:42:03 visitors last year.

2:42:08 And while we go to the bottom of the

2:42:10 ninth here in Chapel Hill, they're going

2:42:13 to showdowns in Albuquerque. Party

2:42:16 animals need to win to make the open.

2:42:18 The Indianapolis Clowns need the Party

2:42:20 Animals to lose to make the open.

2:42:21 >> Shades of Albuquerque last year when the

2:42:24 Texas Tailgator won their first ever

2:42:26 game in team history. A fan caught foul

2:42:29 ball in Showdowns. How the Tailgator

2:42:31 won. And a fan called foul ball in favor

2:42:34 of the boys in the black and pink just

2:42:36 sent the firefighters and the party

2:42:38 animals to showdowns to laugh.

2:42:41 >> And you're getting a look at it right

2:42:43 here. The fans right over in the

2:42:46 concourse making the grab to keep the

2:42:50 party animals hopes of making the banana

2:42:52 ball open alive. That is electric. And

2:42:55 now Grant Besser's the man taking over

2:42:58 for the bananas in the bottom of the

2:43:00 ninth inning. No man outside of Danny

2:43:02 Hosley has recorded a save this season

2:43:04 for the Savannah Bananas. But Grant

2:43:07 Besser has pretty much nailed down being

2:43:10 the next highest leverage arm in this

2:43:12 bullpen. And that's why the Bananas have

2:43:15 tasked the lefty with pitching the ninth

2:43:17 here on day two. Jordan Barf highf fly

2:43:20 ball out to left. Ty Jackson

2:43:25 a catch and some play.

2:43:29 Uh, no trick play for anybody wondering

2:43:30 at home.

2:43:31 >> Well, he shook his dumpling when he made

2:43:34 the final out of the bottom half of the

2:43:37 eighth inning right there. Just throws

2:43:40 himself down to the crowd after out

2:43:42 number one here in the bottom of the

2:43:43 ninth.

2:43:44 Kyle Martin looping this one into foul

2:43:47 territory. Not caught by the fans. Kmart

2:43:50 took Besser to the land of good and

2:43:52 plenty last night.

2:43:55 Martin has homered this afternoon as

2:43:58 well.

2:43:59 Front door bender gets the top of the

2:44:00 zone. 02 from Besser.

2:44:04 >> Fouled away.

2:44:06 >> Primarily a three pitch mix. Fast ball

2:44:08 about 88 to 90. Circle change is his

2:44:11 best pitch. He's also got the slur. You

2:44:13 just saw that.

2:44:16 And another O2 spoiled. That change up

2:44:19 helped him record over 300 strikeouts

2:44:22 across his college career.

2:44:25 That ball demolished out to right. Kyle

2:44:29 Martin twerun

2:44:32 homer, two homer ball game rather. It's

2:44:35 his third homer of the weekend and he

2:44:38 now stands alone at top the home run

2:44:40 mountain in Banana Ball. And wouldn't

2:44:42 you know it, all three home runs, they

2:44:45 have been home runs off of left-handed

2:44:47 pitchers. Two off of Besser, one after

2:44:51 Lebec. It has been the weekend of lefty

2:44:53 on lefty crime for Kmart.

2:44:56 >> I got a stat for you, Josh Tilfki.

2:45:00 >> Of the now 12 home runs that the

2:45:03 Savannah Banatas have conceded this

2:45:05 year, the Texas Tailgator have hit nine

2:45:07 of them, including two today by Cal

2:45:09 Martin.

2:45:10 >> Goes to really show you the effects of

2:45:12 these football stadiums as Besser breaks

2:45:14 the bat of Taylor Justice and will throw

2:45:17 this over to Alex Ziegler at first base.

2:45:20 And now the Bananas an out away from

2:45:23 sweeping the Texas Tailgator here in

2:45:26 Chapel Hill.

2:45:30 Another look at the shattered bat

2:45:34 as Besser has the Gator down to their

2:45:36 final out.

2:45:37 Jose Gonzalez Jr. just has to pass the

2:45:40 baton.

2:45:42 The almighty M. Danford represents the

2:45:44 game's tying run in the on deck circle.

2:45:46 Jose Gonzalez Jr. says, "I'm going to

2:45:48 bring us within one with one swing."

2:45:52 Brother didn't let Kmart have the total

2:45:54 lead in homers to himself for very long.

2:45:56 Foes up, baby. Brother and Kmart. Quadro

2:46:00 quadro on the year. And that's exactly

2:46:03 how many points the tailgator had,

2:46:05 trailing by one here in the bottom of

2:46:07 the night. During showdowns in

2:46:09 Albuquerque, and we're one point away

2:46:11 from doing the same here at Chapel Hill.

2:46:16 Sam, why don't we hear from our brother?

2:46:19 >> Hey, brother. Real quick. Down but not

2:46:21 out for the tailgator.

2:46:22 >> Absolutely. All the time. Come on, baby.

2:46:25 >> The fight continues, boys.

2:46:32 >> Matt Danford

2:46:33 represents the game's tying run.

2:46:37 >> Three home runs last year, tied for

2:46:39 second most on the tailgator. One for

2:46:42 three today. mentioned

2:46:46 it going into the bottom of the ninth.

2:46:48 The Bananas rallied for three in the

2:46:50 bottom of the ninth last night.

2:46:53 >> Tailgators trying to equal a Q ball down

2:46:55 the first baseline. Fielded between the

2:46:57 legs. Alex Ziggler on the bag. Trick

2:47:00 play to end it. The Savannah Bananas

2:47:02 have won six straight games. They are 10

2:47:05 and one and go to the Banana Ball Open.

2:47:08 Scorching hot.

2:47:11 Let's go. Let's go.

2:47:16 >> And once again, it's the things that

2:47:18 they're able to do in the ninth inning

2:47:20 that are able to propel them to a

2:47:22 victory here on day two in Chapel Hill.

2:47:25 The Bananas, two more runs, which count

2:47:28 as points in the ninth inning of play

2:47:30 give them enough of a padding to hold on

2:47:33 despite two home runs for the Texas

2:47:35 Tailgator. And boy, the bananas look

2:47:38 just about unstoppable before we start

2:47:41 the Banana Ball Open come next Thursday.

2:47:44 Derek singing. We've got a lot to talk

2:47:46 about after this.

2:47:54 >> Hey, you better you better hit the right

2:47:57 and hit the left. Now turn around and

2:48:00 slide. We made it through all the gears

2:48:04 and all the we

2:48:08 One step, two steps to the ups and the

2:48:10 downs,

2:48:13 living more than enough to get up and

2:48:16 out to jail.

2:48:19 Hey, celebrate with me tonight.

2:48:24 Cate

2:48:29 lucky to have you in my life.

2:48:32 Hey,

2:48:34 >> you better you better hit the right hit

2:48:36 the left now. Turn around and shine.

2:48:41 >> Let me hear you.

2:48:45 Somebody cate with me tonight.

2:48:52 Cate like we got time.

2:48:56 Lucky to have you in my

2:48:59 life.

2:49:01 You better. You better hit the right.

2:49:03 Hit the left. Now turn around and

2:49:07 hit the right. Hit the left. Now turn

2:49:09 around and shine.

2:49:12 >> One more time for your Savannah

2:49:17 bananas.

2:49:21 Chapel Hill. Thank you so much for an

2:49:24 amazing weekend here. Lot of fun and

2:49:27 great banana ball. But let's give a

2:49:29 round of applause. What a great weekend

2:49:32 from the tailgator right here.

2:49:37 Battled both games. Brought it down to

2:49:39 the last inning and even showdowns last

2:49:42 night. Just want to thank you so much.

2:49:44 We had an opportunity to travel around

2:49:46 the country. When we first started, we

2:49:48 only sold a handful of tickets, but we

2:49:49 get to come places like here and feel

2:49:52 the love, feel the support, see a

2:49:54 100,000 people the last two days. You

2:49:56 have no idea what this means to us.

2:49:58 We're having the time of our life. So,

2:50:00 we just want to thank you so much. And

2:50:01 we're going to close it with a tradition

2:50:03 with our captain, Bill. Here we go.

2:50:08 >> What's up, Chapel Hill?

2:50:14 >> Did y'all have fun tonight?

2:50:19 >> I'll tell you what, we did, too. It was

2:50:22 so much fun playing here the last two

2:50:24 nights and we can't thank you enough for

2:50:26 believing in us to show up last night

2:50:30 tonight. 100,000 people believed in us

2:50:33 and that means absolute world to us. You

2:50:34 guys are some of the best people and the

2:50:36 best crowd that we've ever played in in

2:50:38 front of across this entire country. We

2:50:40 love you guys. you guys.

2:50:47 >> So, before we go tonight, I want

2:50:49 everybody here to put your hands up

2:50:51 high.

2:50:54 >> We are one big family here tonight. And

2:50:57 so, we're going to break it down before

2:50:58 we go home. We're going to say fans

2:51:00 first, loud and proud on three.

2:51:03 >> But I need to know,

2:51:06 >> are you ready?

2:51:14 Nah,

2:51:15 >> y'all ain't.

2:51:16 >> I said, "Are you ready?"

2:51:22 >> There it is. Hands up.

2:51:25 >> Fans first on three. One, two, three.

2:51:29 >> We love you guys. Till next time.

2:51:34 >> Great getting to hear from Bill Lavoy.

2:51:38 And we'll take a look at our final

2:51:40 numbers

2:51:42 from this finale in Chapel Hill. The

2:51:44 Savannah Bananas,

2:51:47 a 65 win last night, a 54 victory today.

2:51:51 And although the Bananas swept this

2:51:52 series, they're now 3 and 0 against the

2:51:54 Texas Tailgator on the year. Ty Jackson

2:51:56 fantastic performance as our showman of

2:51:59 the game. My big takeaway is these two

2:52:02 teams are very even. Yeah, these two

2:52:04 teams are playing the most competitive

2:52:06 banana ball games that I think we've

2:52:07 seen all season long. Games that went

2:52:10 down to the wire both nights and Tai

2:52:12 Jackson was really the difference maker

2:52:15 in leading the Bananas to this sweep

2:52:17 today. And they've loved playing him

2:52:19 when the Bananas have been batting as

2:52:21 the visiting team. It's gotten Tai more

2:52:22 played appearances, given him time to

2:52:24 get comfortable in the box. And you saw

2:52:27 he had the ability to reach base

2:52:28 multiple times and took advantage of

2:52:30 them. two singles, reached on a hit by

2:52:33 pitch. Every time he was on, he was

2:52:35 swiping at least one bag and he was

2:52:37 coming around to score for the Savannah

2:52:39 Bananas as well. And we can't forget he

2:52:41 came from the extra hitter spot into the

2:52:44 game as the left fielder. Also collected

2:52:46 a trick play behind his back. So, he

2:52:48 really did it all offensively,

2:52:50 defensively, and with his base running

2:52:52 ability. part of the versatility that

2:52:56 Tai Jackson brings to the dungeon. When

2:52:58 a guy you start as your extra hitter,

2:53:01 the behind the back snag,

2:53:08 and then offensively,

2:53:10 fantastic. Couple knocks, three stolen

2:53:13 bases, two runs scored.

2:53:16 >> And let's get it on down to Sam.

2:53:18 >> Yeah, guys, Ty Jackson did it all today.

2:53:22 our showman of the game. Ty, you do your

2:53:25 exit hitter today, but you had to come

2:53:26 in do a little bit more for our guy Dr.

2:53:28 here.

2:53:30 >> What was on the line for you?

2:53:31 >> You know, man, it was just another day

2:53:33 in the office, man. First off, I just

2:53:35 want uh everybody at home to just say a

2:53:38 quick prayer for Dr. man, and hope for a

2:53:40 speedy recovery. But, you know, it's

2:53:41 just another day in the office. These

2:53:42 guys come to work, you know, and we stay

2:53:44 classy and we get the job done.

2:53:46 >> Hey, speaking of DR, since we got him

2:53:47 right here, Dr. a little banged up. How

2:53:49 we feeling?

2:53:51 >> We're good. This dude right here comes

2:53:54 in like no tomorrow and just gets

2:53:56 everything done, the job done. The dog

2:53:58 in him little Yeah, he's he's a guy,

2:54:01 man. He's a dog. Spears tie. Hey, Hley.

2:54:05 Actually, come here. Come here.

2:54:07 >> I got a question.

2:54:08 >> Yeah, you got a question.

2:54:08 >> I got a question. Well, first of all, I

2:54:10 don't know what those celebrations were

2:54:11 out there. He's earned himself his

2:54:12 second yellow right there today. Second

2:54:14 yellow on the field. Oh, no. No. I think

2:54:15 that's a I think that's a red, sir. Hey,

2:54:18 >> showman of the game. Congratulations,

2:54:20 brother. Hey, hey, I I just want to know

2:54:21 what did Ty Jackson bring to the table?

2:54:23 >> You know what everybody's asking? What

2:54:25 does Ty Jackson bring to the table? Why

2:54:26 did they franchise Ty Jackson? It's not

2:54:28 about me. What does Ty Jackson bring to

2:54:30 the table? I bring the freaking table.

2:54:37 >> Flip that.

2:54:39 >> Hey Ty, this team now going in one seed,

2:54:42 locked up, easy. What's the mentality

2:54:44 going into next week?

2:54:46 >> Uh, you know, we're just going to stay

2:54:47 with our roots, man. Uh, and we have a

2:54:50 lot of captains on this team. Dan, me,

2:54:52 Bill, K, you know, dudes have been here,

2:54:55 you know, but you know, we're gonna stay

2:54:56 behind those guys. Gilly's got a great

2:54:58 practice plan planned up. Stober's got

2:54:59 it written down. You know, Kellogg

2:55:01 probably doing other work, but yeah,

2:55:03 we're going to get after it. Uh, you

2:55:05 know, maybe when we get back tomorrow,

2:55:06 so, let's do it.

2:55:07 >> Hey, Ty, final question. Banana Ball

2:55:09 backstage. This question was made for

2:55:11 you. 8-year-old Shay wants to know, can

2:55:13 you do a back handspring?

2:55:15 >> You want to watch?

2:55:16 >> No, hold on. KJ says you can't. KJ says

2:55:19 you can't do a cartwheel into a back

2:55:21 cartwheel into a back hand sprint.

2:55:22 >> Real quick, guy. Yeah, we This This is

2:55:24 our showman of the game right here. Hold

2:55:26 on. Hey, Shay, there's your answer.

2:55:27 Shay, there's your answer. Our showman

2:55:29 of the game, Ty Jackson. Guys, try and

2:55:31 make sense of that.

2:55:34 >> Pretty simple. Looked like a beautiful

2:55:36 backhand spring to me, but

2:55:38 >> I'm not a gymnast judge by

2:55:41 >> any length.

2:55:44 So, the Nanners take it 54. They sweep

2:55:47 this series. They go into the Banana

2:55:49 Ball Open 10-1 overall and the number

2:55:52 one seed. And breaking news out of

2:55:55 Albuquerque, New Mexico. The

2:55:57 firefighters sweep the party animals.

2:56:00 They win after two rounds of showdowns.

2:56:03 >> And the Banana Ball Open is officially

2:56:05 set.

2:56:07 >> The Bananas are the one seed. The

2:56:08 Firefighters are your two seed, coming

2:56:10 in at six and five after winning six and

2:56:12 five this afternoon. The Tailgator will

2:56:15 be our three seed. The Indianapolis

2:56:18 Clowns are four seed.

2:56:21 >> Great time to hear from Jesse Cole.

2:56:23 >> Bo, you're absolutely right. Jesse's

2:56:25 been keeping track. He was telling me,

2:56:26 "Hey, this is what just happened." He's

2:56:28 locked in on this. Jesse, this sport is

2:56:30 all about storylines. It's all about

2:56:31 exciting finishes this weekend across

2:56:33 all of Banana Ball. I think proves we're

2:56:36 doing maybe something right.

2:56:37 >> What an amazing weekend. You think about

2:56:39 this in Banana Ball and what just

2:56:40 happened. You know, we created the

2:56:41 Banana Ball Open to create some stakes

2:56:43 early in the season and to come down to

2:56:45 showdowns on a brand new team like the

2:56:48 Indianapolis Clowns who were in last

2:56:49 place going into the weekend. Had to

2:56:51 sweep the coconuts to have a chance, a

2:56:54 remote chance and then to have

2:56:56 showdowns, the firefighters sweep the

2:56:58 party animals, the defending champ of

2:57:00 last year to not be in the Banana Ball

2:57:02 Open with the top four teams. Boy, it is

2:57:04 crazy. And s stand here right after this

2:57:06 win here and to see all three uh you

2:57:08 know, three sweeps this weekend. Crazy.

2:57:10 But watching with all the bananas,

2:57:12 watching the game, I mean, the care

2:57:14 factor with all these guys and seeing it

2:57:15 with all the players and now seeing with

2:57:17 the fans, it is exciting. It is exciting

2:57:19 time to be a part of Banana Ball. And

2:57:21 I'm just uh Emily just texted me. She

2:57:23 said, she goes, "I'm in tears." I go,

2:57:25 "You're in tears." And she goes, "Cuz

2:57:26 you get to see this." And the

2:57:28 firefighters celebrating. Obviously,

2:57:29 they had a challenging year last year.

2:57:30 You didn't know what was going to

2:57:31 happen. And then to have the weekend

2:57:32 they had Sweet the Party Animals. And uh

2:57:34 it's just exciting. It's exciting. I'm

2:57:36 happy for all the guys. And you know,

2:57:37 yes, the party animals and coconuts did

2:57:39 not make the Banana Bowl open, but those

2:57:40 teams are strong. They're going to have

2:57:42 a great finish. They probably have a

2:57:43 chip on their shoulder. And to add the

2:57:44 competitiveness plus the entertainment,

2:57:46 the shows be playing all over the

2:57:47 country in Albuquerque. I was in

2:57:49 Charleston earlier this weekend to kick

2:57:50 off the Coconuts and here 100,000 at

2:57:52 UNCC. It is special what has happened in

2:57:54 a short period of time. And I just uh

2:57:56 man, I'm just excited.

2:57:58 >> You talk often about impossible being

2:58:00 pretty fun to do. You have a mindset

2:58:02 going in and then you talk about a team

2:58:04 like the Clowns. It would seem

2:58:05 impossible in many sports. You're the

2:58:06 last seed to come in here. But we talk

2:58:08 about the entertainment, the value of

2:58:10 that. But the competitiveness, Jesse,

2:58:12 that's dang entertaining, huh?

2:58:14 >> Well, I think that's what makes this

2:58:15 great. You know, everyone sees all the

2:58:17 entertainment, they see all the social

2:58:18 media, but when it gets on the field,

2:58:19 these guys want to win and they want to

2:58:20 do it right. They want to put on the

2:58:22 best show, but do it in a way that's

2:58:23 showing how much they care. And yeah, I

2:58:25 mean, the the the clowns, it is hard.

2:58:27 And the coconuts, when you come into a

2:58:29 league, these many of these guys have

2:58:30 been playing for years. They

2:58:31 understandable. they can get in front of

2:58:33 major league stadium crowds and football

2:58:34 stadium crowds. But, you know, look at

2:58:35 the clowns. It was a challenge and then

2:58:37 they came up and rised up and, you know,

2:58:39 I was around them on Friday night for

2:58:41 the Coconuts, you know, home opener and

2:58:43 just the excitement from that dugout. I

2:58:44 mean, you think about what they they all

2:58:45 they all learn how to juggle. They all

2:58:47 learn how to put on a show. They learn

2:58:48 shadow ball and they're honoring the

2:58:50 past and now to get in with a sweep,

2:58:52 man, it's awesome. And basically, it

2:58:54 shows when Banana Ball, you know, we

2:58:55 always say every game it comes down to

2:58:56 the last inning, but now you never know

2:58:58 every game what can happen, who can make

2:59:00 it. Uh, this Banana Ball Open is going

2:59:02 to be special and I can't wait to be a

2:59:03 part of it.

2:59:04 >> Well guys, that Banana Ball Open less

2:59:06 than a week away now and if it keeps

2:59:08 like we're doing right now, you're not

2:59:10 going to want to miss it. The biggest

2:59:11 fan of our sport, Jesse Cole. Guys, back

2:59:14 up to you.

2:59:15 >> Thank you very much, SB. Yeah, we got

2:59:17 that Banana Ball open in just four

2:59:19 nights time. Thursday night, it will

2:59:20 open up and we will have the Savannah

2:59:22 Bananas against the Indianapolis Clowns.

2:59:25 It is winner goes to the Banana Ball

2:59:28 Open final and then the firefighters

2:59:31 with that sweep. They are now six and

2:59:33 five and they are redot going into this

2:59:35 Banana Ball open. Yeah, I mean it is

2:59:37 really cool to see the way that this

2:59:39 shook out again for the Coconuts and the

2:59:41 Party Animals. They just needed to win

2:59:43 one game and they were going to be doing

2:59:45 all right when it came to making this

2:59:47 Banana Ball open. Instead, chaos ensued

2:59:50 throughout the weekend. Set up the

2:59:52 Indianapolis Clowns. The banana ball

2:59:54 opens Cinderella and the firefighters

2:59:56 finding their way into that two seed.

2:59:58 >> There's something to be said about the

3:00:00 collections of the firefighters, what

3:00:02 they did last year in the inaugural

3:00:03 Banana Ball uh championship playoffs and

3:00:06 now what they're doing here to advance

3:00:08 themselves into the two seed in the

3:00:09 inaugural Banana Ball Open.

3:00:11 >> And now we'll take a look at the seeding

3:00:14 of the Banana Ball Open. A reminder, the

3:00:16 winner of the Open clinches a playoff

3:00:18 spot when we get to October. And you

3:00:22 take a look, it'll be Bananas Clowns on

3:00:24 Thursday night. Then firefighters as the

3:00:26 home team against the Tailgator 7:00

3:00:29 p.m. Eastern on Friday night. And then

3:00:31 it's a twoame set for the Banana Ball

3:00:34 Open Championship, just like the

3:00:36 semifinals of the playoffs were last

3:00:38 year if you split the two games. You

3:00:40 immediately go to Showdown Tiebreakers

3:00:43 to decide the entire series. And it's

3:00:44 going to be a thrill to see what happens

3:00:46 this coming week as we welcome you back

3:00:48 inside with Josh DKI, Brett Loftess. I

3:00:50 am Bo Scalla. Thank you so much for

3:00:52 spending your Sunday Funday with us here

3:00:54 in virtual Banana Land. I hope you also

3:00:57 spent it with Drake and Zack in

3:00:59 Albuquerque because this was the day of

3:01:01 all days to have two screens with Banana

3:01:03 Ball on them. Uh I'll go to you Brett

3:01:05 because I talked about it when we were

3:01:07 first wrapping this thing up. But even

3:01:09 though the Bananas sweep this series and

3:01:11 they've defeated the Tailgator three

3:01:12 times now in all three matchups this

3:01:14 year, these two teams, at least from an

3:01:17 eye test, feel like the two best teams

3:01:18 in banana ball from what I've

3:01:20 experienced.

3:01:20 >> Well, it's funny because we've seen

3:01:21 pretty much the same game as we seen

3:01:23 last night. Just rolls reversed, right?

3:01:25 And that ninth inning, Kyle Martin, Jose

3:01:27 Gonzalez home run. You fell just one

3:01:29 more run short point there in the night

3:01:31 as what the Bananas did last night when

3:01:33 coach Rack hit his two-run home run. It

3:01:35 had been so even this year when the

3:01:37 Bananas and Tailgators faced each other.

3:01:39 I I I know it was a five to three score

3:01:41 at FSU. That game was very very close.

3:01:43 Just a couple innings got away. Every

3:01:45 pitch was competitive. These two teams

3:01:47 in my opinion and coming into this

3:01:49 weekend objectively where now it's

3:01:51 subjective. I still think are the two

3:01:52 best teams in the Banana Ball

3:01:54 Championship League. But I think on a

3:01:55 macro level, nobody's quite in the same

3:01:58 atmosphere as the Bananas right now.

3:01:59 Right? You can talk about how closely

3:02:01 competitive these two teams are. The

3:02:03 Bananas been able to finish the games

3:02:04 whereas pretty much everybody else in

3:02:06 the league has not been able to. 10 and

3:02:08 one are the Savannah Bananas. And now

3:02:10 they have to face a team who's coming

3:02:12 off one of their hottest weekends, maybe

3:02:13 their hottest weekend in their young

3:02:15 history in the Indianapolis Clowns. And

3:02:16 the Texas Tailgators have to face a

3:02:18 scorching redhot team in the

3:02:20 Firefighters.

3:02:21 >> It'll be a really fascinating challenge

3:02:23 for both of these teams heading into the

3:02:25 open. Can't wait to see how it turns

3:02:26 out, Josh. Yeah, and I think that you

3:02:28 see now there are three teams entering

3:02:30 the Banana Ball Open riding a lot of

3:02:32 momentum in the Savannah Bananas, the

3:02:33 Firefighters, and the Indianapolis

3:02:35 Clowns. And Brit, I still don't think

3:02:37 despite the tailgator getting swept,

3:02:39 that that really changes anything about

3:02:40 their mindset considering the note you

3:02:42 had at the top of the show, Jordan

3:02:44 Hussein, knowing how close that locker

3:02:45 room is, the bond that those guys have,

3:02:48 I know that they're going to come

3:02:49 together and be very dangerous when they

3:02:51 face off against the firefighters on

3:02:53 Friday night.

3:02:54 >> And your probable game one starter being

3:02:55 Chris Clark. I I think I'd feel pretty

3:02:57 good going into any game that Chris

3:02:59 Clark is going to start. So again, I

3:03:01 think each of these four teams and

3:03:02 obviously I'm sure we'll put out stuff

3:03:04 on social media and talk about it the

3:03:05 whole week. You could make a case for

3:03:07 any of these four teams right now of how

3:03:09 they could win the open. And I think

3:03:11 just like what Jesse just talked about

3:03:12 with Sam, that's what fires me up the

3:03:14 most about going back to Grayson next

3:03:16 weekend for the inaugural Banana Ball

3:03:17 Open.

3:03:18 >> It's the beauty of the sport and it's

3:03:19 the beauty of how much talent there is

3:03:21 across all six teams in Banana Ball. and

3:03:24 it's going to be a real joy to get to

3:03:27 see this open come Thursday night.

3:03:29 Another thank you to you for sticking

3:03:30 with us here across this exciting

3:03:32 weekend. Another sixgame weekend under

3:03:35 our belts and now we get to see our

3:03:36 first ever mid-season tournament. A big

3:03:38 thank you to our crew back in Savannah.

3:03:40 These broadcasts were both directed by

3:03:42 the legend of BTV himself, Mr. Chris

3:03:45 Haynes. We love him. We call him Hany.

3:03:47 And here in Savannah, Mr. Chad Reese,

3:03:49 our producer, Josh Richardson, our

3:03:51 executive producer. for everybody in the

3:03:53 control room, all our fantastic camera

3:03:55 operators, engineers, audio operators as

3:03:58 well. And for our guy down on the field,

3:04:00 Mr. Sam Bowman with Josh Tleski, Brett

3:04:03 Loftess, I am Bo Scalla saying so long

3:04:06 for now. Josh and I will see you

3:04:07 Thursday night for game one of the

3:04:09 Banana Ball Open. 700 p.m. Eastern. A

3:04:12 reminder, Indianapolis Clowns against

3:04:14 the Savannah Bananas. And then Brett on

3:04:15 the call Friday night for the second

3:04:18 semiinal game. Firefighters against

3:04:19 Texas Tailgators. I cannot wait for

3:04:22 Thursday night. Until then, we will see

3:04:24 you later.

3:04:40 Oh, it's cleaning herself, folks.

3:04:46 Heat. Heat.

3:05:06 Heat.

3:05:31 Hey, Heat.

3:05:54 Hey,

3:05:58 hey, hey.