Savannah Bananas @ Texas Tailgaters

0:00 Hey.

0:46 Heat. Heat.

1:16 Heat. Hey. Hey. Hey.

1:19 Heat. Heat.

2:13 Hey,

2:23 honey.

2:53 Heat. Heat. N.

3:20 Heat. Heat.

3:40 I'm

3:47 oh no.

5:00 Hey,

5:08 hey, hey.

6:15 Hey,

6:17 down.

9:07 It is game two of the Banana Ball Open

9:10 final presented by Geico. After a 3-2

9:13 victory last night, the number three

9:15 seed, the Texas Tailgator, are just one

9:17 win away from clinching a playoff spot.

9:20 While the number one seed, the Savannah

9:21 Bananas, need to win this game and then

9:23 win series showdowns to punch their

9:26 ticket to October Banana Ball. As the

9:29 home team this afternoon, the Gator turn

9:31 to their ace, the flamethrowing 6 foot7

9:34 right-hander Chris Clark, while the

9:36 Nanners counter with the most veteran

9:39 pitcher in the sport, 9-year banana

9:42 cowboy Kyle Lewig. And this Clash of

9:46 Titans takes place on the charred

9:49 battlefield that is historic Grayson

9:51 Stadium. The center of the banana ball

9:54 universe scarred by fire but still

9:57 looking beautiful as ever as we bring

10:00 you inside with Josh Tleski, Brett

10:03 Loftess. I am Bo Scalla. Thank you all

10:05 so much for spending your Sunday

10:07 afternoon with us here in virtual Banana

10:09 Land. That was a heartthumping,

10:11 thrilling 3-2 win for the Texas

10:13 Tailgator last night. Brett,

10:15 >> how about Jonathan Hughes? first start

10:16 in Banana Ball, able to get nine trick

10:18 plays induced, earned two points for the

10:20 Texas Tailgator. And then for the second

10:23 time in the Banana Ball Open, the fourth

10:24 time this year, the boys in blue and

10:26 orange win the equalizer point and win

10:28 the ball game by the skin of their teeth

10:30 by one point.

10:30 >> And for the Savannah Bananas, only three

10:32 hits last night. They all came from Tan

10:34 Over.

10:35 >> Yeah, and that was a season low output

10:37 for the Savannah Bananas in 2026.

10:39 Something that we are not used to

10:40 seeing. They've been one of the

10:42 strongest offensive teams, but they've

10:44 had a lot of success playing as the away

10:46 team. 4 and one this year and a lot of

10:49 runs that they've scored. So, you got to

10:51 feel good about their chances despite

10:53 the tailgator throwing their Ace in

10:55 Clark. Let's get a reminder of what's

10:57 happened so far here in our inaugural

10:59 Banana Ball Open. When it comes to the

11:02 bracket, it all started Thursday night.

11:04 The Savannah Bananas cruising to a four

11:06 nothing victory over the four seed the

11:08 Indianapolis Clouds while the Texas

11:10 Tailgator had a much different

11:12 experience on Friday night. They eaked

11:14 out a 4-3 win over the two seed the

11:16 Firefighters and then as we've talked

11:18 about last night that incredible 3-2

11:20 victory from the Tailgator. And it's

11:22 crazy to think that they got the

11:24 equalizer point, entered the ninth

11:26 inning up by two, gave up a point in the

11:28 ninth inning in both of those ball

11:30 games, and then still one by a singular

11:32 point to make it here today, 27 outs

11:34 away from clinching a playoff spot.

11:36 >> Yeah, those two equalizer points have

11:38 served very important roles as necessary

11:41 insurance going into those ninth

11:43 innings. A recap on how this Banana Ball

11:46 open works. Of course, it was single

11:48 elimination in the semifinal. And now

11:50 here in the final as we have come to our

11:53 final game in this Banana Ball Open.

11:56 It's up to the Savannah Bananas. They

11:58 need to win today to split the series

12:00 and earn that showdown tiebreaker. And a

12:03 reminder that the winner of this game

12:06 and this uh this open here, they get a

12:08 spot in the playoffs.

12:09 >> And being able to go to showdown

12:10 tiebreers to determine this open is one

12:13 of the most banana ball things that you

12:14 could possibly do. Of course, Showdown's

12:17 Banana Ball's version of extra innings.

12:19 In the first round, you will see one

12:21 batter against one pitcher with one

12:23 fielder. So, it raises the stakes. You

12:26 either score or you don't. And of

12:28 course, you hit that home run out of the

12:30 park in Showdowns. It automatically wins

12:32 the game for your team. Let's zoom in a

12:35 little more on exactly how the showdown

12:37 tiebreaker and the rest of the rules of

12:39 Banana Ball go.

12:42 Banana Ball is the fastest and most

12:44 entertaining show in sports. And the 11

12:46 rules guarantee the most fans first

12:48 experience every second.

12:50 >> Unbelievable.

12:52 >> Welcome to the Banana Ball Championship

12:54 League.

12:54 >> Rule number one, win the inning win the

12:57 point. The team that scores the most

12:59 runs in an inning wins the point.

13:01 >> It's a walk-off winner to the deepest

13:04 ball field.

13:05 >> Oh my goodness. With the equalizer

13:07 point, trick plays provide the away team

13:09 an opportunity to earn a point going

13:11 into the final inning. And in the final

13:13 inning, every run counts as a point.

13:16 Rule number two, Banana Ball has a 2hour

13:19 time limit, guaranteeing that every game

13:22 is fast-paced and action-packed. Rule

13:25 number three, no stepping out of the

13:27 batter's box. If you do, it will result

13:29 in a strike.

13:30 >> Back stepped out of the box and because

13:32 he stepped out of the box, that's it.

13:33 Rule number four, no bunting, cuz

13:36 bunting sucks. If you bunt, you'll be

13:39 thrown out of the game. Rule number

13:41 five, batters can steal first base.

13:43 >> Ball three, can you take it off for

13:45 first throw from Leroy in time.

13:47 >> Rule number six, there's no walks. Walks

13:51 are ball force sprints. The batter can

13:53 advance as far as they want until every

13:56 position player touches the ball.

13:58 >> No defenders have touched the banana

14:00 ball. It is a four base spread to open

14:03 up the ball game.

14:04 >> Rule number seven,

14:05 >> no mound visits.

14:07 >> Nope.

14:08 >> Rule number eight, foul balls caught by

14:11 a fan count as an out.

14:13 >> Oh, they missed. They did. They can't.

14:17 We're going to show

14:19 >> rule number nine, the showdowns. In

14:22 showdowns, the best of the best face off

14:24 in the biggest moment. One hitter verse

14:26 one pitcher with one fielder behind

14:29 them. And the hitter has to score deep

14:31 to right center. See you later.

14:35 >> Rule number 10, the banana ball

14:37 challenge role gives the coaches and

14:39 you, the fans, a chance to impact a call

14:42 on the field. Rule number 11, the golden

14:45 batter. Once a game, each team can give

14:48 any player in a bat, regardless of the

14:50 lineup. This offers the biggest matchups

14:52 on the biggest stage.

14:54 >> Big on big tar. Let's go. Let's go.

14:59 Let's go.

15:00 >> Get out of here, ball. That thing had a

15:03 family.

15:05 >> And those are the rules of Banana Ball.

15:11 And digging deeper here on the newest

15:13 addition to the Banana Ball rules. It's

15:16 the equalizer point. We've hammered it

15:18 home. This has been a key part of the

15:19 two Texas Tailgator wins so far here in

15:22 the open. It's only for the away team.

15:24 They need more trick plays than the home

15:26 team going into the final inning to

15:28 claim that point. And you could take a

15:30 look, the Tailgator have done it by just

15:32 one trick play each of their two games

15:34 so far.

15:35 >> Yeah, you go back to Friday night able

15:37 to go down in the eighth inning. They

15:39 needed two. They get a double trick play

15:41 on the first out of the frame there in

15:43 the eighth against the firefighters.

15:44 Last night they needed three. Josh

15:46 Tlesfi entering the home half of the

15:48 eighth. Ground ball, ground ball, ground

15:50 ball from that beautiful change up of

15:52 Joe Speron able to get three and

15:54 overcome the bananas. Again, one trick

15:56 play again. Skin of the teeth is how

15:58 they won the equalizer point. Skin of

16:00 the teeth is how they're winning these

16:01 games. This equalizer point is the

16:03 reason that the Tailgator are playing

16:04 this afternoon with a 10 series lead.

16:06 >> And now the Bananas have the opportunity

16:08 to try and earn that equalizer point in

16:10 today's contest. Granted, they've only

16:12 done that one time this season, but it

16:14 did come here in Grayson Stadium on the

16:17 8th of March against the Firefighters.

16:19 They like their chances in this

16:20 building. That was the first time the

16:22 Savannah Bananas could have ever won the

16:24 equalizer point. They're 0 for four in

16:26 their last four games as an away team.

16:28 So, trying to turn the tide in that

16:31 regard. And I'll tell you what, it was a

16:32 bullpen day yesterday. And what a

16:35 masterful performance by Brandon

16:37 Pennington's bullpen. Let's hear from

16:39 the pitching coach from the Texas

16:41 Tailgator. For that, we'll get it down

16:42 to Rex Castillo.

16:45 >> Hey, thanks guys. Here with Coach Penny,

16:46 the pitching coach for the Texas

16:47 Tailgator. Coach, trick plays have been

16:49 a game changer for your team. And sure,

16:51 the spotlight belongs with the fielders,

16:53 but the pitching approach has also got

16:55 to be a key part of it. What has changed

16:56 on the mound for your guys?

16:57 >> Yeah, it's just throwing a lot of

16:58 strikes. Um, we talk about all the time,

17:00 the defense is going to play really good

17:01 when we throw the ball over the plate.

17:02 Once you start walking guys, ball force

17:04 sprinting guys, defense gets on their

17:06 heels and they're not expecting the ball

17:07 to be hit. Luckily for us, we've thrown

17:08 a lot of strikes and we got some pretty

17:10 good guys behind us.

17:11 >> Speaking of those good guys, guys like

17:12 Sunshine right here, committed to all

17:14 the trick plays. Him, Jordan Hussein,

17:17 Jordan Bar, all committed to the trick

17:19 play stuff. That kind of energy and that

17:21 trust that's got to be be great for your

17:23 pitchers and your fielders, too.

17:24 >> Yeah, absolutely. You know, we get to

17:25 watch this team in yellow every day at

17:26 practice and we see how hard they push

17:28 it. Um, and then it just helps our

17:30 defenders. They go out, they want to

17:31 push. I think we're some of the best in

17:33 the league. When the ball goes in the

17:34 air, everybody converges on the ball.

17:36 Um, and it's it's helped us out a lot

17:38 this year.

17:39 >> Well, hey, game two of the banana ball

17:41 open. There's you got to be really happy

17:42 about this. You're halfway through it.

17:43 Of course, the big prize at the end is a

17:45 guaranteed playoff spot. There's a

17:46 reason to smile, right?

17:48 >> What's there to be happy about?

17:50 >> I mean, coach, you're you're halfway

17:52 there. I mean, you just got to win one

17:54 more game, right?

17:54 >> Job's not done.

17:56 >> Job's not done.

17:56 >> Yeah. Nothing to be happy about.

17:59 >> Okay. Uh, Bo, Josh, Brett, nothing to be

18:02 happy about. Back to you.

18:06 Coach Penny's squad has been inducing a

18:08 lot of trick plays. This guy top five in

18:10 the league. Chris Clark entering this

18:12 afternoon. And again, that's really the

18:14 name of the game. You talk about ground

18:15 ball rate in this league. It's been a

18:17 lot of it. And it happened again last

18:19 night. Jonathan Hughes, four innings,

18:21 nine trick plays induced and only four

18:23 innings of work. Joe Speron, we just

18:24 talked about him. That change up

18:26 inducing three trick plays to win the

18:27 equalizer point and then a six out save

18:30 to help the Tailgator win it last night.

18:32 The bottom two, not pitchers, but guys

18:33 doing those trick plays. Jordan and

18:35 Jordan on the left side of that

18:36 tailgator infield. Three trick plays

18:38 from the captain and an absolute dart

18:40 able to get Dan Ober for the final out

18:42 of the ball game. And then what about

18:44 King JB Oppo Taco? Three trick plays

18:47 defensively, our showman of the ball

18:48 game last night.

18:49 >> Well, you've got to imagine with Hussein

18:51 and Bar on that left side of the infield

18:53 for the Texas Tailgator. The veteran

18:55 Hussein who's been here since 2024 has

18:57 had a lot of time to spend with Bar. get

19:00 him up to snuff when it comes to trick

19:02 plays and making sure the tailgators are

19:04 the best, which they have been so far in

19:06 2026. And as far as Jonathan Hughes

19:09 start was concerned, it shouldn't have

19:11 been a surprise that so many trick plays

19:14 came behind him. 59.1%

19:17 of his outs during the regular season so

19:19 far had included trick plays.

19:21 >> And Jordan Hussein, who's the leader of

19:23 that clubhouse, has been the biggest

19:24 vocal point for trick plays. Now he's

19:26 going to help lead out the boys wearing

19:28 red, white, and blue this afternoon.

19:31 >> They're rowdy. They get started early

19:33 and they never stop. They're here to go

19:36 big and they ain't going home. They are

19:39 the Texas Tailgator.

19:51 Uh-huh.

20:15 And now the starting lineup for the

20:17 Texas tailgator.

20:33 Leading off the th number nine, Nick

20:36 Lopez.

20:44 >> Batting second, the right fielder number

20:46 28, Jose Gonzalez Jr.

20:53 batting third, the extra hitter number

20:55 27, Kyle K. Martins.

21:03 In the cleanup spot, third baseman

21:05 number six, Jordan Bar.

21:12 Behind the plate, number 26, Taj the

21:15 Quadfather Porter.

21:21 The first baseman, number 85, Taylor

21:24 Justice.

21:29 Out at second base, number 11, Mford.

21:38 Center fielder number two, Zack Watson.

21:45 In left field, number three, Jason.

21:53 And at shortstop number five, Jordan

21:56 Husay

22:02 on the mound for the Texas Tailgator

22:04 number 44

22:06 Chris.

22:14 The tailgator led by Joe Nichols

22:17 assisted by Coach Penny and Coach Love

22:20 Shack Baby Barton.

22:23 Oh girl

22:26 on my bra.

22:30 Yeah.

22:40 Well, we got the money.

22:44 Yeah, we got the

22:50 way there.

22:55 Everybody make some noise for the Texas

22:58 two gator.

23:08 >> Ladies and gentlemen, I am bringing some

23:11 bananas power to whole plate. His name

23:15 is Kyson. Tyson is four years old and

23:19 he's attempting to hit a home run

23:22 against these Texas Tailgators. So, can

23:24 I hear some noise for my dear friend

23:27 Tyson?

23:34 He's digging in the box. Oh, he's got a

23:37 great bat stance, too. Here we go.

23:40 Here's the wind up. And pitch number

23:42 one. Oh, first pitch he sees is smoked

23:46 into right field. Here comes the play at

23:48 first. They throw it away. Make some

23:52 noise for Tyson, ladies and gentlemen.

23:55 He's rounding first base. Here comes the

23:58 play at second. Jason Arm can't handle

24:00 it. They're chasing him down. He's in a

24:03 pickle. Jordan Bar can't handle it. He's

24:06 rounding third base.

24:08 Jonathan Sunshine looters. It's on a

24:11 unicycle. chasing him down, but he's

24:15 safe with the play.

24:25 Remarkable performance by that youngster

24:28 hoisted to the sky by Connor Harris and

24:31 for good reason

24:33 inside the Parker against the Texas

24:35 Tailgator. Let's take a look at how it

24:38 went down an evening ago. Noah Nisnik

24:42 against Jonathan Hughes

24:44 and the Tailgator offense getting going

24:47 from the get-go. Two singles and then a

24:49 ball force sprint by Kyle Martin. Just

24:51 like that, a run on the board and then

24:53 the quadfather still no outs. Base is

24:55 loaded. Dunks that into right center.

24:57 It's a two spot for the Tailgator before

24:59 Nisnik ever got an out.

25:00 >> How good has TP been here in the open?

25:02 Leads all tailgator and ribbies. And

25:04 then Danny O said, "I got something to

25:05 say."

25:06 >> Uh he said solo home run. That's a long

25:09 ball out to left center on the one-two

25:11 pitch from Hughes. Oburst in the leadoff

25:14 spot for a second straight game with the

25:16 Bananas without Dr. Meadows. But a three

25:18 trick play inning for the Tailgator and

25:20 they earn the point. They're up one-

25:22 nothing just like that. Yeah, it was

25:23 definitely a hot start for the Tailgator

25:25 defensively. And that would continue in

25:27 the bottom half of the frame. Hussein

25:29 and Lutters turning two and tacking on a

25:32 trick play as well, putting them out to

25:34 a 5-2 lead when it came to that

25:36 equalizer point. And then Jordan Barn

25:39 first career banana ball home run. Oppo

25:42 taco. What a time for it.

25:43 >> What you know about JB man? And then ran

25:46 right through the A gap. I'm sure he did

25:48 that in his youth up in Minnesota. First

25:50 banana ball home run. Could not have

25:52 come at a much better time than that.

25:54 >> And how about Jonathan Hughes trying to

25:56 turn it into a point. Jason Arid taking

25:58 off and coming down with the banana

26:00 ball. Heck of a play by the sophomore

26:03 here in Banana land. And then another

26:06 trick play. Jonathan Hughes a one two

26:08 three frame justice between the legs.

26:10 Tailgator up two zip. Well, that would

26:12 bring the Bananas to go to their

26:13 bullpen. Connor Harris taking over and

26:16 the master class was on display

26:18 defensively for the Bananas. Cox and

26:20 Ziggy, the Pennsylvania duo, collecting

26:23 a double trick play. And then Ryan Cox,

26:25 the glove magician, tacking on one more

26:27 to give the Bananas three in the frame.

26:29 And they would ride the defensive

26:31 momentum into offensive momentum in the

26:34 bottom half. Danny Over second time

26:36 facing off against Jonathan Hughes and a

26:38 second home run in the ball game. Now

26:40 three multi home run games in his

26:43 career. Two of which have come in

26:45 Grayson. Inning run was on second for

26:47 the Bananas in the fifth. Jonathan

26:48 Hughes escapes and what a gutsy first

26:51 career banana ball start. He goes four

26:54 innings, pitches across five frames and

26:57 leaves with a two-run lead. Zack

26:58 Blankenship first full inning pitching

27:00 since 2024 with the party animals

27:02 getting helped out by Jordan Bar.

27:04 >> JB man 24time national raetball champion

27:08 makes that play for out number one. Mr.

27:09 Bar out number three with a trick play

27:12 booking and Zack Blankenship his first

27:14 full inning pitch since 2024 with the

27:16 party animals TP two strike approach

27:19 sack flying an RBI to put the first and

27:22 only run of the seventh on the board for

27:24 the Tailgator. Yeah, that was the eighth

27:25 pitch of the at bat against Allen Sat

27:28 Taj Porter. Fantastic two strike hitting

27:31 right there. Dan Over once again. Maybe

27:33 a smart play by Jimmy Lewis to pitch

27:35 around him. It does tie the inning, but

27:36 that would be all the damage. So, still

27:38 a two-1 game as Grant Besser enters with

27:41 the Bananas down a trick play in the

27:43 last inning that it matters. Backflip

27:45 catch, Robert Anthony Cruz, and then a

27:47 tapper to the right side. Olsson and

27:49 Zagler double trick play. All of a

27:51 sudden, the Bananas a two trick play

27:52 lead. Yang Band Besser would face off

27:54 against the golden batter in Kyle Martin

27:56 as well. Set him down swinging. So the

27:58 Bananas with a two trick play edge going

28:01 into the bottom of the eighth. Time for

28:03 the Joe Sparrone ground ball machine to

28:05 go.

28:07 >> Change show. Come on.

28:09 >> Change ups. Change ups. Change ups. 80%

28:11 change ups in that eighth inning last

28:13 night. Todd Porter told me he said I was

28:15 spamming it. Taylor Justice gets out

28:17 number two. Tied at 13 trick plays a

28:19 piece. What about out number three?

28:21 bounce that basketball like LaMelo right

28:23 there to win the equalizer point 14-13

28:27 and take a 3 to1 lead going into the

28:28 final frame.

28:29 >> Massive piece of insurance for the

28:31 Tailgator as Danny Hosley comes in a

28:33 trick play miss behind him but he's able

28:35 to pick up East defense cuz he's Danny

28:37 do it all. Couple strikeouts on the

28:39 Vulcan change up and it's still just a

28:41 two-point deficit going to the last of

28:43 the ninth with one out. Speron back out

28:45 there. Ty Jackson plunked fired up as

28:49 all get out but another out on the

28:51 board. Who but Dan Oburst the last hope

28:54 for the bananas and on a one he got the

28:57 change up. He bounces it off the right

28:59 center field wall. Tie with fantastic

29:01 speed is going to come around and score.

29:02 But how about the play from Zack Watson

29:05 and then a perfect relay. Jordan Hussein

29:07 the dick from Jordan Bar. Tailgator 3-2

29:09 winners. What a special evening and just

29:11 the second time in Tailgator history

29:13 that they have defeated the Savannah

29:15 Bananas. Just the second loss for the

29:17 Bananas in the calendar year of 2026.

29:20 Now 3 to2 win last night. Win an

29:22 equalizer point yet again. Pitching

29:24 trick plays how it's done. And my gosh,

29:28 I mean we're 27 outs away from clinching

29:30 a playoff spot 6 months earlier, the

29:32 Texas Tailgator. But they got a guy they

29:34 have to contain a little bit better than

29:36 they did last night. And his name is Dan

29:37 Oburst. Yeah, that game line you saw at

29:39 the bottom of your screen might as well

29:41 just been the tailgator against Danny O.

29:43 He was the only offense for the the

29:45 Bananas last night. Well, we know

29:46 there's no I in team and studies show

29:48 there's no I in Obururst either. Dan was

29:50 that one man wrecking crew all three

29:52 hits. He drove in all four runs for the

29:55 Savannah Bananas in that contest. And

29:57 now it's up to guys two through 10 in

30:00 that order to be able to provide a

30:01 little more consistency behind him in

30:04 the lineup. And again, the Bananas a 302

30:07 batting average when they have played as

30:08 the away team this season. You've got to

30:11 like their chances here in game two.

30:13 Well,

30:16 >> yeah, guys, here with Dan Over who had

30:18 himself one heck of a game last night.

30:19 And Danny, I know maybe not the result

30:21 you're hoping for on the team side of

30:22 things, but from the personal side, two

30:24 home runs, four RBI's. You got to feel

30:26 like you built something really strong

30:28 to maybe play off today.

30:30 >> Yeah, I mean, I think overall we played

30:31 good as a team. uh some tough breaks,

30:34 but we learned a lot from last night.

30:36 We're ready to go today.

30:37 >> Now, Danny, I know you had some

30:38 frustration trying to leg out that

30:40 triple, but to go to your coach and say,

30:42 "Hey, I'm sorry." He looks at you and

30:43 said, "Danny, I love the fight." What's

30:45 that mean to have a coach like that?

30:47 >> Yeah, I mean, Gillum's my guy. This is

30:48 my eighth season with him. Um, and he

30:50 holds me accountable. Again, I probably

30:52 shouldn't have gone. I saw it hit off

30:54 the wall and just kind of got lost in

30:56 the moment. You know, Reese is on deck.

30:58 That's our guy. But again, I learned

31:00 from that. I think we all learn from a

31:01 lot. So, we're just excited to play

31:02 today,

31:03 >> Danny. But we love the fight and

31:04 obviously a must-win game tonight.

31:07 >> What's the team got to do to get this

31:09 done and win the banana ball open?

31:11 >> Just got to keep doing what we've been

31:12 doing. You know, I mean, yesterday they

31:14 played great. Uh we we were kind of hot

31:16 and cold. I thought it wasn't our

31:18 complete performance, but we're ready to

31:19 go. We got nothing to lose and we keep

31:21 playing our style of ball and I think

31:23 you'll see us in showdowns today.

31:24 >> Reggie have any words for you?

31:26 >> Yeah, Reggie and me got together again

31:28 last night, watched some film and we're

31:29 ready to go. The all the boys and Reggie

31:31 are ready to go.

31:32 >> I love to hear that. It's undeniable,

31:34 guys. I'm feeling good about this one.

31:36 Back to you.

31:39 >> Thank you very much, SB. Always special

31:41 to hear from the 8-year Banana Dan Ober

31:44 as you get a look at the pitching

31:45 matchup this afternoon. The 9-year

31:47 banana Kyle Luig against the banana ball

31:49 rookie Chris Clark, who has been

31:51 unbelievable here in his first year in

31:54 Banana Land, leading all starting

31:55 pitchers and earned run average this

31:57 season. Cowboy Kyle. First start of 2026

32:01 for the righty. And Clark faced the

32:03 Bananas just last weekend in Chapel Hill

32:06 literally 7 days ago. Today he was

32:08 lights out Sunday afternoon as the home

32:10 team. Same exact situation as today. And

32:13 he came in that first inning. He was

32:15 about as on fire as the field was here

32:16 at Grayson last night. Three up, three

32:18 down, all via the strikeout. Ended with

32:20 six strikeouts across his four innings

32:22 of work and only one earn run. It was it

32:26 was a special performance from Chris

32:27 Clark. unfortunately ended in a loss,

32:30 but the ace was the ace. And I love

32:32 something he told me last night at

32:33 dinner. He said, "I was drafted third

32:35 overall by the tailgator for games like

32:37 this one here today. The big donkey, as

32:39 they like to call him down there in that

32:40 locker room, is ready to roll."

32:42 >> And they have been building up for a

32:43 start like this. Hoping for five innings

32:46 from Clark. That would be perfect for

32:47 Cowboy Kyle. He's been here before,

32:49 Josh.

32:50 >> Yeah, I mean Kyle Cowboy Kyle, he's been

32:52 pitching in Grayson Stadium since 2018.

32:55 a 9-2 career record in this ballpark.

32:58 So, you like what Cowboy Kyle has

33:00 historically done here in Grayson

33:02 Stadium and he knows that he's one of

33:04 these Bananas big game pitchers as well

33:07 had played a pivotal role in that 2021

33:09 Coastal Plane League Championship game.

33:12 So, the Bananas, especially Tyler

33:14 Gillum, really trust in their

33:16 right-hander and they can take a similar

33:18 approach as the Texas Tailgator as well

33:20 if they so desire today and very much

33:23 try and play some kind of bullpen game

33:25 and just try and put favorable matchups

33:28 against the Tailgator bats. The Bananas

33:30 bullpen was stupendous behind Austin

33:32 Drury on Thursday night. Five innings of

33:34 scoreless relief. We'll see how deep

33:36 into this contest Kyle Luix can go. He

33:39 was a part of that. He was the first man

33:40 out of the pen. Two scoreless innings.

33:42 Only guy to reach against him was a ball

33:44 for sprint. So although he bounces back

33:46 and forth between the bullpen and the

33:48 starting rotation, a guy you really feel

33:51 confident in in this win or go home

33:54 Sunday afternoon Banana Ball Open final.

33:57 If you are Mr. Tyler Gillum, the stage

34:00 is set. The Savannah Bananas about to

34:03 announce their lineup to the world.

34:07 Let's meet the starting lineup for your

34:10 Savannah Bananas.

34:14 Leading off the designated hitter number

34:16 19, Dan Ober.

34:28 Center fielder number two, Reese

34:32 Superman. Oh, Alexis.

34:41 Batting third at first base, number

34:43 nine, Max Young Goldberg.

34:52 At third base, number four, the birthday

34:55 boy, Kyle KJ

34:59 Jackson.

35:03 The catcher number one, the captain is

35:07 Bill

35:09 Roy.

35:14 At second base, number eight, our

35:16 greatest showman, Jackson.

35:26 Left fielder number 15, we call him Rap

35:29 Robert Anthony Cruz.

35:40 The right fielder number 18, Danny

35:44 Hosley.

35:53 The extra hitter number seven, tied to

35:56 Fly Jackson.

36:05 And at shortstop number six, he is our

36:08 glove magician Ryan Cox.

36:17 On the mound, number 12 from Richmond

36:21 Hill, Georgia, Cowboy Kyle Louise.

36:29 Your Savannah Bananas are led by Tyler

36:32 Gillum, assisted by Adam Vyro, Vyant,

36:35 Brian Kellogg, Bryce Tober, and Reggie

36:39 the legend for 10.

36:50 Ladies and gentlemen, at this time, we

36:52 ask that you please rise if you're able

36:54 and remove your caps. here to honor

36:57 America with the singing of today's

36:59 national anthem. Please welcome to the

37:02 field Anley McKe.

37:06 Oh, say can you see

37:11 by the dawn early

37:15 light

37:17 what so proudly

37:19 we held

37:21 at the twilight

37:24 last gleaming

37:26 whose broad stripes and bright stars

37:31 through the perilous

37:34 fight

37:36 or the ramparts

37:38 we watched

37:41 were so gallently

37:44 gleaming

37:46 and the rockets

37:48 regave

37:56 proof through the night

38:00 that our flag was still there.

38:05 Oh, say does that star spangled

38:10 b

38:16 or the land

38:18 of the free

38:23 and the home of the brave.

38:29 Ladies and gentlemen, Ansley McKe.

38:35 A terrific rendition of the national

38:37 anthem.

38:40 The Savannah Bananas, the number one

38:42 seed, down a game to the number three

38:44 seed, the Texas Tailgator.

38:48 But they link arms and will combine

38:50 power in a monstrous kick line ahead of

38:55 our grand finale in the first ever

38:58 Banana Ball Open. The Tailgator just

39:02 need a victory to clinch a playoff spot

39:04 in October. If the Bananas can win this

39:07 ball game, we will get showdown

39:09 tiebreakers immediately at the

39:12 conclusion of the contest. And the

39:14 winner of that will claim the playoff

39:16 spot on the line.

39:19 The Texas Tailgator, the home team for

39:22 the first time in this Banana Ball Open,

39:24 the third game for both squads. And

39:27 defensively behind Chris Clark. It's the

39:30 exact same look they gave us last night.

39:32 Left, right in the outfield, Jason Arin,

39:34 Zack Watson, and Jose Gonzalez Jr. Third

39:36 to first in the infield, Jordan Bar,

39:38 Jordan Hussein, Jonathan Lutters as the

39:41 designated fielder. And then Taylor

39:42 Justice with the quadfather Taj Porter

39:44 behind the plate.

39:45 >> This is the third time since Taj Porter

39:48 has been in a tailgator uniform. He's

39:49 catching three consecutive games. He did

39:51 it twice in 2025. The first time in 2026

39:55 that he's doing it. Starting every

39:56 single game behind the dish in the

39:58 Banana Open for the boys in blue and

40:00 orange. Special stuff coming from the

40:02 quad father. And with the guy that he's

40:04 catching this year, only the second time

40:06 in 2026 he's caught Chris Clark. And

40:08 look, you're still able to maximize what

40:09 you're getting out of Taylor Justice as

40:11 well. He had three trick plays last

40:13 night at first base. Has been especially

40:15 tricky at that position as of late. Both

40:18 Justice Hussein and Borf all had a trio

40:21 of trick plays last night for the Gator.

40:23 >> And Taylor Justice has six in the banana

40:25 ball open, which is tied a top up there

40:27 with Ryan Cox and Jordan Hussein through

40:29 two ball games for each squad.

40:31 >> Yeah, it just shows you how much Taylor

40:33 Justice has been grinding on those trick

40:35 plays. He is a student of the game and

40:37 as confident as anybody. Rightfully so

40:39 that whether he's behind the plate or at

40:41 first base, he's going to give you the

40:43 best chance to win, especially when it

40:45 comes to trying to earn the equalizer

40:46 point as the away team today on the home

40:49 squad trying to deny the equalizer point

40:52 for the Nanners. In the center of it

40:54 all, it's the Big H. 6 feet 7 in out of

40:58 Westlake Village, California. Chris

41:00 Clark the number three overall pick in

41:03 the inaugural Banana Ball player draft

41:05 and he has very much lived up to the

41:07 billing so far in his young career. A

41:09 guy who grew up under the toutelage of

41:11 Trevor Hoffman and Greg Maddox. A guy

41:14 who has a 102 RA, the best amongst any

41:17 starter in all of Banana Ball thus far

41:18 this year. A guy who was slated to start

41:20 throughout the week Friday night and

41:22 then we thought he was going to start

41:23 last night and then Brandon Pennington

41:24 said, "Brett, it's all going to work

41:26 out. 2 and 0. You get through those

41:28 first two games and then you get to give

41:30 it to the best starting pitcher in all

41:32 of Banana Ball. As you mentioned, Bo,

41:33 the third overall pick in the inaugural

41:35 Banana Ball player draft back in

41:36 November. And Chris Clark said this is

41:39 why he's here on this team for games in

41:42 moments like this afternoon.

41:47 Big boy at the top of the Banana

41:49 starting lineup opposing the monster on

41:52 the mound. to Dan Oburst coming off a to

41:55 force offensively last night with his

41:58 two home runs and a double.

41:59 Unfortunately, of course, made the final

42:01 out of the ball game on that

42:03 aforementioned two bagger. He's followed

42:04 by Reese Alexi, Max Young Goldberg. Then

42:07 the birthday boy cleaning it up in Kyle

42:09 Jackson with Bill Loy, Jackson Olsson,

42:12 Robert Anthony Cruz, Danny Hosley, Ty

42:14 Jackson, and Ryan Cox to round it out.

42:16 Look, Dan Obur is here to set the tone

42:17 for the bananas. That was certainly what

42:19 he did last night. 11 career games

42:21 batting lead off. Oburst has eight extra

42:24 base hits for the Savannah Bananas, but

42:26 again, they're going to need more out of

42:27 the other guys in this lineup. Alexiotis

42:30 was three for three on Thursday night.

42:32 They'd like to see more from him in

42:34 today's contest.

42:36 The Banana Ball Open is on the line this

42:39 afternoon. Time to crown a champion.

42:41 Before that, here's Jesse.

42:44 >> Banana Nation, it is time on three. We

42:47 need everyone here to yell start the

42:49 clock. 1 2 3

42:54 >> Showtime.

42:56 >> Showtime indeed.

42:59 The Bananas, the away team against the

43:01 Tailgator for only the second time in

43:03 the history of the sport.

43:08 As we get our grand finale of this

43:09 twoame set, bounding ball past the dive

43:12 of Barf Hussein from the outfield. Not

43:14 in time. Oburst runs very well and

43:17 follows up his three hit performance

43:19 last night with an infield single to get

43:21 us going.

43:23 >> That's a tough tough play deep in the

43:25 hole. I mean you see Jordan Hussein out

43:26 there in left field and as you mention

43:28 it Dan Over the big man but he moves

43:30 really really well down the line. Just

43:32 continues his great banana ball open.

43:34 His fourth hit thus far.

43:36 >> And look he's always a guy batting at

43:37 the top of the order. Not traditionally

43:39 in that leadoff spot but a guy who's

43:41 penciled in two, three or four in the

43:42 lineup. Oburst also very excellent base

43:46 runner and he had 40 stolen bases for

43:49 the bananas in his 2023 campaign.

43:52 >> See the 500 batting average for super re

43:55 select three for six came into this ball

43:58 game tied for Dan the team lead and

44:00 knocks but all three of those hits came

44:02 in his showman of the game performance

44:04 against the Indianapolis Clowns Friday

44:06 night. A couple doubles

44:11 and a big foul ball as the count evens

44:14 at two and two on the kid out out of

44:16 Manhattan Beach, California.

44:25 There goes Overburst

44:28 Porter. Perfect throw but no chance.

44:32 >> And swipe second and the count full on

44:34 Super Reese.

44:40 That was an incredible jump by Dan Over

44:43 right there. No shots you're ever going

44:44 to get him when he had that much of a

44:46 lead over there at first.

44:50 >> Payoff pitch foul tip into the mid of

44:52 Porter. Huge strike out there from

44:55 Clark.

44:56 >> In the same way it went in the first

44:57 inning against Reese Alexiotis last

44:59 weekend at UNC. A poache the first of

45:02 the afternoon for Chris Clark. Big old

45:04 number one just right by him there. Two

45:06 seamer breaking into Reese.

45:08 >> Yeah. Wound up striking out Alexi twice

45:11 in Chapel Hill last weekend. I mean when

45:13 you can neutralize one of the biggest

45:15 bats in this Bananas lineup, you are

45:17 doing something right. And the Tailgator

45:19 extremely glad that they can send Clark

45:21 out for this game.

45:23 Broken bat from Max Young Goldberg. He's

45:26 got a new weapon. See only hitting 242

45:29 so far in his young banana ball career.

45:32 the rookie but a 435 on base percentage

45:39 as Ober stands off second

45:43 and the count evens on MJG. Yeah, he was

45:45 brought in for his power to join this

45:47 banana squad. Still yet to homer in his

45:49 first 13 career games. He only had one

45:52 streak of 11 games last year. That was

45:55 his longest drought without a home run

45:57 for the Boise Hawks in the Pioneer

45:59 League.

46:06 Clark will step off trying to get on the

46:07 same page with his back stop.

46:11 >> Trip to the Rosin bag.

46:14 High pressure pitches for Chris Clark

46:17 with Oberus leading off second and one

46:19 out.

46:22 Foul ball

46:25 and no chance for Bar not caught by the

46:27 fans either.

46:31 Thought somebody over there at one of

46:32 those picnic tables was going to help

46:34 the tailgator out here in the top of the

46:36 first.

46:37 >> That's the best spot to get your foul

46:39 outs to fans in historic Grayson

46:41 Stadium. Ober off for third. Swinging a

46:43 miss. Throw from Porter. Not in time.

46:46 Jordan Bar was running off the field and

46:49 Dan Ober is coming home. No one's

46:50 covering home play. He will score. We'll

46:54 see the Tailgators will certainly

46:55 challenge the play at third base. Heads

46:58 up base running by the eight-year

47:00 veteran.

47:02 As Bar tossed the ball towards the

47:05 mound, Porter was off the field. He

47:07 scampered back and Ober may have stolen

47:10 a run. We'll see if this call gets

47:11 overturned at third base.

47:19 >> You think Connor Harris was happy about

47:20 Dan over base running there?

47:23 >> He was the first guy out to meet Dan.

47:25 really heads up base running and a real

47:29 rookie mistake from Jordan Bar. It does

47:31 not look like Joe Miklick or any of the

47:33 tailgators coaching staff intends to

47:35 challenge this play as just not

47:38 something that you can let happen. You

47:40 should never assume that you are going

47:41 to get the call from the umpire on any

47:44 kind of steal at any bag. Yeah, Chris

47:46 Clark was pretty upset. He was veheinly

47:48 asking for the challenge. But yeah,

47:50 Josh, to your point, you can never

47:52 assume that it's out or safe. You have

47:54 to wait for the call there. You can

47:55 never let a loose banana ball rolling

47:57 back into play. And for that, first run

47:58 scores for the bananas.

47:59 >> And it's not a traditional error, but

48:01 it's definitely an error on Jordan Bar

48:03 with the flip towards the mound. That's

48:06 why Dan Ober scores. That's his first

48:08 career banana ball error. He is so

48:09 sure-handed at third base.

48:12 >> Two balls in a strike on Kyle Jackson

48:14 here, celebrating his 24th birthday.

48:18 High-fly ball out to right. Jos Gonzalez

48:22 Jr. to the track and it's going to one

48:24 hop into the seats. Ground rule double

48:27 for KJ.

48:29 A birthday two Bagger. He thought it was

48:32 a home run. He still does and now he's

48:34 back to second.

48:39 Whoop. You can't tell. The Bananas

48:41 really intending to play hard in this

48:43 contest. You already saw it from Dan

48:45 Overs and Kyle Jackson not knowing that

48:48 that ball skipped over the wall. He was

48:50 going to try and get as many bases as

48:52 humanly possible. So, right now you're

48:54 seeing full green light special for the

48:56 Savannah Bananas.

48:57 >> And the wind gusting up to 11 and 19 m

49:00 an hour here in Savannah, Georgia today.

49:02 Could have seen that path Jose Brother

49:04 Gonzalez took because of that.

49:06 >> Foul ball from Bill Loy gets a piece of

49:08 his counterpart behind the dish.

49:12 And Trey Hudson, the crew chief, veteran

49:14 move, takes a walk out to the mound,

49:16 flip to Chris Clark. Give Taj a little

49:18 time. You know, Taj was back there

49:19 Friday night with Trey Hudson as well.

49:21 So, if there's one advantage the

49:22 tailgator have, it's that Trey has been

49:25 back there with Taj. Taj knows his

49:26 strikes on already this weekend. It was

49:28 a tight strike zone, but in general, it

49:30 seemed like a very fair strike zone

49:32 Friday night as Taylor Justice almost an

49:34 over the shoulder catch.

49:37 Just a step shy.

49:40 Heck of a hustle as it's an 02 count on

49:44 the 9-year Savannah Banana.

49:47 The Loy went for six in this Banana Ball

49:49 Open with a two-run double in walk-off

49:53 fashion back on Thursday night. KJ

49:56 dancing off second

50:00 and a flail and a miss. A trio of Ks for

50:03 Chris Clark,

50:05 but Dan Oburst, an infield single, two

50:08 stolen bases, comes in on the mental

50:10 mistake from Jordan Park. And the

50:12 Bananas have a chance at a point. Just

50:15 like last Sunday, Chris Clark strikes

50:17 out the side in the first. However,

50:18 doesn't strike him out in order. Great

50:20 base running there from Dan Over, the

50:22 best player on the field in my opinion

50:24 last night. Even in a losing effort,

50:25 produces the first run of the ball game

50:27 today for the Bananas.

50:28 >> And here's how the Nanners line it up

50:30 defensively. Identical for all three

50:33 games behind their starting pitcher,

50:35 Cruz, Alexi, and Hosley in the outfield.

50:38 Third to first, KJ Cox, Olsen, and MJG.

50:40 Laroy behind the dish. Ziggy the

50:42 designated fielder. And it's the glove

50:44 magician who's made the largest impact

50:46 of any Bananas defender in this Banana

50:48 Ball Open. Six trick plays at shortstop.

50:51 They are going to continue to lean on

50:53 him to try and earn that equalizer point

50:55 this afternoon. And let's get it on down

50:58 to Mr. Sam Bowman with the bananas

51:00 starting pitcher Cowboy Kyle Luig.

51:03 >> Yeah, thanks M. Kyle getting in some

51:04 throws here in the 100 years of Grayson

51:07 Stadium. Cowboy Kyle Luig has never been

51:10 the away pitcher. Kyle, is there a

51:12 change in mentality, a change in

51:13 approach knowing that?

51:15 >> Uh, just trying to set up my guys

51:16 through win. It is weird, you know, my

51:18 ninth year thinking about being a

51:20 visiting um player on a visiting team

51:22 here. Uh, but I don't think there's a

51:23 wheel of misfortune up there. So, I feel

51:25 pretty good about today, boys.

51:27 >> He's feeling confident. So, you're

51:28 saying you would prefer not to have the

51:30 wheel of misfortune in play today, Kyle?

51:33 >> Uh, in my perfect world, uh, yeah, but

51:35 like that's a fantasy world that I live

51:38 in, so like I mean it might be somewhere

51:39 up there. Uh, but there was a guy with

51:42 uh his lassos on fire. I'll probably go

51:45 light that thing on fire and then light

51:46 the whole thing on fire.

51:48 >> Kyle's ready to burn it down tonight,

51:49 guys. Let's see what he can do. It's a

51:51 visiting pitcher. Hey, who's that guy?

51:52 Happy birthday, KJ.

51:54 >> Thank you, Sam Bowman. Well, I've never

51:56 heard of the wheel of misfortune. I

51:57 don't even know what that is. But we

51:59 also don't have the wheel of unfortunate

52:00 up here. So, Kyle's good in that regard

52:02 as well. Classic cowboy Kyle

52:08 here in his ninth tour. And as you can

52:10 see, first ever start as a visitor.

52:12 >> Yeah. And you see the career numbers in

52:13 Grayson Stadium. Kyle, a 9-2 lifetime

52:16 record in this ballpark. 99 career

52:19 strikeouts here in Grayson Stadium as

52:22 well. And 58.3%

52:24 of his outs this season have included a

52:26 trick play. That's the highest rate of

52:29 any Bananas pitcher.

52:32 >> Same one through 10 for Joe Molick in

52:34 company for a third straight game in the

52:36 open. Nick Lopez at the top. Then it's

52:39 brother Kmart JB.

52:43 And you'll find out the rest in due

52:44 time. We're playing banana ball. Fast

52:46 ball up and out. The switch hitting

52:49 designated hitter. Two for six. Three

52:51 ball for sprints. So far in the open. He

52:53 has been doing his job to the best of

52:55 his ability. Setting the table for the

52:57 big boppers. Robert Anthony Cruz

53:00 backflip catch. A remarkable one.

53:04 Wild flipping action from Rack. And he

53:08 didn't necessarily get to settle

53:10 underneath that banana ball as much as

53:12 he would have liked. It's very similar

53:14 to what we saw last night. He's catching

53:16 that banana ball at his side. Missed the

53:19 trick play against the tailgator a night

53:21 ago. Lands it this afternoon for the

53:24 first trick play of the ball game.

53:29 Welcome to Banana Ball. You ever been

53:30 one of those used car dealerships with

53:32 those things out front that are just

53:33 flailing around? That's what rack looked

53:35 like right there.

53:36 >> The wacky wavy inflatable arm guys.

53:40 >> It's one of my go-to dance moves at

53:42 weddings. Ball in a strike on Jose

53:44 Gonzalez Jr.

53:46 The banana ball rookie. 10th round draft

53:49 pick for the tailgator. Absolutely

53:52 fantastic thus far.

53:56 Only one hit so far and seven at bats in

53:59 the open, but a pair of ball four

54:01 sprints. He's been doing a good job

54:02 reaching base as well.

54:10 >> Cowboy Kyle Luig strikes out his former

54:13 collegiate bananas teammate for out

54:15 number two.

54:19 The

54:20 >> biggest thing for the tailgator this

54:21 year has been strikeouts. They've struck

54:23 out 18 times in two games in the open

54:25 seven times last night. And again, Josh,

54:27 we sound like a broken record. Up and

54:29 out of the zone. These tailgators are

54:31 going to chase it. Kyle right there.

54:32 Beautiful two simmer to get that strike

54:33 out.

54:33 >> Yeah, again the elevated heater is

54:35 something that works oh so well as this

54:37 one's chopped. Olson, he fields through

54:40 his legs, flips it under the legs as

54:42 well. It's a second trick play in the

54:45 inning. A point on the board for the

54:47 Bananas and a 1 minute and 55 second

54:51 inning from the 9-year vet. So

54:54 back-to-back games in this open final.

54:56 The away team strikes first.

55:01 And what a treat we have. Brett Loftess,

55:04 you've got a little something something

55:05 for the fans.

55:06 >> Chris Clark has 10 baseball cards,

55:10 banana ball cards that he has made. And

55:12 I have actually one of 10 in my hand.

55:15 It's a authentic Chris Clark Texas

55:18 Tailgator card that he has signed. And I

55:22 think if Chad Reese is correct here,

55:24 we're going to be giving this thing

55:25 away. That's what my producer is telling

55:26 me in my ear. Look at this thing right

55:29 here. Bo is going to be my backdrop, I

55:31 think. Here. There we go. Look at that.

55:33 Zoom in on that thing if we can in the

55:34 control room. You see that signature up

55:36 there? It's in this nice sleeve. And we

55:38 are going to give this away in the chat.

55:41 Is that correct, Chad Reese? We're going

55:42 to be giving this away in the chat. So

55:45 again, if you would like this, please

55:47 comment in the chat there. Type code

55:50 Clark to enter this giveaway. Look at

55:51 that beautiful signature. Only ones I

55:53 know that is better is Josh Tilfki and I

55:55 see on his Twitter page on the bottom of

55:56 every scorebook or X, excuse me, as it

55:59 is known. But yes, you can comment Clark

56:01 in the chat to win this Chris Clark

56:03 card.

56:04 >> I really don't think that my signature

56:06 should be compared to these guys.

56:09 In artistry, you're at the top of your

56:11 craft. Mr. Tleski,

56:14 as good as they get. Even a guy who

56:17 spent seven years in minor league

56:18 baseball getting up to AAA like Chris

56:21 Clark, he was knocking on the door of

56:23 the bigs

56:24 ended up being injuries that kept him

56:27 from getting to the top level of

56:29 baseball in the entire earth. I mean,

56:32 when you're a rule five draft pick,

56:34 which Chris Clark was in 2021 by the

56:36 Seattle Mariners, you're talking top 10%

56:38 if maybe lower than that pitchers that

56:41 have ever been birthed on this earth

56:43 that have ever picked up a baseball. And

56:45 now here in banana ball is obviously

56:47 translated. Unfortunately, that E5 there

56:49 from Jordan Bar conceded a a run that

56:51 led to a point for the Bananas there in

56:53 that first frame.

56:54 >> And Jackson Olsen big swing and a miss

56:57 at the first offering from Clark. Olsson

57:00 rack and Hosley here in the top of the

57:02 second inning.

57:05 That is a beautiful cutter bearing in on

57:07 a lefty. Tough pitch

57:10 to try and get a piece of a bounce from

57:12 Clark off the mound. Fast ball runs in

57:15 and it's a nine pitch mix. It's not

57:17 enough to throw 90 to 95 miles an hour.

57:21 He just told Jackie what's coming. He

57:23 said, "I'm going to give you a back foot

57:24 slider." And he struck him out on it

57:26 anyway.

57:28 the stakes of this ball game. It big CC

57:31 hitting the floss. His fourth strike out

57:33 already. He tipped his pitch and said,

57:36 "Hit it if you can, Mr. Olsen."

57:43 >> Now, Robert Anthony Cruz a little

57:46 clunker to the right side. Wow, Jonathan

57:48 Lutters. How the heck did he get a trick

57:50 play on that? Whipping it between the

57:51 legs. I mean, all that guy does in

57:53 practice is try and get those between

57:56 the legs transfers as quickly as

57:59 possible. And you see it, it is

58:01 lightning fast for Looters. The way he

58:03 already has his hands positioned to go

58:06 through the legs is what makes the

58:08 difference in him earning the Tailgator

58:10 their first trick play today.

58:15 33 trick plays in the regular season.

58:17 Looters will be leading all fielders

58:19 when we resume the regular season next

58:22 weekend. And now five trick plays here

58:26 in the open. Chris Clark gets himself a

58:29 trick play as well. And a one two three

58:31 bounceback inning for the Tailgator Ace.

58:37 >> And a minute and 35 second inning for

58:40 Chris Clark. That is incredible stuff.

58:43 Two trick plays there for the Texas

58:46 Tailgator. And even more important, just

58:48 26 pitches after a 19 pitch first inning

58:52 for Chris Clark.

58:53 >> But 32 years ago, Forest Gump was shot

58:57 here. One of the greatest movies of all

58:59 time. And we're going to do a little bit

59:00 of Forest Gump challenge here. A little

59:02 Forest Gump casting for the future

59:04 Forest Gump. And we're going to see. We

59:07 got two contestants and see how far they

59:09 can run out to center field. The first

59:12 one out there that runs like Forest will

59:14 be the winner. Your name?

59:16 >> Travis.

59:17 >> Greg.

59:18 >> Do you guys think you have what it

59:19 takes? All right, it is Travis versus

59:23 Gray. You guys ready? All the way to

59:26 385. On your mark, get set, go.

59:33 And here they go.

59:36 It's a tie so far. Travis and Gray. It

59:40 looks like Gray's jumping ahead.

59:43 Travis is behind.

59:46 Gray's in the lead. But here comes

59:48 Travis.

59:50 Here comes Travis.

59:53 Gray celebrating.

59:56 But Travis is still going.

1:00:01 He's still going.

1:00:04 He is now out of the stadium.

1:00:08 He's not done yet.

1:00:13 He's still going.

1:00:17 >> He's going down. All right.

1:00:21 And we've lost him. The winner. And it's

1:00:23 not even close. Let's hear it for

1:00:25 Travis.

1:00:29 >> How about the endurance on that cat?

1:00:32 >> He was chugging.

1:00:33 >> Forest Gump is my all-time favorite

1:00:35 movie, bar none.

1:00:37 That's my That's one of my favorite

1:00:38 promos we've ever done here in Banana

1:00:40 Land.

1:00:41 >> Cars Gump. One of my favorites. It was

1:00:43 my all-time favorite movie in fourth

1:00:45 grade. Wow. Maybe even held up all the

1:00:47 way through like sixth grade and then

1:00:50 The Lord of the Rings was beforehand.

1:00:51 The Lord of the Rings took back over.

1:00:53 >> So, you're telling me I have the mind of

1:00:54 a fourth grader? That's what you're

1:00:56 telling me right now?

1:00:57 >> No, you don't.

1:00:57 >> It's still one of my favorite films.

1:01:01 >> Not in this regard.

1:01:03 >> I'm joking. I'm joking.

1:01:05 >> I'm joking. Give me that.

1:01:08 >> Jordan Bar bouncing to third. KJ says,

1:01:10 "Give me that." Flip across the diamond

1:01:12 in time. Takes care of his counterpart

1:01:14 at the hot corner. And one pitch, one

1:01:16 out for Cowboy Kyle.

1:01:20 >> High chop that that banana ball takes on

1:01:22 the turf. Kyle Jackson feels it so high.

1:01:25 It's a little tough to then try and go

1:01:27 between the legs. I'm not sure if he was

1:01:29 necessarily thinking about a behind the

1:01:31 back transition there. Either way,

1:01:33 you're not up a run in this inning. So

1:01:35 you don't want to put the lead off man

1:01:37 on. You see a lot of times you they're a

1:01:39 little more conservative the players

1:01:41 with zero outs and then with two outs

1:01:44 and either no one on with zero outs guys

1:01:47 on base with two outs.

1:01:50 >> Bill Loy catching on a bench.

1:01:53 >> I just noticed that.

1:01:55 >> The the forest gut bench that we just

1:01:57 used for that promo. He had to reach

1:01:58 down and pull that one almost off the

1:02:00 turf. Called strike

1:02:02 >> swing and a miss. Taj Porter down

1:02:04 swinging. Kyle Luig his career 101st

1:02:09 strikeout as a Savannah Banana in

1:02:11 Grayson Stadium playing banana ball

1:02:18 >> on the same pitch he got brother on in

1:02:20 the first. Yeah. And Bill just gets to

1:02:22 sit there and receive it all nice and

1:02:24 easy on that bench. I'm telling you, I

1:02:26 remember when Eric Jones Jr. was

1:02:28 catching on the toilet in Columbus, Ohio

1:02:31 in 2024. Th this bench. I mean, it's

1:02:34 pretty fun as well.

1:02:36 >> Oh, banana ball is a silly world to live

1:02:38 in. A ball and a strike on Taylor

1:02:40 Justice.

1:02:42 2022 collegiate banana. 2024 visitor.

1:02:45 This is year two on the tailgator.

1:02:49 And Justice, as you can see by that 400

1:02:52 batting average next to his name, tops

1:02:54 on the tailgator. Boy, he's been an

1:02:56 offensive force. Top three in the sport

1:02:58 in OPS on base percentage plus slugging.

1:03:02 as he drives this one deep out to right

1:03:05 but not deep enough. Danny Hosley behind

1:03:07 the back. Smooth as silk. Snow cone. And

1:03:10 it tastes so good as Luig has retired

1:03:12 all six. And he's doing it in a very

1:03:16 efficient fashion. Getting to sit next

1:03:18 to his battery mate Bill Laoy and enjoy

1:03:21 a twominute inning that follows the 155

1:03:25 mark he posted in the first.

1:03:30 >> Hley his second trick play of the open.

1:03:35 And what a pleasure it is

1:03:38 >> with the one- nothing Bananas lead going

1:03:40 to the top of the third inning to

1:03:41 welcome in the tailgator third baseman

1:03:44 Jordan Bar after a heck of a performance

1:03:46 last night. JB, you get to make the

1:03:48 final out of the ball game, the Deak of

1:03:50 Dan Oburst. How much fun are you having

1:03:52 in banana ball right now?

1:03:53 >> Uh, it's a lot of fun. You know, show up

1:03:55 every day. It's hard to be in a bad mood

1:03:57 when you're playing banana ball every

1:03:58 day for a living.

1:04:00 Jordan Bar, we we just talked about it,

1:04:02 but we're going to talk about a little

1:04:03 bit more because the people are going to

1:04:05 watch it at home last night. Two hit

1:04:07 ball game from you. A long ball that was

1:04:10 beautiful. We had the upcam on a long

1:04:12 ball. I lost my mind when I went back

1:04:13 and watched that inside out. That single

1:04:16 you had was opposite field as well.

1:04:18 Three trick plays from you. What was

1:04:20 that approach? Cuz you've been a very

1:04:21 pull heavy guy this year going inside

1:04:23 out a lot last night.

1:04:24 >> Yeah, when I'm when I'm going best at

1:04:26 the plate is I'm going to right center.

1:04:28 That's kind of where where I was in

1:04:30 spring training and I haven't really

1:04:31 been there the last couple weeks. So,

1:04:33 just really thinking that way and

1:04:35 getting my pitch to hit. I think a lot

1:04:36 of the at bats I've been getting to two

1:04:38 strikes too. So,

1:04:41 you got the big boy Chris Clark on the

1:04:43 mound trailing by one point. Ty Jackson,

1:04:46 Ryan Cox at the bottom of the order and

1:04:48 then Dan Ober at the top. What's it like

1:04:50 getting to play the hot corner with

1:04:52 Chris Clark at the center of the

1:04:53 diamond? I mean, you're probably going

1:04:55 to get weak contact, so I'm always ready

1:04:57 to run in. Just dead sprint in. Maybe

1:04:59 rip off the glove. And

1:05:01 >> you get to watch a lot of strikeouts.

1:05:02 >> Yeah, that too. I'm always ready for

1:05:04 around the home, but we don't do that

1:05:05 anymore.

1:05:05 >> Right.

1:05:06 >> Little shadow ball for you.

1:05:08 >> Yeah.

1:05:09 >> Last night, you told me when you hit

1:05:10 that home run, and we had already seen

1:05:12 it. Garrett Delena, one of your best

1:05:14 friends in life, was up in the tree

1:05:16 stand. Did uh he have anything nice to

1:05:18 say to you about that?

1:05:19 >> Yeah. Actually came out the next inning,

1:05:21 and he had his arms pumping in the air.

1:05:22 So, that was pretty cool. He was pumped.

1:05:24 >> How many home runs are you going to hit

1:05:26 off of him this year?

1:05:27 >> Uh, God, I would love just one, but two

1:05:30 or three would be cool, too.

1:05:32 >> First NFL home run, though, last night.

1:05:34 We mentioned it. What was that feeling

1:05:35 like to finally go yard in this sport?

1:05:37 >> Incredible. I mean, finally. It feels

1:05:40 like it's been about two years since I

1:05:42 hit a home run. So,

1:05:43 >> it's just since February, been that

1:05:45 long. You hit one in the secret pill

1:05:46 game. Obviously, those stats didn't

1:05:48 count for anything.

1:05:50 No, any anything to obviously get the

1:05:52 tailgator on top. I'm pretty pumped up

1:05:54 to do it. So,

1:05:55 >> Ty Jackson trying to figure out his left

1:05:58 hand from right hand. I believe Chris

1:06:00 Clark threw him a ball. I think he was

1:06:02 trying to figure out what Tai was up to

1:06:03 as well as pours a strike in.

1:06:07 >> Definitely a high chopper coming in.

1:06:13 >> Let's see. Is Jordan Barn no Stradamus?

1:06:15 That was a good looking fast ball. Trey

1:06:18 Hudson said it missed just a hair down.

1:06:20 >> He's been great. He's been great back

1:06:22 there.

1:06:27 >> It's definitely a very professional

1:06:29 strike zone. And as long as you're

1:06:30 consistent, you got to be thrilled as a

1:06:31 hitter, right?

1:06:32 >> That's right.

1:06:35 >> 3-1.

1:06:38 >> Ty Jackson trying to hit it to the fire

1:06:40 station.

1:06:42 >> Jimmy, I think you either got a strike

1:06:43 out or a trick play coming to you here.

1:06:46 Oh.

1:06:48 Maybe a foul out to the fans.

1:06:50 >> Uh-oh.

1:06:52 >> Great effort.

1:06:55 >> And that's all you can ask for.

1:06:56 >> That's right.

1:06:58 >> So, we'll get another payoff

1:07:01 for Clark to tie two fly opening up this

1:07:04 third frame.

1:07:09 >> Swing and a miss.

1:07:12 >> A boy.

1:07:14 >> Strike out number five. I told you,

1:07:16 Jordan Bart, there's a strike out or a

1:07:18 trick play coming at you. Another two

1:07:20 seamer just running in there.

1:07:22 >> Told you I was ready for round the horn.

1:07:24 But

1:07:26 >> Chris doing a little up down up down out

1:07:27 there on the bottom. You know, my

1:07:29 grandmother, she would tell me if I had

1:07:31 on shoes as colorful as yours, JB. She

1:07:33 called them sneaker bots. You got to

1:07:34 tell me the story behind those sneaker

1:07:36 bots here this afternoon. Uh we had a

1:07:38 appearance in Fris our first week or

1:07:41 technically second weekend and we went

1:07:43 to a Shields and these were on sale and

1:07:46 they gave us a little discount too. So I

1:07:48 got these Spider-Man cleats for like 30

1:07:50 bucks and I figured they'd go great with

1:07:52 our USA unis or Texas unis.

1:07:54 >> You know last night we're talking about

1:07:55 sporting goods store shields came up

1:07:56 Midwest deal. You're from Minnesota

1:07:59 living in South Dakota for a while. What

1:08:01 has been the adjustment to playing in in

1:08:03 Georgia and Savannah and representing

1:08:04 the state of Texas? Uh, well, it's hot

1:08:06 in January, February, March, and I don't

1:08:10 have a winter coat on walking my dog in

1:08:11 the snow. So,

1:08:13 >> bounding ball. Jonathan Lutters between

1:08:16 the legs, grabs his second trick play.

1:08:19 >> You saw Justice trying to eye up maybe a

1:08:21 double trick play just thrown out right

1:08:23 in the perfect spot for it.

1:08:24 >> TJ's been incredible at first base this

1:08:27 year. Incredible.

1:08:30 Well, Jordan, I think it's safe to say

1:08:31 that you played a pretty big role in the

1:08:33 fact that the tailgator is leading every

1:08:35 team in trick place this season. What do

1:08:37 you attribute to the early success that

1:08:39 you found in your career? Uh being awful

1:08:43 in spring training and taking extra time

1:08:46 to figure it out. Uh I was absolutely

1:08:48 brutal in spring training with trick

1:08:50 play. So, kind of focusing in and

1:08:53 obviously I show up to the field and get

1:08:55 my work in at the in the cage and

1:08:57 everything, but trick plays is it's a

1:08:59 whole different ball game out here.

1:09:01 >> The people are asking JB, what's up with

1:09:03 the dab? That was 11 years ago is what

1:09:05 they're saying. But you brought it back

1:09:06 this year to banana ball. What's up with

1:09:08 you dabbing all the time? I was trying

1:09:10 to think of again in spring training

1:09:12 something easy I could do and bring back

1:09:14 and that's just something super easy

1:09:16 that I can do and it get it gets it gets

1:09:19 the people going. Oh yeah. See you trick

1:09:22 play. Oh come on

1:09:26 >> bucket bucket between the legs Tom

1:09:29 Porter Tempor Justice and a five to3

1:09:33 trick play lead. Jordan Bart I love you

1:09:36 Pooky Bear.

1:09:36 >> I love you guys. You guys are the best.

1:09:39 See you, Jordan. Let's get it down to

1:09:41 Jolie Chabala.

1:09:43 >> Chabala.

1:09:45 >> Across the United States, there are over

1:09:48 400,000 children and teens in foster

1:09:51 care without a permanent home. To raise

1:09:53 awareness and support this community, we

1:09:56 created Bananas Foster, the official

1:09:58 nonprofit of Banana Ball. Our

1:10:01 organization is dedicated to celebrating

1:10:03 the foster care community while

1:10:05 educating and inspiring others to get

1:10:08 involved. Today we are celebrating the

1:10:11 Garcia family. This family heard about

1:10:14 the need for more foster families and

1:10:17 the fact that children are often

1:10:19 separated by their siblings while in

1:10:22 care. They became licensed nine years

1:10:25 ago and are dedicated to keeping

1:10:28 siblings together in their home. In

1:10:31 total, they have welcomed 24 children

1:10:34 and teens and adopted five into their

1:10:38 family, all of which are siblings. Fans,

1:10:42 please welcome to the field the Garcia

1:10:45 family for making a difference right

1:10:46 here in our community.

1:10:59 I walk through all of you.

1:11:24 Let's hear it one more time for our

1:11:26 Bananas Foster family of the game, the

1:11:29 Garcia family.

1:11:32 Well, another ginormous shout out to the

1:11:34 Garcia family

1:11:37 representing a massive part of what

1:11:39 foster care is all about. They're

1:11:41 passionate about keeping siblings

1:11:44 together. Such an integral part of

1:11:46 foster care and welcoming 24 different

1:11:49 children into their home, adopting five

1:11:51 children into their family, all of them

1:11:54 siblings.

1:11:57 It's beautiful.

1:12:00 Absolute chills. gets you choked up in

1:12:03 the booth when your job is to talk.

1:12:05 Power right on through.

1:12:08 And blessed to get to watch and listen

1:12:10 to the banana band blast away.

1:12:15 That's a veteran manana Marty right

1:12:17 there back in Grayson Stadium. One of

1:12:20 the original mananas playing the kazoo

1:12:23 with Neil Dylan and the banana band. Got

1:12:26 on a green bananas hat, too. That's how

1:12:28 you know he's an OG man.

1:12:31 had a wonderful retirement ceremony last

1:12:33 year. Can't keep that guy out of banana

1:12:36 land.

1:12:39 Rocking the Bill Loy jersey. Makes

1:12:41 sense.

1:12:46 Nick blasting that trumpet away right

1:12:48 next to Ty Jackson's parents

1:12:52 as we head to the bottom of the third

1:12:54 inning. 789 due to swing it for the

1:12:57 tailgator.

1:12:59 trying to figure out how to reach base

1:13:01 against Cowboy Kyle Luig. Mack Danford

1:13:06 first to try and solve the puzzle.

1:13:08 That's a highf fly ball to right. Danny

1:13:10 Hosley roaming over. Catch on the run.

1:13:14 Two pitches and one out for Kyle Lug who

1:13:17 has retired all seven tailgators he's

1:13:19 faced.

1:13:21 >> Talk about that hot streak that Mack was

1:13:23 on in the regular season coming into the

1:13:24 Banana Ball Open. Still just a one hit

1:13:27 thus far as an extra base hit on Friday

1:13:29 night. And again trying to get back into

1:13:31 the right category. Him and Taylor

1:13:32 Justice falling a little bit cold here

1:13:34 in the middle of this lineup for the

1:13:35 Tailgator. Zack Watson ground ball to

1:13:37 Ryan Cox between the legs and Ziggy does

1:13:40 the same at first. The Keystone State

1:13:43 Connection strikes again. Double trick

1:13:46 play to not us up at five trick plays a

1:13:48 piece. You had to know with the banana

1:13:50 sing the tailgator go up two trick

1:13:52 plays. They put Alex Ziegler in at first

1:13:55 base. He was going to try and do

1:13:56 something special. Cox and Ziggy had a

1:13:59 double trick play last night. Now they

1:14:01 do it for a second straight game and the

1:14:04 Cowboy Kyle's benefit.

1:14:08 Jason Art fouls off the curveball

1:14:12 and will get himself a pre-show before

1:14:15 the

1:14:15 >> 01.

1:14:28 swing and a miss. Goes to the slider

1:14:30 after the 322 dance. Bill Loy was on the

1:14:33 phone.

1:14:35 >> I love ASAP Ferg.

1:14:38 >> Guy knows how to give us a bop.

1:14:42 >> 02 goes right back to the bender. Bill's

1:14:45 frame unsuccessful.

1:14:48 Can't quite comprehend why. Pitch looked

1:14:51 great to me.

1:14:55 >> Jason Arin two for 10 in the open with

1:14:57 the twoagger. The one-two

1:15:01 laced down the right field line. This is

1:15:03 big time trouble. One hop and up against

1:15:06 the wall. Hosley fires in as Aren has

1:15:09 his second double of the open and the

1:15:11 first hit this afternoon for the

1:15:13 Tailgator. I was talking to Jason Art

1:15:15 this morning out in the cages and he

1:15:18 told me he said I've been seeing beach

1:15:19 balls right now. He said I I don't know

1:15:20 what it is. He said I I feel a little

1:15:22 bit thinner. He's been jumping a lot

1:15:24 more. He's been doing a lot of like that

1:15:25 that palisthenics pyrothenics. What is

1:15:27 it called? I don't know. Some some kind

1:15:29 of jumping around exercises, losing some

1:15:31 weight.

1:15:31 >> Pyrochnics.

1:15:32 >> Thank you. And he said he's just been

1:15:34 able to see the ball a lot better. And

1:15:35 it's really helping his swing and it

1:15:36 continues to to obviously translate here

1:15:38 for the tailgator.

1:15:40 >> First high pressure moment for Kyle

1:15:41 Lewig. inning winning run on second as

1:15:44 that one scorched. Diving stop Ryan Cox

1:15:47 across the diamond in time to take care

1:15:49 of Jordan Hussein and save the inning

1:15:52 for the Bananas. Not only does the glove

1:15:54 magician come away with the trick play

1:15:56 in the inning, but it is an inning

1:15:59 saving play as well against Jordan

1:16:01 Hussein. A laser beam up the middle and

1:16:04 Ryan Cox showing off the range and the

1:16:07 arm to keep it a 10 Nanners lead.

1:16:18 year.

1:16:20 >> Hey, Rex.

1:16:21 >> Oh, my bad. My bad, guys. I I've been If

1:16:24 you guys have been wondering where

1:16:25 Indiana Stanley is cuz he's not in

1:16:26 uniform. This is Indie. Andy, what's the

1:16:28 inspiration behind the get up here? Like

1:16:31 a grid iron mentality out here in the

1:16:32 Banana Ball Open.

1:16:33 >> So, um I just I I hit the back of my

1:16:36 head the other day and I got a

1:16:37 concussion. So, if I'm wearing a helmet,

1:16:39 the chances of me getting a concussion

1:16:40 doing something stupid are pretty small

1:16:43 because it's a good helmet. Like, it's

1:16:44 real secure. So, I've been wearing it

1:16:46 all day so I can go around and do cool

1:16:48 stuff. See, Indique will do anything to

1:16:50 be out there for his team and my for his

1:16:52 teammates. You know what it's like to

1:16:53 dog pile couple years ago, win it all.

1:16:56 How can this team, your Texas tailgator,

1:16:58 can they dog pile here later on this

1:16:59 year?

1:16:59 >> Uh, keep doing the same thing that

1:17:01 they're doing cuz they're all dogs.

1:17:02 Every single one of us. It sucks that

1:17:04 we've been getting injured and stuff

1:17:05 like that, but everyone that's been

1:17:06 taking over for all the injuries have

1:17:07 been excellent. We're the We're the

1:17:10 boys.

1:17:11 >> Hey, look, there are the boys grid iron

1:17:12 indies ready to get out on the field. We

1:17:13 can't wait to see you back in a baseball

1:17:15 banana ball uniform here, Indie. But

1:17:16 guys, back up to you.

1:17:18 >> Thank you very much, Rex.

1:17:21 Hopefully, Indiana Stanley back in on

1:17:23 the action this coming weekend

1:17:28 >> in high spirits. Says he feels

1:17:30 fantastic. That's the important part.

1:17:32 I'd feel fantastic, too, if I had on a

1:17:34 football helmet and joggers with no

1:17:36 shirt on. Mind you, I had an eight pack

1:17:38 on my stomach. I'd feel really good. But

1:17:39 yeah, Indy's been out here, been taking

1:17:41 fly balls the past couple days. Been

1:17:43 running around and and is feeling

1:17:44 really, really good. Obviously, not

1:17:46 quite officially cleared yet, but good

1:17:47 to see that Indy's in good spirits and

1:17:49 good enough to be out here with us today

1:17:51 cheering on his tailgator.

1:17:52 >> We talked to Brian Chopare, the Texas

1:17:55 Tailgator athletic trainer, earlier

1:17:57 today. He said you're at the stage of

1:17:59 concussion protocol where it's just an

1:18:01 abundance of caution and Indie almost

1:18:04 definitely. Same with Jacob Pipper. Both

1:18:05 guys could be playing this weekend, but

1:18:07 you really want to be extra sure 110% as

1:18:11 they say that the guys are ready to

1:18:14 rumble.

1:18:16 Two, three, and four in the lineup for

1:18:18 the Bananas here in the top of the

1:18:21 fourth inning. Reese selects the popped

1:18:22 to the right side. Jonathan Lutters

1:18:25 popping it off his glove and another tip

1:18:28 as it's going to go from Justice into

1:18:30 the hat of Jos Gonzalez Jr. How about

1:18:34 that 439 double trick play.

1:18:36 >> Book it. Book it. We hadn't seen one of

1:18:38 those this year. You've seen the one tip

1:18:40 into a hat. Tip tip hat. How about that

1:18:42 from brother able to snag that one out

1:18:44 of the sky.

1:18:53 Max Young Goldberg just like Alexi Otis

1:18:55 before him a strike out his first time

1:19:00 and as you can see every single out for

1:19:02 the Tailgator defensively. Either a

1:19:04 Chris Clark strikeout or a trick play in

1:19:06 the field.

1:19:08 >> That's good.

1:19:08 >> Making the most of their opportunities.

1:19:10 >> They've clearly got the right mindset

1:19:12 and this has kind of been the approach

1:19:13 the whole season for them.

1:19:16 >> That is incredibly painful as you can

1:19:19 see. Maxon Goldberg fouls that. It looks

1:19:21 like it got him on the inner thigh.

1:19:26 >> Ooh.

1:19:26 >> Oh, right off the knee. It looks like

1:19:30 >> now that is scary.

1:19:33 >> You know, you're starting to see guys,

1:19:34 more and more guys at the major league

1:19:36 level wearing that knee protection

1:19:38 because of that same thing, the foul off

1:19:40 there. Hopefully Max will be okay and be

1:19:42 able to stay in this ball game.

1:19:45 Francis Gilbert taking a look at the

1:19:48 Banana's first baseman.

1:19:54 >> And the two-hour timer stops for

1:19:56 injuries in Banana Ball. It's the only

1:19:59 thing that can stop the clock outside of

1:20:02 the weather delay.

1:20:08 We hope the really talented Max Young

1:20:11 Goldberg kid out of Palo Alto,

1:20:12 California. for the Nanner's second

1:20:14 round draft pick.

1:20:17 Coming off setting the Pioneer League

1:20:19 RBI record, 130 stakes last year with

1:20:22 the Boise Hawks. Just an absolutely

1:20:26 ridiculous season across 94 games.

1:20:32 It was the perfect swang song for his

1:20:34 independent professional baseball career

1:20:37 that lasted those two years out in

1:20:39 Boise, Idaho.

1:20:43 came into banana ball. Spent this past

1:20:45 fall actually out in the Baseball United

1:20:49 League

1:20:51 playing for the Karach Monarchs in Dubai

1:20:54 over in the UA

1:20:57 UAE

1:20:59 as Young Goldberg limping off the field.

1:21:06 Just hoping it's not more serious than

1:21:08 real bad bruise on the knee.

1:21:12 as it's going to be Eastston Parish who

1:21:14 takes this place. So, the Banana seventh

1:21:16 round draft pick

1:21:18 >> out of Leveria, Texas comes in to take

1:21:21 the spot of their second round draft

1:21:22 pick.

1:21:26 There only three position players

1:21:27 selected by the Bananas in the inaugural

1:21:30 player draft last November.

1:21:33 Harish was the second grab.

1:21:39 Big swing and a miss count quickly one

1:21:42 and two and Paris pulled a cover off the

1:21:44 ball at St. Mary's University out in San

1:21:46 Antonio last spring 1.022 022 OPS

1:21:52 and gets two fast balls. Cannot connect.

1:21:54 Adopting a 1-1 count. Goes down

1:21:57 swinging. Chris Clark 7ks now.

1:21:59 >> That trend continues. Trick player

1:22:01 strikeout have been all the outs that he

1:22:03 has recorded today. That time going with

1:22:05 his cutter. Hadn't seen that pitch too

1:22:06 much. Gets the strike out there.

1:22:08 >> And that's just a tough situation for

1:22:10 Eastman Parish to find himself inserted

1:22:12 into taking over a 1-1 count. Chris

1:22:15 Clark with such an excellent command of

1:22:17 the strike zone challenging him

1:22:19 immediately. And now up to Eastston

1:22:21 Parish to try and get himself warm the

1:22:24 rest of this game as doesn't look likely

1:22:26 that we'll see a return from Young

1:22:28 Goldberg.

1:22:29 >> Also worthy to note with the first base

1:22:31 position. We could end up now seeing

1:22:33 Alex Ziegler now extend out. Usually

1:22:35 he's been playing those middle innings

1:22:36 as the designated fielder could see him

1:22:38 extend out at first through the entirety

1:22:40 of this ball game.

1:22:43 Quick O2 count on Kyle Jackson as we

1:22:46 talked about earlier turning 24 years

1:22:48 old today and a happy birthday to

1:22:51 Daltton Cornet and Jackie Bradley Jr. as

1:22:53 well

1:22:55 turning 28 and 36 respectively. Chris

1:22:57 Clark downright dominant. That is 10

1:23:01 straight Savannah Bananas retired. He

1:23:03 has eight strikeouts and is fired up and

1:23:06 he's doing it efficiently. 49 pitches

1:23:08 through four innings. They're going to

1:23:10 ride CC as long as they possibly can.

1:23:13 Need some help from his offense though

1:23:14 cuz cowboy Cal has been matching him

1:23:17 band for band right now. But before the

1:23:19 boys in the Texas tailgators can swing

1:23:21 them. Let's do a little hey baby.

1:23:24 >> Beautiful crowd today, huh Jesse Cole?

1:23:26 Let's get him even more amped up.

1:23:28 >> You got that right. You guys are

1:23:29 rocking. It is tradition time here in

1:23:31 Manland. So I need everyone on your

1:23:34 feet.

1:23:36 Everyone here on your feet. We're going

1:23:38 to pump this energy up and get it going

1:23:40 here

1:23:42 >> with a little Hey, baby. So, let's get

1:23:44 those hands in the air. Hands all the

1:23:47 way up. All the way around the stadium

1:23:49 and get them clapping. Here we go.

1:23:50 Shark.

1:23:53 Clap those hands.

1:23:59 Oh, you guys look good.

1:24:02 Now, let's get those arms waving. Here

1:24:04 we go.

1:24:17 Keep it going. Keep those hands up.

1:24:31 >> Now, keep it clapping as we

1:24:45 Now let me hear you sing it.

1:24:59 >> One more time. Vanettin.

1:25:14 You guys are amazing. Give yourselves a

1:25:16 round of applause.

1:25:18 A beautiful scene here in historic

1:25:21 Grayson Stadium. Over 5,000 fans up out

1:25:24 of their seats, moving it and grooving

1:25:25 it to some hay, baby. As we head to the

1:25:28 last of the fourth, Cowboy Kyle Luig,

1:25:31 his longest outing this season was two

1:25:34 innings back on March 8th right here in

1:25:37 Savannah against the Firefighters. He

1:25:38 enters his fourth frame

1:25:41 in his first start here in year number

1:25:44 nine as a nanner. Top of the order due

1:25:47 to swing it. Nick Lopez, Jose Gonzalez

1:25:49 Jr., and Kyle Martin

1:25:52 will be hit into a backflip catch by

1:25:54 Robert Anthony Cruz.

1:25:57 Back in the first,

1:26:04 >> a rare change up from Luig and a quick

1:26:07 02 count on the DH.

1:26:10 Swing and a miss. Goes back to the

1:26:12 bender. A three pitch K. Strike out

1:26:15 number three on the day for Kyle.

1:26:22 Want to take you away

1:26:36 music?

1:26:56 Please don't stop showing off them

1:26:58 wheels, brother. He hopped over four of

1:27:00 them to show you his tooth.

1:27:06 >> Man, I tell you what, the tailgator have

1:27:09 been loaded up on some elite walkups

1:27:11 here in the open.

1:27:12 >> You got to have some serious speed to be

1:27:14 going step for step with our director of

1:27:16 creative content, Ivon Trazac.

1:27:20 And

1:27:20 >> Jose's a big boy. 6'2. That guy can

1:27:23 move.

1:27:25 >> That's why he continues to get

1:27:26 opportunities out in right field.

1:27:29 >> Went down swinging on a high fast ball

1:27:31 his first time.

1:27:36 It was Kyle's third year as a Savannah

1:27:38 Banana back in 2020 when brother first

1:27:41 graced us with his presence

1:27:46 >> in a platoon with Dan Oburst at first

1:27:48 base. summer of 2020 and Eastn Kirk, but

1:27:51 that was only for about half the summer.

1:27:55 >> St. Dan Oburst and Jose Gonzalez have

1:27:57 played out pretty well now six years

1:27:59 later.

1:28:02 >> No doubt about that.

1:28:05 Two- two here from Luig.

1:28:08 Brother does not bite and the count is

1:28:10 full.

1:28:10 >> Great job of laying off that high fast

1:28:12 ball. Again, the tailgators are starting

1:28:13 to see it here. First payoff pitch from

1:28:15 Kyle Luig today.

1:28:20 called strike three back doors the

1:28:23 slider and is up to four punch outs on

1:28:26 the afternoon. I mean, Kyle Luig right

1:28:29 now is pinpoint for the Savannah

1:28:31 Bananas. Still yet to allow a ball for

1:28:33 sprint in this contest. And Billoy a

1:28:36 great job holding that frame on the

1:28:39 outside portion of the plate, not

1:28:41 yanking it too much to get that call

1:28:43 from Trey Hudson.

1:28:47 >> Kyle Martin

1:28:49 with a high-fly ball deep out to right.

1:28:52 Kmart to the seats. A laser beam home

1:28:55 run and we're kned at one. Welcome to

1:28:57 the auction again. His second home run

1:29:00 in the open. Number six in 2026 for

1:29:04 Kmart. And you just said it beats. He

1:29:06 had to give Chris Clark, his best friend

1:29:08 on the team, some rut support. We're not

1:29:10 up in uno. Uno.

1:29:23 >> And what is this sally? Coach Bart,

1:29:26 Coach Penny, that looks like Miss Tanner

1:29:28 and Miss Michael with them.

1:29:50 >> A tremendous job done by all.

1:29:54 How about the cherry on top there from

1:29:56 Tanner? A 360. So, I don't know what all

1:29:58 this little chaing is. I'm going to I'm

1:30:01 going to do this thing my own way. And

1:30:02 Kmart doing it his own way as well.

1:30:04 Second home run of the open.

1:30:06 >> You know, it's funny. I talked to Kyle

1:30:08 Martin this morning about quote unquote

1:30:10 pipping home runs right there. Just hit

1:30:12 it and ran the oldfashioned way. Tied it

1:30:14 up at one.

1:30:16 Geico and the Banana Ball Championship

1:30:18 League are teaming up to send one lucky

1:30:21 winner on the Ultimate Fan Experience to

1:30:23 the 2026 Banana Ball Championship game

1:30:27 on October 10th. Win four tickets,

1:30:30 airfare, hotel, and a VIP onfield player

1:30:34 experience. Go to it feels good to go

1:30:37 bananas.com

1:30:39 to enter.

1:30:41 Or you could scan that little catcha

1:30:44 catch catcha capta capta QR code. It's a

1:30:49 QR code on the bottom right over here.

1:30:50 >> About to say what that mean?

1:30:53 >> I ain't never heard of that one.

1:30:54 >> You've never heard capta.

1:30:57 >> I don't think there's a K in there.

1:31:00 >> I think you add like

1:31:01 >> I think you add like a syllable or a

1:31:03 letter somewhere. I don't know.

1:31:04 >> There's no K at the end. Give me it

1:31:06 again.

1:31:06 >> It's capta.

1:31:07 >> No, I've heard that. I think it's capt.

1:31:15 >> We'll agree to disagree as we head to

1:31:17 the

1:31:18 >> hoping you're pretty big.

1:31:20 >> And it's time Porter told me you've been

1:31:22 uh working on those muscles. I hear

1:31:24 >> I try and get 18 pull-ups in a week.

1:31:30 If it happens, it happens. You know,

1:31:31 there's a lot to do in life. Chris

1:31:33 Clark, every bit of the ace that the

1:31:36 tailgator thought he would be when they

1:31:38 took him in the first round, number

1:31:39 three overall, back on November 13th in

1:31:43 the inaugural Banana Ball player draft.

1:31:45 An unearned run in the first inning. The

1:31:47 only damage he has retired 10 straight

1:31:50 Savannah Bananas.

1:31:54 >> Six of those via K, eight of them on the

1:31:57 day in total.

1:31:59 >> And something special from Bill Loy.

1:32:03 Oh baby,

1:32:05 I'll take you down. I'll take you down.

1:32:12 If you want more

1:32:22 jump,

1:32:33 I'll take you down. I'll take you down.

1:32:38 No one ever gone before. And if you

1:32:41 want, if you want

1:32:49 my love, jump in.

1:32:58 >> What a couple innings for walkups. We

1:33:01 got Jose Gonzalez Jr. with some Rihanna

1:33:03 and then Bill Laoy coming up with the

1:33:05 pointer sisters.

1:33:09 Chopper foul.

1:33:13 >> What year is that song from?

1:33:16 >> Uh, off the top of my head, I'd say

1:33:18 1983. I definitely didn't just Google

1:33:20 it. No glove. Hussein feels it with the

1:33:23 off hand. Whips it between the legs. Two

1:33:25 tricks for the price of one.

1:33:29 >> More pressure from the Texas Tailgators

1:33:32 now with a three trick play advantage.

1:33:34 Not only does Hussein throw away that

1:33:36 glove, he still goes between the legs to

1:33:38 boot. That's just him flexing his trick

1:33:41 play prowess that has been within him

1:33:44 since 2024.

1:33:46 >> Texas kids always going to plus the

1:33:48 experience here in Banana Ball.

1:33:55 >> Jackson Olsen, just like Bill Loy before

1:33:57 him, one of the eight strikeout victims

1:34:00 of Chris Clark this afternoon.

1:34:05 kind of saw the seven-year minor leaguer

1:34:07 in the Cub system

1:34:17 and that's going to be a shattered bat

1:34:21 as Olsson will get a new weapon.

1:34:25 >> Tristan Lec is stretching but not

1:34:27 throwing in the bananas bullpen. So,

1:34:29 four different tailgators including

1:34:31 Brett Sez, Brett Allen, and Matthew

1:34:34 Fletcher all just playing Tuls right

1:34:36 now. So, again, up and atom, but nobody

1:34:38 actively warming up in either bullpen.

1:34:44 So, a one-two coming to Jackson Olsson

1:34:46 with a new bat in his hands

1:34:51 and he goes down swinging. Same pitch

1:34:53 that got him the first time, that back

1:34:56 foot bender. Nine strikeouts now for

1:34:59 Chris Clark.

1:34:59 >> Chris Clark is disgusting. You mentioned

1:35:01 it. Nine different pitches and god

1:35:03 forbid. I think he's used about all nine

1:35:05 of them. Get a strike out here today.

1:35:07 That was just one again. Went back foot

1:35:09 just like he did in Jackie's first debut

1:35:10 as you mentioned there, Bo. And gets him

1:35:12 yet again for out number two here in the

1:35:14 top of the fifth. Battle between

1:35:16 California kids right back to that

1:35:19 gnarly curveball. Swinging a miss from

1:35:23 Fontana, California's Robert Anthony

1:35:25 Cruz.

1:35:26 And that one bounces off of the back

1:35:29 foot of rack. Trey Hudson agrees.

1:35:33 And that breaks up the string of a dozen

1:35:36 straight bananas retired by Clark.

1:35:40 Rack gets on the painful way. Just

1:35:42 barely got a piece of that toe. If

1:35:44 you're going to get hit anywhere,

1:35:47 a grazing on the toe,

1:35:49 it's got to be up there

1:35:52 for his best opportunities.

1:35:55 Brace Gafi hustling out. Bananas

1:35:58 designated runner utilized for the first

1:36:00 time today

1:36:05 as Danny Hosley digs in.

1:36:10 Going to be a tough play for Hussein.

1:36:12 Backhand across the diamond in plenty of

1:36:14 time. Fiverr makes it look easy

1:36:18 and it's five innings now without an

1:36:20 earned run for Chris Clark.

1:36:22 >> Absolutely incredible stuff.

1:36:24 Oldfashioned baseball play there from

1:36:25 Jordan Hussein. And now the manas are

1:36:29 washing a car. Huh?

1:36:32 >> Hate to have to do this kind of

1:36:33 announcement, but here we are. If you

1:36:36 are the owner of a white Hyundai Sonata,

1:36:40 a white Hyundai Sonata with license

1:36:42 plate SLL5917.

1:36:49 Congratulations.

1:36:51 You're getting a free car wash.

1:37:34 All All right.

1:37:36 >> Back to your reg. Oh no, there they are

1:37:38 again.

1:37:43 >> I don't think you're supposed to throw

1:37:44 the dome dish soap right on directly on

1:37:46 the car. Got to miss it in water first.

1:37:48 That's what my dad always taught me. He

1:37:50 had a bucket. You mixed it in first.

1:37:51 Hey, you could ruin the paint doing

1:37:53 that. Brandon's cringing at home.

1:37:56 >> Don't you wish you had driven down the

1:37:57 Prius this weekend?

1:37:59 Really needs a wash, too.

1:38:03 That thing is filthy.

1:38:06 >> Spent a winter up in Jersey City.

1:38:10 No idea what gets on that car. Slatter

1:38:12 in there for strike one to Jordan Bar.

1:38:14 Four, five, and six here to swing it for

1:38:17 the tailgator in a tie game. And Bar

1:38:21 with a knock the opposite way. Third hit

1:38:23 of the ball game for the Tailgator. And

1:38:26 just like his two hits last night,

1:38:27 Jordan goes the opposite way for it.

1:38:30 >> And we heard him on the microphone

1:38:31 earlier. when we had him miked up. He

1:38:32 said when he's doing his best Oh, little

1:38:34 beard eye over there at first. He said

1:38:36 when he's going at his best, he's going

1:38:38 inside out. And there, like you said,

1:38:41 Bo, his fifth hit most of anybody in the

1:38:44 open.

1:38:46 >> Tosh Porter now tied with Kyle Martin

1:38:49 for the team lead in the open with three

1:38:51 runs driven in. He's got the inning

1:38:54 winning run on first base and a ball and

1:38:57 a strike on him. Also interesting note,

1:38:59 Chris Clark ran down during that last

1:39:01 promo to the bullpen talking with Brett

1:39:03 Sanchez, Matthew Fletcher, and Brett

1:39:05 Allen who's actively warming up in the

1:39:07 Tailgator bullpen. So, as it would

1:39:09 appear, Chris Clark's done for the day.

1:39:13 >> Chance for the fans.

1:39:15 >> No dice over by the ABR club.

1:39:17 >> That's a veteran move from Chris Clark

1:39:19 going down there to discuss the

1:39:21 strategy, everything that he's been able

1:39:23 to take note of on the mound to pass

1:39:25 along the guys that are going to follow

1:39:26 him. bounce her right through the four

1:39:29 hole from the quadfather and it's backto

1:39:32 back singles to open up this bottom of

1:39:34 the fifth inning for the tailgator.

1:39:35 Inning winning run now in scoring

1:39:37 position

1:39:38 >> TP.

1:39:40 Oh, it's not the best beardy shot I've

1:39:43 ever seen in my life as Jose Gutierrez

1:39:46 is going to come on the run at first for

1:39:47 time.

1:39:50 >> What you got on those shades, Mo?

1:39:53 >> Those are sweet. I think you could rock

1:39:55 those. Yeah, that's giving me like Dave

1:39:57 Parker We Are Family 1979 Pirates vibes

1:40:00 right now.

1:40:03 >> Taylor Justice, big spot for the

1:40:05 Tailgator. Best bat so far in 2026, at

1:40:08 least as far as the regular season goes.

1:40:11 Fulled on the slider there

1:40:14 behind O2.

1:40:32 Kyle Lewig on the same page as his

1:40:35 battery mate and gets the strike out,

1:40:38 goes to the cutter. Massive K for the

1:40:41 first down. And a big smile for Luig.

1:40:44 >> Yeah. And Taylor Justice entering this

1:40:47 weekend was four for seven batting with

1:40:49 guys in scoring position through the

1:40:51 first 11 games. A real strong point for

1:40:54 the tailgator first baseman. Good for

1:40:57 Cowboy Kyle to be able to set him down

1:40:59 there as now taking off for third base

1:41:02 is Jordan Bar. And the ball gets away

1:41:05 from Billoy as well which sends

1:41:07 Gutierrez up to second. So it'll be a

1:41:10 stolen base for Bar and then a pass ball

1:41:12 I'm guessing for José Gutierrez.

1:41:15 That feels right. He was not taking off

1:41:18 until that ball got away from Bill Loy.

1:41:21 >> And that'll bring the infield in here.

1:41:23 Bo

1:41:26 >> and a quick two- count on the dangerous

1:41:28 M. Danford

1:41:30 >> right side of the infield all the way

1:41:32 in. KJ and Cox halfway in at third and

1:41:35 short

1:41:37 and a foul tip. Two balls in a strike.

1:41:40 Now

1:41:40 >> talked about Macker getting that extra

1:41:42 base hit Friday night. He's a guy that

1:41:43 elevates the ball so so well and has in

1:41:45 his banana ball career. Right now you

1:41:47 just need a sack fly and an RBI to win

1:41:48 the inning.

1:41:50 >> High-fly ball deep to left field. M

1:41:53 Danford threerun nuke. Tailgator lead

1:41:57 two to one. Elevated. Celebrate.

1:41:59 Mcadoodle.

1:42:02 Pop the lid off this thing. I know it

1:42:04 only counts for one point, but that is

1:42:06 some big momentum from the pride of

1:42:09 Grand Ridge, Florida.

1:42:18 He'll slide on the home plate and

1:42:20 there's a ladder down there.

1:42:25 >> Rex Castillo, talk to my main man

1:42:27 McAdoodle.

1:42:28 >> Mac, what is it like to have that kind

1:42:29 of swing in this moment? Of course, a

1:42:31 lot's on the line, but what'd you see

1:42:32 out there?

1:42:33 >> Oh, dude, I don't remember the pitch.

1:42:35 I'm not going to lie to you. But hey, it

1:42:37 was a great

1:42:38 >> It was a great swing and the boys needed

1:42:40 it. Hey, that's what I'm here for.

1:42:42 Anything I can do for the team. Gator

1:42:44 up, baby. Let's go. He said it best,

1:42:45 guys. Back to you.

1:42:49 >> Thank you very much, Rex. We'll get

1:42:51 another look

1:42:53 at the three-run shot. A no doubter off

1:42:56 the bat of Big Mac.

1:42:59 >> What about that bat flip, man? Mack has

1:43:02 light tower power and he showed it off

1:43:04 right there. Back-to-back innings

1:43:05 walk-off home run for the tailgator. You

1:43:07 know, tailgators love to play games and

1:43:09 there are few games as classic as

1:43:12 musical chairs. But this is banana ball.

1:43:14 So, we decided to put a little boine

1:43:16 twist on it with a game we like to call

1:43:19 musical chairs. Down here in the

1:43:22 infield, I have four of the nicest

1:43:23 bovine cattle in all Savannah, Georgia.

1:43:26 And in just a moment, they're going to

1:43:27 get nice and dizzy and try to claim a

1:43:28 chair. We're going to go until there's

1:43:30 only one cow. Let's go ahead and get

1:43:32 dizzy, boys. Musical chairs has begun.

1:43:35 Start spinning right now.

1:43:38 How fast can he go around?

1:43:41 >> I need you to move.

1:43:51 >> Find that chair. Oh my goodness. There's

1:43:54 a chair over here. We got one open. Oh

1:43:57 no. Ladies and gentlemen, that's some

1:44:00 ground beef. We're moving on to round

1:44:02 two, boys. Come back to the bats. Get

1:44:05 back to that bat. Round number two.

1:44:06 Start spinning. Start.

1:44:10 >> Here we go. We got two chairs left.

1:44:14 Three cows. Who's it going to be?

1:44:20 >> A battle for the last chair. I think

1:44:23 it's going to go to him right there. I'm

1:44:25 going to give it to Mr. Lean Beef over

1:44:27 here. All right. Our final two. Back to

1:44:29 the middle.

1:44:32 You guys get spinning

1:44:35 >> as fast as you can go.

1:44:37 >> Where's the last chair?

1:44:40 >> Who knows?

1:44:46 Come and get it, boys.

1:44:50 Where's that chair?

1:44:53 It ain't that one.

1:44:57 I'm at dash to the finish. Oh no. More

1:45:00 ground beef. The winner of musical

1:45:02 chairs.

1:45:04 >> We go from musical chairs to taking a

1:45:07 look at the majesty that was Chris Clark

1:45:11 this afternoon. Five innings pitched,

1:45:13 only two hits, one earned run, one hit

1:45:15 batter, and nine strikeouts for the

1:45:18 tailgator ace. I mean, he was

1:45:20 phenomenal. And you saw every pitch

1:45:22 working for Chris Clark going two seam.

1:45:26 Cutter, the slider, all getting punch

1:45:28 outs. Nine for Chris Clark. And now

1:45:31 things get turned over to the bullpen

1:45:33 for the Texas Tailgator. And Brett

1:45:36 Donnie Allen, the man taking the mount.

1:45:38 So you go from a big power arm to a side

1:45:41 winder in Allen who is at his best when

1:45:45 the pitches out of his hand are moving.

1:45:47 So the bananas now forced to try and

1:45:49 slow things down. But Donnie, his big

1:45:52 thing, he's got to stay in the zone. Two

1:45:55 bad ones so far to Ty Jackson. Make it

1:45:58 three in a row. None of them

1:45:59 competitive. Brett Allen, the sixth

1:46:01 round draft pick after he was a visitor

1:46:03 last year. Made four appearances in the

1:46:05 five games for Mark Crocco's visitors.

1:46:10 Comes to Banana Land by way of

1:46:12 Newcastle, Australia,

1:46:16 and just misses above the zone with the

1:46:18 fast ball. Ty Jackson will earn the ball

1:46:22 for sprint.

1:46:24 the first for either side this

1:46:26 afternoon. Great sprint defense by the

1:46:27 Tailgator.

1:46:29 >> Yeah, great 3-1 pitch there. Just miss

1:46:31 high. Brad Allen, though, you see his

1:46:33 season stats a bit inflated by an outing

1:46:35 he had in Sacramento. He had five ball

1:46:38 four sprints in that outing and allowed

1:46:40 most of those earned runs that have

1:46:42 contributed to that 12.6 RA. But when

1:46:44 he's in the zone, he is really, really

1:46:46 good. As Josh mentioned, something

1:46:48 Donniey's been talking about here with

1:46:49 me the past couple of weeks is diving

1:46:51 back into that right mentality. He said

1:46:53 he felt like he had it last year, but

1:46:55 the visitors now trying to find that

1:46:56 that almost zen out there on the mound.

1:46:59 >> Quick pickoff move ties back to first

1:47:01 and it's still early in the season for

1:47:03 Donnie Allen. You trust he's going to

1:47:05 figure it out. He's allowed opponents to

1:47:07 bat just 227 against him this season. So

1:47:10 again, when he's in the strike zone,

1:47:12 he's a very tough guy to get hits

1:47:14 against.

1:47:16 And clearly uncomfortable with the

1:47:18 speedy Tai Jackson on first base. Josh,

1:47:20 you mentioned it last night, but last

1:47:22 Saturday, three stolen bases for Tai.

1:47:25 Last Sunday, rather, three steals

1:47:26 against the Tailgator in a Showman of

1:47:29 the Game performance.

1:47:31 >> Happy birthday.

1:47:33 And now, three balls and no strikes to

1:47:35 Ryan Cox.

1:47:38 Fast ball scrapes the outside corner.

1:47:42 And you got Dr. Meadows, one of the base

1:47:44 base best base steelers in all of the

1:47:46 sport who's currently injured right now,

1:47:48 coaching first base for the Bananas.

1:47:50 >> And you can see he's got the timer there

1:47:51 as that fast ball just misses again. So

1:47:53 another pitcher pitch on a 3-1. The call

1:47:56 not going Brett Allen's way and the

1:48:00 Nanners are set up. The bottom two guys

1:48:01 in their lineup on the corners for Dan

1:48:04 Ober in the top.

1:48:05 >> And quite frankly, I get it right. The

1:48:07 first three pitches in these two played

1:48:09 apparently to Jackson and Cox kind of

1:48:11 all over the place. But then those 3-1

1:48:13 pitches have been right there. Donnie

1:48:14 maybe not getting them right now. Kind

1:48:16 of erratic early in the count.

1:48:22 Banana's offense trying to per perform a

1:48:25 crooked number here.

1:48:28 The only run scored by the man at the

1:48:30 dish.

1:48:32 manufactured after two home runs and a

1:48:35 double last night. He had an infield

1:48:37 single in the first, swiped second,

1:48:39 swiped third,

1:48:40 and then came around on just a mental

1:48:42 mistake by Jordan Bar.

1:48:44 Thought he had tagged Ober out on that

1:48:46 stolen base attempt at third base,

1:48:48 flipped the ball towards the mound,

1:48:49 heads up base running, Dan scampered in

1:48:51 and scored.

1:48:58 And you're seeing right now the ways in

1:49:00 which the tailgator were kind of hoping

1:49:01 Donnie Allen's outing would go against

1:49:04 Ober out in front of the pitches against

1:49:06 the big right-hander.

1:49:09 And it's Ober once again way out in

1:49:11 front chopping this one foul. So Ober

1:49:14 having to slow down this approach right

1:49:16 now after facing Clark twice.

1:49:19 >> And Tailgator willing to trade a run for

1:49:21 a double play right here. Middle infield

1:49:23 playing at that depth.

1:49:26 Good fight by Obururst as Donnie Allen

1:49:29 continues to pound the zone.

1:49:32 >> It's fast, slider, change up. The

1:49:34 Heaters high8s, can touch 91. He calls

1:49:37 it petrol.

1:49:39 Slatters a boomerang slider. Change ups

1:49:41 the down under change.

1:49:44 And he plunks Dan

1:49:46 with that boomerang slider.

1:49:50 First batter he gets ahead against

1:49:53 there. a ball and two strike in the

1:49:54 driver's seat and like you said that

1:49:56 boomerang just didn't quite break enough

1:49:58 to avoid Dan and now bases loaded with

1:50:00 none out. Not really where you want to

1:50:02 be against this guy in Reese Alexias.

1:50:08 >> 2023 Pioneer League MVP here in his

1:50:11 third Banana Ball World Tour and he has

1:50:14 gotten better every season.

1:50:19 That's a pitcher's pitch to even up the

1:50:20 count

1:50:21 >> and a guy who sees the ball well here in

1:50:23 Grayson Stadium last year. Four bombs,

1:50:25 17 runs batted in here in Savannah.

1:50:30 >> Great sign here for Brett Allen ahead of

1:50:33 a second straight hitter now.

1:50:38 Swing and a miss. The change up gets

1:50:41 Alexi Addis out in front. That's a

1:50:44 ginormous first out. sets up a potential

1:50:46 double play now for the Texas Tailgator

1:50:49 as well. Just got to hope you can get

1:50:51 the ground ball. And it's the Tailgator

1:50:54 playing the matchup advantage now.

1:50:56 Donnie Allen off the mound and Matthew

1:50:58 Fletcher, the left-hander, comes in to

1:51:01 face off against the lefty in East

1:51:03 Parish.

1:51:04 You see it so rarely in Banana Ball. A

1:51:08 mid-ining pitching change. It just shows

1:51:10 you how much this Banana Ball open final

1:51:12 means to the Tailgator. And those have

1:51:13 been the guys who have been down in that

1:51:15 bullpen the last two innings. And Allen

1:51:16 and Fletcher Lel College division 3 guy

1:51:19 lose through last Sunday against the

1:51:22 Bananas at UNC. And Fletch still trying

1:51:24 to find it early on in his banana ball

1:51:26 career. If he could find a ground ball

1:51:27 and a double play, that'd be a massive

1:51:29 get out of this inning for the

1:51:30 Tailgator. Eastston Parish in here for

1:51:34 Max Young Goldberg. High pop in the

1:51:36 infield. This is going to be infield

1:51:39 fly. And now the tailgator just making

1:51:41 sure they get two trick plays. They'll

1:51:43 get one. Jordan Bar with the pop

1:51:46 >> and he will secure it.

1:51:49 >> Massive out and it's the duality of it.

1:51:51 Give you a four trick play lead. Now

1:51:53 leading nine to five, but also out

1:51:56 number two. You had the bases loaded,

1:51:57 none out. And now another lefty lefty

1:52:00 matchup.

1:52:02 >> And Jordan Barf did not know infield fly

1:52:04 had been called or else he should have

1:52:05 just abandoned ship there. There's Well,

1:52:07 I guess you know you got to secure the

1:52:08 one trick play. That's the downside of

1:52:10 it hitting the turf,

1:52:10 >> right?

1:52:14 >> Base is still loaded. Kyle Jackson

1:52:16 behind 01.

1:52:18 Make it 02.

1:52:21 Matthew Fletcher brought in for the

1:52:23 backto back lefties in Parish and KJ

1:52:28 trying to leave them loaded. A strike

1:52:30 away from surviving.

1:52:33 Ty Jackson off of third. Ryan Cox off

1:52:36 second. Dan Ober off first. The O2. The

1:52:39 slerve is wide.

1:52:41 >> Only one strike out on his ledger thus

1:52:43 far from Matthew Fletcher

1:52:46 and KJ is tough to Kay.

1:52:50 Fast ball just misses the outside

1:52:52 corner. We're even at 2-2. Yeah. And

1:52:55 every tailgator wanted that call.

1:52:56 Everybody was about to jump those foul

1:52:59 lines to go out there and ambush

1:53:01 Fletcher.

1:53:03 >> From 02 to 32.

1:53:06 The runners will be off on the pitch.

1:53:08 Nowhere to put Kyle Jackson. Ball four

1:53:10 scores at least two.

1:53:13 Couple shakes from Matthew Fletcher.

1:53:16 And the payoff.

1:53:18 Lofted to center. Zack Watson has it

1:53:21 played. Puts it away. What an escape

1:53:24 act. Bases loaded, no outs. Brett Allen

1:53:28 and Matthew Fletcher somehow survive

1:53:30 without allowing a run.

1:53:31 >> Welcome to the show, kid. 23 years old,

1:53:34 was in college less than a year ago, and

1:53:36 Matthew Fletcher comes out there with

1:53:38 some gumption, faces back-to- back

1:53:40 lefties, gets two outs, and oh my gosh,

1:53:43 talk about momentum. Inject that into my

1:53:46 veins. Mo galla.

1:53:48 >> And a tip of the cap to Brandon

1:53:50 Pennington, the pitching coach, bringing

1:53:52 in the lefty

1:53:54 gets the job done. And we take a look

1:54:00 at what Kyle Lewig was able to do here

1:54:05 this afternoon.

1:54:07 Five strikeouts,

1:54:10 retired

1:54:12 nine of the first 10 tailgators he

1:54:14 faced. But then the damage comes with

1:54:16 the walk-off homers from Kmart and

1:54:19 Danford in the fourth and fifth inning,

1:54:21 which has the Bananas down two to one.

1:54:24 and Tristan LC the first man out of the

1:54:27 bullpen for the Bananas coming in here

1:54:29 bottom six.

1:54:30 >> Yeah, the Bananas turning to the lefty

1:54:32 and Tristan LC a fifth round pick in the

1:54:35 Banana Ball player draft and Tristan

1:54:38 working incredibly fast so far this

1:54:41 season. He also ranks in the top 15 in

1:54:44 value over a replacement level pitcher.

1:54:46 He has been 7.7 runs better than a

1:54:50 replacement level pitcher.

1:54:53 LC a scoreless inning of work Thursday

1:54:56 night against the Indianapolis Clowns.

1:54:59 And what a treat we get to welcome in

1:55:01 the new right fielder for the Savannah

1:55:03 Bananas. Tied two Fly Jackson started as

1:55:05 the eh. Now you're out in the field.

1:55:07 Heck of a ball game we've had so far

1:55:09 today, huh?

1:55:10 >> You know what? You ain't lying, man. The

1:55:12 these tailgators are, you know, a whole

1:55:13 new squad this year, man. Competitive.

1:55:16 Can pitch, can hit, they can do it all,

1:55:18 man. They're a really good squad, man.

1:55:19 Shout out to them.

1:55:21 They're able to strand the bases, loaded

1:55:23 the rally that you started with that

1:55:24 ball force sprint. And now it's up to

1:55:27 Tristan LC to try and hold the door.

1:55:29 It's Zach Watson, Jason AR, and Jordan

1:55:31 Hussein. Bottom three in the order here

1:55:33 in the last of the sixth. and LeC,

1:55:36 another one of the members of this

1:55:38 really talented rookie crop of pitchers

1:55:40 that you talked about out on the party

1:55:43 plaza yesterday, but this is a big part

1:55:46 of the reason why you guys have had the

1:55:47 best pitching staff in the sport as

1:55:49 that's going to dump just in front of

1:55:52 Reese Select Tiatis

1:55:54 Watson with his second hit of the banana

1:55:57 ball only. How much fun has it been to

1:55:58 have these new pitchers in the locker

1:56:00 room and getting to see them perform on

1:56:02 the bump? I mean, honestly, man, the way

1:56:05 they perform, the way they perform on

1:56:06 the mound, uh, it's no nothing like they

1:56:11 perform in the locker room, honestly,

1:56:13 because these dudes the first day were

1:56:16 so shy, not outgoing. I was doing crazy

1:56:19 stuff. They're looking at me like, "What

1:56:20 the heck is this dude doing?" And

1:56:22 honestly,

1:56:24 you know, they they won't do the same

1:56:26 crazy stuff as me, but they'll sit there

1:56:28 and watch, maybe chuckle a little bit,

1:56:29 but I'm trying to break them all out of

1:56:30 their shell. So,

1:56:34 But uh uh honestly though, Baza,

1:56:37 >> man, that that dude is one crazy dude

1:56:40 that matches energy.

1:56:41 >> That's exactly what Ryan Cox said on the

1:56:43 mic last night.

1:56:45 >> Yeah, he's one uh crazy cat.

1:56:50 >> 3-1 count on Jason Arn who doubled his

1:56:53 first time

1:56:54 >> and it was down the right field line. So

1:56:56 look alive out there, Ty.

1:56:57 >> I'm going to look alive. I'm make a

1:56:58 one-handed catch Odell style.

1:57:03 3-2

1:57:05 down low. Arin takes the sprint.

1:57:08 >> Watson will get at least to third, but

1:57:11 as time predicted,

1:57:13 >> Watson will stay there. And Arin not

1:57:16 testing your sprint defense.

1:57:22 Now, Ty, I'm I'm curious because we've

1:57:24 seen Danny Hosley rip some trick plays

1:57:27 out in right field during this series,

1:57:29 but you've been loaning him your glove.

1:57:32 What was the thought behind giving Tai

1:57:34 to fly your mitt?

1:57:35 >> Uh, you know, Danny do it all has 10

1:57:37 gloves and he doesn't happen to use his

1:57:39 unless he's pitching. So, it's kind of

1:57:41 weird, but you know, if my baby can

1:57:44 catch some trick plays, that's all that

1:57:45 matters.

1:57:48 broken bat. Ryan Cox bare-handed out of

1:57:51 the sky for the trick play.

1:57:53 >> One. You got one.

1:57:55 >> And takes care of his counterpart.

1:57:59 Hussein's been retired by Cox both times

1:58:01 this afternoon. To the top of the order

1:58:03 we go. And Nick Lopez, a fly out and

1:58:07 strikeout so far. Turns around to hit

1:58:08 from the right side for the first time

1:58:10 today.

1:58:17 Good pitch.

1:58:20 >> Just barely touches the bottom of the

1:58:21 zone.

1:58:26 >> I'll live and die by this. Al feels the

1:58:28 hardest position to play in banana ball

1:58:30 them ball force sprints. I mean, I need

1:58:32 my handler and I've only done one.

1:58:35 >> Okay. Well, it's up to Le to keep it at

1:58:37 that number. Art off from first and

1:58:40 Lopez fouled away the 1-1 offering. Boy,

1:58:42 I think Jason Art had second base

1:58:44 stolen. He had a killer jump.

1:58:45 >> Told you that guy's been slimming down,

1:58:46 feeling a lot more athletic. What you

1:58:48 think out there, Poogie?

1:58:48 >> Yo, Brett Loftess. All of a sudden, you

1:58:50 want to come out of nowhere, man. You've

1:58:52 been shy up there. What?

1:58:53 >> I'm just listening to you yap. You've

1:58:55 been yapping up a storm up there. I

1:58:56 ain't had a chance to talk.

1:58:58 >> Hey, I don't think the people uh have

1:58:59 gotten to notice, but uh they they need

1:59:02 to know that you're in the gym and I see

1:59:03 them daily snaps and I just want to

1:59:05 shout out your grind that you've been

1:59:06 doing, man.

1:59:06 >> I appreciate that, Ty. I appreciate

1:59:08 that. Yeah, I took the offseason to do

1:59:09 that. I I took after Bo's book actually.

1:59:12 You know, he's got those muscles. I

1:59:13 figured I need to get some, too.

1:59:15 >> Yeah, he a he a thick cat.

1:59:17 >> Wow. Bouncing ball over the head of Kyle

1:59:20 Jackson. Jason Art off on the pitch goes

1:59:22 first to third, but it doesn't matter.

1:59:24 That's a walk-off single.

1:59:26 >> Hey,

1:59:27 >> Tailgator up 3-1.

1:59:28 >> Low key, I forgot we were away for a

1:59:30 second.

1:59:31 >> As did I. Tiles watching the whole play

1:59:33 continue on. I was like, hey, that's

1:59:36 just the end of the frame, isn't it? Ty,

1:59:38 thank you for joining us, my friend.

1:59:39 Love you guys. Thank you so much.

1:59:41 >> Thank you, Ty.

1:59:44 >> Love you, Brown.

1:59:50 >> Down by the dugout, Mr. Sam Bowman

1:59:55 has some breaking news for us. SB,

1:59:58 what's happening down there? Who do you

1:59:59 got? Just kidding.

2:00:04 >> Got you. Sam

2:00:06 trick tricked you.

2:00:20 Man, look at the Nettas getting into it

2:00:23 out there. That was one of my favorite

2:00:24 walkups of the year last night when they

2:00:26 delivered that bat up.

2:00:27 >> Nanigail.

2:00:28 >> Yeah, Nanigail delivered that bat up

2:00:30 last night. That was really good stuff.

2:00:32 >> He's an icon.

2:00:33 >> Hey, Trey Jones is looking good. We've

2:00:34 been giving some injury reports.

2:00:36 Obviously Trey going to be out for a

2:00:38 while. We don't quite know that

2:00:39 timetable, but out there dancing a

2:00:41 little bit, doing a little Miami dance.

2:00:42 Him and Joe Spiron, one of the heroes

2:00:44 from last night's game.

2:00:47 >> A little housekeeping here. Josh Tipsky

2:00:49 official scoring decision on that play

2:00:51 that ended the sixth inning. Got a hit.

2:00:56 >> How about that? After going scoreless

2:00:58 both runs and points wise through the

2:01:00 first three frames, tailgators have

2:01:01 walked off the last three. Walk-off home

2:01:04 run from Kmart. three-run walk-off for

2:01:06 M. Danford in the fifth and then a

2:01:08 walk-off RBI single from Nick Lopez

2:01:10 there in the sixth and Matthew Fletcher

2:01:12 after getting those final two outs there

2:01:15 in the six back out on the bump. Yeah,

2:01:17 it's a close one there with KJ.

2:01:20 Regular third baseman probably didn't

2:01:22 even have the hops to get up to that

2:01:23 goal.

2:01:24 >> No doubt. And playing in, you saw him

2:01:26 take a step up because probably going to

2:01:28 have to make the play at the plate on

2:01:29 that. And the old Baltimore chop off the

2:01:32 turf. Lope able to get enough air

2:01:35 underneath it for the walk-off single.

2:01:37 So 3-1 tailgator with three innings to

2:01:40 play. 56 and seven in the order here for

2:01:44 the Bananas. Bill Loy against Matthew

2:01:46 Fletcher.

2:01:47 Quick 02 count.

2:01:50 Fletch the proud of Weathersfield,

2:01:52 Connecticut.

2:01:54 86 to 89 with the fast ball. He's got

2:01:56 the change up curve and slider as well.

2:02:00 Curve ball is pretty slurvy. Slatter is

2:02:03 pretty cuttered.

2:02:09 Highf fly ball deep to left. Jason Arin

2:02:12 at the wall. Sayanara.

2:02:15 Bill Laroy trying to jumpst start this

2:02:18 Bananas offense. Solo home run to kick

2:02:21 off the seven. And this comes

2:02:23 immediately following Dan Oers pulling

2:02:26 that team aside in the dugout and trying

2:02:28 to hype them up and rally his troops to

2:02:32 get that offense back in action. And for

2:02:34 more on that, we send it down to Sam

2:02:37 Bowman.

2:02:37 >> Hey Bill, what Dan have to say for you

2:02:39 guys there before you went out? Dan

2:02:41 brought all the bats yesterday. We're

2:02:42 all bringing them today. We We're

2:02:44 finishing strong. Let's go. Fives are

2:02:45 changing. Fives are changing.

2:02:50 Still a 3-1 lead in points as Jackson

2:02:52 Olsson rolls this over to Jonathan

2:02:54 Lutters and

2:02:57 >> Taylor Justice trying to get a double

2:02:58 trick play. It's just a trick play for

2:03:00 Sunshine.

2:03:02 >> Tailgator up 10 to six in that

2:03:04 department.

2:03:04 >> Yeah, still creating some value there.

2:03:05 Able to get up by four there in the

2:03:07 trick play category. I'm happy Taylor

2:03:09 just came back down there on the bag and

2:03:10 able to get the trick play. Good

2:03:12 recovery there from Matthew Fletcher. Be

2:03:14 interesting to see if the Tailgators

2:03:15 make another mid ining pitching change.

2:03:17 Brett Sanchez has come down from the

2:03:19 bullpen. Looks fully ready to go.

2:03:22 >> You've got your backto-back lefties

2:03:24 here. Fletcher is taking care of Olson.

2:03:25 Brack is next on the menu

2:03:28 and has a three-0 count. Danny Hosley

2:03:33 and Ty Jackson backto-back right-handers

2:03:35 on deck and in the hole.

2:03:39 Taken all the way. Fast ball poured in

2:03:41 for strike one.

2:03:45 Another

2:03:48 chance for Looters. This time he tries

2:03:50 to go for I'm guessing like a rainbow

2:03:53 attempt there. What's the official

2:03:54 scoring decision, Josh? I I don't know

2:03:58 that

2:03:59 that's really a trick play for me. You

2:04:02 want it in this fluid and highlightw

2:04:05 worthy manner and I I just don't think

2:04:07 that what Lutters was attempting to do

2:04:09 is the was the proper execution of that

2:04:12 trick.

2:04:14 >> I'm pretty sure. Jonathan Ludas is a

2:04:16 truthful man. If you talk to the guy, he

2:04:18 wanted to get the ball from the feet in

2:04:20 the air to the bare hand as it's now a

2:04:22 20 count on Danny Hazy. He got it off

2:04:24 one hop on the turf. If there is any way

2:04:27 that that's not a trick play, that's

2:04:29 that's why right there.

2:04:31 Certainly a lack of fluidity as well,

2:04:33 but I think the key to the trick is a

2:04:35 rainbow. You get it from the feet

2:04:37 straight through the air to the bare

2:04:39 hand. did not quite get as much air on

2:04:42 the rainbow attempt as he would have

2:04:44 liked. Fascinating one as the fast ball

2:04:47 gets the low inside corner. A 3-1 count

2:04:49 on Danny Hosley.

2:04:55 High pop right side. Jos Gonzalez Jr.

2:04:57 long way to run. Adventurous route and

2:05:00 he mops it. Possly hustling out of the

2:05:03 box is going to cruise into third on a

2:05:06 threebase error.

2:05:13 Yeah, Brothers had a little bit of

2:05:14 trouble out there with the wind today.

2:05:16 And we saw that double earlier that

2:05:18 didn't go off his glove. KJ, the ground

2:05:20 rule double in the first right there.

2:05:22 Brother just got a little turned around

2:05:23 and well, he had it in the glove. It

2:05:25 just hit the mitt and came right out

2:05:26 there. Unfortunately,

2:05:31 >> one run already home this frame. Hosley

2:05:33 90 ft away with two outs. And that one

2:05:36 smoke foul right between

2:05:38 Hosley and Gillum

2:05:44 >> by Jackson. Led off the sixth inning

2:05:46 with the ball for a sprint. Ended up

2:05:48 stranded on third base.

2:05:52 Takes that one just a hair down. Pretty

2:05:55 good looking pitch there from Matthew

2:05:56 Fletcher. Does not get the call from

2:05:58 Trey Hudson.

2:06:02 >> And now two balls in a strike.

2:06:12 make it 3-1. And ball four here will

2:06:15 score Hosley from third.

2:06:24 Swing and a miss.

2:06:27 Kai Jackson had the sprint if he didn't

2:06:29 swing but fooled on the pitch and now

2:06:31 the count is full.

2:06:37 liner but on a hop. Jordan Hussein

2:06:39 between the legs at a dribble just in

2:06:42 time to get Ty Jackson. Trick play to

2:06:45 close out the inning in which the

2:06:47 Bananas get one run on the Bill Loy

2:06:49 homer. How rare is it to say that an

2:06:52 error ends up paying off for you.

2:06:54 Brother makes that error right. That out

2:06:56 would have not been a trick play. And

2:06:57 then out number three, a trick play from

2:06:59 Jordan Hussein to now give you a five

2:07:02 trick play lead 11-6. The tailgators

2:07:05 lead it in that category.

2:07:09 It's been a pretty thrilling trick play

2:07:12 battle this afternoon as the Savannah

2:07:14 Bananas try and earn the equalizer point

2:07:18 against the best trick play team in the

2:07:20 sport. Started with that Robert Anthony

2:07:23 Cruz backflip catch in the bottom of the

2:07:25 first inning.

2:07:27 And then a double trick play.

2:07:30 We'll just make it one for Mr. Jackson.

2:07:32 Also, how about Chris Clark getting in

2:07:33 on the action as we head to the bottom

2:07:36 of the seventh. The Tailgator a five

2:07:39 trick play lead.

2:07:41 Looking like they are in a great spot to

2:07:44 fend off the equalizer point from the

2:07:46 Nanners who only have six defensive

2:07:48 outs. Not even guaranteed. walk-offs of

2:07:50 course could take those defensive outs

2:07:52 away from the bananas as well. And the

2:07:55 aforementioned Jacob Bazela, beloved by

2:07:59 all of his veteran teammates, he's been

2:08:01 fantastic on the bump here in his rookie

2:08:03 campaign as well.

2:08:04 >> Yeah. And thrust into a high leverage

2:08:05 spot trying to earn a second point in

2:08:07 this ball game for the Savannah Bananas.

2:08:09 Baza with a 251 ERA plus indicating he

2:08:13 is more than two and a half times better

2:08:16 than the tour average banana ball

2:08:18 pitcher this year. And for Bazela, he's

2:08:20 only had one opportunity to hold an

2:08:22 inning lead this season. He did do it

2:08:25 successfully. So now trying to make it

2:08:27 two for two in his young banana ball

2:08:30 career.

2:08:31 Two, three, and four in the lineup for

2:08:33 the Tailgator. Jos Gonzalez Jr. has a

2:08:36 pair of strikeouts, one swinging, one

2:08:38 looking. They were both against Kyle

2:08:39 Lewigs

2:08:43 and Bazela with the splitter for strike

2:08:46 one. Five pitch mix fast ball about 89

2:08:50 to 92 mph.

2:08:52 Right back to the split quick 02.

2:08:54 >> And if it wasn't for last Saturday,

2:08:56 Jacob Bazale would still have a zero

2:08:58 erra where the tailgator tagged him for

2:09:00 three runs in the seventh inning last

2:09:02 Saturday night.

2:09:03 >> Popped left side. And Kyle Jackson

2:09:05 backpedaling, drifts back into fair

2:09:08 territory and there's out number one.

2:09:12 >> Really tough play for KJ to make. And

2:09:14 you look, he looked at rack and said,

2:09:15 "My bad." Because usually that's going

2:09:17 to be your outfielder to come in and

2:09:19 call off your infielder. KJ calling it

2:09:22 the whole way. And great baseball/banana

2:09:25 ball field. KJ saying I'm sorry.

2:09:30 >> So three pitches, three strikes from

2:09:32 Bazel. gets the pop out on the third.

2:09:35 And now Kyle Martin

2:09:37 once again, the engine driving this

2:09:40 Tailgator's offense.

2:09:43 Solo home run with two outs and nobody

2:09:45 on to win the fourth inning. That

2:09:49 started a string of three straight

2:09:51 inning wins for the Tailgator.

2:09:58 The heck is Vincent Chapman doing?

2:10:06 If

2:10:06 >> they had a dime for every time I said

2:10:08 that,

2:10:09 >> you'd have a lot of dimes. Probably

2:10:11 >> dozens at least.

2:10:13 >> Be able to see unlimited picture shows

2:10:15 in the 1930s

2:10:17 >> across the last five seasons with

2:10:19 Vincent Chapman in Banana Land.

2:10:22 What a fun adventure that has been.

2:10:35 Two- two to Kmart.

2:10:37 >> Fouled straight back. Baza going after

2:10:39 him with the fast ball. Pretty much

2:10:40 right down the shoot, too. Power on

2:10:42 power.

2:10:52 Another

2:10:56 two- two highf fly ball foul. Alex

2:11:00 Ziggler and Bill Loy.

2:11:04 It's Bill. What a catch. Bill Loy

2:11:08 leaping, bumping into the dugout.

2:11:10 Somehow coming away with the banana

2:11:12 ball.

2:11:14 He was nearly running into the dugout

2:11:16 and maybe even the cryo right near him

2:11:19 as well. Loy crashes up against and all

2:11:23 of his teammates justifiably fired up at

2:11:26 that adventurous catch from the bananas

2:11:29 captain.

2:11:31 And then he punched himself in the

2:11:33 mouth. I'm now cal.

2:11:37 >> Oh my goodness. What an inning for Bill.

2:11:40 Starts it off with the home run and now

2:11:43 he might have had that inning saving

2:11:44 catch for the nanners.

2:11:46 >> Jordan Bar might have something to say

2:11:48 about it. The one

2:11:51 make it two balls and no strikes.

2:11:54 Tailgator's third baseman has come alive

2:11:56 leading the open with five hits. He's

2:11:59 one for two today.

2:12:04 Swinging a miss. Fooled on the 20

2:12:06 splitter. Been seen a lot of fast balls

2:12:08 there from great two- pitch to go to big

2:12:11 off speed.

2:12:15 Goes to the splitter again. KJ and rack.

2:12:20 No chance.

2:12:26 >> Jacob Bazella a strike away

2:12:29 from pulling the bananas within one.

2:12:33 >> The cleanup man Jordan Bar stands in his

2:12:36 way.

2:12:39 >> Deuce is wild.

2:12:42 >> Popped shallow left. Robert Anthony Cruz

2:12:46 with the call. And the catch the

2:12:48 oldfashioned way. Jacob Bazello remains

2:12:52 stupendous. Three up, three down. The

2:12:55 Bananas win the seventh inning. And it's

2:12:58 a 32 game with two innings to play here

2:13:01 in the Banana Ball Open final.

2:13:07 >> What's going on over there, brother?

2:13:10 >> Well, we love love here in Banana Land,

2:13:13 and we have picked out three couples who

2:13:16 love each other. But we love to see

2:13:17 couples who work well together. And we

2:13:19 are going to put that to the test here

2:13:20 because out here in right field, I've

2:13:22 got Jordan and Cabri, Tim and Mallerie

2:13:25 and Nick and Taylor. And here's how it's

2:13:26 going to work. When I say go, the

2:13:28 husbands are going to lead off. They are

2:13:29 going to tow their wives behind them in

2:13:32 these sleds. But this is a team effort.

2:13:34 When they get about halfway, they're

2:13:36 going to have to switch it up and the

2:13:38 ladies are going to have to drag the

2:13:39 husbands the rest of the way. This

2:13:42 should be good, ladies and gentlemen.

2:13:44 This one is called Sleigh Queen. All

2:13:46 right, contestants,

2:13:49 on your marks, get set, go.

2:13:56 There they are.

2:13:58 And here's the switch.

2:14:08 The slow pull, the tremendous force all

2:14:12 the way. Our youngest couple, Nick and

2:14:16 Taylor.

2:14:18 Shout out Taylor. Slay queen.

2:14:25 I got a couple queens slaying with me

2:14:27 here in the broadcast booth with Josh

2:14:29 Tleski, Brett Loftess, Bo Scalla as we

2:14:33 only have two innings to play here in

2:14:36 game two of this Banana Ball Open final

2:14:39 presented by Geico. And a new man on the

2:14:42 mound for the Texas Tailgator.

2:14:45 Brett Sanchez after an inning and a

2:14:48 third giving up an unearned run on three

2:14:52 hits and picking up a strikeout on

2:14:54 Friday night against the Firefighters.

2:14:56 35 pitches thrown and for the first time

2:14:59 in his entire baseball career, he

2:15:02 pitches twice in one weekend. A starter

2:15:04 for his whole life

2:15:07 and evolving here in Banana Ball. Yay.

2:15:09 Threw 27 complete games in his college

2:15:11 career. He says, "I'm a rubber arm when

2:15:13 I'm getting to go from the jump, but

2:15:16 this is definitely unfamiliar territory

2:15:18 for Sanchez, who clips the zone with

2:15:21 this three- 0 pitch."

2:15:24 >> And Brett told me earlier today, he

2:15:25 said, "I'll be good for an inning." And

2:15:27 I think Brandon Pennington saving his

2:15:29 next best arm besides Reese Miller for

2:15:31 the eighth to potentially set you up for

2:15:33 the win in the lead here is very

2:15:35 important. Also, we're talking during

2:15:37 that break, one trick play and then

2:15:39 statistically impossible for the Bananas

2:15:41 to not win the equalizer point.

2:15:43 >> Good fight there by Ryan Cox.

2:15:47 No play for Aren or the fans.

2:15:51 It's Ryan Cox in the 10 hole

2:15:54 for want to ground out in a sprint. And

2:15:56 then Dan Ober and Reese Alexi stew to

2:15:58 swing it at the top.

2:16:01 Called strike three. Brett Sanchez nabs

2:16:05 the top of the zone and Cox back to the

2:16:07 dugout. There it is, Brett.

2:16:09 >> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Stank

2:16:12 stank with a little disgusting cutter at

2:16:16 the top of the zone to steal one there

2:16:18 for out number one.

2:16:24 >> Over takes ball one outside. It's pretty

2:16:26 much fast, slider, cutter, change up.

2:16:28 Not a lot of velocity for Brett Sanchez.

2:16:31 much more in the Sha Fluke mold.

2:16:36 >> All about location and movement.

2:16:39 And then all of a sudden that fast ball

2:16:41 has some deceptive speed after the

2:16:44 slatter and change up have been floated

2:16:45 in.

2:16:46 >> Well, when you see a sweeper, I'll call

2:16:48 it at 55 m an hour and then you see a

2:16:50 fast ball, that's usually what's going

2:16:51 to happen. How far is Daniel going to go

2:16:53 in this ball for Sprint?

2:16:54 >> He's looking for two bases. as he gets

2:16:56 in as Gonzalez to Arent was the sixth

2:17:00 and seventh tailgator that needed to

2:17:02 touch that ball before it was live.

2:17:06 Hustle from Danny O on board for the

2:17:08 third time in four trips to the plate

2:17:10 today. And his jump out of the batters

2:17:11 box was just different. He wasn't

2:17:13 waiting from any signal or call from

2:17:15 Trey Hudson whatsoever. Oburst and the

2:17:17 safe harbor rule would have been in

2:17:19 effect. So that was a smart play by him

2:17:21 to just take off running, try and get

2:17:24 himself into scoring position now for

2:17:26 Super Reese. Felt the breeze up here

2:17:28 from that swing and a miss from Reese

2:17:30 Alexiatis

2:17:32 who's quickly behind O2. Couple

2:17:34 strikeouts, a popup sandwiched in

2:17:37 between

2:17:41 and a three pitch K. And there it is,

2:17:44 the high heat from Brett Sanchez. And

2:17:46 again, thank you, thank you, thank you

2:17:49 from Stankstate. My goodness, this is a

2:17:51 dude who said he's not a strikeout

2:17:53 artist. 14 strikeouts coming into this

2:17:55 outing this afternoon and then his first

2:17:57 two outs are both via the punch out.

2:18:01 And this is why you go to one of your

2:18:02 best arms so late in the ball game. The

2:18:04 Nanners are batting 356 in the eighth

2:18:07 inning of play this year. That's their

2:18:09 second best batting average in any

2:18:11 inning of play. So to bring in Sanchez

2:18:13 to try and combat these bats is a very

2:18:16 very intelligent move from Penny.

2:18:20 Quick two- two count on Eastn Parish.

2:18:25 Third trip to the plate this afternoon

2:18:28 in the place of Max Young Goldberg in

2:18:30 the three hole. So far a strike out and

2:18:32 pop out

2:18:35 >> and able to spoil the slow all caps slow

2:18:40 breaking ball.

2:18:43 Prince Sanchez, 2023 D3 pitcher of the

2:18:46 year,

2:18:48 >> trying to strand Ober at second.

2:18:51 >> Trick pitch. Fouled away. And he was on

2:18:55 the Golden Spikes award watch list as a

2:18:58 division three baseball player. He was

2:19:00 on the Golden Spikes watch list. That's

2:19:02 how good he was in college. And right

2:19:04 here, one strike away from it.

2:19:06 >> And it plunks EP.

2:19:11 right off the elbow guard.

2:19:17 >> Now two on with two outs and Kyle

2:19:19 Jackson who had the bases loaded with

2:19:21 two outs in the top of the sixth inning

2:19:24 flew out to center. Couple more ducks on

2:19:27 the pond here on his 24th birthday.

2:19:30 Ground rule double his first time. Since

2:19:31 then a strike out and that fly out

2:19:35 and the fast ball for strike one.

2:19:42 Sanchez does such a good job of jumping

2:19:44 ahead. Quick 02 count and working at a

2:19:47 lightning pace.

2:19:55 A long wait.

2:19:58 Peter misses up and in.

2:20:02 Went three straight fast balls to start

2:20:03 this AB. I'd surprise if he threw a

2:20:05 fourth.

2:20:07 just missed the top corner of the

2:20:09 inside.

2:20:10 >> Keller me surprised be a two senior

2:20:13 there that missed up top.

2:20:16 >> Deuce is wild. Ober off second. Parish

2:20:19 off first. KJ yanks it. Foul.

2:20:29 Tailgator with a 3-2 lead here in the

2:20:31 top of the eighth inning

2:20:34 >> as Kyle Jackson clearly needs some new

2:20:36 lumber

2:20:39 and getting a bat from Taiu fly

2:20:43 on his rear as well. Now KJ going to

2:20:46 take his time before stepping back in

2:20:48 that left-handed batters box for another

2:20:50 2-2.

2:20:54 >> Behind him, KJ's going to attempt to

2:20:56 steal first. Oburst advances to third

2:20:59 and a good hustle by Taj Porter.

2:21:01 Everybody only gets an extra 90 ft.

2:21:05 >> Yeah, that all speed pitch yanked a

2:21:07 little bit too much. So far that it went

2:21:09 behind KJ in the left-handed batters box

2:21:12 and he's able to steal first.

2:21:17 Nowhere to put Bill Loy as he get

2:21:19 another look

2:21:20 >> at the wild pitch.

2:21:25 >> Bill, the solo home run that led to the

2:21:28 point earned in the seventh inning for

2:21:29 the Bananas. And including today's game,

2:21:32 Bill, 10 runs batted in in six games

2:21:35 with the Bananas playing as the away

2:21:37 team. Right guy up in the right

2:21:39 situation.

2:21:41 >> Count even at one and one.

2:21:45 Make it two in one.

2:21:54 >> High pressure pitches from Brett

2:21:57 Sanchez.

2:21:58 A ball force sprint. A hit batter. A

2:22:01 steal of first base.

2:22:03 Bases are loaded without a hit for the

2:22:05 Nanners. And now a two- two coming with

2:22:08 two outs.

2:22:10 Chopper Jordan Hussein across the

2:22:13 diamond takes Justice off the bag, but

2:22:16 Taylor able to get a tag on Bill Loy.

2:22:19 What a play by Taylor Justice.

2:22:23 My goodness. Jordan Hussein drilling

2:22:26 away. Got him right on top of the noggin

2:22:28 for out number three. And Taylor, not a

2:22:31 natural first baseman either, but just

2:22:34 uses great IQ to pull himself off of

2:22:37 that bag and apply the tag on Bill Laoy

2:22:41 trying to find any way to tumble away

2:22:43 from TJ.

2:22:45 Wow. Incredible and I mean incredible

2:22:49 play from Justice and those tailgators.

2:22:52 Pretty remarkably athletic play by

2:22:54 Justice and Laroy.

2:22:57 And there is a challenge here. It was a

2:22:59 late challenge. Unsure if it came from

2:23:01 the fans or the Bananas dugout, but we

2:23:04 are officially in a challenge. You would

2:23:06 need to see clear evidence that the tag

2:23:08 was not applied. It was the fans. Thank

2:23:11 you very much, Riley Turner.

2:23:15 I I'm going to be honest here. And Josh

2:23:17 and Bo, I think this is one of those I

2:23:20 don't know how you could overturn it. I

2:23:21 agree

2:23:22 >> because I don't see anything that would

2:23:24 tell you one way or the other, right?

2:23:26 Maybe this could tell us something.

2:23:28 Oh boy.

2:23:30 Oh boy.

2:23:32 >> This is the difference between going to

2:23:34 the bottom of the eighth inning and a

2:23:36 run scoring in the top of the eighth

2:23:38 with the bases still loaded and two

2:23:40 outs.

2:23:42 Taylor Justice was so confident he got

2:23:44 him. Seth Marco made the out call.

2:23:49 And I agree with you Brett. It's one

2:23:51 where I just don't think you're seeing

2:23:54 clear evidence that Bill avoided the

2:23:56 tag. But if the call originally was

2:23:58 saved, there's no way this would be

2:24:00 overturned to an out call,

2:24:01 >> right? That's how tricky these are. It's

2:24:03 so important what the call was on the

2:24:05 field. And it's really did he get a

2:24:06 piece of that jersey or not?

2:24:09 >> I mean, you see like Taylor's mint bend

2:24:11 at one point on his helmet.

2:24:12 >> After further review,

2:24:14 >> I think we got the official call.

2:24:15 >> The ruling on the field.

2:24:25 How about that for drama? Trey Hudson,

2:24:27 what's the call?

2:24:31 >> There it is. Okay,

2:24:32 >> confirm the call is out.

2:24:34 >> Grayson Wheeler is out walking towards

2:24:36 second base confirming that the call

2:24:39 stood.

2:24:40 And it's the perfect call to challenge

2:24:42 if you're that fan.

2:24:44 >> How about the rain of booze here at

2:24:45 Grayson Stadium?

2:24:47 Man, the fans are in on the competitive

2:24:49 action here, too. It's mostly yellow

2:24:50 here. Speaking of yellow, let's go down

2:24:54 to the field.

2:24:55 >> On your feet. That's right. On your

2:24:59 feet. We're going to celebrate a Banana

2:25:01 Land tradition here. Get those singing

2:25:03 voices turned up loud cuz it's time for

2:25:05 yellow.

2:25:07 We're going to put our arms around each

2:25:09 other. Everybody sway back and forth.

2:25:27 Thank you.

2:25:31 >> Sing it loud. Savannah, Georgia.

2:25:47 What was it called?

2:25:58 creatures.

2:26:18 >> One more time.

2:26:29 I love you.

2:26:31 >> We love you so much, Banana Nation. And

2:26:33 my friend Blakeley has something to say,

2:26:35 too.

2:26:42 >> With the sun still blaring down on

2:26:44 Historic Grayson Stadium,

2:26:47 we turn our 100-year-old ballpark

2:26:50 yellow. Over 5,000 fans still on hand

2:26:55 as we go to the bottom of the eighth

2:26:57 inning.

2:26:58 Tailgator with a 3-2 lead. The best case

2:27:01 scenario for the Bananas is that is the

2:27:03 score going to the ninth inning.

2:27:07 Tailgator looking for some insurance

2:27:08 each of their two wins in this open.

2:27:11 They've entered the ninth inning up two

2:27:13 runs given the ball to Ree Miller and

2:27:15 he's allowed one run. Now, if the

2:27:18 Bananas BCO could have a six trick play

2:27:21 inning, they could still win the

2:27:22 equalizer point, but that would be

2:27:25 banana ball at its finest. Having to

2:27:27 record all three outs, having to do

2:27:28 three double trick plays and preventing

2:27:30 the walk-off there as well. The

2:27:32 tailgator, Taj Porter, Taylor Justice,

2:27:35 and M. Danford.

2:27:37 5, six, and seven in the lineup for

2:27:39 Texas as Bazela

2:27:41 heaves the fast ball in high.

2:27:45 So one, two, three, bottom of the

2:27:46 seventh inning. Two popups and a fly out

2:27:50 induced by Bazala. This is going to be a

2:27:52 tough play. KJ

2:27:55 in time. A belly flopping Taj Porter.

2:27:58 All the hustle he's got. And that right

2:28:00 there cements it that the Bananas cannot

2:28:03 earn the equalizer point.

2:28:06 And Taj Porter was staying at the bank

2:28:08 for a second almost thinking that the

2:28:10 Tailgator might challenge. instead now

2:28:13 will drop back to the Tailgator dugout.

2:28:16 But for Kyle Jackson, I mean, he's not

2:28:18 trying to take any chances. Despite the

2:28:20 fact that you can earn that equalizer

2:28:21 point, you still don't want to try and

2:28:23 allow the Tailgator to score here in the

2:28:26 bottom half of the inning. It's not

2:28:28 exactly a winning situation. So, you

2:28:30 just hope that Jacob Isa posts another

2:28:32 zero for you and you take it to the

2:28:34 ninth and roll the dice against Reese

2:28:36 Miller.

2:28:38 Ball in a strike now on Taylor Justice.

2:28:40 fly out and a strikeout so far today.

2:28:44 >> It's a situation you get lost trying to

2:28:46 chase that point, which is pretty tough

2:28:48 with those three double trick plays. You

2:28:50 end up seing a point,

2:28:53 you're just putting yourself in a deeper

2:28:54 hole.

2:29:00 >> Two balls in two strikes.

2:29:08 And this one off the end of the bat

2:29:09 gobbled up by Ziggler. He will grab the

2:29:11 trick play going under the leg to Bazel.

2:29:15 Two down here in the last of the eighth.

2:29:19 >> Great play by Ziggy who we mention it

2:29:21 had played just the middle innings as a

2:29:23 designated fielder coming in today. But

2:29:25 due to the injury earlier in the ball

2:29:26 game to Max Goldberg, still out there in

2:29:28 the eighth and still showing off his

2:29:30 prowess as a trickster.

2:29:31 >> Yeah, second trick play of the ball game

2:29:33 for Ziggy. And he's also had some pretty

2:29:34 big stretches at that first base bag as

2:29:37 well. He's played a p pretty pivotal

2:29:39 role today defensively for the Nanners.

2:29:42 Splitter misses just a hair down.

2:29:46 And then a front door bender to even up

2:29:48 the count on M. Danford.

2:29:51 A colossal three-run home run to walk

2:29:53 off the fifth inning. His last time to

2:29:55 the dish.

2:29:57 Highfly ball deep out to left center.

2:30:00 Long run. Alexianis showing off the

2:30:03 speed. What a play by Super Reese to

2:30:06 send us to the ninth.

2:30:08 >> Super Reese an inning saving play to

2:30:11 keep it a onepoint ball game going to

2:30:14 the ninth.

2:30:18 >> It's a one-point game with a playoff

2:30:20 spot on the line. Let's get it down to

2:30:23 the young professor.

2:30:23 >> And the sound of the bells means it's

2:30:26 time to cast our gaze upon the

2:30:28 scoreboard heading into the top of the

2:30:30 ninth inning. The score now is three

2:30:32 points for the Texas Tailgator to two

2:30:35 points for the Savannah Bananas. But

2:30:37 here is the thing about the game of

2:30:39 Banana Ball. In the final inning, every

2:30:43 run counts for a point. So you better

2:30:46 believe, ladies and gentlemen, that the

2:30:48 Savannah Bananas right now are hungry to

2:30:51 put some runs and some points on the

2:30:54 board because this is the Banana Ball

2:30:56 Open. Stakes are high, ladies and

2:30:59 gentlemen.

2:31:01 Get ready here in Savannah, Georgia. We

2:31:04 need your voices. We need you to get as

2:31:06 loud as you can because this is the

2:31:09 final inning.

2:31:17 It all comes down to this. The inaugural

2:31:21 Banana Ball Open. The first ever

2:31:23 mid-season tournament in Banana Ball.

2:31:26 The prize for the champion is clinching

2:31:28 a playoff spot come the first week in

2:31:31 October. And the Texas Tailgator turn to

2:31:35 their third round pick. The kid out of

2:31:37 Dayton, Texas with the best slider this

2:31:40 side of the Mississippi, Mr. Reese

2:31:42 Miller.

2:31:42 >> And you took him in the third round for

2:31:44 a reason. The same way we spoke earlier

2:31:46 about why they took the starter today,

2:31:47 Chris Clark, third overall there in the

2:31:49 first round. You took Reese Miller for a

2:31:51 moment like this. up by a singular

2:31:53 point, three outs away from clinching a

2:31:55 playoff spot six months early. And you

2:31:57 call upon Deuce Deuce in the red, white,

2:31:59 and blue. However, last Saturday night,

2:32:02 Tailgator up 5 to2. They call upon Reese

2:32:05 Miller and then Robert Anthony Cruz

2:32:07 happened when he had a two-run bomb

2:32:09 there to tie us up at five apiece in

2:32:10 Chapel Hill. Who's due up second here

2:32:12 for the Savannah Bananas? It is nobody

2:32:14 other than Coach Rack. The story lines

2:32:16 building themselves. Danny Oley down in

2:32:19 the bullpen and I'd have to expect he

2:32:21 being due up third here. We could see a

2:32:22 golden batter situation. So, it's not

2:32:24 going to be easy here for these

2:32:25 tailgators.

2:32:27 >> Yeah, the Bananas certainly feeling

2:32:29 confident against Reese Miller. Knowing

2:32:31 what happened in Chapel Hill a weekend

2:32:33 ago. And Miller, the only team that he

2:32:36 has had collect multiple hits against

2:32:39 him this season happens to be this team

2:32:41 in yellow. And Jackson Olsen will start

2:32:44 us off here in the top of the ninth.

2:32:48 Look out, Jackie.

2:32:51 >> Jack knifs out of the way of a fast

2:32:53 ball. Sits about 92 to 95 with the gas

2:33:00 and that one fouled off of Jackson

2:33:02 Olsen.

2:33:04 >> And he had a major RBI ball force sprint

2:33:07 at UNC last Saturday night that plated

2:33:10 the first of those three points runs in

2:33:13 the ninth inning against Reese Miller.

2:33:17 Looks like he got the sinker there.

2:33:20 Fouls it off himself. Has to look out

2:33:22 for the curveball and change up as well.

2:33:23 The slider sometimes thrown up to 80% of

2:33:27 the time for Miller. You see it right

2:33:29 there as it just misses the bottom of

2:33:31 the zone.

2:33:35 It's a tight zone, but it has been

2:33:36 consistent across the two games that

2:33:39 Trey Hudson has umpired behind the

2:33:40 plate.

2:33:42 Wow. High strike potentially a makeup

2:33:45 call.

2:33:50 Deuce is even on Jackson Olsson.

2:33:55 Called strike three. Beautiful back door

2:33:58 bender. Frozen pizza. How about that?

2:34:03 That is defying gravity. That's defying

2:34:06 oxygen.

2:34:08 Here's a chair for out number one.

2:34:13 Robert Anthony Cruz hit the game-tying

2:34:16 home run against Reese Miller.

2:34:19 Eight nights ago and it's the curveball

2:34:22 rarely seen for strike one. Just trying

2:34:24 to throw off Robert Anthony Cruz and the

2:34:27 rest of these Savannah bananas instead

2:34:29 of going to that typical slider that you

2:34:31 see from Miller.

2:34:35 >> That one just misses down and in. Taj

2:34:37 Porter says, "My bad. Maybe I could have

2:34:38 framed it better." And for Robert

2:34:40 Anthony Cruz going back to the 2025

2:34:42 World Tour. 10 for 22 batting in the

2:34:46 ninth inning for the Savannah Bananas.

2:34:50 Miller can't find the back door with

2:34:51 that slider. Couple ground outs to

2:34:54 second. A hit by pitch sandwiched in

2:34:56 between for Cruz

2:34:59 representing the tying run.

2:35:03 Deep drive down the left field line.

2:35:05 Robert Anthony Cruz taco. We are now at

2:35:09 three here in the ninth inning.

2:35:16 Acrobatics at second base again for

2:35:19 Robert Anthony Cruz. The clutch team

2:35:22 comes alive for left once again. The

2:35:25 ninth inning hero for the Savannah

2:35:28 Bananas.

2:35:32 >> Reck, what is it about you in the ninth

2:35:34 inning?

2:35:34 >> I don't know, man. I really enjoy it. I

2:35:37 like going pole side sometimes in the

2:35:39 ninth. We like going backside. Come on.

2:35:42 Either way, it's working, guys. Let's

2:35:43 go.

2:35:48 >> The Savannah Bananas are invoking the

2:35:51 golden batter rule. Hitting in the place

2:35:54 of Danny Hosley is the Savannah Bananas

2:35:58 golden batter. Please welcome Dan

2:36:02 Uber.

2:36:06 Lightning strikes twice, eight days

2:36:09 apart here in Banana Land. Robert

2:36:11 Anthony Cruz gametying home run in the

2:36:15 ninth inning off Reese Miller.

2:36:18 And it was the same pitch too by the

2:36:20 way. A change up breaking away from Rag.

2:36:23 Rag pulled it last week. Went up Taco

2:36:25 here this afternoon. Slatter for strike

2:36:27 one to the golden batter Dan Over to his

2:36:30 reach base. Three out of his four trips

2:36:32 to home plate here tonight.

2:36:36 Fast ball just misses wide.

2:36:39 A single, a hit by pitch. A ball for

2:36:41 sprint for Obururst.

2:36:50 And a ball in two strikes on the manners

2:36:52 golden batter.

2:37:02 the 2021 Golf South Conference Player of

2:37:04 the Year at the dish. The 2025 Pioneer

2:37:07 League reliever of the year on the

2:37:08 mound.

2:37:10 And a foul ball on the one, two. Chance

2:37:13 for the fans. They do not make the catch

2:37:15 in the right field deck.

2:37:23 >> We're in the eight hole here.

2:37:25 >> Ty Jackson in the on deck circle. Ryan

2:37:27 Cox in the hole.

2:37:29 Dan Ober would be do up after that

2:37:31 again.

2:37:33 >> Brett Allen fired up

2:37:36 as he should be. A one two fast ball

2:37:39 just misses again.

2:37:44 Follow that up with the slider.

2:37:46 You might have some success here if

2:37:48 you're Reese Miller. The two- two.

2:37:51 That's exactly what he does and he

2:37:53 misses down.

2:37:57 That is a gutsy take from Dan Overs.

2:38:02 >> Payoff pitch coming.

2:38:06 Slatter again misses down again and Dan

2:38:10 Overburst aboard for the fourth time

2:38:12 today. He represents the go-ahead run at

2:38:15 first.

2:38:17 Things started to turn after that sixth

2:38:20 inning where Dan gathered everybody over

2:38:23 there at the Bananas dugout. Bill Loy

2:38:25 home run in the top of the seventh.

2:38:27 Coach Rack home run here in the ninth.

2:38:28 The Bananas haven't conceded a point

2:38:30 since, but they've gained two. And

2:38:32 that's how this ball game's tied up at

2:38:33 three. And they have taken Obur off the

2:38:35 bases in favor of designated runner

2:38:37 Bryce Grisafi.

2:38:40 Taken a guy off the base pads who has

2:38:41 stolen two bases today, but is now in

2:38:44 the hole. So you get Dan a breather.

2:38:49 You trust Ty Jackson and Ryan Cox

2:38:52 to get back to the top of the order.

2:38:58 Rosafi one steal so far in the open in

2:39:00 as many tries.

2:39:02 10 for 11 in stolen base attempts so far

2:39:06 on the year. The only time he's been

2:39:07 caught it was Taj Porter last weekend.

2:39:18 One-tw count on Ty Jackson.

2:39:21 A strike out, a ground out, and a ball

2:39:23 for sprint for Tai so far.

2:39:32 Slider. Oh, called strike free. That was

2:39:34 a ball or two off the plate. Tai with a

2:39:38 very fair gripe on that one. Beautiful

2:39:40 pitch, beautiful frame, but it was well

2:39:43 off.

2:39:44 Yeah, and I think Trey Hudson has had a

2:39:47 couple calls the tailgators have been

2:39:49 upset at. And for Tai's point right

2:39:51 there, he should be very upset at that.

2:39:53 There's been a couple calls both ways

2:39:55 that neither team has been too pleased

2:39:56 with, especially here in the ninth.

2:39:59 Opposite field single for Ryan Cox and

2:40:02 he flips the order on its head.

2:40:06 The go-ahead run into scoring position.

2:40:08 Dan Oburst gets to see Reese Miller for

2:40:11 a second time

2:40:13 here in the top of the ninth. And look,

2:40:15 this is what the Bananas did last night

2:40:17 with Dan Ober. Came up as the golden

2:40:20 batter against Joe Sper. Wound up

2:40:22 recording it out, then got another

2:40:24 battle against him. Hit that double out

2:40:27 to right center. So Ober should feel

2:40:29 pretty good getting to see Miller for a

2:40:32 second time here in the ninth and got

2:40:34 the time for that mental reset to focus

2:40:36 on this AB with the Bananas using

2:40:39 Grisafi as that designated runner.

2:40:43 Grizz dancing off second

2:40:47 slider for strike two. Neither Lutters

2:40:50 nor Hussein giving Gresafi any

2:40:52 attention.

2:40:56 Fast ball well wide.

2:40:59 >> Good setup pitch to potentially try to

2:41:01 paint that slider on the outer half here

2:41:03 on the ball in two.

2:41:08 Peter just misses up

2:41:16 and a two- two pitch with two on and two

2:41:18 down here in the top of the ninth. Tied

2:41:20 at three. Dan highf fly ball deep down

2:41:23 the right field line. foul and not

2:41:26 caught by the fans.

2:41:28 >> Boy, it is scary when it gets near that

2:41:31 308 down the right field corner

2:41:33 >> and the bananas just late against Reese

2:41:36 Miller right now, but it's working. Rack

2:41:38 Alpo Taco that one missed by about 15 ft

2:41:40 of being a threerun homer. Foul ball.

2:41:45 Good sinker there from Miller to get in

2:41:47 on the hands of Oberafi

2:41:54 leads off second. Cox leads off first.

2:41:58 Dan Obururst two home runs and a double

2:42:00 last night.

2:42:03 He's already got a ball for sprint here

2:42:04 in the ninth inning. He's reached four

2:42:06 times today.

2:42:09 A chopper. Jordan Hussein attacking

2:42:13 and in time.

2:42:17 We go to the bottom of the ninth inning.

2:42:19 Kned at three points a piece. Backto

2:42:21 back big plays from Justice each of the

2:42:24 last two innings. Got that tag on Billy.

2:42:27 And then a very impressive stretch and

2:42:30 toe drag of that first base bag to make

2:42:33 sure that that throw beat Dan Oburst at

2:42:36 first.

2:42:40 Danny Dittle taking over on the mound.

2:42:42 You know what that means?

2:42:51 >> Danny Eley, are you even a human, young

2:42:53 man?

2:43:02 >> Danny Hley, even he knows how disgusting

2:43:05 that one was. He is absolutely dialed in

2:43:08 on that picture, man.

2:43:25 swing and missley with a huge

2:43:32 stick with it. Blows the gas fire. If

2:43:36 you want it, you can get

2:43:42 >> Danny Hosley here in his fourth Banana

2:43:44 Ball World Tour. So far unscored upon in

2:43:48 the regular season, eight innings, only

2:43:50 two sprints, the five hits, 13 punch

2:43:53 outs so far here in the banana ball.

2:43:55 Open two innings, two hits, four

2:43:58 strikeouts.

2:43:58 >> And the closest anybody got to scoring

2:44:00 off of them was last night when Nick

2:44:01 Lopez made it to third base with two

2:44:04 outs. His obviously getting out of it

2:44:06 there, but still no earned runs this

2:44:08 year. And the tailgator, if they want to

2:44:10 advance to the playoffs, have got to put

2:44:11 one on him here in the bottom of the

2:44:13 ninth. Zack Watson

2:44:17 strike one.

2:44:20 8 n and 10 in the order here for the

2:44:22 Gator. Fast ball right on the outside

2:44:25 corner and it's an 02 count. Wally one

2:44:28 for two. A single back in the sixth.

2:44:31 Came around to score the inning winning

2:44:33 run and will not attempt to steal first

2:44:34 base. Wise move as that bounced off the

2:44:37 back stop pretty well. Very friendly

2:44:39 ricochet coming back to Bill Leroy. You

2:44:42 don't, you know, get mad at Zack Watson

2:44:44 whatsoever for opting to stay in the

2:44:46 batters box against Hos.

2:44:48 >> Bounding ball. Kyle Jackson taking his

2:44:51 time.

2:44:53 One down.

2:44:56 And with 8, N, and 10 here, guys. You

2:44:58 got to expect we're going to see the

2:45:00 golden batter. Here's Jason Arn up at

2:45:02 the dish. I would very much so expect to

2:45:04 see the golden batter in the tin hole

2:45:06 for Jordan Hussein up next.

2:45:07 >> Yeah, you're not going to jump the gun

2:45:08 with Jason Art. more pop in that bat

2:45:11 than Jordan Usain. You know that he has

2:45:13 the potential to leave the yard. Whereas

2:45:15 Jordan Hussein still seeking his first

2:45:17 career banana ball homer. So with no one

2:45:20 on, you want to send a guy like Kyle

2:45:21 Martin, Jose Gonzalez up there in place

2:45:23 of Hussein.

2:45:30 High strike

2:45:32 completely makes sense why Arent is

2:45:35 perturbed.

2:45:38 Peter misses wide.

2:45:40 >> And now the Bananas a little upset over

2:45:43 there. The first base dugout.

2:45:44 >> They should not be. That was a ball.

2:45:46 Two-2.

2:45:47 >> Fast ball. That is off the plate as

2:45:49 well.

2:45:51 Bananas applic over there, but they're

2:45:53 not right behind home plate. Payoff

2:45:56 swing and a miss. It's the Vulcan change

2:45:58 up. It's out number two.

2:46:09 The Texas Tailgator are invoking the

2:46:12 Golden Batter rule. Now batting in place

2:46:17 of Jordan Hussein is the Texas Tailgator

2:46:20 Golden Batter. Please welcome Kyle Kmart

2:46:26 Martin

2:46:29 with a chance to go to the playoffs and

2:46:32 win the inaugural Banana Ball Open right

2:46:34 here, right now.

2:46:36 Perhaps the best matchup you can have in

2:46:38 this whole sport. Kyle Martin, two home

2:46:41 runs already in the open. One already

2:46:43 here today facing arguably the best

2:46:46 pitcher in the history of banana ball in

2:46:48 Danny Heley. Where else would you rather

2:46:51 be

2:46:56 off speed misses well low

2:47:01 Kmart one for three with the fourth

2:47:03 inning walk-off home run today way out

2:47:05 in front of this Bill Loy hoping he's

2:47:07 got a chance up against the back stop

2:47:10 can't make the catch

2:47:16 boy made an absolutely outrageous play

2:47:18 in in the seventh inning to take care of

2:47:20 Kyle Martin. Nearly duplicated it here

2:47:23 >> in the collision there with that fence.

2:47:26 Bail's gotten roughed up. He got roughed

2:47:27 up on the play that he made over there

2:47:28 against the wall.

2:47:29 >> And you can see some gusts blowing right

2:47:31 now. The flag in left center field

2:47:34 moving quite a bit. So that ball

2:47:36 certainly was playing some tricks on Loy

2:47:38 trying to hunt it. That one to the back

2:47:41 stop. Kmart not thinking about stealing

2:47:43 first at all. That is not why he's in

2:47:44 the batter box.

2:47:47 plus wheels to be 33 years old, but he's

2:47:49 up there to swing the stick right now.

2:47:56 The two-1 pitch

2:47:58 and it's cued third base side. Hosley is

2:48:01 going to let it go foul.

2:48:03 Fascinating decision there to make.

2:48:05 Decided he didn't have a chance to get

2:48:07 Kmart and he'd like the two- two count

2:48:09 against him.

2:48:11 >> Yeah, Q ball. And if Danny picks it up

2:48:13 while it's steering fair territory,

2:48:14 that's going to be an infield single.

2:48:16 And when you have a Vulcan change that

2:48:18 is as good as Danny Hley's, I want to be

2:48:20 able to throw it at 22 as well.

2:48:24 >> Between the regular season and the open

2:48:27 10 and two/3 scoreless inning so far

2:48:29 this year for Danny Hosley

2:48:35 trying to send us to showdowns. The two-

2:48:38 two fast ball called strike three. Danny

2:48:42 Dittle a pair of punch outs in the ninth

2:48:45 and we're going to showdowns.

2:48:49 Deja vu all over again. Big scala.

2:48:54 Eight days later here in our home of

2:48:56 Savannah, Georgia. The Texas Tailgator

2:48:58 and Savannah Bananas after a Robert

2:49:01 Anthony Cruz gamet tying home run in the

2:49:03 ninth inning sends us the showdowns yet

2:49:06 again. And let's see what happened when

2:49:08 we went to showdowns 8 days ago in front

2:49:12 of 50,000 fans on the campus of UNC in

2:49:16 Kenan Stadium. Of course, Danny Hosley

2:49:18 on the bump. Round one, Vulcan change up

2:49:21 strikeout of Nick Lopez. Reese Miller Ks

2:49:24 up Robert Anthony Cruz on the Heat. To

2:49:26 round two we go, Danny Hosley against

2:49:30 Jos Gonzalez Jr. And how about a front

2:49:33 door change up to freeze brother and

2:49:37 make it backto back showdown shutdowns.

2:49:39 And now for the first time in banana

2:49:40 ball history. It's four straight KS to

2:49:43 start showdowns. And then with the bases

2:49:46 loaded 32 pitch, Kyle Martin with a mile

2:49:50 high pop and Dr. Meadows able to secure

2:49:53 it. And you feel right there with Dan

2:49:56 Ober coming to the bat in the bottom

2:49:58 half that felt like the ball game. Mo

2:50:00 got one pitch. He smashed it out into

2:50:03 left. And just like that, the Manners

2:50:05 who were down 5-2 in this game going

2:50:07 into the bottom of the ninth, 65

2:50:09 winners. Yeah. And ever since that

2:50:11 walk-off hit for Dan Oburst, he has been

2:50:13 the Achilles heel of the Texas

2:50:15 Tailgator. Nonetheless, the Bananas

2:50:18 playing the matchup. Robert Anthony

2:50:20 Cruz, two home runs against Reese

2:50:23 Miller, and he's going to be the batter

2:50:25 in round one, trying to send this out of

2:50:28 the park. and immediately win the game

2:50:30 for the Bananas

2:50:31 >> and send us to another round of

2:50:32 showdowns potentially if the Bananas win

2:50:34 it.

2:50:38 >> Highfly ball deep to right

2:50:42 foul.

2:50:45 >> I think that thing was hit to Washington

2:50:47 A. Holy moly.

2:50:49 >> I think it was hit to Washington State.

2:50:53 >> But a quick 02 count. It's just a long

2:50:55 strike.

2:50:58 Slider called. Strike three. Reese

2:51:01 Miller freezes Rack. It's a showdown

2:51:04 shutdown. That get back goes crazy.

2:51:08 Front door slider after Wreck just hit

2:51:11 when the kingdom come. The boys go and

2:51:14 sit back in the dugout. And now an

2:51:16 opportunity for the Tailgator to finally

2:51:18 get something off of Danny Hassley and

2:51:20 to beat these bananas in back-to-back

2:51:23 ball games.

2:51:26 And another showdown shutdown for Reese

2:51:28 Miller as well.

2:51:32 >> Osley back out there.

2:51:36 >> And it's going to be a rematch of his

2:51:38 round one opponent a couple Saturdays

2:51:41 ago in Chapel Hill. Hosley thrown six

2:51:46 showdown rounds against the Texas

2:51:48 Tailgator in his career. He has six

2:51:50 showdown shutdowns.

2:51:53 You got to like his chances. The

2:51:56 tailgator putting this in the hands of

2:51:58 their allstar from a season ago in Nick

2:52:00 Lopez. One for three in today's ball

2:52:03 game with an RBI single.

2:52:11 Change up for strike one.

2:52:14 Lopey disagrees.

2:52:19 >> Change up. Fouled right off of Trey

2:52:21 Hudson. If you're a real conspiracy

2:52:24 theorist, that was revenge for the

2:52:25 strike one call. Lopez is a phenomenally

2:52:29 talented hitter. Not that good.

2:52:32 Nobody on planet Earth is the O2.

2:52:36 That's hit well deep out to left.

2:52:39 Alexiot is on his horse.

2:52:42 It settles on the warning track. Lopez

2:52:44 around second.

2:52:46 Reese gets to the ball. Lopez around

2:52:49 third. down relay. Nick Lopez clinches a

2:52:54 playoff spot for the Texas Tailgator.

2:52:57 And the boys in blue and orange are

2:53:00 going to get a playoff spot six points

2:53:03 early.

2:53:05 Nate Lopez, the man who won all the

2:53:08 showdowns last year for the Tailgator,

2:53:10 comes up in the biggest spot of his

2:53:12 Banana Ball career. Four to three. The

2:53:15 Tailgator win the first ever Banana Ball

2:53:18 Open. We'll see you in October.

2:53:26 >> Rex Castillo hunting down Nick Lopez.

2:53:30 He's found our guy.

2:53:31 >> Love, you lost your shirt, but you won

2:53:32 this series. It is the hardest thing to

2:53:34 do is seal it up. How did this team do

2:53:36 it?

2:53:37 >> We just never gave up, man. Even in the

2:53:39 locker room, we're talking. We're going

2:53:40 to beat these guys. They got us last

2:53:43 year and the first couple games this

2:53:44 year, and we never gave up. That's the

2:53:46 difference.

2:53:47 >> Go ahead and celebrate.

2:53:48 >> Yes, sir. Let's go.

2:53:50 >> Thank you, Rex. An exhausted Nick Lopez.

2:53:56 Right in to the celebration dance. The

2:53:59 Texas Tailgator sweep the banana ball

2:54:02 open final.

2:54:04 And now there are only three playoff

2:54:06 spots remaining come October.

2:54:13 And I'll tell you what, fellas, when you

2:54:16 think back to last year's Banana Ball

2:54:18 Allstar game against the Auburn Tigers,

2:54:21 who was the hero? Who was the MVP of

2:54:23 those two games? It was Nick Lopez of

2:54:26 the Texas Tailgator doing that as a

2:54:29 rookie. And now he's got the veteran

2:54:31 experience. Very comfortable. And with

2:54:34 Reese Alexi shaded a little more towards

2:54:37 right field for the showdown defense as

2:54:40 the defender. It's Lafi going out to the

2:54:43 opposite field, getting that ball to

2:54:45 settle on the warning track. And that's

2:54:47 what leads the Texas Tailgator to

2:54:49 becoming the first team in 2026 to punch

2:54:53 a ticket to the playoffs. Three career

2:54:56 championship.

2:54:58 Very, very impressed. Round of applause

2:55:00 for the Texas W.

2:55:03 >> Three of them in a row for the

2:55:04 Tailgator. That is a hardearned playoff

2:55:07 spot. First time the Texas Tailgator

2:55:09 have ever won three straight ball games

2:55:11 in their entire existence. And in a a

2:55:14 tournament that is made, obviously, you

2:55:17 can win two in one and go to showdowns

2:55:19 or you can just win three straight right

2:55:21 right up. And that's exactly what the

2:55:22 tailgator did. My goodness,

2:55:27 >> what a banana ball open. What a

2:55:29 fantastic finish.

2:55:32 Chris Clark, your showman of the game.

2:55:35 Across five innings, just one unearned

2:55:37 run, nine strikeouts, two points earned,

2:55:41 eight trick plays induced behind him.

2:55:43 >> That's why he was taken third overall in

2:55:46 the Banana Ball draft. Again, no earned

2:55:48 runs. He induced more trick plays in his

2:55:50 five inning of works than the Bananas

2:55:52 had the entire ball game and he's such a

2:55:55 big strikeout guy. But in those moments,

2:55:58 I mean, I believe the stats still stayed

2:56:00 correct. Every out he recorded today was

2:56:02 either via trick play or a strikeout.

2:56:05 When you're working with that kind of

2:56:06 efficiency, as Chris Clark was working

2:56:08 with today, you're going to win an awful

2:56:10 lot of ball games. It's all but one for

2:56:12 Chris Clark when you consider Jordan

2:56:14 Nusain's remarkable play that ended his

2:56:17 afternoon. Nonetheless, this guy when we

2:56:20 were entering the Banana Ball player

2:56:22 draft last November, he was the number

2:56:25 one overall pitcher on my personal big

2:56:28 board, and he proved exactly why his

2:56:30 resume made him the third overall pick

2:56:34 and the guy who delivered them this

2:56:35 victory. Let's hear from the man

2:56:38 himself. For that, we'll get it back

2:56:39 down to Rex

2:56:41 >> as Chris salutes the the fans here real

2:56:43 quick. You guys broke it down

2:56:44 beautifully. This was one of the top

2:56:46 picks for pitchers in the banana ball

2:56:48 draft. Chris, one of the hardest things

2:56:50 to do is complete the sweep. How did

2:56:52 this team have the mentality to shut the

2:56:53 door and secure a playoff spot all the

2:56:55 way in October?

2:56:56 >> You know, we've been playing well this

2:56:57 season. We got a really good defense and

2:56:59 starting to mold its way into a really

2:57:00 really solid routine. And um today, you

2:57:03 know, last night it took us took us four

2:57:05 tries to beat the bananas. You know,

2:57:06 it's they're a really really good team.

2:57:08 All credit to our competitors. They're

2:57:09 the one that created this sport. But,

2:57:11 you know, we beat them in trick plays

2:57:12 and tonight we did that again. Um, I

2:57:14 think we just keep playing our game. We

2:57:15 got a really good shot at winning this

2:57:16 whole thing. But being guaranteed a spot

2:57:18 is pretty sweet as well. So, love that.

2:57:21 >> At the same time, this was like a a

2:57:23 crazy playoff atmosphere. How much fun

2:57:24 was it to play this early on in the

2:57:26 season?

2:57:26 >> Oh, it's fantastic. I mean, nothing

2:57:28 compares to a playoff game. It doesn't

2:57:30 matter what point of the season it is,

2:57:31 just tensions are a little bit higher,

2:57:33 things a little bit more, and every

2:57:34 single pitch counts. So, for us to win

2:57:36 more pitches than they did against a

2:57:37 good team like that, it means a lot. So,

2:57:39 we're feeling really good. We're going

2:57:40 to definitely celebrate this one a lot.

2:57:42 I mean, get her up at this point now.

2:57:44 You don't But you can't keep it in

2:57:45 cruise control. You got to keep going

2:57:46 for the rest of the season, right?

2:57:47 >> No, we got to keep going. We definitely

2:57:48 still got some things we got to work

2:57:49 out. But, you know, even with that being

2:57:52 the case, we're still a pretty good ball

2:57:53 club. So, come check us out, baby. Gator

2:57:55 up.

2:57:55 >> He's that dog. He's that dog.

2:57:57 >> Hey, they pretty much said it. He's that

2:57:59 dog. Thank you so much, Chris.

2:58:00 Congratulations, brother. Absolutely,

2:58:01 guys.

2:58:02 >> Gator up.

2:58:03 >> Thank you very much, Rex. What a

2:58:05 performance by the ace of the tailgator,

2:58:08 Chris Clark. And what a performance by

2:58:11 the tailgator in this inaugural Banana

2:58:13 Ball Open, taking the sport by storm.

2:58:18 They have a date with Destiny in

2:58:19 October. Now, five teams and three spots

2:58:23 remaining to try and join them.

2:58:25 >> And some people may be saying now, well,

2:58:26 what do the Tailgators have to play for

2:58:28 over the next six months? Seating very

2:58:30 important. They came into this

2:58:32 tournament as the three seed. You want

2:58:33 to maximize that to be the number one

2:58:35 seed in October already knowing that you

2:58:38 are locked in to the inaugural Banana

2:58:40 Ball Championship League playoffs. Only

2:58:43 one big Tiger that we've still got to

2:58:45 hear from Mr. Jesse Cole with Sam

2:58:47 Bowman.

2:58:48 >> Yeah, thank you guys. The Banana Ball

2:58:50 Open, inaugural Banana Ball Open. Jesse,

2:58:52 when you put pen to paper, came up with

2:58:54 this in your mind, to see it play out,

2:58:56 to watch how it's unfolded over these

2:58:58 past four days, could you have imagined

2:59:01 even just this last couple innings, what

2:59:03 this game has brought?

2:59:04 >> Yes, I could have. You know, I think

2:59:07 when we created all this and we worked

2:59:08 together to create this, we try to

2:59:10 envision what the perfect scenario is,

2:59:11 what would be the best fan experience,

2:59:12 something come down to showdowns and

2:59:14 create these moments that fans will

2:59:16 never forget. And and it delivered in

2:59:17 many ways. And I'm so proud of this

2:59:19 team, the Texas Tailgator, you know, to

2:59:21 come around last year and then this year

2:59:23 battling the injuries and the adversity

2:59:25 and some of their top guys going down.

2:59:26 For them to come together here, you

2:59:28 know, at a place that's tough to play. I

2:59:29 mean, the Bananas have played hundreds

2:59:31 of games here. A lot of veterans and the

2:59:33 fans, you know, majority are Bananas

2:59:35 fans. To come here and do that, uh, it

2:59:37 just shows you a testament of of what

2:59:39 this has turned into. And, uh, so proud

2:59:40 for Coach Mick. I mean, he brings as

2:59:42 much energy as anyone else. The guys are

2:59:43 playing for them and you can see them

2:59:45 right now. They're just they're pumped

2:59:46 and they deserve the playoff spot as any

2:59:48 as well as anybody. And

2:59:49 >> Jesse, now I I watched over the past

2:59:51 four days, especially here this

2:59:53 afternoon. Not a seat could you see

2:59:55 here. People show up. Yeah. To meet the

2:59:57 players, to watch the entertainment, but

2:59:58 speak to the competitive nature. We saw

3:00:00 two teams. We saw four total teams who

3:00:03 wanted to win this dang thing. You know,

3:00:05 you can say what you think about Banana

3:00:07 Ball and you see the dances and the

3:00:09 celebrations and the Tik Toks and say

3:00:11 they're just here, but then you come out

3:00:12 and see the talent of these players and

3:00:14 the competitiveness and the willingness

3:00:15 to win and how much they will put out

3:00:17 there. These guys have been playing

3:00:18 baseball their whole life and now

3:00:19 they're playing banana ball and they're

3:00:21 mixing. Hey, we're going to put on a

3:00:22 show. We're going to bring joy. We're

3:00:23 going to bring fun, but we're going to

3:00:24 go for it and we're going to show people

3:00:25 that we can do something. And I think

3:00:27 everybody's got a little chip on their

3:00:28 shoulder. And you see it out here and

3:00:30 we're going to continue to prove, you

3:00:31 know, every day people that doubt us,

3:00:33 they say, "Hey, you know, this is what

3:00:34 it is. It's this this is, you know, it's

3:00:37 whatever a joke. We hear all those

3:00:39 comments. Come out and watch it and

3:00:40 watch these guys compete and watch what

3:00:42 they're doing because uh you know, like

3:00:44 I said, we're just getting started and

3:00:45 this Banana Ball Open proves. How many

3:00:47 teams in April get to celebrate like

3:00:49 that with a playoff stake? It doesn't

3:00:51 happen and we just saw it right now and

3:00:52 it's just the start and I can't wait to

3:00:54 see what this turns into.

3:00:55 >> Yeah, guys, 25%ish through the season

3:00:57 and we're already at a high and it we

3:00:59 know Jesse Cole, it's only going to get

3:01:01 higher from here. Guys, break it on down

3:01:03 for us.

3:01:05 No doubt about that. SB, thank you very

3:01:07 much, my friend. And thank you for the

3:01:09 insight. Jesse Cole, welcome back inside

3:01:11 the booth. Josh Tvki, Brett Loftess, Bo

3:01:14 Scalla. Thank you so much for spending

3:01:16 your Sunday afternoon with us here in

3:01:18 virtual Banana Land. An absolute

3:01:21 thriller from start to finish. The

3:01:23 Bananas led one- nothing for three

3:01:25 innings and then the Tailgator cruised

3:01:29 all the way up into that Robert Anthony

3:01:31 Cruz home run. But that is showing the

3:01:33 guts of this squad. Nick Lopez, of

3:01:35 course, the hero at the very end.

3:01:36 >> Well, all week in the locker room, the

3:01:38 guys just said, "If we get another crack

3:01:39 at him, if we just get another crack at

3:01:41 him, we're so close." Joe Mikolik sent a

3:01:43 message to the guys last night saying,

3:01:45 "I told you we were so close. We got it

3:01:47 done last night. We got to get one more

3:01:48 tomorrow." You see them in that same

3:01:49 exact situation as they were in at UNC.

3:01:53 But all the time here, FanF First

3:01:55 Entertainment and in Banana Ball, we

3:01:57 talk about growth. You've seen the

3:01:59 maturation of Reese Miller and of that

3:02:01 offense. Finally able to get to Danny

3:02:03 Hley. Reese Miller overcoming the guy

3:02:05 that's had his number and Robert Anthony

3:02:07 Cruz there in showdowns. And now the

3:02:09 Texas Tailgator, the first ever winner

3:02:11 of the Banana Ball Open. Special special

3:02:14 day special day for this team.

3:02:16 >> Unbelievable win for the Tailgator and

3:02:18 an unbelievable Banana Ball Open as a

3:02:20 whole. And of course on the back of

3:02:22 Chris Clark and then Reese Miller nail

3:02:24 nailing it down at the end. Well, I I

3:02:25 think it's just beautiful that even

3:02:27 though we didn't get series showdowns uh

3:02:30 technically after the two games, we

3:02:32 still got it in game two that won this

3:02:34 open for the Texas Tailgator, just the

3:02:37 most banana ball ending you could

3:02:38 possibly ask for. And as far as these

3:02:41 Texas Tailgators are concerned, you

3:02:42 know, every time these teams are able to

3:02:44 win championships or in season

3:02:46 tournaments, you're always saying that

3:02:48 it's because the best team won. And the

3:02:50 Tailgator were the best team in all of

3:02:53 the Banana Ball aspects of this open.

3:02:56 They won two equalizer points. They

3:02:58 defeated the Bananas in Showdown

3:03:00 Tiebreers. Finally scored against Danny

3:03:02 Hosley for the first time ever as a

3:03:05 franchise. So hats off to the Texas

3:03:07 Tailgator for a very complete

3:03:09 performance across this entire

3:03:12 tournament. And once again, it was the

3:03:14 pitching that really led that way. CD

3:03:17 Brett Sanchez, Reese Miller, Chris

3:03:20 Clark. I mean, this team is full of dogs

3:03:22 and they are going to be trouble once

3:03:24 again when we reach October.

3:03:26 >> So poetically just hit me right in the

3:03:28 mouth just sitting here thinking about

3:03:29 October last year. The party animals win

3:03:32 game one in dominating fashion against

3:03:33 the Tailgator here in the playoffs. Game

3:03:36 two goes to Showdowns and Jake Skull

3:03:39 with a walk-off ball for sprint there in

3:03:41 Showdowns. How about this? Tailgator win

3:03:44 game one back at Grayson Stadium in an

3:03:46 inseason tournament championship-like

3:03:48 environment and then go to showdowns and

3:03:50 able to win it. It's just the irony, the

3:03:52 growth, the maturation. Year two, the

3:03:54 Texas Tailgator are here and they're not

3:03:56 the same team they were in their first

3:03:57 year.

3:03:58 >> And this coming weekend, we get right

3:04:00 back to the regular season of this

3:04:02 inaugural Banana Ball Championship

3:04:04 League. All the records still remain.

3:04:06 All the individual stats for the players

3:04:08 remain across our first 11 games. And

3:04:11 you take a look, it'll start with the

3:04:13 Clowns verse firefighters, 7:00 p.m.

3:04:15 Eastern on Friday night from Greenville,

3:04:17 South Carolina. That's on the

3:04:19 Firefighters YouTube channel. Just one

3:04:21 hour later, you get to hear Brett

3:04:23 Loftess again on the Tailgator YouTube

3:04:26 channel as the Coconuts and Tailgators

3:04:28 do battle out in Amaro, Texas. And then

3:04:31 it is back to Banana Ball in the Bronx.

3:04:34 You kidding me? This time the party

3:04:36 animals go to Yankee Stadium to take on

3:04:38 the Savannah Bananas. Josh and I will

3:04:41 have Drake Tol in the booth. We'll be

3:04:42 going on the Savannah Bananas YouTube

3:04:44 channel Saturday night at 700 p.m. A

3:04:47 heck of a weekend of Banana Ball we've

3:04:49 got on the docket.

3:04:50 >> And I've got to think that this weekend

3:04:51 kind of raises the stakes for the rest

3:04:54 of this regular season. Now the other

3:04:56 five teams, they're jockeying for those

3:04:58 incredible records, trying to win as

3:05:00 many games as possible to get those

3:05:02 three remaining spots in the playoffs.

3:05:04 And the bananas at 10 and 11 certainly

3:05:07 would have loved the free playoff spot,

3:05:09 but they are four games ahead of the

3:05:12 firefighters who are the only other team

3:05:13 above 500 at 6 and 5. And then it gets

3:05:16 really fascinating after the five and

3:05:18 six tailgators. It's four and seven for

3:05:20 the clowns, party animals, and coconuts.

3:05:22 So, uh, it just gets crazier from here.

3:05:25 And a big thank you to our entire cast

3:05:27 and crew across this whole weekend. It

3:05:30 takes an army to put on four straight

3:05:32 shows on four straight nights and they

3:05:34 did a wonderful job. It starts in the

3:05:37 control room across the street. Our

3:05:39 director this afternoon, Mr. Alex Gross,

3:05:42 terrific calling the shots on this

3:05:44 broadcast. A big shout out to everybody

3:05:45 over in the control room. And back here

3:05:47 in Savannah, our broadcast produced by

3:05:50 Chad Ree. For our executive producer,

3:05:52 Mr. Josh Richardson. Our fellas down on

3:05:54 the field, Sam Bowman and Rex Castillo.

3:05:57 My guys in the booth, Josh Tleski and

3:06:00 Brett Loftess. I am Bo Scala saying so

3:06:03 long for now. The Texas Tailgator, your

3:06:06 champion of the Banana Ball Open. They

3:06:09 are in the playoffs. Three more teams

3:06:12 across the rest of this season will join

3:06:14 them. Can't wait to see how it all

3:06:16 unfolds Friday night on the Firefighters

3:06:18 YouTube channel. Then an hour later,

3:06:20 Brett on the Tailgator YouTube channel.

3:06:22 Until we see you this weekend on

3:06:24 YouTube, we will see you later.

3:06:43 are hard to get up.

3:06:56 Yeah,

3:07:19 hey

3:07:22 Heat. Heat. N.

3:07:54 Yeah.

3:08:00 Yeah.