Texas Tailgaters @ Firefighters

0:25 With one sound of the sirens in Grayson

0:27 Stadium, the Fire Fighters officially

0:29 arrive for duty in Banana Ball in 2024.

0:33 The third team to join the game along

0:35 with the Savannah Bananas and Party

0:37 Animals, a group much different than

0:39 those two titanic brands. One

0:41 representing grit, heroism, risk-taking

0:43 [music] toughness, Logan Lacey becomes

0:46 the fifth player in Banana Ball

0:48 [cheering] history to pull OFF A

0:50 BACKFLIP CATCH. AND honoring the heroes

0:53 who run into the blaze across all of our

0:55 communities.

0:57 >> so much more than I could have ever

0:58 thought.

0:59 >> To everybody laying it all on the line,

1:01 couldn't be more blessed.

1:02 >> Fire Fighters of the Night are welcomed

1:04 alongside Parker Noland, Val Perez, by

1:07 Zack Watson. It represents hard work,

1:09 represents discipline. Honor those

1:11 people by how hard you play. Do not take

1:13 that for granted.

1:14 >> Led by Val Perez, a 10-year firefighter

1:16 in Corpus Christi, Texas, and long-time

1:19 Bananas and Christian Dierman [music]

1:20 and Dakota McFadden.

1:22 My dad's been a fireman for over

1:25 uh gosh, probably 50 years now. My

1:27 uncle's been in the fire department for

1:28 a long time. Never give in, doesn't

1:30 matter what the situation is.

1:32 >> [music]

1:32 >> And you know these guys never back down.

1:34 They're coming to save everyone that

1:36 they can. Being the son of a

1:37 firefighter, being a nephew of a

1:39 firefighter, and being a friend of so

1:43 many different firefighters,

1:46 it feels like this was meant for me.

1:48 Fighting the flames for 19 games in

1:50 2024, a year of history for the Fire

1:53 Fighters. DAKOTA MCFADDEN, THE FIRST

1:55 home run in the HISTORY OF THE

1:57 FIREFIGHTERS FRANCHISE. UNDER THE LEG TO

2:00 GREEDO AT SECOND. A TRICK PLAY AND THE

2:03 FIRST WIN IN FIREFIGHTERS HISTORY.

2:06 AND THIS TIE GAME

2:08 >> [screaming]

2:08 >> AND THE FIREFIGHTERS HAVE WON THEIR

2:12 FINAL GAME OF 2024.

2:16 AND IT'S THE PERFECT ENDING FOR THE BOYS

2:19 IN RED AND YELLOW.

2:23 IN 2025, THE SCHEDULE grew to 33

2:26 missions across the country, including

2:28 the team's very first headlining tour. A

2:30 three-city journey across Virginia. A

2:33 barnstorming month that left fans with

2:36 plenty of fiery moments. ISAAC PARRA

2:39 BEHIND THE BACK. GREEN THROUGH THE LEGS.

2:41 DOUBLE PLAY WITH THE BARE HAND.

2:44 BACKFLIP. HANDSPRING. YES, SIR. INTO

2:48 CENTER FIELD. IS IT GONE? OH [screaming]

2:50 MY GOODNESS. Noah Bridges is the hero at

2:55 Salem. And a host of new characters like

2:58 mascot Bo the Beaver.

3:02 And the first ever Dalmatian bat dog.

3:05 CHIEF.

3:07 YEAH.

3:07 >> [screaming]

3:08 >> THE BLAZE SPREADING TO MAJOR

3:10 PROPORTIONS. The Firefighters playing in

3:12 10 major league ballparks with their

3:15 first ever win in an MLB stadium coming

3:17 in Denver last August.

3:19 >> THE FIREFIGHTERS STOPPED THE NANNERS

3:21 WINNING STREAK AT 14 GAMES and they TAKE

3:25 GAME TWO HERE [cheering] AT COORS FIELD

3:26 in showdowns. And they gave us one of

3:29 the most emotional nights in Banana Ball

3:31 history.

3:32 >> We pause to honor

3:34 and remember.

3:36 Reflecting on the lives forever changed

3:39 on September 11th, 2001.

3:42 And tonight, we honor both the lives

3:44 that were lost and the lives that were

3:47 saved because of the selfless actions of

3:50 first responders.

3:52 Firefighter Charles Stella.

3:55 >> [applause]

3:59 >> Firefighter Chris LaGrow.

4:02 >> [applause]

4:04 >> Firefighter Frank Perez.

4:09 Firefighter Mike Lonowski.

4:15 And firefighter Chris Shitler.

4:22 And firefighter Malcolm Moore.

4:25 >> [applause]

4:28 >> 9/11 first responder Port Authority

4:33 >> [cheering]

4:37 [applause]

4:39 [cheering]

4:39 >> And 9/11 first responder Lieutenant

4:44 Eric

4:44 >> [cheering]

4:47 >> And 9/11 first responder Tom

4:50 Ahearn.

4:53 >> [applause]

4:54 >> And 9/11

4:56 first responder

4:58 Ronnie Gentile.

4:59 >> [cheering and applause]

5:04 >> First responder

5:05 >> [cheering]

5:07 >> Brian Dwyer.

5:12 One more time

5:14 for our New York City firefighters

5:16 >> [cheering]

5:19 >> from 9/11 first responders.

5:22 >> [applause]

5:27 >> Going into the postseason, the

5:28 Firefighters earning the four seed after

5:30 going 6 and 27. Only winning three times

5:33 in 23 chances against the Savannah

5:36 Bananas. The odds stacked against them

5:39 going against the team in yellow. Until

5:41 Bradford Webb and Ben Dump stepped up.

5:44 >> Bradford Webb, six innings, six goose

5:47 eggs, four K's. He was miraculous.

5:51 BEN DUNN THE THIRD FIRED UP

5:54 AS HE DRIBBLES THIS ONE OVER TO FIRST.

5:56 STEVEN COHEN WILL TAKE IT BEHIND HIS

5:58 BACK [cheering] AND THROUGH THE BACK.

6:00 AND THE FIREFIGHTERS WIN GAME ONE. BEN

6:03 DUNN A NINE-OUT SAVE. A one-nothing win

6:06 in game one of the semi-finals giving

6:08 the Firefighters just as good a chance

6:10 as anybody else. [music] But they

6:11 dropped game two by one point leading to

6:14 a winner-take-all showdown in Grayson

6:16 Stadium. Dalton Cornett getting his

6:18 chance to shine and creating a moment

6:21 that will last in Banana Ball history.

6:24 THAT BALL DEMOLISHED DEEP OUT TO RIGHT.

6:28 GONE!

6:29 DALTON CORNETT

6:30 SENDS THE FIREFIGHTERS TO the 2025

6:33 Banana Ball TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL.

6:38 >> [cheering]

6:39 >> I don't even have words right now.

6:41 This is like the greatest moment in

6:42 baseball history. From four seed to the

6:44 championship game, the Firefighters

6:46 becoming the ultimate Cinderella story

6:49 in Banana Land.

6:53 The Fire and Flames picking right up

6:55 where they left off in 2026 with

6:57 long-time Bananas Eric Jones Jr., Jared

7:00 Donaldson, and Zack Phillips officially

7:02 aboard. The team picked up its

7:04 first-ever sweep in Banana Ball over the

7:06 Loco Beach Coconuts in Little Rock,

7:08 Arkansas.

7:11 Launched an historic offensive

7:13 performance in Montgomery, Alabama

7:15 scoring 22 runs in one game to beat the

7:19 Indianapolis Clowns 4-2. Then swept the

7:21 Party Animals for the first time ever in

7:24 Albuquerque highlighted by an incredible

7:26 two rounds of showdowns in game two. The

7:29 Firefighters are the two SEED

7:31 [screaming]

7:32 IN THE BANANA BALL INVITATIONAL.

7:34 HONESTLY, I've kind of done it so much

7:35 now I'm pretty confident in myself

7:38 on that.

7:39 The stage is mine. I can do anything.

7:42 Fire.

7:47 >> When you enter the fire service, you are

7:49 entering a brotherhood unlike any other.

7:51 And you're trying to be the one who is

7:54 going to save somebody's life every

7:56 single day. And you're in those

7:56 high-stress situations. That is a bond

7:59 unlike any other. So, remember when you

8:01 put these jerseys on who you represent.

8:03 Take honor in that. Take pride in that.

8:05 When you enter this locker room, you've

8:07 officially entered the brotherhood of

8:09 the Banana Ball Fire Department. And

8:11 let's take pride in that.

8:14 On his first SWING WITH THE FIRE

8:16 FIGHTERS, A.J.

8:18 >> [screaming]

8:18 >> PUMPS IT! JARED DONALDSON STRIKES OUT

8:22 THE SIDE HIS FIRST FRAME AGAINST the

8:24 Nanners.

8:30 NOAH BRIDGES IS TIMELESS.

8:33 WE HAVE A GOOD OFFENSE.

8:35 YES. TINY WITH THE BIG SHOT!

8:40 DARIAN MCDOWELL!

8:42 >> [screaming]

8:42 >> HEY, YEAH!

8:43 LOOK AT THAT THERE. [cheering]

8:45 Oh my goodness. What a hot team in

8:46 sports, BABY. LET'S GO!

8:52 ALL ROADS LEAD TO THE BANANA Ball Open.

8:54 Top four teams will battle it out for a

8:56 guaranteed spot in the playoffs. The

8:58 Texas Tailgaters Fire Fighters in the

9:01 Banana Ball Open.

9:03 >> [screaming]

9:03 >> The Savannah Bananas The Indianapolis

9:05 Clowns secure a spot in the Banana Ball

9:07 Open. We can expect a whole lot of

9:09 fireworks. IT'S GONE!

9:11 BACKFLIP CATCH MAKES THE BALL DISAPPEAR.

9:14 >> OH MY GOSH! HOW IN THE WORLD YOU'RE OUT

9:16 OF YOUR MIND! IT'S GONE!

9:18 IT'S GONE!

9:19 It's gone!

9:20 UNBELIEVABLE!

9:22 KYLE JACKSON HE'S HIT for the cycle!

9:25 It's a cycle for Jackie BRADLEY JR. 22

9:29 hits in a game. Banana Ball history!

9:31 Bro, what you rather be?

9:39 >> Night one of the Banana Ball Open saw

9:42 the namesake of the sport punch their

9:44 ticket [music] to a date with destiny.

9:45 Tonight, we find out who they dine with

9:48 this weekend for that automatic playoff

9:50 spot. [music] The middle children of the

9:52 sport, the Firefighters and the Texas

9:54 Tailgaters meeting for the first time on

9:57 the turf of historic Grayson Stadium in

9:59 front of a sold-out crowd for game two

10:02 of the Banana Ball Open presented by

10:04 GEICO. Six meetings between this duo,

10:06 they're three and three. The seventh

10:09 match-up with all the stakes. Who will

10:11 play the Savannah Bananas for that

10:13 inaugural open crown? It's the

10:15 Firefighters. It's the [music] TEXAS

10:16 TAILGATERS LIVE and in living color

10:19 right here in the home city of Banana

10:21 Ball. And with that, welcome up inside

10:23 the dispatch center here at historic

10:25 Grayson Stadium. That is the hottest

10:27 cowboy in all of Banana Land, Brett

10:28 Loftis. And yes, I do say that because

10:30 of his looks. I'm Zack Staten. Brett,

10:32 what an opportunity for both of these

10:34 teams. You win, you get to dance with

10:36 the Savannah Bananas this weekend for an

10:38 opportunity to go to the big ball in

10:40 October.

10:41 >> Something like you've never seen before.

10:42 I mean really, 11 games in, 50 more

10:45 regular season games to go. And we said,

10:47 "Hey, let's make it in-season tournament

10:50 where you have an opportunity to clinch

10:51 a playoff spot in April." Absolutely

10:54 insane. But either the Firefighters or

10:56 the Tailgaters are going to have a tough

10:57 task against that team in yellow.

10:59 >> Yes, they are. It was the old versus the

11:01 new in Banana Ball. The Savannah Bananas

11:03 against the Indianapolis [music] Clowns.

11:04 They got a little help from their

11:05 Firefighter friends a couple of weekends

11:07 ago. They did not get any help from

11:09 Robert Anthony Cruz. That jobber has

11:10 been insane. Home run at UNC to tie up a

11:13 ballgame on Saturday night. He makes it

11:15 one nothing in the second. Dan Oberst,

11:17 long ball to the jobber, but so will the

11:18 short game. Out at first, doesn't

11:20 matter. Danny Hosley scores. It's two

11:22 nothing. Bobby LaDay scores the only run

11:25 of the night for the Indianapolis Clowns

11:27 with a ya ya in the top of the fourth

11:29 inning. Been absolutely incredible as

11:31 that rookie from Louisiana. However, the

11:34 captain, Bill Leroy, fly ball, left

11:36 field, Cowboy Joe cannot find it. One

11:40 run comes home to score. Two runs come

11:42 home to score and the Savannah Bananas

11:44 take a three-point to nothing lead to

11:46 conclude matters in the fourth. Jaylen

11:48 Vasquez, he's showing off some pop this

11:50 year, [music] sends it to center field.

11:52 Where's DR Meadows? THE DOC? NO, IT'S

11:55 REESE ALEXIADES, MR. TWO PIECE HIMSELF.

11:58 THEN, Reese gets it done with the stick

12:00 as well. Sprays one into left-center

12:01 field and drives home yet another run

12:03 and another point for the Savannah

12:05 Bananas taking a four-to-nothing [music]

12:07 lead.

12:08 >> JBJ couldn't catch up to that one on the

12:09 mic, but guess what? He'll get another

12:11 opportunity off the backs of Max Young

12:13 Goldberg. This is sick. He just makes

12:15 [music] it look so simple, the former

12:17 World Series champion with the Boston

12:18 Red Sox, but the man that shuts it all

12:20 down for the Bananas, [music] Danny

12:21 Hasley. See you later, Bobby La Day.

12:23 Danny Hasley. See you later, Nico

12:25 Hulkenberg. Then, with two-one, MAYBE A

12:27 CHANCE FOR THE CLOWNS? NOPE. Chris

12:29 Burges into the sky. It'll be caught

12:31 [music] by MJG

12:34 and that's how the Savannah Bananas win

12:36 it four-nothing. [music] Reese

12:37 Alexiades, your showman of the night

12:38 after going perfect at the plate and the

12:40 Bananas. Yes, this won't count towards

12:42 their World Tour record. They have won

12:44 11 of their first 12 games in the

12:46 calendar year of 2026.

12:47 >> Nine hits to seven there for the

12:49 Indianapolis Clowns, couldn't get the

12:50 timely hitting down. Reese Alexiades,

12:52 showman of the night, absolutely had it

12:54 down. And what are we doing here in

12:55 Savannah this weekend? It's the Banana

12:57 Ball Open, an in-season tournament. The

12:59 semi-finals last night and tonight,

13:01 two-game series that if it is split

13:04 between the Bananas and the winner of

13:05 this game here tonight, the next two

13:07 after not evening/nights, then they will

13:10 play a two-game series would immediately

13:11 go to showdowns if necessary after game

13:13 number two. Four to nothing that we just

13:15 seen last night, the Bananas the

13:16 victors. Here tonight, the Tailgaters

13:18 Firefighters flipping home and away. The

13:20 Bananas the home team tomorrow night,

13:22 the Bananas the away team on Sunday

13:24 afternoon.

13:25 And by the way, if you win this, you're

13:27 the winner is guaranteed a playoff spot

13:29 in October. Say that one more time. The

13:31 winner is guaranteed a spot in the

13:33 Banana Ball Championship League playoffs

13:35 in October. If my If my math serves me

13:38 correct, that's 6 months from now. It's

13:40 a long way to go, Brett.

13:41 >> 50 more regular season games as well,

13:43 Zach Staten. We'll talk more Banana Ball

13:45 on the other side.

13:54 They've got the looks and strength. And

13:57 coming to a calendar near you, it's none

13:59 other than the Calendar Crew.

14:06 Put your paws together for our boss, the

14:10 official bad dog, Chief.

14:17 He's known as nature's firefighter and

14:20 our highest achiever, it's our TUMBLING

14:23 MASCOT, BO

14:25 THE BEAVER.

14:30 And finally, the Firefighters lead

14:33 singer, Sam Santana.

14:40 Fans, give it up one more time for the

14:43 cast of your 2026

14:46 Firefighters.

15:07 The Firefighters are about ready to take

15:09 the field here at historic Grayson

15:12 Stadium. Packed house, more than 5,500

15:15 on hand to see game two of the Banana

15:15 Ball Open presented by GEICO. Now, the

15:17 Firefighters got to the two seed with a

15:19 little help from the team they played

15:21 tonight, but they had to a little help

15:22 from the team they played tonight, but

15:24 they had to do what they had never done

15:26 before, and that's sweep the Party

15:28 Animals, and they [music] did that in

15:29 Albuquerque. Game one, last Saturday

15:31 night, Drew Gillespie on the mound, tie

15:33 ballgame, Lamar Sparks with a man on

15:34 first, that's [music] an RBI triple, and

15:36 guess what? It's a 5-4 lead, and they

15:38 weren't done, not even close. D-Mac, the

15:40 OG Firefighter, makes it 6-4 and [music]

15:43 nobody away. They weren't done, not even

15:46 close. Eric Jones Jr., golden at bat,

15:48 golden hit, golden RBI. Hello Javan,

15:51 right? Pitcher designated running,

15:53 that's beautiful. And then Dalton

15:54 Cornett, let's just make sure [music]

15:56 Drew Gillespie never forgets what

15:58 happened here. Four-run top of the ninth

16:00 solidifies the Firefighters spot here in

16:03 the Banana [music] Ball Open. Then,

16:04 Sunday, oh my goodness, a fan has just

16:06 caught a ball in a tie game with two

16:08 outs in the bottom of THE NINTH. WE'RE

16:09 GOING TO SHOWDOWNS. THAT WAS INCREDIBLE,

16:11 [music] except maybe if you're a

16:12 Firefighter fan. Showdowns, there is

16:14 nothing like it. Reese Hampton, [music]

16:16 down the right field line, look at this.

16:19 Johnny Hommel's throw very nearly gets

16:21 [music] him. Hampton actually stepped on

16:22 Zachary Bridges' foot, but because it

16:24 was such a close play, the run scores,

16:27 and it's a 5-4 game, but Tyner Hughes,

16:29 the man they call Tiny, [music] comes up

16:31 big again. To the track, Jason Swans got

16:34 no opportunity. Tiny [music] slides in,

16:36 we're going to round two. And then after

16:38 a showdown shutdown from Johnny Hommel,

16:40 how about Dalton Cornett

16:42 >> [music]

16:42 >> making Dylan Porter have to run a mile

16:44 to get that one, and his throw won't

16:46 matter. DC3 sliding in for his third

16:49 showdown walk-off in his Firefighter

16:51 career. [music]

16:52 That might not have been the biggest,

16:53 but it also might be one of the most

16:55 important in Firefighter history. So,

16:57 they sweep the Party Animals for the

16:59 first time ever. And if you [music]

17:01 think showdowns for Dalton Cornett

17:03 sounds familiar, YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT,

17:06 CUZ BRETT LOST THIS.

17:07 October 4th, 2025, right here at Grayson

17:11 Stadium, [music] this man goes up

17:13 against Danny Hasley in the in the

17:15 winner-take-all showdowns of the World

17:16 Tour semifinals, and what he did. This

17:18 is one of the most historic [music]

17:19 moments in the history of the sport.

17:21 >> Just the fourth time ever that a home

17:23 run in showdowns. And if there is a home

17:25 run hit in showdowns, it automatically

17:27 ends a Banana Ball game. And Dalton

17:29 Cornett in a winner-take-all showdown to

17:31 advance to the inaugural Banana Ball

17:34 World Tour Championship [music] game,

17:35 day three from Pippa Passes, Kentucky,

17:39 walks it off in the Cinderella [music]

17:40 story that was the 2025 Fire Fighters

17:43 capped off there. Matty War more with

17:45 DC3.

17:50 Dalton Cornett, welcome back to Grayson

17:52 Stadium. Now, we're hanging out in right

17:53 field. Obviously, you was a lefty

17:54 hitter, you love the right side. But the

17:56 two that come to mind last year in the

17:59 semifinals for the championships, you

18:00 had a walk-off home run right out here.

18:03 And then in Albuquerque, pulled a ball

18:04 down the right field line to send you

18:05 guys here this weekend to the Banana

18:07 Ball Championship League open. Now,

18:09 being back in Grayson Stadium,

18:10 obviously, there's high stakes this

18:12 weekend. Does there Is there any

18:13 intensity that's added to your game

18:15 today to make sure that you guys get

18:17 into the finals and maybe secure that

18:18 playoff spot at the end of the season? I

18:20 mean, yeah, there's always pressure when

18:21 it comes down to situations like this.

18:23 But I think we put ourselves in a good

18:24 spot and I think we're ready.

18:27 Now, you guys have played the Tailgaters

18:28 a little bit this year and you know the

18:30 guys. You guys are pretty toe-to-toe in

18:32 terms of stats and trick plays and

18:34 everything like that. What is going to

18:35 set you guys apart in today's game to

18:37 really make sure that you can take this

18:38 win to go into tomorrow? Yeah, I think

18:40 our offense definitely [music] is going

18:41 to set us apart. The Tailgaters, they do

18:43 a lot of trick plays. So, we have to

18:45 match that that trick play point because

18:47 we're the home team. So, our offense is

18:49 going to carry us through this one. You

18:51 know what? No matter what's going to

18:52 happen tonight, it's going to be a good

18:53 game. So, Brett, Zack, we're sending it

18:54 right back to you.

18:57 Now, it's time to talk about the boys in

18:59 blue and orange. And let's go back to a

19:01 week ago where the Texas Tailgaters

19:04 played the Savannah Bananas in Chapel

19:05 Hill, North Carolina. A sweep for those

19:07 boys in yellow. However, it was bombs

19:10 away and trick plays away in UNC seven

19:13 home runs did the Tailgaters have and

19:16 they won the equalizer point as the away

19:17 team last Saturday night. Nick Lopez

19:19 won. Taj Porter, the quad father, just

19:22 snuck it inside of the pole. A big

19:25 three-run homer there in that top of the

19:26 sixth that we thought at the time would

19:29 project the Tailgaters right into the

19:31 driver's seat with a win to clinch the

19:34 two seed here in the Savannah Bananas

19:35 Open. K-Mart goes dead center field.

19:37 [music] It's a five-two ballgame. Ended

19:39 up being a six-to-five bananas win to

19:41 conclude matters in showdown. After

19:43 K-Mart run right into the A-gap, we're

19:45 going to run right in to Sunday

19:47 afternoon. No, excuse me. We're going to

19:48 run right into a four-south. Jordan

19:50 Hussey throws it to Taj Porter. Perhaps

19:52 the trick play of the weekend. So good

19:54 [music] we got to show it to you twice.

19:55 I mean, this was incredible. Knowing

19:57 that they needed another trick play

19:59 >> [music]

19:59 >> and Taj Porter with the split. They call

20:01 him the quad father for a reason, ladies

20:03 and gentlemen. Now, we'll sprint in

20:04 [music] to Sunday afternoon where

20:05 Jonathan "Sunshine" Lee does a little

20:07 foot volley bucket there in the third

20:10 inning of action right behind his ace,

20:12 Chris Clark. And then K-Mart, three home

20:15 runs on the weekend. This was two of

20:17 three going to right center field trying

20:20 to win that seventh inning.

20:21 Unfortunately, not able to do so. And

20:23 then Jose Brother Gonzalez capped it

20:26 off, five-to-four loss last Sunday

20:28 afternoon. Brother and [music] Kyle

20:30 Martin, the league leaders in home runs.

20:33 So, so far this season for the

20:35 Tailgaters, it's been a feast or it's

20:37 been a famine, Zack Stading. I mean, you

20:38 look at these top three stats.

20:40 Absolutely incredible. Lead the league

20:41 in home runs. Lead the league in trick

20:42 plays. Team ERA, second. But this team

20:45 has struck out more than anybody else at

20:47 the dish this year. Batting average,

20:49 270. You see it. It's worse than anybody

20:51 else. In a league where 294 is the

20:54 league batting average, [music] 270 is

20:55 the worst. And then stolen bases.

20:57 They're just not running right now.

20:59 Jacob [music] Peppersick out tonight,

21:01 designated runner. Trey Jones, a

21:02 designated runner, decided at the

21:04 beginning of the year, also out. That's

21:05 a big reason because of it. But with our

21:07 superstar, one of our very best hitters

21:09 in the sport, Michael Schwartz gets us

21:11 up with Kyle Martin.

21:17 Hey guys, I'm here with your three-spot

21:19 hitter for tonight, Kyle Martin. Kyle,

21:21 how are we doing? Hey real quick, Mike.

21:23 What do you got going on here? What?

21:24 Jersey, rolled up sleeves. Come on now.

21:27 What do you mean? I mean, what what's

21:28 going on? You trying to look huge? All

21:30 right, well, I'll be honest. The last

21:31 time I was with you guys and the

21:32 firefighters in Scottsdale, you guys you

21:34 had the whole shirt off. It went viral

21:36 on our Instagram pages and I was

21:38 jealous. And look, my lucky number's

21:40 also 27. Speaking of Scottsdale though,

21:42 I want to get back to that. Whether I'm

21:44 copying you or not, last time you played

21:45 this team, what did you see in them?

21:47 Uh they're a bunch of fighters, man.

21:49 Firefighters being in the name and all,

21:51 uh they're resilient, they're grinders,

21:53 they're going to give you a tough game

21:54 no matter what. You and brother lead

21:56 Banana Ball with four home runs each.

21:59 What do you have to do with this

22:00 powerful offense to make sure that you

22:02 play here tomorrow and on Sunday? Uh I

22:05 mean, it's going to be a play to win,

22:06 it's going to be give everything you got

22:08 of whatever you got today, you know?

22:09 It's going to everyone you're going to

22:10 have to fight every pitch and just

22:11 continue on. One thing at a time. From

22:14 Kyle Martin to Kyle

22:16 All right, Michael Schwartz. We'll have

22:17 so much more from the Banana Ball Open

22:20 coming up after this.

22:25 It is time to learn the rules of our

22:27 game. And the name of our game is Banana

22:30 Ball. And in Banana Ball, we have 11

22:32 rules. Rule number one, every inning

22:36 counts. Now, how do you win an inning?

22:38 You score more runs than the opposing

22:41 team. But, if the away team accomplishes

22:45 more trick plays than the home team,

22:47 they'll be granted one additional point

22:50 going into the ninth inning, called the

22:52 Banana Ball Equalizer. But, the final

22:56 inning counts the most where every run

22:59 counts as a point.

23:01 Rule number two, we have nine innings or

23:04 a two-hour time limit unless

23:08 Rule number three, if we are tied, we

23:10 will enter a one-on-one showdown

23:12 tiebreaker. That's one hitter versus one

23:15 pitcher with one fielder.

23:18 Rule number four, there is no bunting

23:20 because

23:23 if you bunt, you're thrown out of the

23:24 game. Swing the bat. Rule number five,

23:27 the batter can steal first base.

23:30 Rule number six, there are no walks in

23:32 banana ball. A ball four is a sprint.

23:34 The runner can go as far as they want

23:36 until all nine fielders touch the ball.

23:38 Rule number seven, batters may not step

23:40 out of the batter's box. If they do,

23:42 it's a strike.

23:43 Rule number eight, there are no mound

23:47 visits.

23:48 Rule number nine, the banana ball

23:50 challenge rule. Each team will be

23:52 allowed to challenge one umpire call per

23:53 game. And for the first time in

23:55 professional sports history, you the

23:57 fans can challenge one play in tonight's

23:58 game.

24:00 Rule number 10, the golden batter rule.

24:02 Once per game, each team can use any

24:04 hitter in their lineup to hit at any

24:05 spot.

24:07 And finally, rule number 11, the most

24:09 fans first rule of them all. If anyone

24:12 in this ballpark catches a foul ball, it

24:16 will count for an out. And those are the

24:19 rules of banana ball.

24:23 Cool, baby.

24:29 Fans, now coming to the plate.

24:33 He's the biggest of the big,

24:35 the toughest of the tough,

24:37 and the baddest of the bad.

24:40 He just got his CDL license to drive

24:43 this fire truck. Noah Bridges is

24:46 bringing up a young home run hitter.

24:49 We call them home run heroes here in

24:50 firefighter land, but he's about to

24:52 potentially walk one off here on the

24:54 Texas Tailgaters. Hey, that would fit

24:56 what the offense has done here for the

24:58 Firefighters over the last couple of

25:00 weeks. It's really been

25:02 a measure of the first 3 weeks for the

25:04 Firefighters versus the last 3 weeks.

25:06 Those first 3 weeks, boy, it was tough

25:09 sledding. They scored just a combined

25:11 total of three runs in this very

25:12 ballpark against the Savannah Bananas in

25:15 weekend two of our sport here in 2026.

25:17 But the last 3 weeks, [music] 354

25:19 average, that leads the Banana Ball

25:21 Championship League. 75 hits, 66 runs.

25:23 Heck, you want to take that back to

25:25 Arkansas when they played in Little Rock

25:27 in week three. They have now scored 83

25:29 runs in that span. That's most by 15

25:31 runs in that span. I've got another one

25:33 for you, Staten. They've 18 walk-offs,

25:36 which is second in all of the Banana

25:38 Ball Championship League. It hasn't just

25:40 been these stats you've seen on the

25:41 screen over the last 3 weeks. It's been

25:43 the timely hitting as the home team,

25:45 which the Firefighters are here tonight

25:47 against the Tailgaters. These

25:48 Firefighters, the rejuvenation of this

25:51 offense from 25 to 2026 has been

25:54 absolutely incredible. Speaking of the

25:56 rejuvenation, this young man's coming

25:57 home, Staten. The 4-year-old's about to

25:59 walk off the Tailgaters in the pre-show,

26:02 and he does it. Gets a lift off from

26:04 Zachary Bridges.

26:06 That just goes to show you how good it

26:09 truly is to be a bat swinger here for

26:12 the Firefighters. Please go nowhere.

26:14 We're having fun playing Banana Ball on

26:17 the Banana Ball Open presented by GEICO.

26:24 Savannah, Georgia,

26:26 the cast is ready. The players are

26:30 ready. But I'm going to need you to help

26:32 me welcome, for you guys are the fans

26:36 that need to get ready. So, everybody,

26:38 on your feet.

26:42 NOW, WITH EVERYBODY on your feet, please

26:45 help me welcome 6-year-old Lucy.

26:51 >> [applause and cheering]

26:55 >> ALL RIGHT, ELISSA. YOU'RE going to be

26:56 our fan warm-up for today. So, all

26:59 what's going to happen is that this

27:01 whole sold-out crowd here in Savannah,

27:04 Georgia has to do whatever dance moves

27:07 you do. So, I need to know, are you

27:11 ready? YES.

27:13 ALL RIGHTY, CUE THE MUSIC.

27:20 And we're clapping, y'all.

27:23 Swing those hands, everybody.

27:28 Pulp Fiction, how does she know this?

27:33 Hey, we're at the disco now, y'all.

27:37 Oh, jumping jacks.

27:40 Scooba.

27:47 Give it up, y'all. You're doing good.

27:51 Savannah, Georgia,

27:54 give it up for 6-year-old

27:57 Lucy!

27:59 >> [cheering]

28:00 [applause]

28:12 >> Ladies, gentlemen, boys and girls, hot

28:16 shots and smoke shows from around the

28:18 world. Tonight, you and thousands of

28:21 your friends here live and millions more

28:24 watching at home have gathered to

28:26 witness something beyond your wildest

28:28 imagination. From sparks to sirens, from

28:31 the station to the stadium, firefighters

28:34 from across the globe have come together

28:36 to witness this.

28:38 This is not baseball. This is the

28:41 crucible where the toughest, hottest,

28:44 and most entertaining players are

28:46 forged. This is a game of the fans, by

28:49 the fans, and for the fans. But, this is

28:53 not your granddad's pastime. No, and

28:55 this is not any other night at the

28:56 firehouse. This game is baseball by

28:58 birth, fruit by name, and an absolute

29:01 worldwide phenomenon by the grace of

29:04 God. But, make no mistake. When the heat

29:07 gets too intense, we don't cool off. We

29:10 run towards the flames. This is a time

29:13 for all 5,000 FANS IN ATTENDANCE HERE at

29:16 historic Grayson Stadium to get on your

29:20 feet and give me your voices.

29:25 >> [screaming]

29:26 [cheering]

29:26 >> BECAUSE THIS is the hottest show in

29:29 sports. Ladies and gentlemen, THIS IS

29:35 >> [screaming]

29:37 [cheering]

29:38 >> AND NOW, THE STARTING LINEUP FOR YOUR

29:41 FIRE PLAYERS.

29:43 LEADING OFF, AT SECOND BASE, NUMBER 55,

29:48 TINY Tiny Huge.

29:56 Batting second, the extra hitter, number

29:59 three, Dalton

30:02 Cornett.

30:07 In the three hole, manning the hot

30:09 corner, number 11, LOGAN SHOWTIME Lace

30:14 'Em.

30:16 >> [applause]

30:18 >> Batting cleanup, behind the plate,

30:21 number four, Eric Jones.

30:28 In the five hole, ranging center field,

30:31 number 30, Armando Becerra.

30:35 >> [screaming]

30:37 [music]

30:38 >> BATTING SIXTH, the hot shot at

30:40 shortstop, number two, Kayden "Peanut"

30:45 Green.

30:49 In the seventh slot, the designated

30:52 hitter, NUMBER ZERO, LAMAR

30:55 >> [screaming and groaning]

30:56 >> SPARKS.

30:59 IN THE eight hole, ranging right field,

31:02 number 24, DAKOTA

31:06 "T-MAX" MCFADDEN.

31:10 BATTING NINTH, at first base, number

31:13 seven, Mason Maxwell.

31:17 >> [cheering]

31:19 >> And the decky, ranging left field,

31:22 number nine, Noah Bridges.

31:28 And tonight's Fire Ballers starting on

31:31 the mound, number 21, Jared Donaldson.

31:39 The Firefighters are led by Battalion

31:42 Chief Val Perez. Through the fire and

31:45 flames, the Firefighters take the field

31:49 for a match up in the Banana Ball Open,

31:51 presented by GEICO, against the Texas

31:54 Tailgaters. From the starting lineups to

31:56 the national anthem.

32:06 Performing this evening, please welcome

32:08 Roxy Lane with her rendition of the

32:11 Star-Spangled Banner.

32:14 Ooh, say can you

32:17 see

32:18 by the dawn's early

32:20 >> [singing]

32:21 >> light,

32:23 what so proudly

32:25 we

32:26 hailed

32:27 at the twilight's

32:29 >> [singing]

32:30 >> last gleam?

32:32 Whose broad stripes

32:34 and bright [singing] these

32:37 through the perilous

32:41 fight or the [singing] ramparts

32:44 we watched,

32:46 were so gallantly

32:48 [singing] streaming.

32:51 And the rockets'

32:53 red glare, the bombs bursting

32:57 >> [singing]

32:58 >> in air,

33:00 gave

33:02 proof through the

33:03 night

33:04 that our flag

33:06 was still there.

33:08 >> [singing]

33:09 >> Oh, say

33:12 does that

33:13 star-spangled

33:15 [singing]

33:16 banner

33:17 yet wave

33:22 for the land

33:24 >> [singing]

33:25 >> of the free

33:28 and the home

33:30 >> [singing]

33:31 >> of the brave?

33:34 >> [cheering]

33:35 >> Thank you very much, Roxy Lane.

33:43 What a lovely voice. The Firefighters

33:46 and Texas Tailgaters lighting them up in

33:48 Grayson Stadium. We're just a few

33:51 moments away from finding out who will

33:53 play the Savannah Bananas in the

33:55 inaugural Banana Ball Open Championship

33:58 Series. Both of these teams have very

34:01 good claims to make it, both with their

34:03 pitching, their fielding, and with the

34:05 Firefighters, their hitting. We take a

34:07 peek first at the defense of the Fire

34:10 and Flames, led by their infielders.

34:13 It's Tyner Hughes at second base and

34:15 Kayden Bean at green at the shortstop

34:17 position. Through the world tour so far,

34:19 18 and 17 trick plays respectively

34:22 between that bunch. Eric Jones Jr. at

34:25 the catcher spot, Mason Maxwell will be

34:27 your first baseman. Dakota McFadden is

34:29 not a right fielder. I don't know the

34:30 last time he's played right field And

34:32 he's not going to be out there. It's

34:34 because Smoke Show Tremble is your

34:36 designated fielder. He'll be the one in

34:38 right field. The Texas Tailgaters know

34:39 all about Smoke. A couple of weeks ago

34:41 in Scottsdale,

34:42 >> [music]

34:42 >> Rob Kyle Martin had an extra base hit.

34:44 Potentially a home run.

34:45 >> Correct. I mean, that was quite the the

34:47 catch. If Indy Stanley doesn't make the

34:48 catch he makes at UNC last weekend. I

34:50 mean, those are the two catch of the

34:52 years that we've had this far. Plays of

34:54 the year even that we've seen this far.

34:56 This Fire Fighters defense against trick

34:58 plays don't necessarily jump off the

34:59 page

35:00 >> as if the Party Animals, the Bananas,

35:01 and the Texas Tailgaters do. But still

35:03 just such a solid defense and obviously

35:04 led by your shortstop [music] there.

35:06 Matty Warren, she's out there with the

35:08 starting pitcher tonight, Jared

35:09 Donaldson. What y'all got going on down

35:11 there? All right, this is good enough

35:12 for Albuquerque. I think it's good

35:13 enough for Grayson Stadium. You ready to

35:14 play?

35:15 Turn it back. Let's do it.

35:23 My goodness, Matty. Matty, come on. Oh,

35:25 there it is.

35:27 THERE IT IS. JARED DONALDSON. MATTY

35:30 WARREN, THAT MIGHT be a world record for

35:32 shotgunning Red Bulls. And now from the

35:35 Red Bull to the mound, Jared Donaldson

35:38 steps up for what has been his a

35:40 tremendous start to the World Tour here.

35:43 His first one with the Fire Fighters. 3

35:45 years spent with the Savannah Bananas.

35:47 Picked in the second round of the Banana

35:49 Ball Player Draft back in November.

35:52 And Jared Donaldson against the Texas

35:54 Tailgaters a couple weeks ago in

35:55 Scottsdale, Brett, was unbelievable.

35:57 >> Wonderful. We're going to highlight that

35:58 later on in the broadcast.

36:00 >> 16 strikeouts Donnie has this year,

36:02 which is third in all of the Banana Ball

36:04 Championship League. But quite the

36:06 offense he has to go up and face here

36:07 tonight against the Texas Tailgaters.

36:09 And it's odd. It's still good. They're

36:11 still going to boom. But we have haven't

36:13 seen this offense yet. It's Nick Lopez

36:15 hitting lead off. The first time he's

36:17 ever done that in his Banana Ball

36:18 career. Jose Brother Gonzales in the two

36:20 hole. Kyle Martin, your best hitter,

36:23 hitting in the three hole. And then Taj

36:24 Porter hitting down there in the five

36:26 hole. Cas Eggleston standing next to a

36:28 bell. He's got something to tell us down

36:30 below.

36:31 Ladies and gentlemen, you have waited

36:33 long enough for the hottest show in

36:35 sports. It's about time we start our

36:37 2-hour banana ball time limit. But

36:40 first, please help me welcome 3-year-old

36:43 Laddy.

36:46 >> [cheering]

36:48 >> All right, Laddy. Here's what's going to

36:50 happen. Myself and 5,000 people in

36:53 attendance are going to yell ring the

36:55 bell on the count of three. And when we

36:57 do, you are going to do just that.

37:00 Savannah Georgia, 1 2 3 ring the bell.

37:09 Showtime. Bell's rung, THE FIRE HAS

37:12 STARTED. LET'S GO.

37:15 The Firefighters and Texas [music]

37:16 Tailgaters, game two of the Banana Ball

37:19 Open presented by GEICO. Nick Lopez, you

37:21 just heard it from Brett Loftis leading

37:24 off. [music]

37:24 Very odd-looking lineup here for the

37:26 Tailgaters because of how many injuries

37:28 they've had, but boy, if there's anybody

37:30 to lead it off, it's the man they call

37:32 Lopi. Jared Donaldson looks a little too

37:34 outside. Ball two. This is a man who is

37:37 known for two pitches, his heater and a

37:39 splitter. Talking to Eric Jones Jr. as

37:41 he throws in the 2-0. It's low again.

37:43 That splitter is so vicious because it

37:45 it you have to respect the fastball, and

37:48 then that splitter just moves ever so

37:49 slightly. On a 3-0 count, throws it

37:51 right down the heart of the plate for

37:52 strike one. Lopi's going to take his

37:54 walk. And he's quickly gotten ahead here

37:56 three and one. Or is ball four sprints,

37:57 I should say, in banana ball. Ball four

37:58 sprint defense already in this one for

38:00 the Firefighters. Fouls that one off.

38:03 And Jared Donaldson works it back full.

38:05 We're talking to his father earlier this

38:06 afternoon up in the stands. He's as

38:08 pleased as you've ever seen him getting

38:10 to see his son pitch in Grayson Stadium

38:11 with the Firefighters. Full count.

38:14 Lopi picks that one up off the ground.

38:15 It's a ball four sprint. So now all

38:17 seven fielders behind the pitcher must

38:19 touch the ball before the play can be

38:21 stopped with a tag out and Lopez will

38:23 just take it first but already a good

38:25 start from Tailgaters.

38:26 >> When you got your DH and your EH hitting

38:29 in the top of the order, it's pretty

38:30 good. You're designated hitter there in

38:32 Nick Lopez and now one of the very best

38:34 hitters in the entire sport doing first

38:36 base. Jose brother Gonzalez. Again

38:39 brother, four home runs tied for the

38:41 league lead with his teammate Kyle

38:43 Martin in Banana Ball thus far.

38:45 And brother's amped up for the night.

38:47 I've never seen the Tailgaters so loose

38:49 before a Banana Ball game as I have here

38:51 today. They had a speaker on the field

38:52 during rehearsals playing all types of

38:54 music. A little gorilla. Glow. Yeah,

38:56 glow. You know about that statement? Not

38:58 as much as the Texas Tailgaters seem to

39:00 know. A strike two fires by brother

39:02 Jared Donaldson ended [music] a pristine

39:04 eighth inning in Scottsdale with a

39:05 strikeout of brother on a splitter AND

39:07 HE GETS HIM SWINGING OUT OF HIS SHOES

39:09 THERE. Strikeout number one for Donnie

39:11 Day.

39:13 Donnie says cool out. 16 strikeouts in

39:16 this one as we mentioned top of the show

39:17 third in all of Banana Ball. Get

39:19 strikeout number one here tonight. Had

39:22 five strikeouts in three innings of work

39:24 a few weeks back when he faced the same

39:26 Tailgaters team in Scottsdale and earned

39:28 the win. Maybe one of the coolest home

39:30 runs not just this year but in Texas

39:32 Tailgater history came off the bat of

39:33 Kyle Martin. Golden at bat Frisco, Texas

39:36 night one. It's a night Brett Loftis

39:38 will never ever forget.

39:41 And then three more of them last weekend

39:43 in the football stadium at Keanan

39:45 Memorial.

39:46 K-Mart, he's real big on one RBI game

39:49 and wants to home run every three games.

39:50 [music] So far this season 12 RBI and 11

39:53 ball games and those four home runs as

39:55 well. K-Mart again has just had a

39:57 wonderful wonderful start to his rookie

39:59 campaign at the young age of 33 years

40:02 old. As he'll have two balls and two

40:03 strikes here against Donnie.

40:04 >> What do you say about him? Welcome to

40:06 the young show.

40:07 >> Welcome to the young show.

40:07 >> Welcome to the young show.

40:08 >> Hey, if that young show though brings

40:09 patience then it's good on him. 12 ball

40:11 four sprints for Kyle Martin.

40:14 Also leads the Banana Ball Balls League.

40:16 2-2 count. Brings that one out to right

40:18 field. South Trimble slides down to a

40:20 knee to make the catch and two away for

40:23 the Firefighters. That one was stung to

40:25 right field, but South had a beat. If we

40:27 had exit velocity, I bet you that was in

40:29 the triple digits.

40:31 Smoke Trimble had a trail follow him up

40:34 smoke trying to slide and catch that one

40:35 for out number two. One of the more

40:37 impressive

40:38 rookies here so far for the Texas

40:40 Tailgaters has been Jordan Barfield as

40:41 he sends that one screaming to the coach

40:43 that picked him and Joe Mickolic.

40:45 Barfield coming in as one of the

40:47 greatest pickleball players

40:49 racketball

40:50 >> Racketball. I make that mistake every

40:51 time. That's just going to be a bit from

40:52 now on. How many sports can I say Jordan

40:54 Barfield is an international champion in

40:56 racketball? 20 national and

40:58 international championships on his

40:59 resume. 293 hitter and he's going to

41:01 slap that one into center field a base

41:03 knock. Armando able to look Lopi back

41:06 into second, so he'll be able to just

41:08 move from station to station, but a nice

41:09 piece of lumber there for Jordan

41:11 Barfield. And now a guy who really got

41:13 going at UNC last weekend, the

41:15 Godfather, the biggest, the largest, Taj

41:18 Porter. His Saturday night Ball Force

41:20 Print single home run at UNC. And again,

41:23 you see that below 200 batting average,

41:25 Taj is starting to find his way again.

41:27 That ya-ya he had last Saturday night.

41:29 And a guy that he's faced a lot, faced

41:31 him in the yellow the last two years in

41:33 Jared Donaldson, now getting to face him

41:34 yet again for the second time this year.

41:37 Donny against the Tailgaters in

41:38 Scottsdale gave up just one run of

41:40 damage. That was it. Struck out five and

41:43 earned the win.

41:44 He'll have to try to get out of some

41:46 trouble here as that one

41:48 catches the outside too much. Two balls,

41:50 one strike.

41:53 Don

41:54 Donny last weekend started hit for the

41:57 first time as a visiting pitcher

41:59 >> [cheering]

42:00 >> against the Party Animals on night one

42:02 and did the job just fine.

42:05 2-2 count. Two on,

42:07 two away.

42:09 Oh, E.J. wanted it bad. Donny's walking

42:12 halfway to the dugout.

42:14 It's a good pitch that Satan.

42:16 It was a good pitch from Jared

42:17 Donaldson. Now he's a pitch away from

42:19 either allowing the Tailgaters run or

42:21 getting out of this one.

42:23 Let's take a replay.

42:25 Oh, buddy.

42:28 3-2 count and Donnie says GO SIT DOWN

42:30 ANYWAY. AND THE FRONT FLIP OVER THE

42:32 FIRST BASE LINE. Donnie said he wasn't

42:35 going to do it unless he was fired up. I

42:37 GUESS THAT QUALIFIES.

42:39 Donnie DJ off to a tremendous start. Two

42:42 straight hits for the Tailgaters. Tell

42:44 you what, I seen Donnie working out

42:45 earlier getting a pump in about 45

42:47 minutes before the game started. And

42:49 yeah, it must have been leg day. Look at

42:51 this. Up now, Donnie.

42:54 Gets a big pal che to get himself out of

42:56 that top of the first. Let's take a look

42:57 at how the boys in blue and orange are

42:59 lining up defensively. The team that

43:01 leads the trick play battle in all of

43:03 Banana Ball, the Texas Tailgaters with

43:05 119 of them. The two guys that lead the

43:08 league individually, the short stops out

43:10 there in five are Jordan Hussey and your

43:12 designated fielder who you'll see at 2B

43:14 second base the entire night, Jonathan

43:16 Sunshine Luthers. But perhaps my

43:18 favorite thing about this defense is our

43:20 battery. The quad father behind the

43:22 plate catching his best friend and

43:24 college teammate and all star here in

43:26 Banana Ball a season ago, CD Christian

43:29 Davis. 30 trick plays has he induced

43:32 behind him this year. His career though

43:34 versus the Fire Fighters, his fourth all

43:36 time start a 2.7 ERA in 10 innings

43:39 pitched. And the Tailgaters two and one

43:42 in those starts including a win that

43:44 they picked up earlier this year in

43:46 Scottsdale. CD has earned seven points.

43:49 Seven points in 10 innings pitching

43:51 against the Fire Fighters. The biggest

43:53 stat that jumps off the screen here for

43:54 CD, hopefully he can play some sweet

43:56 sweet music against his Fire Fighters

43:58 lineup here tonight. CD, what was more

44:00 impressive about that Scott's Scottsdale

44:02 outing? Did it with no strike outs.

44:03 >> Yeah, that was unbelievable. Just

44:04 induced a lot of contact. There's Ty

44:06 Nerney who leads off what has been an

44:08 absolutely vicious lineup for the Fire

44:10 Fighters over the last month. Right now,

44:12 they have seven batters

44:14 above .300. That just seems impossible

44:17 given the way that they hit last year.

44:19 The guy you want to take notice of is

44:21 Keagan Peanut Green in that six hole.

44:22 .469 average, .581 on-base percentage.

44:25 Both of those lead the Banana Ball

44:27 Championship League early on here in the

44:29 World Tour. And this is a guy who hit

44:30 just about .250 last year. To say he's

44:32 taken a superstar leap, and yes, it's

44:34 early, would be a massive

44:35 understatement. But the guy at the plate

44:37 is Tyner Hughes.

44:39 He has never batted lead off outside of

44:40 a couple of games in Juco. And look at

44:42 that, FIRST PITCH SWINGING RIGHT THROUGH

44:44 [cheering] underneath Jordan Hussein and

44:46 into left field for a base knock. That's

44:48 why he's so impressive. [music] He is

44:49 unafraid to swing at the first pitch.

44:51 >> Also worthy to note here, Zach, these

44:53 teams haven't played on turf since the

44:54 Secret Field here in Savannah. That

44:56 ball's going to get up on you there as

44:57 you see in Jordan Hussein kind of rode

44:59 that turf out [music] to left field.

45:00 This playing surface is going to be

45:02 something to watch for these two teams

45:03 tonight. Dalton Cornett deep TO RIGHT

45:04 FIELD,

45:05 AND it lands foul.

45:07 Something about DC 3 [laughter] here at

45:09 Grayson Stadium comes out spraying on

45:12 the first pitch he sees here tonight.

45:14 For some reason, the Fire Fighters also

45:15 really want to swing. That's two pitches

45:17 and two swings.

45:18 And that one lands just a couple of feet

45:20 foul or feet to the left, excuse me.

45:23 Dalton Cornett might have scored a run.

45:25 Swings again, bounces right back up the

45:26 middle. This might be two. Hussein

45:28 through the legs, THROWS BACK OVER TO

45:30 FIRST, not in time. It'll just be one,

45:32 but it is a trick play. You can call

45:34 that one in.

45:35 Yeah, Jordan Hussein, man.

45:37 That was quite the play there up the

45:39 middle

45:41 from him as he did go between the legs

45:43 and stepped on the back. Fielder's

45:45 choice is how we will see Dalton Cornett

45:48 reach.

45:49 Look like a trick play to me, but we'll

45:51 wait for the official scoring. Logan

45:53 Lacey takes a big healthy swing at that

45:55 one. Lacey this year

45:57 in game ones has only had one hit. Game

46:00 two, for some reason, he just seems to

46:02 work everything out. So, you can make

46:03 the argument this is game one, game two.

46:06 What? Yep, correct.

46:08 What I thought, too. It is game It It is

46:10 the first game of the weekend for the

46:11 Firefighters. It's also potentially the

46:13 last game.

46:14 So, who knows? Touché, my friend.

46:16 >> like

46:18 But, if they win, it's actually

46:19 technically not the last game. So, who

46:20 knows? Logan Lacey, a two-time All-Star,

46:23 he's made two trips to Clemson and

46:24 Auburn.

46:25 He's been unbelievable for the

46:26 Firefighters.

46:28 Trending well above

46:30 70 hits

46:32 in his Firefighter career. And he's up

46:34 3-1. Hello, Drop.

46:39 Ball four, sprints. So, now again, all

46:41 seven fielders have to touch the banana

46:43 ball before the runner can be stopped.

46:44 And Lacey wants two. No, he's put on the

46:46 brakes at the absolute last second.

46:48 Dalton Cornett is over to third. There

46:50 are runners on the corners with just one

46:52 away. And an interesting defensive

46:53 outfield here tonight. Again, with the

46:55 absence of Jacob Jacob Piperscik and

46:57 Indiana Stanley here tonight, who are

46:58 both on the property. Both okay, I just

47:01 want to reiterate, just not playing in

47:02 this ballgame here tonight. Zack Watson

47:04 in center field, [music] in right field

47:06 Kyle Martin, and Jason aren't minding

47:07 you live back out in left. Mr. Jones and

47:10 me

47:10 sit around and tell each other fairy

47:12 tales,

47:13 including about the night that EJ

47:16 hit his first home run with his

47:18 Firefighters on the first swing. I said

47:19 home run.

47:20 He's for me TO SAY, AND THAT'S GOING TO

47:22 WIN it for the Firefighters. RBI SINGLE

47:25 for their top pick in the banana ball

47:27 player draft in November. And just like

47:29 that, EJ CHOPS IT UP WITH DREW INESTA.

47:39 BOW.

47:40 BOW. BOW.

47:46 BOW. BOW. BOW. Do it, Zack. Yeah. Yeah.

47:51 Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

47:53 This is how you know Brett Lauther is

47:55 for banana ball. He's dancing even

47:57 though his team just got walked off in

47:59 the first inning.

48:00 What a play there for Eric Jones Jr. One

48:03 swing and we go to Scottsdale now where

48:05 the Texas Tailgaters and the

48:06 Firefighters had a magical weekend.

48:08 Yeah, just talking about C Dizzle man,

48:10 Christian Davis. Induced seven trick

48:12 plays behind him and as you mentioned,

48:13 no strikeouts in that game one outing

48:16 against the Firefighters. Four and a

48:18 third through, gave up just one run

48:20 which was a walk-off there in the fifth

48:22 inning of work. Three points he earned

48:23 and again, trick plays induced that

48:25 bottom line, seven of them. But through

48:28 five innings or four and a third [music]

48:29 of work in the four to two Friday or

48:31 excuse yes, Friday night win in

48:33 Scottsdale, Arizona. You see Indiana

48:36 Stanley little tip drill and double

48:38 bucket bucket between him and Jose

48:41 brother Gonzalez. That was game one.

48:42 Game two, it was all Donny.

48:44 >> It was Donny day to say the least in

48:45 Arizona. The man hadn't slept in 66

48:48 hours. He comes back [music] in off a

48:50 red eye from Atlanta and look what he

48:52 does. I know you can't see him behind

48:54 that slapper just take my word for it.

48:56 That dude was unreal. Look at him, fired

48:59 up. Taylor Justice, one of the hottest

49:00 batters in Banana Land

49:02 gets swinging strikeout and then Jose

49:04 brother Gonzalez on a three-two count

49:06 could have walked off the inning.

49:07 Instead, JD, huge strikeout. That's five

49:11 for him on the day. Earns him a big W.

49:13 So, you look at Jared Donaldson there.

49:15 That man absolutely has taken to

49:18 becoming a Flamethrower. The guy has

49:20 been unreal for the Firefighters.

49:22 16 strikeouts as you said, he got two in

49:24 the first inning here

49:26 on the Banana Ball Open.

49:28 By the way, again, want to point this

49:29 out. The stats here this weekend over

49:31 the next three to four days will not

49:33 count towards your World Tour stats. So,

49:34 if you go on bananaball.com/stats,

49:37 shoutout to our friend Josh Toleski,

49:39 you'll see a new tab for the Banana Ball

49:41 Open. And how about this dude, hitting

49:42 over 400 coming into tonight? Taylor

49:45 Justice, he was franchised for a reason

49:47 after last year. He's been absolutely

49:48 wonderful. Three home runs, which is

49:50 second on the Tailgaters to both Kyle

49:52 Martin and Jose Gonzalez who again lead

49:55 the league in that category. Taylor

49:56 Justice has had quite the sophomore

49:58 season thus far in Bananaland.

50:01 He's just had so many important hits

50:03 hits for this Tailgaters team if I could

50:05 spit that one out there. 3-1 count.

50:07 Donny in danger of putting the first

50:09 runner aboard for the second straight

50:11 inning and that's exactly what he'll do.

50:12 So another inning that starts with a

50:13 ball four sprint. Taylor Justice rounds

50:15 first and then just stops there.

50:17 Firefighter ball four sprint defense

50:18 getting a little early work here at

50:20 Grayson Stadium. And we're going to see

50:22 the Banana Ball debut of Jose Gutierrez

50:26 who is the designated runner tonight for

50:28 the Texas Tailgaters. Again, a Banana

50:30 Ball open debut nonetheless as he's

50:32 going to come on and run for Taylor at

50:33 first. Mac Danford is somewhere in the

50:35 corral.

51:00 >> [music]

51:12 [music]

51:24 >> Bet he's not. Mac Adoodle, he ain't new

51:27 to country, he ain't new to Banana Ball

51:29 and he has been on quite the fiery start

51:32 here the past couple of weeks.

51:35 He's got an extra base hit in seven out

51:37 of his last eight ball games and what a

51:39 walk up there from Mac Adoodle man.

51:41 Little Bailey Zimmerman, what do you

51:43 know about him?

51:44 What do you know about Bailey Zimmerman,

51:46 Zach? Not very much. I've seen him

51:48 perform live at college game day back in

51:49 October. There you go. He's not a very

51:51 tall fellow. Shout out to Hassins, no?

51:54 Not a very tall fellow.

51:55 >> You don't lie, huh?

51:56 Danif Uh Danif? Danford? I had this guy

52:00 peanut looking potentially for a trick

52:01 play. Did drill.

52:04 Uh-oh, Noah Bridges just slides on him.

52:05 No, it was Armando who caught that one

52:07 up. So, hey, it'll do the job. Trick

52:10 play, call him in.

52:14 Little confusion there.

52:16 Won't hurt. My lips wouldn't work there.

52:18 It's still not working. Look at that.

52:19 Oh, Armando caught that one in between

52:21 the legs.

52:23 Potentially. Potentially. I need to wait

52:25 and see that one again cuz it looked

52:26 like he snuck it in at the last second.

52:27 Could be two trick plays. Instead, we'll

52:29 just score it as one.

52:32 Zach Waddy Wo Watson

52:34 didn't have a ton of work in the

52:36 beginning of this year before he had to

52:37 go out because of an injury. One of the

52:39 many Texas Tailgaters that had to take a

52:41 stint on the injured list as he screams

52:42 that one near Mick.

52:50 Former firefighter [music] himself going

52:52 up against his former squad. Moved to

52:53 the Texas Tailgaters last year.

52:56 He's going to rip that one right to

52:58 Quinn.

53:00 He had the arm outstretched.

53:02 Couldn't make the play. That darn

53:03 netting.

53:05 He and Chris Sacchi had an opportunity.

53:06 Waddy

53:08 in the foul territory smoking Mason

53:10 Maxwell giving [music] a chase. Could

53:11 they get to it? Nope, they will not.

53:13 Lands in the bullpen foul. Perfect

53:15 opportunity for fans, by the way, here

53:17 at Grayson Stadium down the party deck

53:19 in the right field line.

53:22 They didn't take advantage.

53:25 I mean, I'm thankful for that here at

53:26 this point in the ball game, obviously.

53:30 What's been crazy is the firefighters,

53:32 this is their 12th game officially in

53:34 the calendar year of 2026. They've not

53:36 had one fan caught foul ball for them.

53:39 Just an oddity. Waddy swings and misses.

53:42 Strike three and Jared Donaldson

53:45 is working on all cylinders right now.

53:47 His third K of the ball game.

53:51 Again, he had five of them in three

53:53 innings of work in Scottsdale. [music]

53:55 Something about that splitter, man. He

53:56 can throw it. It's almost two, maybe

53:58 three different pitches. Right there,

54:00 threw it way out of the zone. Will get

54:02 you a get me over strike every so often.

54:04 And then again, a big whiff. Can Donny

54:06 get his whiff? Donny 31% of his pitches

54:10 have been whiffs so far this season,

54:12 which rank in the top 10 of all Banana

54:14 Ball pitchers. Again, if you don't

54:15 respect

54:17 the heater, that splitter's going to

54:18 fool you every time.

54:21 This is my American Idol. That's

54:22 correct, Travis Mize. 100%.

54:24 >> Sure.

54:25 You were my July.

54:28 Right now, he's got a 2-2 count. With

54:30 two away and one on.

54:36 Jordan I'm sorry, Jason Arnt. Down the

54:38 left field line.

54:40 Here comes Gutierrez. Noah Bridges

54:42 throwing in to Logan Lacey. Won't be in

54:44 time. That's a stand up double for Jason

54:47 Arnt. And just like that, there are

54:49 runners in scoring position at second

54:51 and third and two away. And where

54:54 my extra base hit.

54:56 >> Jason Arnt continues

54:58 to leg out those extra base hits. Again,

55:00 he had a point in the year he had a

55:01 four-game hitting streak. After Zach

55:03 Watson got healthy, Indiana Stanley was

55:05 still healthy at that point in time.

55:06 Again, kind of returned to his

55:07 entertainment role. But when he's been

55:08 in the lineup, he's been good.

55:10 >> This ball gets away. Gutierrez coming

55:12 home. Throw sails over Donny's head. And

55:14 that's how the Texas Tailgaters score

55:16 their first run of the ball game.

55:20 Donaldson slams the fist

55:22 as E.J. The throw might have been in

55:24 time if he could have lowered it down a

55:25 little bit. But either way

55:28 Donaldson

55:30 gives up his first run and hello, the

55:31 Texas Tailgaters are at home. Jordan

55:33 Hussein's got to go away. Now there's

55:34 not. Ultimate

55:37 chaos is a rough thing here at Grayson

55:39 Stadium.

55:40 Welcome to Banana Ball.

55:42 No run Selly's in the middle of AB's.

55:46 J5 swings and misses.

55:49 It's a one and one count already one

55:51 across here in the run column as you see

55:52 on our brand new beautiful scoreboard

55:54 here

55:55 on the Banana Ball YouTube page.

55:57 Firefighters earned a point off the bat

55:58 of Eric Jones Jr. in the first inning.

56:00 Speaking of that scoreboard, this will

56:02 be pitch number 47 for Jared Donaldson.

56:04 Really running that number up early here

56:06 not even through two innings yet.

56:10 And swings and [music] misses. So the

56:11 fourth strikeout of the game for Jared

56:13 Donaldson but not before a wild pitch

56:15 gets away from EJ and gives up the first

56:18 run for the Tailgaters. It's a one

56:20 nothing game going into the bottom half

56:22 of the second inning and the

56:23 Firefighters got a little bit of damage

56:25 to come back from. Hey, there's

56:27 something going down on the field. First

56:29 things are first apparently.

56:32 Yeah, and those first things

56:33 >> on the field. It's here. about the

56:34 Firefighters. Yes, six and five, their

56:36 first ever winning record in Firefighter

56:39 franchise history. And then last

56:41 weekend, so many firsts actually. Yes,

56:43 there were. Three game winning streak

56:44 officially put in the books against the

56:46 Party Animals. Their first ever sweep of

56:48 the Party Animals. By the way, that's

56:49 just their second sweep ever. The first

56:52 one coming in Little Rock, Arkansas

56:53 against the Loco Beach Coconuts earlier

56:55 in March. And this is their first Banana

56:57 Ball [cheering] Open appearance. By the

56:59 way, Banana Ball Open presented by

57:00 Geico. It's everybody's first Banana

57:02 Ball Open appearance except for the

57:03 Coconuts and the Party Animals. There's

57:05 always next time.

57:06 And I think those first things first

57:08 when you look at it, the biggest first,

57:10 again that first Banana Ball Open

57:12 appearance, being able to do what they

57:14 did last week in the lead them to

57:15 getting the two seed in route to being

57:17 the home team here tonight against the

57:19 Texas Tailgaters. Christian Davis back

57:21 out there on the bump. This is very

57:22 important. [music] We've talked about

57:23 the points earned for Christian Davis in

57:26 his Banana Ball career against the

57:27 Firefighters, seven of them in 10

57:29 innings pitched.

57:29 >> [music]

57:30 >> Lost that first inning. This is a big,

57:32 monumental mark in this ball game. It

57:35 seems like early on, Zach, being up one

57:36 to nothing, CD gets a clean inning,

57:38 we're back tied at one point a piece.

57:39 >> He didn't give up his first point

57:40 against the Firefighters in Scottsdale

57:42 until the fourth frame on the Saturday

57:44 contest out in Arizona. He is 10 and 4

57:46 on points earned versus lost this year.

57:48 So, very early damage very rare for CD.

57:52 He's got a chance to get it right back

57:53 here as Armando Becerra comes up and

57:56 swings the first pitch he sees. And

57:57 again, you can see it with the

57:58 Firefighters. Their MO is simple. We're

58:01 going to be aggressive at the plate.

58:02 It's something that Drew Yaneza really

58:04 wants him to do. When you swing the bat,

58:06 your AB should be over, and that's going

58:08 to be AB over for Armando as he knocks

58:10 one through in the right field.

58:12 Another single, the third single of the

58:15 game

58:15 >> [cheering]

58:16 >> for the Firefighters in this very early

58:18 contest. [music]

58:19 And now up to bat is, quite [cheering]

58:21 frankly, the best hitter statistically

58:23 in Banana Ball, Kaden Peanut Green.

58:25 [cheering] 469 average, best in the

58:27 league. 581 on-base percentage, best in

58:30 the league as he looks at one outside.

58:32 By the way, he's got a little bone to

58:33 pick with CD. He had the Adele walk-up

58:35 in Arizona, and after that got four

58:37 straight bad ones for a ball four

58:38 sprint. He wanted something to hit. Over

58:41 to Jordan Hussein, IN BETWEEN THE LEGS,

58:43 SONNY BETWEEN THE LEGS, IT WILL go down

58:46 as a fielder's choice, but a trick play

58:47 for J5. But did

58:49 Jordan Hussein's second trick play of

58:52 the ball game. And again, that's a big

58:54 one there. The Tailgaters as the away

58:55 team trying to clinch that equalizer

58:58 point. It's never too early to get those

58:59 trick plays going. J5's got both of them

59:01 here tonight for the Tailgaters. If

59:02 there's one guy who could end the inning

59:04 with one swing of the bat, it's the guy

59:06 up now, Lamar Sparks, as he darts one

59:08 into center field, and Zach Watson right

59:11 underneath it will not even try the

59:12 trick play, going to throw Peanut back

59:14 to first. What a great play by Taylor

59:17 Justice who bodied that Banana Ball to

59:20 keep it in front of him. Again, Waddy, I

59:22 think little depth perception, seeing

59:25 Peanut way off of first, but Taylor just

59:28 has been able to body that banana ball.

59:29 Great play and now

59:31 D-Mac a chance here to continue this

59:33 inning. Big diesel coming on in.

59:36 After the first three games of the year

59:38 D-Mac was benched because quite frankly

59:40 he just wasn't hitting up to the way

59:41 that he thinks is a standard. Was

59:43 brought back in for his first ABs in

59:45 Montgomery and since then has really

59:47 found his swing again. Right now as we

59:49 speak the man has nine hits

59:52 Excuse me, seven hits in nine games, but

59:54 he's back up to 333 on the average.

59:57 Looks at one. He thought high instead

59:59 it's going in there for a strike.

1:00:03 Tailgaters could get their first point

1:00:05 if they can put this one down right

1:00:06 here.

1:00:07 D-Mac wanted to send that one across the

1:00:09 road to B Road and our offices. Instead

1:00:11 it goes down as a strike. It's a 2-2

1:00:13 count with one on.

1:00:14 Two away.

1:00:20 CD INSIDE THE BACKWARDS K GOES. PLAY

1:00:23 THAT sweet music. CD GOING OUT THERE

1:00:27 CONGRATULATED MY GRUB. WHAT IS GRUB

1:00:29 DOING? HE'S RUNNING AROUND. GRUB SETTING

1:00:32 HIS FEET.

1:00:34 SIT. WHAT WHAT? OH, GRUB. HE JUST WENT

1:00:37 FLYING ACROSS THE SCREEN AND HE'S SO

1:00:39 EXCITED BECAUSE the Texas Tailgaters

1:00:42 have won their first point of the ball

1:00:43 game and we're knotted up at one a

1:00:46 piece.

1:00:47 And you know what I want to play? Guest

1:00:49 that chest.

1:00:52 Cannot see. Now we have three beautiful

1:00:55 shirtless men and she's going to have to

1:00:56 determine which one is her husband by

1:01:01 feeling their chests. Again, she is

1:01:03 blindfolded. She's going to have to feel

1:01:05 the chest of all three men and determine

1:01:08 which one is her husband. All right,

1:01:11 Dana. Come up to chest number one.

1:01:17 Okay. All right. All right, chest number

1:01:21 two. Come on, come on.

1:01:23 Dana, jeez. Jeez, Dana. All right, chest

1:01:26 number two. Chest number two.

1:01:29 Uh oh, okay. All right, chest number

1:01:32 chest number three, right there. Okay.

1:01:36 Oh, wow. She Her smile is big. Okay,

1:01:39 okay. Here, Dana. All right, come right

1:01:41 here.

1:01:42 Now, Dana,

1:01:44 you've been married 12 years. I'm sure

1:01:45 you know which chest was your husband's?

1:01:49 Absolutely number one.

1:01:52 >> [cheering]

1:01:54 >> Um Dana, take off your blindfold and

1:01:57 meet your new husband.

1:02:03 Ladies and gentlemen, that was Oh god.

1:02:07 That was guess that chest. I guess I

1:02:10 guess All right, you let's get out of

1:02:11 here. Oh.

1:02:14 >> [cheering]

1:02:15 >> That woman got the chest wrong.

1:02:17 She could not guess her husband. She

1:02:19 guessed instead

1:02:21 Mr. December, Ray Diaz. And uh that was

1:02:24 a mistake. Her husband will now have

1:02:26 bragging rights and a qualm against her

1:02:28 for the rest of time. Also want to give

1:02:30 a correction here. One trick play a

1:02:32 piece. One trick play a piece. The first

1:02:34 trick play of the ball game was there

1:02:36 from Jordan Lu Cain in that second

1:02:38 inning. One point a piece as well as

1:02:40 Nick Lopez [music] second time through

1:02:42 the order here as he's had two and 0.

1:02:43 The lead-off hitter tonight, the first

1:02:45 time ever in his minor league ball

1:02:46 career for these tailgates.

1:02:47 >> Earned a ball four sprint on that first

1:02:48 trip.

1:02:50 And he'll line one by Vincent Chapman

1:02:53 who was for some reason trying to make a

1:02:54 play. He and Mick stared right at each

1:02:56 other for a moment. Mick wasn't

1:02:57 thrilled. He was trying to go for it.

1:03:01 We play on.

1:03:02 Two-one count. Lo Cain trying to send

1:03:04 that one to the right field bleachers.

1:03:06 He will not.

1:03:08 And it's a two-two count once again.

1:03:12 Donny. Oh, boy. Little low.

1:03:16 E.J. trying to find it. Donny has had a

1:03:17 couple where he's been absolutely gasped

1:03:20 The first The first one he was upset

1:03:22 about probably a strike. That one a

1:03:23 little low there. Good call from Trey

1:03:25 Hudson. Payoff pitch. Lopi in the right

1:03:27 field. The magic man underneath IT AND

1:03:30 HE'S TRYING TO GO FOR THE TORNADO CATCH.

1:03:32 It won't happen and it's going to go

1:03:33 down as a missed trick play and Lopi's

1:03:35 in the [music] second.

1:03:38 And with it only being one trick play a

1:03:40 piece now through two frames here in the

1:03:41 top of the third, that's a smart place

1:03:44 to go for it as the away team. However,

1:03:46 when you don't get it, lead off runner

1:03:48 in scoring position and your starting

1:03:50 pitcher now creeping into the 50s in his

1:03:52 pitch count, this could be an inning

1:03:54 where the Tailgaters could really get

1:03:55 into it.

1:03:57 So now Donnie really going to have to

1:03:59 shut for all his work here with a runner

1:04:01 on second, nobody away and the guy

1:04:02 coming off has home run power for days

1:04:04 and he tried to flash it there.

1:04:06 So that one goes back foul.

1:04:15 The offer? Vince Chapman? No, he did

1:04:16 not.

1:04:17 2-1

1:04:20 Donnie a couple weeks ago when we played

1:04:22 here at Grayson Stadium, he threw I

1:04:23 believe 60 pitches. 44 of them were

1:04:26 splitters.

1:04:27 It was incredible.

1:04:28 >> It's insane. I mean, that's a pitch that

1:04:30 he's going to throw around 50-60% of the

1:04:32 time. It is his best pitch and as we

1:04:33 mentioned earlier,

1:04:35 again, when you it's that good, you can

1:04:37 throw it two different ways. You're

1:04:38 going to try to pound his own right

1:04:39 here. Got to get a strike on 3 and 1.

1:04:42 And he won't. Had a couple of words for

1:04:43 Trey Hudson still screaming at him as

1:04:45 one run will come around

1:04:47 for Nick Lopez and Jose Brother Gonzalez

1:04:50 gets an RBI ball four sprint and the

1:04:52 Tailgaters get another run and they get

1:04:54 it this time an actual run celebration.

1:04:57 I've been waiting on this one.

1:05:06 SMILE, JIMMY LEWIS, SMILE.

1:05:11 YES.

1:05:24 We've been waiting on that one for about

1:05:25 2 weeks. Hadn't had the opportunity to

1:05:27 run it. Every time in rehearsals I just

1:05:29 get the biggest laugh.

1:05:30 >> at UNC night one and three night two.

1:05:32 What are you talking about? Football

1:05:34 action. You know, a little little little

1:05:35 throat strap on the helmet, getting

1:05:37 ready to roll. As now, speaking of home

1:05:40 runs, Kyle Martin at the dish. K-Mart

1:05:43 smoked one out to South Trimble and

1:05:45 right his first time up.

1:05:47 He might get some PTSD every time South

1:05:49 Trimble is underneath one of his ball

1:05:51 here.

1:05:52 Good.

1:05:54 That one lined over to Tiny. Might only

1:05:56 be a chance for one. No, he's going to

1:05:57 two and he will get the lead runner out.

1:05:59 No trick play awarded, but it is the

1:06:01 lead runner off the bags at second base.

1:06:03 So, K-Mart is aboard with a fielder's

1:06:05 choice.

1:06:05 >> And that's the good play right there,

1:06:06 brother. Plus runner comparative to Kyle

1:06:09 Martin and you get the lead runner

1:06:10 there, keep a guy out of scoring

1:06:11 position to get the first out here in

1:06:13 the top of the third.

1:06:17 Jordan Barth swinging out of his shoes

1:06:19 for strike one. One of one tonight. That

1:06:21 one is a single.

1:06:24 JB still looking for his first home run

1:06:25 in Savannah Bananas game. Would not

1:06:27 count toward his regular season stats

1:06:28 here tonight. [music] But, he's been

1:06:29 heating up as of late. It would sure

1:06:31 count in the hearts and minds of Texas

1:06:32 Tailgaters fans near and far. That's

1:06:35 right, Zack Stephen. That's right, Uncle

1:06:36 Phil.

1:06:38 One, two count.

1:06:40 Here in the Banana Ball Open presented

1:06:41 by GEICO. Third inning. BARTH RIGHT BACK

1:06:43 UP THE MIDDLE AND IT'S GOING TO GET

1:06:45 THROUGH for a base knock. Armando way

1:06:46 far back.

1:06:48 Going to throw for third, but it's just

1:06:49 going to be

1:06:51 academic at that point. K-Mart slides

1:06:53 into first and Barth will stick aboard

1:06:55 on first, but that is a single.

1:07:04 So, runners on the corners.

1:07:06 Nobody away here or one away, excuse me,

1:07:09 for the Firefighters. Really could use a

1:07:10 double play right here and right now as

1:07:12 Taj Porter goes swinging

1:07:14 try to send one back out to the

1:07:16 scoreboard.

1:07:18 Outside, ball one.

1:07:21 Runners on third and first.

1:07:24 Javon Ray is running out to the bullpen.

1:07:26 Maybe he's just to get some light

1:07:27 tossing in. Doesn't look like there's

1:07:29 any urgency yet to remove Jared

1:07:31 Donaldson from the contest, but this is

1:07:33 >> Approaching 70 pitches and we're still

1:07:35 early on in this Savannah Bananas

1:07:36 season. I don't know. It depending on if

1:07:39 you get a double play or not may depend

1:07:40 on if you see Donny in the fourth.

1:07:43 Donny trying to go back to that one on

1:07:44 the inside. It's one that really has

1:07:46 made him mad from Trey Hudson.

1:07:48 That one looked to be a bit inside. 2-2

1:07:50 count. Porter right back up the middle.

1:07:52 A second run's going to score.

1:07:54 RBI single for the Quadfather.

1:07:57 The biggest, the largest. I told you you

1:07:59 and C is exactly what he needed last

1:08:01 Saturday night to get his 2026 campaign

1:08:03 going. And now the second run of the

1:08:06 inning here for the [music] Texas

1:08:07 Tailgaters as Jose Gutierrez is going to

1:08:10 come on the run for Taj Porter over at

1:08:12 first.

1:08:14 And the hottest hitter in this

1:08:15 Tailgaters lineup, Taylor Justice.

1:08:18 Deep left field. Bridges

1:08:21 has it for out number two. Won't try for

1:08:23 the trick play. Instead, just make sure

1:08:25 Jordan Barth goes to second again.

1:08:28 The Firefighters get a desperately

1:08:29 needed second out here. Tailgaters

1:08:32 already with two runs across. And Jared

1:08:34 Donaldson, this is really the first time

1:08:35 we've seen him tested like this here in

1:08:38 2026.

1:08:39 Guys went back and watched a lot of

1:08:41 film. That was the noise in the locker

1:08:42 room. Going back, watching a lot of the

1:08:44 film in their at-bats against Jared

1:08:45 Donaldson from Scottsdale. Making those

1:08:47 adjustments. How can Mac Danford make an

1:08:49 adjustment from his first AB?

1:08:51 Maybe like that. Noah Bridges CHASING

1:08:54 BACK GOING TO LAND AT THE TRACK AND ON

1:08:55 the wall. Run, one run is in.

1:08:58 Danford going TO SECOND. HE'LL SLIDE IN

1:09:00 SAFELY. RBI DOUBLE. and it's three

1:09:02 across for the Tailgaters.

1:09:04 >> Mac A Doodled. That guy has just been on

1:09:06 fire. Now, eight out of his last nine

1:09:09 games has he gotten an extra base hit.

1:09:13 The pride of Grand Ridge, Florida.

1:09:15 And ready and Diddy Datford.

1:09:18 That young man has been on fire for

1:09:20 these boys in blue and orange. The

1:09:21 nightmare still not over for Jared

1:09:23 Donaldson. Two runners in scoring

1:09:24 position with two away as one finally

1:09:26 touches the outside part of the black

1:09:28 according to Trey Hudson.

1:09:32 Our umpires tonight

1:09:33 Seth Markham over at first, Bryson

1:09:35 Wheeler at second, Fitz Chapman at

1:09:37 third.

1:09:38 Owen Galler down the left field line.

1:09:40 Donaldson goes back inside, and the

1:09:41 long-lost Cole family member, Mark Cole,

1:09:44 is in right field.

1:09:48 2-1 count.

1:09:51 Donny takes a deep breath, throws, and

1:09:53 gets another swing from Watty.

1:09:55 He struck out swinging his first time up

1:09:58 in the second inning.

1:10:01 And he swings and misses, so the fifth

1:10:03 strikeout comes after a three-run frame.

1:10:07 Jared Donaldson really giving it to Trey

1:10:09 Hudson as we go down to the field with

1:10:11 Jolie Chabal for Bananas Foster.

1:10:17 Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to

1:10:19 the field from Bananas Foster, Jolie

1:10:21 Chabal.

1:10:23 Across the United States, there are over

1:10:25 400,000 children and teens in foster

1:10:29 care without a permanent home. To raise

1:10:31 awareness and support this community, we

1:10:34 created Bananas Foster, the official

1:10:36 nonprofit of Banana Ball. Our

1:10:39 organization is dedicated to celebrating

1:10:41 the foster care community while

1:10:43 educating and inspiring others to get

1:10:46 involved. Tonight, we are celebrating

1:10:48 the Fitzgerald family. Brian and and

1:10:52 Kendra have been a licensed foster

1:10:55 family since 2018.

1:10:59 They're dedicated to having a

1:11:02 relationship with biological families in

1:11:05 reunification

1:11:06 and ensuring that they have a safe and

1:11:08 loving home for children while in care.

1:11:12 In total, they have welcomed 20 children

1:11:16 and teens into their home.

1:11:19 Fans, please welcome to the field the

1:11:21 Fitzgerald family for making a

1:11:23 difference right here in our community.

1:11:30 >> [applause]

1:11:32 [cheering]

1:11:52 >> This is cool, man.

1:11:53 The Fitzgerald family

1:11:56 celebrated

1:11:58 here

1:11:59 at Grayson Stadium in the Banana Ball

1:12:01 Open. You want to help families like

1:12:03 that in the foster care community across

1:12:05 this country, just text bunch to 50155

1:12:08 to support Bananas foster and so many

1:12:10 great families like the Fitzgeralds

1:12:13 who have done so much for so many kids

1:12:15 in need here in our community of

1:12:16 Savannah.

1:12:18 These foster families are the

1:12:19 superheroes of our communities. This

1:12:21 continues to be one of the coolest

1:12:23 things that you see in Banana Ball.

1:12:25 Christian Davis is out on the mound.

1:12:27 He's got three runs to protect himself

1:12:29 here in the bottom half of the third.

1:12:31 This is the one thing that both the

1:12:32 Firefighters and Texas Tailgaters really

1:12:34 avoided

1:12:36 last time they met in Scottsdale.

1:12:39 Wasn't a ton going on with the the

1:12:42 blowout innings.

1:12:43 But now the Texas Tailgaters have one.

1:12:45 SUNNY, HOW WE DOING, BROTHER? OH, Brett

1:12:47 Lofgren, it's so good to hear your

1:12:49 voice, my man. So good. So good to hear

1:12:51 you. Three runs there in the top of the

1:12:53 third. Yeah. Trick play battle though.

1:12:55 One to one. What you got in store for us

1:12:57 here in the home half of the third?

1:12:58 >> Hey, so this is where the Tailor's got

1:13:00 going. I mean, we take after Jordan

1:13:01 Hussein. He's been an awesome presence

1:13:02 in the locker room, encouraging all of

1:13:04 us to trick plays, even in tough

1:13:05 situations, including the ninth inning

1:13:07 last week. And uh it's just about all

1:13:10 like the equalize the point matters,

1:13:12 especially with the visiting team as

1:13:13 well tonight, so

1:13:14 we're repping that as much as we can.

1:13:16 What you got here on this? You guys can

1:13:18 read the screen. I am very That's about

1:13:21 Dylan Gad their stats. Woo!

1:13:23 Tell Fiber I said hey. Hey, Brett says

1:13:25 hi.

1:13:26 I'm on the mic. He says hi. Hey Fiber.

1:13:28 Love you.

1:13:30 Sunshine, you've had quite a year in the

1:13:31 trick play battle. Again, I'm not going

1:13:32 to tell you your stat. I don't do that.

1:13:35 But if you go to bananaball.com/stats,

1:13:37 you'll be able to see it. What has been

1:13:38 the driving force for that for you as

1:13:40 our primary designated fielder in 2026?

1:13:42 >> Yeah, it just comes down to

1:13:43 opportunities. I mean, I've had a lot of

1:13:44 opportunities to do tricks, and whether

1:13:46 it's in the air or on the ground, and I

1:13:47 try and take advantage of those as much

1:13:48 as I can.

1:13:50 Playing behind this guy doesn't hurt. 30

1:13:52 trick plays induced coming into this

1:13:53 one. Christian Davis, guy you played a

1:13:55 lot behind last year. Why why does he

1:13:57 give you so many opportunities to do

1:13:58 trick plays?

1:13:59 >> Uh he he's done awesome in the zone so

1:14:01 much, and a lot of self moves, and that

1:14:04 creates some some disadvantage for the

1:14:06 hitter when they can't put the ball in

1:14:07 the play, and they mishit it, and then

1:14:08 that means trick plays are on the

1:14:09 ground. I think you got one right here

1:14:11 coming at you.

1:14:13 The fans [cheering] have one.

1:14:15 Potentially.

1:14:16 >> Ooh, I wouldn't mind a fan call. I

1:14:18 wouldn't mind that. Over there at ABY

1:14:20 are Sunny. Yeah. Pink wheels today for

1:14:22 the unicycle. Why pink?

1:14:24 It's all they had on Door Dash.

1:14:26 Uh when I was in Chapel Hill, I needed

1:14:29 more uh

1:14:30 poster board, and I like a bright color

1:14:32 that stands out, and that's all they had

1:14:34 on Door Dash. Attaboy. CD, playing that

1:14:38 sweet music. Out number one here in the

1:14:40 bottom of the third. We're going to take

1:14:41 a pause as we welcome the firefighter of

1:14:43 the night.

1:14:45 We would just like to say next up for

1:14:46 the Firefighters is Noah Bridges.

1:14:49 Escorting him to the plate

1:14:51 is our Firefighter of the Night, Captain

1:14:54 Trevor Jahha.

1:14:56 >> [cheering]

1:14:57 >> His career highlights include co-leading

1:14:59 our Camp Hero for young men, performing

1:15:02 life-saving CPR on an airplane. He's

1:15:04 been named Firefighter of the Year, City

1:15:07 Employee of the Year, and in total,

1:15:10 Trevor has served your community at THE

1:15:13 SAVANNAH FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR 13 YEARS.

1:15:19 FANS, PLEASE MAKE some noise FOR OUR

1:15:21 FIREFIGHTER OF THE NIGHT, CAPTAIN TREVOR

1:15:25 JAHHA.

1:15:28 >> [cheering and applause]

1:15:29 >> THIS IS WHAT MAKES FIREFIGHTER [music]

1:15:31 games so different, to be able to honor

1:15:33 someone who has served the communities

1:15:35 wherever we go. 13 years of service for

1:15:38 Trevor Jahha. Salute to you, Captain.

1:15:41 Sunny, that's always a cool moment.

1:15:42 Anytime we get to play the Firefighters,

1:15:44 but got to feel the hurt in my back a

1:15:46 little bit there.

1:15:47 One, first question, you're playing

1:15:50 literally in right field, why?

1:15:52 So, Noah Bridges, in my experience, has

1:15:54 hit balls over here more than hit balls

1:15:56 over here, and I don't want to jinx

1:15:57 that, but

1:15:58 Oh!

1:16:00 What you got here, Sunny?

1:16:02 BETWEEN THE LEGS! OH!

1:16:04 TJ, CLOSE. I LOVE it though, I love it.

1:16:06 >> Man, Noah ran into the wall. He probably

1:16:08 should have been concentrating on going

1:16:09 to second. I love it. I love it.

1:16:12 They tried to pull it. Yeah. So, this

1:16:14 trick play

1:16:16 Noah Bridges will land at first.

1:16:18 Sunshine, I got to ask, why don't you do

1:16:19 this thing on a unicycle in the field,

1:16:21 man? What's that you

1:16:22 >> you I thought you was a real guy. Why

1:16:24 don't you do this on the unicycle out in

1:16:25 the field?

1:16:28 I'd be a little less immobile on the

1:16:30 unicycle than on the field.

1:16:31 >> to get here.

1:16:33 Let's try to Oh, Heads up, HEADS UP,

1:16:35 HEADS UP. GREAT CATCH!

1:16:36 Hit nobody. There's a mother over there

1:16:38 There was a lady. who just saw her flash

1:16:40 her life flash before her eyes. Hey, I

1:16:42 want to say I love what he's doing

1:16:44 there. Like I I totally get it.

1:16:46 He's trying to do that with that double.

1:16:47 We worked a lot on that and it's Sunny.

1:16:51 Oh, got the first. Oh, wait. This is

1:16:53 tough.

1:16:54 That Is that interference?

1:16:55 >> know. Hey.

1:16:57 I don't know if he is looking for the

1:16:59 ball.

1:17:00 >> it looked like, but let's see.

1:17:02 It's definitely one out, no matter what.

1:17:04 >> As

1:17:05 I don't think that's interference.

1:17:07 >> back and like tried to see [music] it,

1:17:09 but it's a smart play there, uh uh

1:17:10 Bryson Wheeler and Seth Markum having a

1:17:12 conversation. Yeah, Noah Bridges clearly

1:17:14 looked back at that and and I'm not

1:17:16 going to say he let it hit him in the

1:17:18 back, but he definitely was trying to

1:17:19 move out of the way. What he said you

1:17:20 think he's throwing hands up for

1:17:22 intention? He said

1:17:24 What did Bryson tell you? He said if you

1:17:25 think he's throwing up the hands for

1:17:26 intention, he said no. He's not doing it

1:17:28 for intention, but I think he's a small

1:17:30 a smart player and he definitely knows

1:17:32 what he's doing. Noah's very smart.

1:17:33 >> Hey, hey. Karma's right here. Karma's on

1:17:35 me. He's also dreamy.

1:17:39 That is not

1:17:39 >> Go, come on.

1:17:41 To Sunny, it's foul.

1:17:44 Man, that the Banner had a good

1:17:45 opportunity or something.

1:17:47 >> That's a That's a smart play. Yeah,

1:17:48 that's a smart play.

1:17:49 >> [laughter]

1:17:51 >> He said that's a smart play. Hey, Noah

1:17:53 was the first guy I played sort of Noah.

1:17:55 First guy I got to Savannah to show me

1:17:57 one fan in the stadium how you treat

1:17:59 them and he has upheld the culture of

1:18:01 Banana Ball in every way and I do that

1:18:03 to this day because of him. One of the

1:18:05 best dudes in Banana Ball. Sunny, talk

1:18:07 about this. I like we got easy catch,

1:18:08 what is it?

1:18:09 Oh, man. Oh my goodness.

1:18:12 >> He's back, BABY. WHAT IS BACK? Here you

1:18:15 go, baby boys.

1:18:16 Second trick PLAY OF THE NIGHT AND THE

1:18:18 TAILGATERS LEAD IT TWO TO ONE. TALK TO

1:18:20 ME, SUNNY. HEY, I'M GOING TO JUGGLE IT

1:18:21 ALL THE way in. Here you go, baby boys.

1:18:23 Woo.

1:18:26 Incredible stuff. Sunshine, I love you.

1:18:29 Oh, I love you, too, Brett. Gator up.

1:18:30 Gator up, baby. Let's do it. Two to one,

1:18:32 Tailgaters leading. Zack Stanton, tell

1:18:34 us How's something fun we got. That was

1:18:36 incredible and so is this. GEICO and the

1:18:38 Banana Ball Championship League are

1:18:40 teaming up to send one lucky winner the

1:18:42 ultimate fan experience to the 2026

1:18:45 Banana Ball Championship Game on October

1:18:47 the 10th. [music]

1:18:48 Win four tickets, airfare, hotel, and a

1:18:51 VIP on-field player experience. You want

1:18:53 to do that? Just go to

1:18:55 itfeelsgoodtogobananas.com [music]

1:18:58 to enter.

1:19:00 I like I at the [music] airfare being

1:19:02 paid for, by the way. I know Biko and

1:19:03 Josh talked about that last night.

1:19:05 >> If it wasn't paid for, I'd be

1:19:07 I'd shudder to see what my air bill

1:19:09 looks like. [music]

1:19:10 As Brett Loftis rejoins. Brett, have you

1:19:11 ever had a VIP on-field player

1:19:14 experience in Banana Ball?

1:19:16 Not as a fan.

1:19:18 As an employee, though.

1:19:20 Let's see, Banana Ball backstage is a

1:19:22 pretty good experience. I would love for

1:19:23 our fans to come and join that and be

1:19:25 able to meet you if they win that GEICO

1:19:27 sweepstakes, man.

1:19:28 >> That would be incredible. We're going to

1:19:29 meet a new pitcher here, and that is

1:19:31 Javon Ray, Baby G.

1:19:33 Back for his second campaign with the

1:19:36 Firefighters, a man who wears

1:19:37 sherbet-colored cleats down there. Those

1:19:39 are sick. Comes in now trying to get the

1:19:41 Firefighters a little bit more momentum,

1:19:43 so Jared Donaldson's night is over. He

1:19:45 gets five strikeouts again against the

1:19:46 Texas Tailgaters, but this time gives up

1:19:49 four runs. Look at Javon Ray. On the

1:19:51 World Tour this year, the potential is

1:19:53 there, and you started to see it get

1:19:55 realized here in 2026.

1:19:58 >> got to see it last weekend in

1:19:59 Albuquerque. He's starting to throw that

1:20:01 curveball earlier in counts, which is

1:20:04 going to set him up for a lot of

1:20:05 strikeouts. 11 to four his

1:20:07 strikeout-to-ball-force sprint ratio.

1:20:09 Javon knows when to use all speed and

1:20:11 when he doesn't use his all speed. Tell

1:20:13 you what, this is one of the hottest

1:20:14 pitchers in all of Banana Ball right now

1:20:16 the last couple of weekends.

1:20:17 >> And for some reason in 2026, every

1:20:20 hitter is determined to hit one right

1:20:21 back up the middle at Baby G.

1:20:24 In spring training, he got one hit right

1:20:26 off the hit by Jordan Brewer, took it

1:20:28 and turned a double play. Then last

1:20:30 week, T.J. Reeves scoots one right back

1:20:33 up the middle. It hits off Javon's face.

1:20:35 He still turned the out and then got a

1:20:38 strikeout right afterwards. Jason Hart,

1:20:40 Peanut, goes down to a knee between the

1:20:42 legs and Mason Maxwell grabs it. YOU CAN

1:20:45 CALL THAT one in for a trick play for

1:20:46 the Fighters.

1:20:48 Peanut man

1:20:50 leads the Firefighters in trick plays

1:20:53 with 18 of them coming in tonight. Gets

1:20:55 number two and ties us right back up in

1:20:57 that trick play battle.

1:21:03 So, right back up is J5.

1:21:06 Guy in Scottsdale got his 100th career

1:21:08 trick play and he swings that one right

1:21:10 into the dirt.

1:21:11 E.J. catches up to it. It'll be

1:21:13 interesting to see here

1:21:14 if the Firefighters ever decide to go

1:21:16 with a different catcher here. Most of

1:21:18 these guys who were with the

1:21:18 Firefighters last year are good with

1:21:21 E.J. catching. Sometimes they do like

1:21:23 Zachary Bridges as well. But, E.J.'s a

1:21:25 veteran of the sport, so he'll likely

1:21:26 remain as that one goes inside. You can

1:21:28 start to see the movement over there for

1:21:30 Javon. We talked about that curveball.

1:21:33 J5 works it back up 2-2.

1:21:37 Lines it right over to Mason Maxwell.

1:21:39 Oh, between the legs. That was a doozy.

1:21:41 A trick play and now tied back up in the

1:21:44 trick play column. That was a beauty.

1:21:46 No, I beg your pardon. It is 3-2

1:21:48 Firefighters leading it. It's a big one

1:21:50 right there. Again, the first what we

1:21:52 thought was a trick play tonight by

1:21:54 Jordan Husseyne taken off the board did

1:21:55 not count. [music] Tailgaters have

1:21:57 gotten two cents and now two already in

1:21:59 the inning for the Firefighters. As turn

1:22:01 the lineup card back over, Nick Lopez.

1:22:03 It's a couple close ones there [music]

1:22:05 for J5. It's easy for me to say as Nick

1:22:06 Lopez swings and misses.

1:22:09 It's a 1-1 count. This is where Javon

1:22:11 Ray is going to take the step in Banana

1:22:13 Ball. It's things like this. [music]

1:22:14 Working quickly as Lopey fouls that one

1:22:17 right back off of E.J. It's a 1-2 count.

1:22:20 When he is working quick, man,

1:22:22 Javon just looks so much more confident,

1:22:25 feels more confident.

1:22:28 That one goes into the dirt, but that's

1:22:30 what we're talking about here. What

1:22:32 about the sportsmanship from Lopy? Here

1:22:33 you go.

1:22:35 The banana ball bounced up and hit me,

1:22:36 but here you go. Oh, little football

1:22:37 going on.

1:22:38 Get off the line, Blake Morgan.

1:22:41 A snapping fraction as this Lopy stays

1:22:43 alive. By the way, those flamethrowers

1:22:45 in the back

1:22:46 that becomes a little bit of a work

1:22:48 around for all the catchers here. You

1:22:49 got to really find yourself there. What

1:22:51 is Slim Jimmy Lewis doing?

1:22:54 He didn't look happy.

1:22:55 It's 2-2 count and two outs.

1:23:00 Baby G, aw, the frame job wasn't needed

1:23:02 because that one bounced off the bat.

1:23:04 Seeing the bottom half of the zone not

1:23:07 being eliminated, but not being given as

1:23:08 generously to both sides.

1:23:11 Ball four sprint. So, Lopy just

1:23:13 continues to earn free trips onto the

1:23:15 bases.

1:23:17 Mistrick play in his second appearance,

1:23:19 and now his second ball four sprint, and

1:23:21 the Tailgaters once again have a runner

1:23:22 on.

1:23:23 Had a runner on in every inning so far

1:23:25 tonight.

1:23:27 Take you back to Montgomery.

1:23:29 Two out rallies in that series against

1:23:31 J'Von Ray. There were a couple innings

1:23:32 he would get to two outs, hit four

1:23:34 combined unearned runs in that outing in

1:23:37 two innings pitched because of when he

1:23:39 got to two outings, a couple of rallies

1:23:40 there. Right here, again, these runs

1:23:42 would be earned thus far,

1:23:45 but let's see what Jose Brelic Gonzalez

1:23:46 can do. Lot of mistrick plays in that

1:23:48 series for Baby G or against him. That

1:23:50 one goes outside for ball two. And this

1:23:52 is where the Firefighters have [music]

1:23:54 run into some trouble tonight in the

1:23:55 second and third innings when runners

1:23:57 get on. They haven't been able to quite

1:23:58 find the strike zone.

1:24:00 That one,

1:24:00 >> [music]

1:24:01 >> liner.

1:24:02 Peanut, between the legs over to Mason,

1:24:04 call it in. Another trick play.

1:24:08 It's a 4-2 lead in that category. Peanut

1:24:11 gets two in the frame,

1:24:13 and the Firefighters get a clean frame

1:24:15 in the fourth. They'll go in with a

1:24:16 chance to tie up the game as we start

1:24:18 getting ready for a tradition here in

1:24:20 Banana Ball.

1:24:21 The man in the yellow tux is here and it

1:24:23 can ONLY MEAN ONE THING. HELLO, BABY.

1:24:25 with the Banana Ball open and now we're

1:24:27 going to take it to another level with

1:24:28 the Banana Ball tradition. So, I need

1:24:30 everyone on your feet.

1:24:33 Everyone on your feet all the way around

1:24:36 the stadium.

1:24:37 Cuz we're going to pump it up with the

1:24:38 biggest hey, baby we got tonight. So,

1:24:40 everyone hands up in the air.

1:24:42 Hands up in the air. Get clapping those

1:24:44 hands. Here we go.

1:24:53 Get those arms waving. Here we go.

1:25:07 Keep it going. Get those hands up.

1:25:21 Now, keep it clapping as we shuffle.

1:25:27 Woo.

1:25:35 Now, let me hear you sing it.

1:25:49 ONE MORE TIME.

1:25:50 >> [cheering]

1:26:04 >> You guys are amazing. Give yourselves a

1:26:05 round of applause.

1:26:08 >> [cheering]

1:26:13 >> It's Zack Staten.

1:26:16 I think we broke a shelf

1:26:18 Over our beloved Oh, no. He's doing a

1:26:20 little carpentry work. Shout out Cheito,

1:26:23 Jose Benitez, for coming over here

1:26:25 doing a little hey baby with us. Got the

1:26:27 Spanish stream up. Also on the Banana

1:26:29 Ball YouTube channel here tonight.

1:26:31 Zack, I need you to get my breath. I

1:26:32 need you to get back with us here. If we

1:26:33 can take a peek at this booth camera

1:26:35 right here, you can see that the second

1:26:36 shelf

1:26:38 no longer has anything on there. That's

1:26:39 because the power of hey baby from Brett

1:26:42 and I

1:26:43 destroyed it. So, Nico Josh

1:26:46 I'm going to try my best not to do

1:26:47 anything. Hey Logan Lacey.

1:27:08 >> [music]

1:27:33 >> Well, that was sweet.

1:27:34 Logan Lacey's just a couple of neck

1:27:36 tattoos away from being the new Travis

1:27:38 Barker here in Banana Ball. I just I

1:27:40 would love for Brian Trappainer to be my

1:27:42 Uber driver one night.

1:27:44 That's what I would like.

1:27:46 He drove quite safely there. It was

1:27:47 good. Logan Lacey banging on the drum

1:27:49 all day and now he comes up, faces a 1-0

1:27:51 count on Christian Davis. BK's going to

1:27:54 drive clear out the stadium here down

1:27:55 the first base side. Bradford Bradford,

1:27:57 man. Bradford playing shotgun here.

1:27:59 Lacey swings and misses. It's a 2-1

1:28:02 count. He might have just swung there at

1:28:03 ball three. Lacey's been really good at

1:28:05 drawing some ball fours, Brent.

1:28:07 Right there, not as much and that one

1:28:09 goes inside, but Trey Hudson says it's

1:28:11 good enough for strike two.

1:28:13 Mark Smith [music] is hopped on the back

1:28:15 of this Gator here.

1:28:16 Animals not in this tournament, but they

1:28:18 are here at Grayson Stadium.

1:28:20 >> about to say, like most of the teams are

1:28:22 here. You'll see a couple of them over

1:28:23 in the center field wall. They're

1:28:25 watching from the locker room. Full

1:28:27 count. Lacy swings and misses. CD, put

1:28:30 him down.

1:28:32 Talk about CD, that first outing he had

1:28:34 against these Firefighters, no

1:28:35 strikeouts. Here tonight, three punchies

1:28:39 thus far.

1:28:40 And that's a big one right there.

1:28:42 Getting showtime for out number one. And

1:28:43 look at that. CD's fired up. Joe Foral

1:28:46 doing the celly. For some reason there's

1:28:48 a cornhole board in the left-hander's

1:28:49 box. As EJ goes up, that was well off

1:28:53 the plate, but that's strike one.

1:28:54 >> I've seen the bag. Pick it UP, CD. WHAT

1:28:56 DO YOU GOT? CD!

1:28:58 BALL.

1:29:00 STRIKE.

1:29:01 >> [cheering]

1:29:01 >> And EJ goes into the parking lot. Yeah,

1:29:03 I'm not sure Trey Hudson helped himself

1:29:06 on the Jared Donaldson EJ arguments with

1:29:08 that first strike, but

1:29:09 no harm, no foul. Well, it's an 0-2

1:29:10 count. EJ trying to send that one into

1:29:13 the seats. Instead, he will send that on

1:29:14 top of the press box.

1:29:16 Firefighters are in their 12th game here

1:29:18 in 2026. They have not had one

1:29:20 fan-caught foul ball for them and two

1:29:22 against them as EJ continues to stay

1:29:24 alive.

1:29:27 Last year in Richmond, the Firefighters

1:29:29 and Texas Tailgaters saw

1:29:31 Good mustache. Good.

1:29:33 EJ does have a great mustache. That one

1:29:36 outside, ball one.

1:29:38 CD wanted it, but just about a half a

1:29:39 ball off. Good call there from Trey

1:29:41 Hudson. Let me land the plane here in

1:29:42 Richmond. Six fan-caught foul balls game

1:29:44 one. That was a banana ball record at

1:29:45 the time. And EJ tried to stop the

1:29:48 swing, wouldn't do it, and that's

1:29:50 strikeout number two. Sword for CD.

1:29:54 They said that MAN DON'T GET PUNCHOUTS?

1:29:57 FOUR OF THEM THUS FAR for Christian

1:29:58 Davis. Look at that.

1:30:01 Firefighters put three of their first

1:30:02 four on, including an RBI single for

1:30:05 Eric Jones Jr. Since then, just one base

1:30:08 runner allowed.

1:30:09 We had retirees.

1:30:14 On nine straight.

1:30:16 Okay. I don't know where that one

1:30:18 missed. I'll be honest with you.

1:30:20 It's a good pitch there. It's been a

1:30:21 strike in some of the firefighter

1:30:22 innings as we play on.

1:30:27 Just kidding.

1:30:29 I'd say go ask It's a 1-0. That one into

1:30:32 the dirt.

1:30:33 Trey kind of wondering where that one

1:30:35 missed, too.

1:30:36 >> [laughter]

1:30:37 >> Trey out surged. Yeah, Trey out surged

1:30:38 happens a lot. He's got a gigantic

1:30:41 mustache and that was a gigantic swing

1:30:43 for him. Armando Becerra. He's going

1:30:45 like old school like 1970s vibe with

1:30:47 that trench coat behind home plate, too.

1:30:49 Yeah. I kind of love that. Very much so.

1:30:52 Like I think like Looks like he could

1:30:54 rob a stagecoach or umpire a game back

1:30:56 in the 1960s.

1:30:56 >> Yeah, it looks like he's in the 1977

1:30:58 World Series right now. Were

1:30:59 stagecoaches a thing in the 1960s like I

1:31:01 just said? Probably not. I don't know.

1:31:03 You would have been alive to be in one.

1:31:05 Oh, okay.

1:31:06 Relax. Kyle Martin actually was. [music]

1:31:09 Love you, K Martin. Talked about ice

1:31:11 cream with him. Full count.

1:31:13 Ball four sprint. Mondo got a great leap

1:31:15 out of the box. Might he go for two? Oh,

1:31:18 you betcha he will. Puts his head DOWN

1:31:20 AND SLIDES ON IN.

1:31:22 Two base ball four sprint for Mondo and

1:31:24 that's a big one for the firefighters.

1:31:26 Now a runner in scoring position and the

1:31:28 guy up is the dude who has a seven-game

1:31:30 hitting streak going. This is exactly

1:31:32 who you want in the box right here.

1:31:33 Mondo, you got to give him a lot of

1:31:34 credit. That's a gritty play to make

1:31:36 with two outs, but you put yourself in

1:31:38 scoring position here and an opportunity

1:31:40 to tie this ball game up with a base hit

1:31:42 from your best hitter so far this year

1:31:44 in Peanut. Ball gets through, it might

1:31:45 score Mondo. You saw the speed, the burn

1:31:47 there. That one goes

1:31:49 Okay. What?

1:31:51 They called the outer half, Zack. That's

1:31:52 right there at the belt called the outer

1:31:54 half. That's a good pitch.

1:31:56 Peanut into the seats.

1:32:00 It will not be caught. In defense of

1:32:02 Peanut, that outer half has kind of

1:32:04 moved at times here tonight, so I get

1:32:05 it. That outer half is in a rectangle.

1:32:08 He holds the swing back. Ooh.

1:32:12 Taj and CD both convicted in that one.

1:32:14 Taj telling Seth Markham that he needs

1:32:16 to

1:32:17 open his eyes as he gestured there as he

1:32:19 walked back behind home plate. Got a

1:32:21 mask on. Kind of hard to.

1:32:23 It's a one-two count.

1:32:25 CD tries to put Peanut down. AND HE

1:32:28 WILL! MARKED DOWN FROM Christian Davis!

1:32:32 HE STRIKES OUT THE SIDE! THE GUY WHO

1:32:34 INDUCES TRICK PLAYS SAYS STRIKE OUT,

1:32:37 STRIKE OUT, STRIKE OUT! FIVE OF THEM

1:32:39 TONIGHT! WE STAY AT TWO TO ONE HERE IN

1:32:41 HISTORIC GRAYSON STADIUM. MHM. CD.

1:32:44 [clears throat]

1:32:50 FANS, it's been said that you can lead a

1:32:52 horse to water, but you can't make it

1:32:54 drink. And we're about to find out if

1:32:55 that's true, cuz down here at first and

1:32:57 third base, I have two of the finest

1:32:59 studs in all of Savannah. They're going

1:33:01 to have to race that bucket of water

1:33:02 behind home plate, but here's the thing.

1:33:04 We blindfolded these horses, which means

1:33:07 it's going to be up to three-year-old

1:33:08 Huck and three-year-old Letty to lead

1:33:11 these horses to water. The first horse

1:33:13 there is safe, but the losing horse will

1:33:15 get that bucket of water dumped on their

1:33:18 head.

1:33:20 Savannah, this is lead a horse to water.

1:33:22 Horses, start spinning around.

1:33:26 They should be nice and dizzy and

1:33:28 confused.

1:33:30 And we're going to saddle up in three,

1:33:32 two, one, go!

1:33:36 Let's see where these horses go. Listen

1:33:39 to your rider.

1:33:42 Who's it going to be? Huck's got to move

1:33:44 it towards the third base dugout. Letty,

1:33:46 that's the pitcher's mound. We got to

1:33:49 get to that bucket of water.

1:33:51 Savannah, there's still time to place

1:33:53 your bets.

1:33:55 Do we think it's going to be Letty?

1:33:58 Or do we think it's GOING TO BE HAWK?

1:34:01 THEY'RE MOVING. You got to stay on the

1:34:04 horse, Letty.

1:34:05 It's a two-horse race. You're right

1:34:08 there. You got to go.

1:34:10 How bad do you want it? Get to that

1:34:13 bucket of water. Hawk takes the lead.

1:34:15 >> [cheering]

1:34:16 >> You got to get TO THE BUCKET. LETTY

1:34:18 DRIVES HIM RIGHT PAST. WHERE'S THE

1:34:20 BUCKET OF WATER? YOU GOT TO GET TO THE

1:34:22 WATER.

1:34:27 And there it is. All righty.

1:34:30 You led that horse to water.

1:34:33 Savannah, now it's time we make that

1:34:35 horse drink. Come here.

1:34:39 Right here, our winning horse. Go ahead

1:34:41 and dump that water.

1:34:43 We're going to dump it in three, TWO,

1:34:47 ONE. GO.

1:34:50 >> [cheering]

1:34:50 >> LEAD A HORSE to water.

1:35:03 Well, there was water. There was a horse

1:35:04 head and something was going on on the

1:35:06 field. I cannot describe to you what

1:35:08 Rhinestone had going on there, but we

1:35:09 play on nonetheless. As you look at a

1:35:11 beautiful night here in Savannah,

1:35:13 Georgia. 2-1 game in favor of the Texas

1:35:15 Tailgaters as we go to the top of the

1:35:17 fifth here in game two of the Banana

1:35:19 Ball Open presented by GEICO. Winner of

1:35:21 tonight's moving on to the weekend to

1:35:22 play the Savannah Bananas for the

1:35:24 inaugural Open Championship and an

1:35:26 automatic spot in the playoffs. Big

1:35:28 inning here for J'Von Ray. Heart of the

1:35:30 order here for the Texas Tailgaters and

1:35:32 K Mart SENDS ONE DEEP CENTER FIELD. K

1:35:35 MART WITH ANOTHER LONG BALL. Welcome to

1:35:39 the action HERE IN THE BANANA BALL

1:35:41 [screaming] OPEN.

1:35:42 The 33-year-old FROM GREENVILLE, SOUTH

1:35:45 CAROLINA.

1:35:47 WITH THE FIRST HOME RUN FOR THE boys in

1:35:49 blue and orange here in Grayson Stadium

1:35:52 since October.

1:35:55 And now HE'S GOING TO STRAP IT ON AND

1:35:57 THE BOY'S GOT a football selling. He's

1:35:59 going to what?

1:36:01 Oh, BUST IT THROUGH THE A-GAP AND HE

1:36:03 STEPS on home plate.

1:36:07 THAT'S THE LEAGUE LEADER.

1:36:09 >> MICHAEL JORDAN STEPS TO IT. FIVE home

1:36:11 runs. HOW DID THAT FEEL? WELL, THAT one

1:36:13 doesn't count in the real league, but

1:36:14 that one felt great to take the lead in

1:36:16 the in the inning. Oh, yeah. I got I got

1:36:18 I got I got too excited. That's right.

1:36:19 That's reminder that did not count in

1:36:21 the league. But hey, I want to give you

1:36:22 the personal five home runs. Can we take

1:36:25 the visor off?

1:36:27 Beast action. Beast action.

1:36:32 K-Mart, man.

1:36:35 K-Mart. I mean, you take that guy in the

1:36:37 fourth round. What a steal, Zack Staten.

1:36:40 And yes, his fifth home run on the year.

1:36:44 But his fourth one, again, four of them

1:36:46 in regular season. His first year in the

1:36:47 Savannah Bananas ball open. Almost a fan

1:36:48 caught foul ball down there. I was about

1:36:50 to lose my brain. There was a

1:36:52 firefighter dressed young man who was

1:36:54 about ready to catch that one and it

1:36:56 dropped out of his hand. It's kind of

1:36:57 been the way the night has gone. Started

1:36:59 out really well and since then the

1:37:00 firefighters just have not quite been

1:37:01 able to put things together.

1:37:05 Had a couple of runners in scoring

1:37:06 position, but haven't been able to

1:37:07 score. Now they really need it here as

1:37:08 Jordan Barth goes back inside.

1:37:10 Clock has just ticked under an hour, but

1:37:12 we are more than fine

1:37:14 on the trajectory to get all nine

1:37:15 innings in and J. Beast swings out of

1:37:17 his shoes.

1:37:18 Javon Ray with the shut down Selly.

1:37:22 His first strikeout of the night.

1:37:23 What a way to come back there for Javon

1:37:25 after giving up the lead-off home run to

1:37:26 Kyle Martin. Comes back. He gets a

1:37:29 four-pitch strikeout of Jordan Barth.

1:37:31 Just ran the fastball up top. Try and

1:37:33 catch up with it, Jordan Barth.

1:37:35 So now Taj Porter comes in. Taj and

1:37:38 Javon real tight. Real good friends and

1:37:41 well, that was a friendly hack

1:37:44 from Taj.

1:37:46 Comes up and

1:37:48 you know, it's funny. Taj was actually

1:37:49 the guy who told me about Jovan.

1:37:51 Told me about Jovan. He said, "Man, that

1:37:52 guy's a yapper. He will talk your ears

1:37:54 off."

1:37:55 TP was not wrong.

1:37:58 Tell you what, JOVAN SAYS, "SHUT YOUR

1:38:00 MOUTH AND GO BACK TO THE DUGOUTS."

1:38:02 BACK-TO-BACK Ks for Baby G.

1:38:04 >> Good.

1:38:05 Good, Zach.

1:38:06 >> I love you, Taj, if you're listening to

1:38:07 this later.

1:38:09 That's the best analysis I can give on

1:38:10 that. That was good.

1:38:12 Another high heater there. And the

1:38:14 Tailgaters are Jovan might be wondering,

1:38:16 man, what could have happened if I just

1:38:17 could Jovan might be wondering, man,

1:38:18 what could have happened if I just could

1:38:20 have located that first one to Kyle

1:38:21 Martin just a little bit cleaner. As

1:38:23 Taylor Justice sends that one back and

1:38:25 immediately an 0-2 count facing the

1:38:27 Texas Tailgaters again.

1:38:30 Jovan has looked awfully good. TJ high

1:38:33 into the sky would save a kitten from a

1:38:35 tree. It's not going to land for a foul

1:38:36 ball or a hit, excuse me.

1:38:39 Nobody

1:38:41 That one's That one's straight out about

1:38:43 500 ft.

1:38:45 Way foul, though. It would have landed

1:38:46 at the fire station across the street.

1:38:48 That one will go about

1:38:50 90 ft. Heard a big yell from Chayito in

1:38:53 the box down there.

1:38:57 Just way foul, yet again. Yes.

1:39:00 Touch the moon. 1-2.

1:39:06 It's a good pitch. It was a good pitch.

1:39:07 >> Good pitch, Zach. Now it's officially

1:39:09 1-2.

1:39:11 JOVAN BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK

1:39:14 KS. SO, HE GIVES UP THE SOLO SHOT, but

1:39:17 then Jovan Ray comes back with three

1:39:19 straight strikeouts. And from Baby G to

1:39:23 one of his roommates. GUESS WHO'S

1:39:25 [screaming] BACK? IT'S ROD FRANKLIN WITH

1:39:27 MADDIE WARREN.

1:39:29 ROD Franklin Jr., we have missed you so

1:39:31 much out on this field. But, how good

1:39:32 has it been to watch your boys play?

1:39:34 >> It's a blessing, man. Them boys are

1:39:35 raking. They're doing everything at a

1:39:37 110% so, I'm proud of them. I think you

1:39:39 you wanted to go talk to a couple of

1:39:40 them, huh? All right, it away.

1:39:44 All right, y'all come with me. Come with

1:39:45 me. Come with me.

1:39:46 Oh, we bay. We bay.

1:39:48 I'm on the mic, my boy.

1:39:50 It's a beautiful day out here right now.

1:39:52 The boys are down. What are we down?

1:39:54 We're down. We're down one?

1:39:55 >> We're down one. We're down one. What you

1:39:57 What you got to What you got to tell

1:39:58 them? However,

1:39:59 we we have a good offense.

1:40:00 >> We have a good offense. We have a good

1:40:01 offense. We have a good offense. All

1:40:02 right. Next. Next. Next. BK.

1:40:05 What's No, what?

1:40:08 Sweet nuts and M&M's. All right. All

1:40:09 right. All right. All right. How they

1:40:11 taste? How they taste?

1:40:18 WE WE WE GOT A GOOD OFFENSE. WE HAVE A

1:40:20 GOOD OFFENSE. We have a good offense.

1:40:22 You heard it again. AT AT.

1:40:25 The hair is green. The hair is green.

1:40:27 What you think about this game right

1:40:28 now, man?

1:40:29 You know, the boys were swinging it

1:40:32 decent.

1:40:33 You know, this this is our game to win.

1:40:35 >> Yes. Right. You know, Right. Right. it

1:40:37 it it We have a good offense. We have a

1:40:39 good offense. Another one. Hey, I ain't

1:40:41 going to lie. This mic is heavy. THIS

1:40:43 MIC IS CRAZY.

1:40:44 OH, LOOK WHO IT IS. DEAR. DEAR. DEAR.

1:40:48 DEAR.

1:40:48 >> Ron D M C, man. Dear man. That's it.

1:40:51 That's it. That's it.

1:40:52 Hey, you did a great job. You I think

1:40:54 you're taking my job a little bit, but

1:40:56 hey, you nailed it. The boys are raving

1:40:58 at you from the booth. This guy, get him

1:41:00 on a mic more often. Come on.

1:41:02 >> I'm trying, but technology seems TO WANT

1:41:04 TO FIGHT AGAINST US RIGHT NOW. Why he

1:41:06 got bunny ears on? Yeah, why does he got

1:41:08 What that mean?

1:41:10 Matty. Matty, what did he Matty. Matty,

1:41:13 why has he got bunny ears on? WHY DOES

1:41:14 HE HAVE BUNNY ears on? Text me the

1:41:16 answer. Yeah, we just We got to know the

1:41:18 answer to that.

1:41:18 >> I can't hear you. Just text me the

1:41:20 answer. You got it.

1:41:21 >> Someone's waving at Oh, Darian McDowell.

1:41:23 Hey, bud. How you feeling down there?

1:41:25 TRIPPY.

1:41:27 BK. [laughter]

1:41:29 BUT BUT RON FRANKLIN JR. had bunny ears

1:41:31 on. He did. Yeah, he had That was

1:41:32 incredible. I think involuntarily had

1:41:34 bunny ears on, but we played

1:41:35 nonetheless.

1:41:36 >> Happy Easter. Kyle Martin home run

1:41:37 there. From the top of the fifth inning.

1:41:39 >> Jimmy

1:41:39 >> Lewis always look so upset?

1:41:42 Smile, man.

1:41:44 We're playing banana ball. Kyle Martin

1:41:45 that home run there in the top of the

1:41:46 fifth. Now chance for Christian Davis

1:41:49 turn the third point of the night for

1:41:51 the Texas Tailgaters. Also important to

1:41:53 note here, Zach. Trick play battle. The

1:41:55 Firefighters lead it four to two here.

1:41:58 Four to two. So again, that equalizer

1:42:00 point as we stand right now will not

1:42:02 come into play for the Tailgaters as we

1:42:03 have a ball and a strike here against

1:42:06 Lamar Sparks.

1:42:10 Lamar Sparks is easily a kind of player

1:42:12 who can tie the frame up

1:42:15 with one swing of the AB. We saw it

1:42:18 in Albuquerque. He hit a home run that

1:42:19 still hasn't landed. At this point it

1:42:21 might be at the North Pole.

1:42:24 That one going to Antarctica.

1:42:27 South.

1:42:28 Trimble, but also the direction.

1:42:34 Two-two. Lamar.

1:42:36 High into the sky. Sunny giving a chase.

1:42:38 Zach Watson setting up for it. Tip

1:42:41 drill.

1:42:42 Boy, Kyle Martin just racing in the last

1:42:44 second. It'll go down as one. That is

1:42:46 incredible field there from Kyle Martin.

1:42:49 The Tailgaters were trying to set up the

1:42:51 double trick play. Tip it into a hat.

1:42:53 That's why Sunshine had ran all the way

1:42:55 out there. See Sunshine going after it.

1:42:56 Kyle Martin just calls it off. It's more

1:42:58 important to get the singular trick play

1:43:00 in the out there for out number one if

1:43:01 you're the Tailgaters. It's a three-four

1:43:03 trick play battle right now. The

1:43:05 Firefighters

1:43:06 did not win the equalizer point one time

1:43:08 in Scottsdale as D-Mac did not like the

1:43:10 strike call. Seems to be a theme.

1:43:15 D-Mac.

1:43:16 That went high into the sky. CD running

1:43:19 in for it. Taj didn't KNOW WHERE IT WAS

1:43:20 AND CD STILL MADE THE PLAY.

1:43:23 HOW GOOD IS CHRISTIAN DAVIS?

1:43:27 TAJ HAD NO IDEA WHERE IT WAS AT AND CD

1:43:29 SAID, "I got this." Runs all the way in

1:43:32 fighting the lights and the sun. It says

1:43:35 look what I have. Keep on playing that

1:43:37 sweet music CD for out number two.

1:43:39 An update to the most important question

1:43:41 of the day. Why did Ron Franklin have

1:43:42 bunny ears on? Matty Warren saying no

1:43:44 reason for the bunny ears. He was just

1:43:45 and I quote feeling it.

1:43:47 Good.

1:43:48 MASON MAXWELL, HARD HIT. SONNY

1:43:50 [screaming] DIVES OUT. TRICK PLAY. OH,

1:43:52 IT'S A DOUBLE TRICK PLAY. IS THAT THE

1:43:55 PLAY OF THE YEAR? Jonathan Sunshine

1:43:58 Luners lays out but through the legs

1:44:00 bucket throws it to first. Taylor

1:44:03 Justice between the legs bucket.

1:44:06 THAT WAS PSYCHOTIC. THIS IS BANANA BALL.

1:44:12 Bucket bucket. The boys IN BLUE AND

1:44:15 ORANGE LEAD THIS BALLGAME THREE TO ONE.

1:44:19 SUNSHINE DOUBLE TRICK PLAY TO T.J.

1:44:23 LET'S EVADE SOME TAXES.

1:44:25 >> WAY OUT IN CENTER FIELD. Here's Cass.

1:44:29 Ladies and gentlemen, as you all know,

1:44:31 tax season just ended. Now we found

1:44:33 somebody, his name is Colton. He may or

1:44:36 may not have evaded his taxes. Now this

1:44:39 is going to be a race. Colton, you're

1:44:41 going to race around the warning track

1:44:42 and down the first base side. But ladies

1:44:45 and gentlemen, little does Colton know

1:44:47 this is actually a sting operation

1:44:49 because you are racing against the IRS.

1:44:53 He's already going.

1:44:55 He's going.

1:44:57 Is the IRS going to be ABLE TO CATCH UP

1:44:59 TO COLTON?

1:45:00 COLTON, you better run.

1:45:02 EVADE THOSE TAXES.

1:45:05 HE'S RUNNING DOWN THE FIRST base side.

1:45:07 This is going to be a close one.

1:45:10 Will he be able to evade them?

1:45:12 AND THE IRS GOT HIM.

1:45:18 KIDS, let that be a lesson.

1:45:20 You can never outrun the IRS.

1:45:35 >> This might be

1:45:37 one of the coolest plays I have seen in

1:45:40 my time in Banana Ball. Sunshine Looters

1:45:42 diving, then goes between the legs,

1:45:44 Taylor Justice between the legs,

1:45:47 and that was sick.

1:45:49 Sunny has been an absolute fiend in the

1:45:51 field. You see why right there. And

1:45:53 Taylor Justice, way to get the foot

1:45:55 down. From one great fielder to another.

1:45:58 Kaden Peanut Green has slapped a mic on

1:46:00 his chest and put an earpiece in, and

1:46:02 he's waving to me right now. Peanut, how

1:46:04 you doing, brother?

1:46:05 >> What's up, fellas?

1:46:06 >> How you feeling right now? I know it's a

1:46:07 tough one. Here's Divan Ray gets a swing

1:46:09 and miss for strike one.

1:46:11 Yeah, it's a slow start slow start for

1:46:12 the boys, but it's okay. A lot of game

1:46:14 left. You know how Banana Ball is.

1:46:16 Absolutely anything can happen, so.

1:46:18 Still an early contest. Here's that one

1:46:20 goes inside. The strike zone is a

1:46:22 fun, isn't it? Yeah, it's

1:46:25 it's a little tight. It's a little

1:46:26 tight, I will say that. I'm just trying

1:46:28 to set you up on that one. Big swing and

1:46:29 miss from Mac Daddy. All right, you have

1:46:31 statistically been the best hitter in

1:46:33 Banana Ball this year. When I say those

1:46:34 words, what does that do to you? Uh,

1:46:36 it's awesome because Hold on.

1:46:39 Tiny underneath it. ARE YOU GOING TO GET

1:46:42 MASON MAXWELL UNDERNEATH THE LEGS.

1:46:45 >> WE WORK on that, baby.

1:46:46 >> Yeah, you do.

1:46:48 How impressive is Tiny Rijo's been at

1:46:50 second base, Peanut? I mean, that

1:46:51 doesn't look like a rookie to me, does

1:46:53 it?

1:46:53 >> No, it doesn't.

1:46:54 >> he's acting like a vet out here. Dude

1:46:56 can absolutely crush baseballs.

1:46:58 He's just an athlete, man. So can you,

1:47:00 by the way. So, last year Oh, trick play

1:47:03 opportunity? Peanut between the legs.

1:47:05 Oh, you betcha.

1:47:08 Hey, TELL G TO GO FASTER, PEANUT. He

1:47:10 might have a quick inning.

1:47:10 >> Man, I want to talk to y'all, but

1:47:12 >> I do too, man.

1:47:13 >> G, I just can't, you know? Got to make a

1:47:15 play, though. It's the way it goes. Yes,

1:47:16 statistically best hitter in Banana

1:47:18 Ball, like

1:47:20 what what does that do for your

1:47:21 confidence going into a game like this

1:47:23 where you're hitting .469 and getting on

1:47:25 base half the time? I mean, it just it

1:47:27 feels really good, you know? In the off

1:47:28 season you work so hard to try different

1:47:30 things. Come on, Lacy. Logan Lacy

1:47:32 between the legs OVER TO FIRST. THREE

1:47:34 OH, MASON DROPPED IT AT THE LAST SECOND.

1:47:38 He knew that we were on the mic so he

1:47:39 wanted us to keep talking to you, Nut. I

1:47:41 guess so.

1:47:42 But yeah, I know, you work so hard in

1:47:43 the off season and tweak things and to

1:47:45 get ready for the season and to see it

1:47:47 kind of pay off a little bit it's it's

1:47:49 nice. It's definitely nice. Hey, on

1:47:51 Instagram you got something called

1:47:52 Snacking with Peanut. How did this get

1:47:54 started? Uh, I love my food and I love

1:47:57 trying restaurants. I thought it'd be

1:47:58 cool to like bring some teammates along

1:48:00 with me on the road and try some

1:48:01 restaurants. That is ripped to left

1:48:04 field. Noah Bridges, does he have a

1:48:05 trick play in him? Nah, he just catches

1:48:07 it under the basket. Well, hey, when we

1:48:09 go to Richmond I'm your VA guy.

1:48:11 Can we do something? Yeah, yeah, hey,

1:48:13 I'll take you out to dinner. Come on

1:48:14 now. We can make that we can make that

1:48:16 plan.

1:48:16 >> You, Ryan, Johnny, and Javon had like

1:48:18 one of the greatest boys days I've ever

1:48:20 seen at Comets Corner. Hey, I hey, I'm

1:48:22 just trying to take care of the boys,

1:48:23 man. I love those guys. That was that

1:48:25 was incredible. Y'all got smelling nice

1:48:27 and looking good. Peanut, I love you.

1:48:28 Love y'all. You guys are the best.

1:48:29 >> That was well done.

1:48:31 Kayden Green, everybody. Best hitter in

1:48:33 Banana Ball.

1:48:34 One of the best fielders in Banana Ball.

1:48:36 You saw it there. How about Javon Ray?

1:48:38 Outside of one home run, he's been

1:48:40 absolutely fantastic. Brett Lostis,

1:48:42 couple of strike outs

1:48:45 >> [cheering]

1:48:45 >> and a couple of clean frames. And we

1:48:47 talked about it. This is a big one for

1:48:48 Javon Ray's confidence. Tonight

1:48:50 [cheering] with Jared Donaldson having

1:48:51 maybe not his best stuff, you needed an

1:48:53 outing like that from Baby J and boy you

1:48:55 got it. Three strike outs after a home

1:48:57 run and then induced three trick plays

1:49:00 in that last inning. He's got five

1:49:02 strike outs for the game. He's got three

1:49:03 strike outs, has induced five trick

1:49:05 [music] plays behind him thus far. I

1:49:07 mean, the guy that you needed to come in

1:49:08 after your ace Jared Donaldson, I mean,

1:49:11 didn't have his best stuff but a really

1:49:13 good night regardless of any Banana Ball

1:49:14 pitcher. The guy I want to talk about

1:49:16 though is still on the mound here,

1:49:18 Christian Davis. He's going to throw in

1:49:20 the sixth inning. This is the longest

1:49:22 that a Texas Tailgaters pitcher has

1:49:24 thrown ever in the existence of the

1:49:27 Texas Tailgaters. A pitcher has a

1:49:29 starting pitcher I should say has never

1:49:30 went in to the sixth inning. He did give

1:49:32 up that walk-off in the first inning.

1:49:34 Since then, has either pushed or earned

1:49:37 the point thus far for the Texas

1:49:39 Tailgaters. CD's all in warmed up. Noah

1:49:41 Bridges is due up here. Where is he?

1:49:44 He's somewhere IN THE CROWD. NOAH, what

1:49:45 you got?

1:49:55 >> [cheering]

1:50:00 [cheering]

1:50:11 [music]

1:50:21 >> Little Florence and the Machine action

1:50:23 going.

1:50:25 Little flow job.

1:50:28 It's a nice suggestion in [music] OTT by

1:50:30 my friend Quinn.

1:50:32 Mason Maxwell also wanted that one as

1:50:33 well.

1:50:34 Quinn's not paying attention. He's doing

1:50:35 his job.

1:50:36 Mason Excuse me, Noah trying to send a

1:50:39 gift over TO SONNY IN ANOTHER TRIPLE

1:50:41 TRICK PLAY. BOOK IT! BOOK IT! AND JUST

1:50:45 LIKE THAT, WE'RE BACK TIED AT SEVEN

1:50:47 TRICK PLAYS A PIECE.

1:50:49 Jonathan Sunshine Looters, how do you

1:50:51 do? And Mr. Justice for good measure

1:50:54 goes between the legs for out number

1:50:55 one. What a duo they've been on the

1:50:57 right side of the infield tonight.

1:51:00 This guy is insane.

1:51:03 Absolutely insane at second base. What a

1:51:05 treat for the Texas Tailgaters to have

1:51:07 that level of designated fielder.

1:51:10 Steiner Hughes looks at ball one, then

1:51:12 looks at ball two. Four trick plays in

1:51:14 the last two outs here for the Texas

1:51:16 Tailgaters.

1:51:16 >> And one of them will be the most

1:51:17 electric you may ever see in the sport

1:51:19 period.

1:51:28 Into the stands to 2-1 count.

1:51:31 Tiny has been absolutely excellent.

1:51:34 Sends that one to the stars.

1:51:37 If it lands for a hit, it'll be

1:51:38 spectacular. Hit drill. Backwards, Jason

1:51:42 Arnt. Another trick play. Book it. Jason

1:51:45 Arnt, just one trick play in his banana

1:51:47 ball career. And here in the open, he

1:51:49 gives the Tailgaters the trick play lead

1:51:51 yet again. BUT THERE'S A DOG. CHIEF!

1:51:54 CLEAR THE PAINT, EVERYBODY. I GOT THIS.

1:51:58 CHIEF AGAIN GRABS THE BAT.

1:52:00 JUST FOR GOOD MEASURE, MAKE SURE HE'S

1:52:02 GOT IT.

1:52:03 GOOD BOY.

1:52:06 I STILL DON'T THINK HE LIKES the taste

1:52:07 of pine tar.

1:52:07 >> I I don't blame him. I wouldn't either

1:52:10 as Dalton Cornett looks at a ball. He is

1:52:12 still not technically dropped a bat at

1:52:14 all this season.

1:52:16 He's had a couple close calls. He's had

1:52:18 a couple where maybe he tasted the pine

1:52:19 tar and said, "Eh."

1:52:20 But he's battled through. That is a hard

1:52:22 foul from DC3. We have a lot of Book It

1:52:25 counts going on in the chat tonight.

1:52:26 Apparently, that was the 25th time I've

1:52:28 said it. So, thank you to all those

1:52:31 Tonight? Apparently. I I mean, I

1:52:33 obviously haven't kept count, but the

1:52:34 chat is keeping count.

1:52:35 >> When in

1:52:36 There's only been eight trick plays for

1:52:37 the Texas Tailgaters. I You know, how do

1:52:39 we get 25 out of that?

1:52:41 >> I trust Boston fan 17. I really do. Oh,

1:52:43 man.

1:52:44 Beefy boy is squatting one of the

1:52:46 two-steppers. DC3

1:52:49 puts that one

1:52:51 over top the canopy and fell.

1:52:53 Das Porter just went down in the

1:52:55 firefighters' dugout as he reappears.

1:53:00 Trying to run into the Bananas' locker

1:53:02 room.

1:53:08 To a 2-2 count, two away.

1:53:10 To 3-1 Tailgaters lead. The Firefighters

1:53:13 got three hits in the first inning and

1:53:14 since then have been limited to one.

1:53:17 Boy, that was a frame job and a half

1:53:18 from Tosh Porter. But it was up. It was

1:53:20 a great call there. Biggest pitch of the

1:53:22 ball game to this point from CD.

1:53:24 3-2 DC3 right back up the middle. ZACK

1:53:27 WATSON WAS WAY IN. THAT'LL GO TO THE

1:53:29 TRACK. Easy double for DC3.

1:53:33 Nope, he's going to stop himself right

1:53:34 there. Maybe thought about a triple, but

1:53:36 instead will plant at second. And just

1:53:38 like that, the Firefighters have a

1:53:40 runner in scoring position, the inning

1:53:41 winning run in scoring position.

1:53:43 >> And you know what, something that the

1:53:44 Indianapolis Clowns actually don't do.

1:53:46 They have been staying away from that

1:53:47 ball four sprint defense because of

1:53:49 situations like that, balls hit to the

1:53:51 track. So it's interesting to see how

1:53:53 your defense can change here in Banana

1:53:54 Ball right there. Ball four sprint

1:53:56 defense, Zack Watson gets burned by that

1:53:58 double. [music] And it certainly helps

1:53:59 when you got a guy like Jackie Bradley

1:54:00 Jr. back there who can move like he does

1:54:02 to not have to play him fully back. Zack

1:54:04 Watson, no slow slouch of his own,

1:54:06 right? But still [music] way in for the

1:54:08 ball four sprint defense. Logan Lacey a

1:54:10 1-1 count.

1:54:12 Big AP for his confidence tonight.

1:54:14 And he skies it.

1:54:16 Where will it land? Will it land? Sunny

1:54:18 underneath. Looking, tip drill.

1:54:22 Bucket! Bucket! Sunshine! Jordan Hussey!

1:54:27 THAT'S A FIVE TRICK PLAY INNING FOR THE

1:54:30 TEXAS TAILGATERS.

1:54:32 ARE YOU SERIOUS? THE LEAGUE LEADER IN

1:54:35 TRICK PLAYS, AND JORDAN HUSSEY AND

1:54:37 JONATHAN SUNSHINE LEADERS COME UP CLUTCH

1:54:40 YET AGAIN FOR THE TEXAS TAILGATERS. 3-1

1:54:43 after six, 10-7 in the trick play

1:54:46 battle. And let's send it down to our

1:54:47 field, to our good friend Nate Bilgory.

1:54:50 HOLY MOLY, BRETT, FIRE me up. In fact,

1:54:53 can I get a pulse check? The atmosphere

1:54:55 in Grayson Stadium, it's absolutely

1:54:58 electric. The inaugural Banana Ball

1:55:00 Open, we're creating a playoff

1:55:01 atmosphere in the regular season.

1:55:03 Please, Morgan, tell me how special it

1:55:05 is to be here for this moment.

1:55:07 >> It's so exciting. It's the first year of

1:55:08 this and I'm so excited. I didn't know

1:55:10 who was coming and I'm just I'm excited

1:55:12 to be here.

1:55:12 >> Oh my god, we're so excited.

1:55:19 so much.

1:55:20 >> [cheering]

1:55:22 >> Tip.

1:55:28 Bill.

1:55:29 Our friend Nate Bilgray is having some

1:55:32 tremendous fun down there, but Nate

1:55:34 Bilgray, I'm sorry, you've

1:55:36 you've been bitten by the technical

1:55:37 difficulties monster.

1:55:39 I think I just heard him again.

1:55:43 Jovan Ray.

1:55:45 Back out on the bump here at beautiful

1:55:47 Grayson Stadium, Zack Staten.

1:55:49 And again, it's been the battle of the

1:55:51 arms, really. There's a trio of arms

1:55:53 that we've seen here tonight. He's come

1:55:54 in on the back end of Jared Donaldson.

1:55:56 The only run he gave up ended up being a

1:55:57 point. It was that solo shot from Kyle

1:55:59 Martin and then we've seen what

1:56:00 Christian Davis has done through six

1:56:02 frames thus far. Allowed that walk-off

1:56:04 back in the first, but since [music]

1:56:05 then has gotten the Tailgaters clean. No

1:56:07 more runs for the Firefighters. It seems

1:56:10 like now at the Trick-Play battle, 10-7,

1:56:12 we're in the seventh inning. You're

1:56:14 trailing by two if you're the

1:56:15 Firefighters. This is [music] going to

1:56:16 be a massive inning again for Jovan Ray,

1:56:18 who's been really, really strong. Three

1:56:20 strikeouts, five trick plays induced

1:56:22 thus far and he's facing the top of the

1:56:23 order here for the Tailgaters. This is

1:56:25 the longest Jovan has gone since he went

1:56:27 three innings last year

1:56:29 >> [music]

1:56:29 >> in Richmond.

1:56:31 Nick Lopez to the fans. Anybody catch

1:56:34 it? Nah.

1:56:37 I saw Donny Allen down there and I just

1:56:39 broke into my Australian accent for just

1:56:41 a moment. Nah.

1:56:43 Big swing and miss for Lopi.

1:56:49 Nick Lopez tonight, a couple of ball

1:56:50 four sprints, reached on a mis-trick

1:56:51 play. And that one into the dirt. Jovan

1:56:54 trying to get him to swing.

1:56:55 I love this aesthetic from Lopi tonight.

1:56:57 The arm sleeve, first time he's ever

1:56:59 done that in his banana ball career as

1:57:00 well.

1:57:01 >> Really? That's a That's a qualitative

1:57:03 stat. I'm sorry, Josh Zalewski, but I

1:57:05 I'm a big fashion guy, as y'all know.

1:57:07 So, I mean, we we had to rock with that.

1:57:08 >> Hey, the Firefighters have won two games

1:57:10 in these neon jerseys this year. They

1:57:11 did not win one

1:57:13 last year, and that's the third ball for

1:57:15 Sprint of the evening

1:57:18 for the lead-off hitter for the Texas

1:57:19 Tailgaters. And boy, it doesn't look

1:57:21 like this is his first time doing this

1:57:22 thing. You want to talk about uniforms?

1:57:25 Zack Staten. Hello. The Tailgaters are

1:57:26 three and one in these wind stripes so

1:57:28 far in 2026.

1:57:30 Wind stripes. Just want to reiterate

1:57:32 that. Not pinstripes, windy stripes. I

1:57:34 hear that. Sir, come, brother.

1:57:37 He had

1:57:38 He had an RBI ball for Sprint back in

1:57:40 the third inning. What was your nickname

1:57:42 in college, by the way?

1:57:45 I don't What What was it, Zack Staten? I

1:57:47 had You told me it was Brother Man. It

1:57:49 was Yeah. True story. So, all right,

1:57:51 let's pull the curtain back.

1:57:52 >> that I caught you off guard with that.

1:57:54 It's like I A lot of people call me a

1:57:55 lot of things I cannot say on this

1:57:56 broadcast. Good nickname. They'll check

1:57:59 on Lopey. But, they called me Brother

1:58:01 Man in college. I was texting with Jose

1:58:03 Brother Gonzalez the other day. It

1:58:04 auto-corrected to Brother Man, which is

1:58:06 why Zack Staten knows that. That's good

1:58:08 stuff. That's good. Brett Lotito was

1:58:09 clearly referring to himself in third

1:58:11 person. That's why that auto-corrected.

1:58:13 I was referring to brother who's at the

1:58:15 dish, and he's not going to be at the

1:58:17 dish for much longer. Swing and strike

1:58:18 three. Jovan Reyes' fourth K of the

1:58:21 ballgame, and he is locked and loaded

1:58:24 tonight.

1:58:27 Jovan, if you've noticed, every single

1:58:29 one of these strikeout has been a

1:58:31 fastball elevated out of his zone. He's

1:58:32 tunneling that so well with that big

1:58:34 Uncle Charlie early in counts. They're

1:58:36 looking for him to spin there in two

1:58:37 strikes, and he's just elevating that

1:58:39 that fastball. The guy who took him deep

1:58:41 in his first, or excuse me, the first

1:58:43 time he faced him here tonight, Kyle

1:58:44 Martin.

1:58:45 One of the things Jovan and I have

1:58:46 talked about on what he wants to work on

1:58:48 this year is working more up in the zone

1:58:49 as that one sent over to Bart

1:58:52 and Ninja who couldn't come up with it.

1:58:54 Ben Baum has been

1:58:56 Excuse me, Zack. Ben Baum getting active

1:58:58 out there in the bullpen. Brett Sanchez

1:59:00 and Reese Miller were up and active in

1:59:01 the Tailgaters bullpen. We'll see if

1:59:03 they'll go away from CD or not.

1:59:05 What a night this has been for Kyle

1:59:07 Martin. Armando Becerra somehow able to

1:59:09 track that one down. It'll get thrown in

1:59:12 and cut off by Peanut. But the runner

1:59:14 gets on over to third. It's Nick Lopez.

1:59:15 Runners on the corners, one away. And

1:59:17 Kyle Martin just continues to eat it up

1:59:19 tonight.

1:59:20 Yeah, K Mart joins the guy coming up to

1:59:21 the dish as the only two Tailgaters with

1:59:23 multi-hit ballgames. Jordan Barth has a

1:59:26 couple of singles on his regiment thus

1:59:28 far. Runners on the corners, a big

1:59:30 opportunity here for JB.

1:59:35 Barth has a couple of singles and then a

1:59:36 strikeout.

1:59:38 He's one of the guys that has been

1:59:40 placed back down thanks to that elevated

1:59:42 fastball from Baby G.

1:59:44 He's talked about wanting to work way

1:59:46 higher up in the zone this year. When he

1:59:48 goes down,

1:59:49 it looks a little something like that as

1:59:50 EJ

1:59:52 fakes the throw down to second and then

1:59:54 hurls it back over to Baby G.

1:59:55 >> love to our catchers, man. Eric Jones

1:59:56 Jr. and Taj Porter have done a great job

1:59:58 back there tonight being brick walls.

2:00:00 Both of them haven't let anything get

2:00:02 too far away.

2:00:04 2-0.

2:00:05 Barth, Peanut.

2:00:07 Over to second, IN BETWEEN THE LEGS, IN

2:00:10 TIME FOR THE DOUBLE PLAY, and it's a

2:00:11 clean frame again for Javan Ray. Three

2:00:15 scoreless frames, only one run of damage

2:00:17 done against him.

2:00:19 Huge innings for Baby G

2:00:22 as we start road tripping with our

2:00:24 families.

2:00:29 Fans way out in center field, here's

2:00:31 Garrett Rhinestone Lampert.

2:00:36 Fans, Banana Ball is going all over the

2:00:38 country in 2026, and a lot of our fans

2:00:41 are hitting the road to travel right

2:00:42 along with us. So, we're about to see if

2:00:44 these two families have what it takes to

2:00:46 live life out on the road. Down here in

2:00:47 Center Field of Dreams, I've got the

2:00:49 Griffin family and I got the Massey

2:00:51 family. It's going to be up to them to

2:00:52 roll these tires all the way across that

2:00:55 finish line, but here's the thing,

2:00:56 [cheering]

2:00:57 these tires won't be empty. No, because

2:00:59 the dad of each family will be riding

2:01:02 inside the tire.

2:01:05 That's right. Dads, go ahead and get

2:01:07 inside those tires. Savannah, it's time

2:01:09 for a family road trip.

2:01:13 The dads are locked in. We're all gassed

2:01:15 up, ready to go and we start in 3 2 1

2:01:19 go.

2:01:21 And those tires are off. They're moving.

2:01:23 How fast can you go?

2:01:26 Up and over, up and over, more crammed

2:01:29 than the middle of a minivan. The Massey

2:01:31 family out to an early lead. The Griffin

2:01:33 family not far behind.

2:01:36 They're taking the exit at second base.

2:01:39 They're right there.

2:01:43 OH, A LITTLE CRASH. Hope you have that

2:01:45 insurance.

2:01:46 It's time for the last LEG OF THE TRIP.

2:01:48 MR. MASSEY MAKING THE MOVE.

2:01:52 CAN HE GET ACROSS THE FINISH LINE? AND

2:01:54 THERE IT IS. MASSEY FAMILY ROAD TRIP.

2:01:59 WHAT HAPPENS WHEN you put a beefy boy,

2:02:02 rhinestone, and a couple tires? That's

2:02:05 That's what happens with your family

2:02:07 road trip. I know a guy who's won on a

2:02:08 couple family road trip. He's now one of

2:02:09 them up here for the Texas Tailgaters,

2:02:11 my good friend Brett Sanchez. He has

2:02:14 been absolutely electric in his rookie

2:02:16 campaign for the Texas Tailgaters. If

2:02:18 you remember, he had a couple

2:02:19 appearances for the Visitors last

2:02:20 summer, but so far this season, Brett

2:02:22 Sanchez is not a guy that is going to

2:02:25 get a lot of strike outs, so he says. 14

2:02:28 strike outs in 14 and a third innings

2:02:29 pitched, and that ERA so beautiful.

2:02:31 2.51.

2:02:34 He had a 10 and third scoreless innings

2:02:36 Excuse me. What? He had a 10 and third

2:02:38 consecutive scoreless innings pitched,

2:02:41 and that was rolling last week in at

2:02:42 UNC, but trying to throw up a scoreless

2:02:44 frame right here in the bottom of the

2:02:44 seventh.

2:02:45 >> [music]

2:02:45 >> This dude will shove his butt into the

2:02:47 air if he gets a strikeout.

2:02:48 >> Okay.

2:02:50 We call it the stank stank cell here,

2:02:52 and by we, I mean Brett Loftis. Thank

2:02:53 you. Correct. Thank you. Thank you. Eric

2:02:56 Jones Jr. one for two on the night. His

2:02:59 one hit, a walk-off single in the first.

2:03:01 After that, it's been real silent for

2:03:02 these bats for the Firefighters. Still a

2:03:04 ton of time to get back into this one as

2:03:06 EJ [music] skies this one up. Lot of

2:03:08 soft contact and high contact. Sonny, K

2:03:11 Mart, little missed. CONFUSION AND THAT

2:03:13 BALL GETS AWAY.

2:03:15 EJ WILL SLIDE INTO SECOND SAFELY, AND HE

2:03:17 THOUGHT ABOUT going to third. Jordan

2:03:18 Bartha is there.

2:03:21 That'll be an interesting scoring

2:03:22 decision there.

2:03:24 As it'll be

2:03:29 It'll be an E9.

2:03:30 So, it was Kyle Martin there, which

2:03:33 allows a two-bag error, and this is a

2:03:35 big inning-winning run now in form of

2:03:37 Smoke Tremble at second.

2:03:39 >> Man, why y'all always try to blame the

2:03:40 30-year-olds here?

2:03:42 Something I've been dealing with all my

2:03:43 time here. Everybody calls me old Huh?

2:03:46 cuz I'm 31. I don't What do you want me

2:03:48 to do? Kyle Martin is 30 years old. You

2:03:50 don't have to blame him for everything.

2:03:51 He's He's 33, actually.

2:03:53 >> Yep. Yeah, still 30.

2:03:55 Mondo sent that one into the inflatables

2:03:57 out there. So, Smoke South Tremble is

2:03:59 out there

2:04:00 as the designated runner. Mondo, high

2:04:03 underneath that one, but will go to the

2:04:05 bar in the open seating. Just got a

2:04:07 little PTSD [music] to Armando Baceta

2:04:09 going Yaya last year in game one of the

2:04:12 playoffs when he was a Party Animal

2:04:14 against these Texas Tailgaters. He

2:04:15 played for the Party Animals?

2:04:17 Yep. He was really good. Stunning.

2:04:21 That's a good pitch from Brett Sanchez.

2:04:24 Mondo did well to stop the swing. It's a

2:04:26 2-2 count with a runner on second.

2:04:29 And again, he'll stay alive. Fouls it

2:04:31 away into the merch stands.

2:04:34 Brett Sanchez is doing the chicken

2:04:35 dance.

2:04:37 He's psyched out of his brains. [music]

2:04:39 Doing his thing.

2:04:42 We'll try the 2-2 again.

2:04:44 Mondo, tough one. Into left field,

2:04:47 fights it off. South [music] Trimble

2:04:48 will be held at third. Runners on the

2:04:49 corners and absolutely nobody away.

2:04:53 Nice piece of lumber laid down there for

2:04:55 Armando Becerra.

2:04:57 You know, interesting to see

2:05:00 South Trimble being held there.

2:05:02 Jason Arnold, solid arm out in left. And

2:05:05 now, with this guy coming up to the

2:05:07 dish, you know why you hold him? Infield

2:05:08 in for Peanut.

2:05:11 Peanut can just get something

2:05:14 into the outfield it would do the job.

2:05:15 That will not do it. That's one of those

2:05:17 balls that Mark Smith was catching in

2:05:18 the Geico commercial. We seen it at the

2:05:20 top of the show last week in Jordan

2:05:22 Hussey getting that four force out at

2:05:24 the plate against the Bananas and UNC.

2:05:25 It's the same situation. Almost. Bases

2:05:29 were loaded for the Bananas when we got

2:05:30 the force at home. Right here I I had I

2:05:32 had to be expected to see Jordan Hussey

2:05:34 come home if a ground ball's hit to him

2:05:35 on 0-2.

2:05:37 0-2 count. Boy, Peanut thought about it

2:05:39 at the last second, held up.

2:05:42 It's a tough one. Just up and out of the

2:05:43 zone there. Good call from Trey Hudson.

2:05:45 1-2.

2:05:47 Peanut with a runner going. Into the

2:05:48 seats. Nobody there. Somebody had their

2:05:51 back turned

2:05:53 and almost got hit with the foul ball.

2:05:54 Instead they won't.

2:05:55 Armando trying to sell he was stealing

2:05:57 in tape second. [laughter]

2:05:59 Doesn't matter, Armando. It was a foul

2:06:01 ball. That was Coy.

2:06:03 It didn't matter, but I like the action

2:06:05 job there.

2:06:06 Armando's business.

2:06:09 We'll try the 1-2 again and Peanut's

2:06:10 swinging out of his shoes. BRETT, WHAT

2:06:12 IS IT?

2:06:13 Thank you. Thank you. THANK YOU. THAT'S

2:06:16 WHY THEY CALL HIM STANK STANK. THE silly

2:06:19 and the disgusting Uncle Charlie

2:06:21 curveball to get out number one here in

2:06:23 the bottom of the seventh. Now you're

2:06:24 just a double play away from putting up

2:06:27 a scoreless frame.

2:06:29 Lamar Sparks has not grounded out, but

2:06:32 has not been able to get aboard.

2:06:34 His first hit of the night would be

2:06:36 marvelous here for the Firefighters.

2:06:39 Brett Sanchez is dancing. He's checking

2:06:41 over at first, and he's throwing.

2:06:43 Armando going to steal, and a perfect

2:06:45 job there from Tosh Porter. And that's

2:06:46 important. Armando swiping second there.

2:06:49 Infield still playing in here for the

2:06:52 Tailgaters.

2:06:55 Outside, ball two.

2:07:00 Steal a second, no double play in place.

2:07:03 That's a chopper, AND THAT'S WHY THAT

2:07:05 STEAL IS SO IMPORTANT. SMOKE SLIDES

2:07:08 HOME, AND LAMAR BATS ONE IN IN FIELD,

2:07:11 and just like that, it's a one-point

2:07:13 ball game. Firefighters score for the

2:07:15 first time since the FIRST INNING. IT'S

2:07:17 CHIEF! [screaming]

2:07:20 WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE?

2:07:21 >> WHAT THE DOG DOING?

2:07:28 I don't think Chief knows what's going

2:07:30 on.

2:07:30 >> Done.

2:07:34 >> [laughter]

2:07:40 >> I don't think Chief knows what happened

2:07:42 there. But, you know what? That's all

2:07:43 right. It's good content. Again, shall I

2:07:45 pose? What the dog doing?

2:07:48 >> [laughter]

2:07:48 >> I don't think he knew what he was doing.

2:07:50 You know what I do know? Trick plays.

2:07:52 >> Trick plays, trick plays, trick plays.

2:07:53 The Texas Tailgaters lead that category

2:07:55 10 to 8 so far tonight. And it's been

2:07:59 all about the middle infield, really.

2:08:00 Kaden Peanut Green has led the charge

2:08:02 here for the Firefighters. On the other

2:08:04 side has been Sunshine and Jordan

2:08:06 Huseman for the Texas Tailgaters. Again,

2:08:08 the equalizer point as we currently

2:08:10 stand should come into play tonight.

2:08:12 Heading into the final inning, if the

2:08:13 away team has more trick plays, they

2:08:15 will win the equalizer [music] point.

2:08:17 And right now, you can see it on the

2:08:18 bottom right-hand corner of your screen,

2:08:20 the Tailgaters, as the away team, lead

2:08:22 that trick play battle 10 to 8. However,

2:08:24 the Firefighters are going [music] to

2:08:25 try and get some more off the back of

2:08:27 their All-Star in the 2025 pitcher of

2:08:30 the year. Two things I want to mention.

2:08:32 Number one, because the Firefighters

2:08:34 work so quickly, Tailgaters never got a

2:08:36 shot to add to that trick play lead. So,

2:08:37 the Firefighters got a shot here in the

2:08:40 top half of the eighth. And the reason

2:08:41 why is because this man thinks strike

2:08:43 outs are overrated. Ben Dunn III, the

2:08:46 reigning pitcher of the year,

2:08:48 is locked and loaded. Started out the

2:08:50 year a little slow out of the gates with

2:08:52 the Loco Beach Coconuts at Florida

2:08:53 State, gave up three points in the top

2:08:56 of the ninth. They ended up losing the

2:08:57 game. Since then, he's been steady. He's

2:08:59 been that [music] Ben Dunn that we know

2:09:01 so well as Taj Porter

2:09:03 skies that one up. Tiny underneath. They

2:09:05 need the trick plays.

2:09:07 Tip drill. PEANUT. RIGHT BEHIND THE BACK

2:09:10 AND WE'RE TIED IN THE EQUALIZER POINTS.

2:09:14 BIG ONE FROM PEANUT.

2:09:16 Special special stuff from that middle

2:09:18 infield. We just talked about it, Zach

2:09:20 Staten. It's been the middle infields

2:09:22 who have been powering trick plays here

2:09:23 tonight. And like you just said, a

2:09:25 double to tie us back up at 10 a piece.

2:09:27 >> Young Nuts got five trick plays tonight.

2:09:30 What's that mean?

2:09:31 Means he's got five trick plays tonight.

2:09:34 You told me a story. You didn't make

2:09:36 that up. Who who called him that

2:09:37 originally?

2:09:37 >> It was his father. Good.

2:09:39 >> I heard him say call him Nut or Young

2:09:40 Nut, one of the two.

2:09:42 Either way, it's a strike

2:09:44 on Taylor Justice

2:09:46 who is smacking his chest.

2:09:52 O2 count.

2:09:53 TJ

2:09:55 into the seats.

2:09:57 So, again, it's a 10 10 10 count in the

2:10:00 trick plays. If it stays this way, the

2:10:02 equalizer points denied. All the

2:10:04 Firefighters have to do is ensure the

2:10:06 Texas Tailgaters don't have more trick

2:10:08 plays in them. If it lands in a tie,

2:10:11 that means the equalizer point is denied

2:10:13 as that is about as good of a frame job

2:10:15 from Eric Jones Jr. as you could find.

2:10:19 May not have even been a frame job. 2-2.

2:10:23 Taylor Justice smacking his chest,

2:10:25 battling back.

2:10:27 An absolutely scorching hot bat for the

2:10:29 Texas Tailgaters is going back up to us.

2:10:34 I just heard that bounce off of I did.

2:10:36 We probably [music] could have called

2:10:37 that if there was no roof. If the window

2:10:39 was open, we might have had a shot to

2:10:40 like launch Chris Sacci out here and

2:10:42 like try to like lawn dart him into that

2:10:44 one, but he would have been hurt.

2:10:46 3-2.

2:10:48 TJ Peanut between THE LEGS OVER TO MASON

2:10:52 AND THE FIREFIGHTERS take the lead in

2:10:53 the trick play column. THE SIXTH TRICK

2:10:56 PLAY OUT for Peanut. It's important for

2:10:59 the Firefighters to apply this pressure

2:11:01 because the Tailgaters still have an

2:11:02 opportunity to get those three outs in

2:11:04 the bottom of the eighth, but right now

2:11:06 retaking that trick play battle applies

2:11:08 all the pressure in the world as now

2:11:10 it's time for Mac Danford.

2:11:12 And if you're Mac,

2:11:14 you could do the hack here and just try

2:11:15 to strike out.

2:11:16 >> think about it. I mean, that's that's

2:11:18 it's a very good point, Zach. You don't

2:11:19 want to put another ball in play, but

2:11:21 Ben Dumm if he gets the two strikes

2:11:22 could attempt the trick play strike out.

2:11:25 If he throws a trick pitch and gets the

2:11:26 strike [music] out, he he and the

2:11:28 Firefighters will be awarded a trick

2:11:29 play. Right now 2-1. That handstand

2:11:31 pitch would be a thing of beauty as that

2:11:33 one just sneaks on the outside part of

2:11:35 the black to 2-2 count.

2:11:40 AND A STRIKEOUT! MAC DANFORD SWINGING

2:11:43 OUT OF HIS SHOES. BEN DUMM IS FIRED UP,

2:11:46 PUN INTENDED. 11-10 THE TRICK PLAY

2:11:49 COLUMN AND IT'S A ONE-POINT game going

2:11:52 into the bottom of the eighth. Kaz

2:11:54 Eagan's ON THE FIELD, YOU CAN'T MISS HIM

2:11:55 CUZ HE'S TALL

2:11:57 and you couldn't miss that one for Ben

2:11:58 Dumm either. Fold Mac Danford and the

2:12:01 Firefighters have a shot in the bottom

2:12:02 half after we sing about home.

2:12:13 Oh,

2:12:15 take me home.

2:12:56 >> [music]

2:13:23 >> Silvana, you are absolutely amazing.

2:13:26 Now, keep up the energy and let's GO,

2:13:28 FIREFIGHTERS!

2:13:43 This is drama.

2:13:45 This is opportunity. This is banana

2:13:47 ball. One-point game going to the bottom

2:13:50 of the eighth and the trick play column

2:13:52 is separated by one trick play. Again,

2:13:55 here's why that's so important. The

2:13:56 equalizer point introduced full-time

2:13:58 this year. If the Texas Tailgaters get

2:14:00 two trick plays in the bottom of this

2:14:02 eighth, they're going to have a 4-2

2:14:04 lead. If the Firefighters can find a way

2:14:06 to [music] limit the trick plays or walk

2:14:08 it off without allowing more than two,

2:14:10 they're going to get that equalizer

2:14:12 point tonight. Darian McDowell

2:14:15 is in the on-deck circle.

2:14:17 Likely to hit in the place of Dakota

2:14:18 McFadden. Important to note, D-Mac,

2:14:21 Dakota McFadden, was listed as the right

2:14:23 fielder tonight. South Trimble has been

2:14:25 playing right field the whole evening.

2:14:27 That does not mess with the designated

2:14:29 fielder. So, this is no different than a

2:14:30 pinch hitter. Is Darian McDowell is

2:14:31 going to lead off the inning. And again,

2:14:33 the Tailgaters need two trick plays, as

2:14:35 you eloquently put there, Zack Staten,

2:14:37 to win this equalizer point. Very

2:14:38 important right now.

2:14:40 >> Yep. Because this ball game is only

2:14:41 separated by one point, three to two

2:14:43 here at historic Grayson Stadium. Where

2:14:45 what does it matter? Well, the winner of

2:14:46 this ball game goes on to play the

2:14:48 Savannah Bananas in a best-of-two series

2:14:50 tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m., Sunday

2:14:52 afternoon at 1:00 to clinch a playoff

2:14:54 spot in the inaugural Banana Ball

2:14:56 Championship League playoffs in October.

2:14:58 Darian McDowell on the first pitch he

2:14:59 saw sends it to the fans.

2:15:03 And nobody catches it.

2:15:04 So, we play on. And ironically enough,

2:15:06 the one time you don't want a fan-caught

2:15:08 foul ball or strikeout for these

2:15:09 Tailgaters. This one goes all the way to

2:15:11 the backstop. If that was anybody with a

2:15:13 little bit of quicker speed, that might

2:15:14 have been a steal of first base. Taj had

2:15:16 a beat on it, though.

2:15:17 So, Darian McDowell, who came into the

2:15:19 sport with the name D-Mac, stays in.

2:15:21 >> I think that goes back to what Biko and

2:15:22 Josh were talking about last night, a

2:15:23 little bit of being a rookie, a little

2:15:25 bit of wanting to hit. This is his first

2:15:26 plate appearance of the evening.

2:15:28 Two outside, Brett Sanchez

2:15:31 looking at a 2-1 count.

2:15:34 McDowell over to J5, BETWEEN THE LEGS,

2:15:37 AND IT'S THE EQUALIZER POINT FOR THE

2:15:40 TAILGATERS! DOUBLE TRICK PLAY!

2:15:42 >> BOOK IT!

2:15:43 AND JUST LIKE THAT, THE TEXAS

2:15:46 TAILGATERS, OFF THE BACKS OF THE TEXAS

2:15:48 KID AND TAYLOR JUSTICE, WIN THE

2:15:51 EQUALIZER POINT.

2:15:53 SO, now it is vitally important

2:15:56 for the Firefighters, as you see the

2:15:57 trick play count on the score bug. The

2:16:00 Firefighters are going to have to find a

2:16:02 way to get a point here.

2:16:03 Absolutely need one.

2:16:06 Mason Maxwell swings and misses.

2:16:11 Bret Sanchez working awfully fast as

2:16:13 that one's foul. Still very important

2:16:15 get these next two outs. Yes, the

2:16:16 equalizer points big. Yes, the

2:16:17 Tailgaters have clinched that lead this

2:16:19 ballgame 4-2. Still important get two

2:16:21 more outs and put yourselves in the

2:16:23 ninth inning up by two. That is

2:16:24 paramount here in Banana Ball.

2:16:27 Maxwell lifts it up left center field.

2:16:29 Jason Art looking for it. Does he know

2:16:31 he doesn't need the trick play? You bet

2:16:32 he does. He sure does. You know why? I

2:16:34 talked to Joe Miceli and told him we

2:16:36 just need two of them here at the top of

2:16:38 this inning. I see a hood lighting her

2:16:40 out, Zack Staten.

2:16:42 Going to use it now.

2:16:43 >> Ladies and gentlemen, the Firefighters

2:16:45 are invoking the golden batter rule.

2:16:48 Hitting in the place of Noah Bridges

2:16:51 DC3,

2:16:54 DALTON

2:16:56 CORNETT.

2:16:58 >> [cheering]

2:16:59 >> SO LIKELY YOUR BEST POWER hitter has a

2:17:02 chance to end this with one swing of the

2:17:04 bat. DC3, the last time he appeared

2:17:08 got himself a double.

2:17:10 Now comes up with that golden hat on to

2:17:13 try and give the Firefighters something

2:17:15 here in the bottom of the eighth.

2:17:18 And what is there really to lose? He's

2:17:19 golden battering in your 10-hole. Even

2:17:21 if he gets out right here, 1-2-3 to lead

2:17:24 off the ninth inning. Right back up the

2:17:25 middle. Base knock. So the golden AB

2:17:28 does the trick.

2:17:30 No risk, all reward there. Great

2:17:32 decision by Val Perez. As now Sal Trumbo

2:17:36 will need to come on and run because DC3

2:17:39 is on deck.

2:17:41 It won't be DC3. It'll be Noah Bridges

2:17:43 that comes in. So now Tiner [music]

2:17:45 Hughes going up against his former

2:17:47 visitor teammates.

2:17:49 Tiny has a single

2:17:51 in his first plate appearance. That one

2:17:52 way outside. Noah is a threat to steal.

2:18:00 Tiny, goodness gracious, that fooled

2:18:02 him.

2:18:02 It's a heck of a pitch from Brett

2:18:04 Sanchez. Wow, he swung at that about 3

2:18:05 years before it got to [music] home

2:18:06 plate, a 55-mph sweeper. Tiny, into

2:18:10 center field, there's no one to catch

2:18:11 it. No.

2:18:12 >> [cheering]

2:18:13 >> So, 2-1, two outs.

2:18:16 The Firefighters have themselves one

2:18:18 more shot. Dalton Cornett [music] is

2:18:19 back up and he still got the golden bat

2:18:22 helmet on.

2:18:25 This isn't rare that you see this.

2:18:28 Dalton Cornett he said second time

2:18:30 [music] in the inning hitting with the

2:18:31 golden batter helmet on. This usually

2:18:34 plays into the benefit of the pitcher.

2:18:36 Take you back to last year, Jake Skull,

2:18:37 homer off Danny Hasley and then strikes

2:18:39 out to end the ballgame here at Grayson

2:18:40 Stadium in this exact situation. DC3 got

2:18:44 a hold of that one, but it's foul. Fans

2:18:46 have had a couple opportunities here

2:18:47 tonight. Now, Brett Sanchez, one of his

2:18:49 biggest opportunities of his rookie

2:18:52 Banana Ball campaign, his 32nd pitch

2:18:54 here of the evening, 0-2

2:18:56 against DC3. Cornett needs to put one

2:18:59 into the outfield to have a shot.

2:19:02 And he skies this one heading foul.

2:19:04 [music]

2:19:05 Does a Tailgater have a play on it?

2:19:09 No, I think that hit off the light pole.

2:19:13 That's the kind of power he's got. Light

2:19:14 pole light pole power. I almost said

2:19:16 light pole power. Light tower power.

2:19:17 Light tower power.

2:19:19 Light pole power, either way it's still

2:19:22 an 0-2 count.

2:19:24 DC3 has had a couple of healthy hacks.

2:19:30 Long check over

2:19:32 at second.

2:19:34 That one skied underneath Chadwick

2:19:36 Folkestad.

2:19:37 Our producer here in the booth and so we

2:19:39 play on.

2:19:40 One of the things this does do though,

2:19:42 [music] it takes the one left-handed

2:19:43 batter away from potentially facing

2:19:44 Reese Miller. THAT IS LOBBED. OH,

2:19:47 IT WAS BOBBLED. A fan wanted to catch

2:19:50 that one-handed, had his fingers on it

2:19:53 and couldn't pull it in.

2:19:55 We needed you.

2:19:57 Collective breath of relief there for

2:19:59 the Firefighters.

2:20:02 Sanchez

2:20:03 up and out. Great pitch. Just to see

2:20:05 [music] if Dalton Cornett was in auto

2:20:06 swing mode. He's fouled off three

2:20:08 straight pitches. Good waste pitch there

2:20:09 from Sanchez.

2:20:11 And he'll waste one again. You don't

2:20:12 want to waste too many of those. A 3-2

2:20:14 count will put a ball four sprint that

2:20:15 would win [music] the inning on the

2:20:16 table.

2:20:19 2-2. Noah going. THAT IS LOBBED INTO

2:20:21 CENTER FIELD. WATTY'S GOT A TRACK ON IT

2:20:24 AND THE TAILGATERS STRAND TWO. THEY WIN

2:20:27 THE EQUALIZER POINTS AND THEY TAKE a 4-2

2:20:30 lead in the bottom or going to the

2:20:32 ninth. Brett Sanchez, nerves of steel

2:20:35 right there. Dalton Cornett who gets

2:20:37 that single as the golden batter, you

2:20:39 get into pop out and now a two-point

2:20:41 lead for the boys in blue and orange as

2:20:43 we roll on to the ninth inning. And what

2:20:45 are those rules exactly of the ninth

2:20:48 inning? Let's take a look at those

2:20:49 again. Every run now counts as a point

2:20:51 here in the final frame of banana ball.

2:20:54 And if somehow, some reason, some way

2:20:57 the Tailgaters and the Firefighters are

2:20:58 tied at the end of this frame, we will

2:21:00 head to the best overtime in all of

2:21:02 sports, showdowns, my friend.

2:21:04 Showdowns is where the Firefighters have

2:21:07 truly

2:21:09 gotten themselves going. Hello, Sam

2:21:10 Sanatonez. Ladies and gentlemen,

2:21:14 Sam Sanatonez.

2:21:26 I've got that

2:21:27 lightning inside me, son of a

2:21:30 gun.

2:21:32 I'm hyper titan that's rising. Oh, just

2:21:35 you watch.

2:21:37 I'm stepping in the flame.

2:21:40 There is no time to waste.

2:21:43 I've got that lightning inside me. This

2:21:46 is how legends are made.

2:21:52 >> [music]

2:21:57 >> This is how legends [music] are made.

2:22:07 This is how legends are made. Now

2:22:12 pitching for the Fire After a clean

2:22:14 frame

2:22:16 from Ben Dunn the III, the Firefighters

2:22:18 turn it over to one of the two guys who

2:22:20 closes this out. Johnny

2:22:22 Lightning Hummel.

2:22:25 Last week in in Albuquerque, pitched two

2:22:27 scoreless innings in the eighth and the

2:22:29 ninth, gave up one showdown run to Reese

2:22:33 Hampton

2:22:34 that you could make an argument probably

2:22:36 shouldn't have scored because it was

2:22:38 stepped on Zachary Bridges' foot.

2:22:40 Then got a showdown shut down in round

2:22:42 two to give the Firefighters a shot. If

2:22:45 they're going to have a chance to play

2:22:46 this weekend, they need Johnny to be

2:22:48 sparkling again. And he's done that in

2:22:51 so many big situations. That beautiful

2:22:53 mustachioed man

2:22:55 has closed out Kentucky's first ever

2:22:58 trip to the College World Series, then

2:22:59 got them their first win in the College

2:23:02 World Series on the bump. And he's got

2:23:03 the Piston Cup on the mound.

2:23:07 I really thought Brett was going to play

2:23:09 off my lead on that one. I I was just

2:23:11 sitting here considering whether Texas

2:23:13 Tailgaters would potentially use a

2:23:14 golden batter against Johnny Hummel.

2:23:16 Eight, nine, and 10, up by two points.

2:23:19 You can't take it with you here in the

2:23:20 ninth inning. Zach Watson will lead off

2:23:23 the inning. And again, it's Zach Watson,

2:23:25 Jason Arn, and Jordan Houssain due up

2:23:28 here.

2:23:29 Winner of this

2:23:30 plays the Savannah Bananas this weekend.

2:23:32 Is that one dribbled right back up the

2:23:34 middle. Johnny Hummel over to first, HAD

2:23:36 TO FIRE THAT ONE SAYING IN.

2:23:38 But he does get it at first, and so one

2:23:40 out is retired.

2:23:42 Kyle Martin

2:23:43 could be a potential golden batter if we

2:23:45 get there.

2:23:47 Jason Art coming in though.

2:23:49 No sign of that golden helmet yet. By

2:23:51 [music] the way,

2:23:52 when the first pitch of the ninth inning

2:23:54 is thrown for the Firefighters, they

2:23:55 launch these fire and flames.

2:23:57 It is a spectacle and it is also

2:23:59 dangerous.

2:24:01 Cuz that thing goes backwards, that

2:24:02 banana ball could be on fire.

2:24:07 1-1

2:24:09 Art stares one for strike. It's 1-2

2:24:12 count.

2:24:13 Johnny Hummel has looked very much like

2:24:15 the guy

2:24:17 who went to Yankee Stadium and shut down

2:24:19 the Savannah Bananas over the last

2:24:20 couple of appearances he's had.

2:24:22 If they're going to get that kind of

2:24:24 performance out of him, they'll have a

2:24:25 shot.

2:24:26 It's 2-2 count.

2:24:30 LIGHTNING GETS A SWING AND MISS.

2:24:33 ANOTHER K FOR JOHNNY HUMMEL.

2:24:37 But Zack Staten,

2:24:38 I see the Tailgaters lining up. I see a

2:24:41 little bit of gold peaking out of that

2:24:43 third base dugout.

2:24:45 Oh, and the music, the lights. Who will

2:24:47 it be? The golden batter for the boys in

2:24:49 blue and orange.

2:24:51 The Texas Tailgaters are invoking the

2:24:53 golden batter rule. NOW BATTING, IN THE

2:24:57 PLACE of Jordan Houssain, is the

2:24:59 Tailgaters golden batter, KYLE K MARTIN.

2:25:05 [screaming]

2:25:09 HE'S already went ya-ya once tonight. A

2:25:11 golden batter home run back in Frisco,

2:25:15 Texas in the month of March. He has four

2:25:17 homers in the regular season, tied atop

2:25:20 the Banana Ball Championship League.

2:25:22 He's 33 years old. He hits homers

2:25:26 that land on Mars. He's your favorite

2:25:28 ball player's favorite ball player. And

2:25:30 he's got a chance to make it a

2:25:32 three-point lead here in the top of the

2:25:33 ninth for the boys in blue and orange.

2:25:36 Johnny Hummel not afraid of that

2:25:37 description, lands strike one right by

2:25:40 him.

2:25:41 Big time spot for both of these teams.

2:25:43 Martin

2:25:45 That will not be a home run.

2:25:47 It might land unless something

2:25:48 >> [music]

2:25:49 >> unusual happens. Nope.

2:25:50 Jaden Peanut Green

2:25:53 brings it on in. Johnny Hummel fires in

2:25:55 a lightning-quick inning.

2:25:59 And the Firefighters go to the bottom of

2:26:02 the ninth down four to two.

2:26:04 If they are to get this one to showdowns

2:26:07 or to get to the weekend, this is the

2:26:09 inning to go.

2:26:11 The last time they faced Reese Miller

2:26:16 We'll find out in a minute actually

2:26:17 because I see Brett Sanchez still out

2:26:19 there. Hold on. Either way, the

2:26:20 Firefighters a couple of weeks ago in

2:26:24 Scottsdale scored in the ninth to win

2:26:26 the game.

2:26:27 Last week in Albuquerque, four-four

2:26:29 game, they scored four in the top of the

2:26:30 ninth

2:26:32 to win the game.

2:26:33 Can they do it again?

2:26:35 We'll see because the Texas Tailgaters

2:26:37 are in fact making a pitching change.

2:26:39 And it is

2:26:41 arguably the second best closer in this

2:26:44 sport. He reigns from Houston, Texas,

2:26:48 and his name is Reese Miller.

2:26:52 As J.J. Cash lights his ropes on fire,

2:26:57 we see the man who's second in the

2:26:58 Banana Ball Championship League in saves

2:27:00 take the bump. Last weekend, this is a

2:27:04 metric of how you respond in the face of

2:27:06 adversity. Reese Miller with a

2:27:08 three-point lead last Saturday night at

2:27:10 UNC blew the save. Then, he gets two

2:27:13 showdown shutdowns against the Savannah

2:27:15 Bananas, and then Dan Obers walked it

2:27:17 off in round number three. But now

2:27:20 now here in the arguably the biggest

2:27:23 moment to this point of the season for

2:27:25 the Texas Tailgaters, an opportunity to

2:27:27 go play that same Savannah Bananas the

2:27:29 next two nights here at Grayson Stadium

2:27:32 for a chance to clinch a playoff spot in

2:27:34 October, who does Joe Miceli look to?

2:27:36 The man with deuce deuce on his back,

2:27:38 Reese Miller. The [music] guys he'll

2:27:40 face are the three, four, five holes.

2:27:43 Logan Lacey, Eric Jones Jr., and Armando

2:27:46 Becerra. Important to note, no golden

2:27:48 batter that was used in the eighth

2:27:50 inning if you're just joining us here on

2:27:52 the Banana Ball YouTube channel. So,

2:27:53 it'll be these three guys unless we see

2:27:55 a pinch hitter here from Val Perez's

2:27:57 group.

2:28:00 Lacey and EJ faced Reese Miller in

2:28:02 Scottsdale. Did not end well for him.

2:28:04 Can they change their fortunes tonight?

2:28:06 Lacey

2:28:08 to the seats. Anybody got some help for

2:28:10 the Tailgaters?

2:28:12 Nope.

2:28:14 Keep it going.

2:28:17 Lacey's 0 for 2 tonight, reached on a

2:28:19 ball four sprint in his first

2:28:20 appearance.

2:28:27 Swings on an absolute nasty slider.

2:28:31 Way outside.

2:28:33 It's an 0-2 count.

2:28:35 This is where Reese Miller shines.

2:28:42 Lacey almost did it again. Thinks better

2:28:45 of it. It's a 1-2 count.

2:28:57 Lacey fights that one off, going back to

2:28:59 the seats.

2:29:00 Firefighters are playing with fire.

2:29:02 Doesn't burn them yet. It's very

2:29:04 important Logan Lacey giving Eric Jones

2:29:06 Jr. and Armando Becerra a chance to see

2:29:08 exactly what Reese Miller's looking like

2:29:10 here tonight, fighting off all these

2:29:11 foul balls.

2:29:16 We'll try the 1-2.

2:29:19 Lacey Oh, HE'S GOING TO STEAL FIRST.

2:29:21 >> [cheering]

2:29:22 >> OUTSIDE AND LACEY IS ABOARD.

2:29:27 And a big steal of first because now

2:29:29 Eric Jones Jr. represents the game-tying

2:29:32 run/point here for the Firefighters in

2:29:35 the bottom of the ninth. A slider that

2:29:37 just jerked a little bit too far, and

2:29:39 you seen it, Zack. It didn't quite hit

2:29:41 the padding. It hit under the padding,

2:29:43 and that's why it didn't ricochet.

2:29:46 So, now [music] Eric Jones Jr. maybe in

2:29:49 the biggest spot he's been in with the

2:29:50 Firefighters since being drafted [music]

2:29:52 in last November's Banana Ball Player

2:29:54 Draft.

2:29:56 Three world tours with the Savannah

2:29:57 Bananas and much longer before that.

2:30:00 His first swing with the Fighters was a

2:30:02 home run.

2:30:05 But, this is a pressure situation,

2:30:07 [music]

2:30:08 and this is why you get the veteran

2:30:09 catcher and first baseman out of

2:30:11 Charlotte, North Carolina.

2:30:15 Boy, that is a beauty of a front door

2:30:18 bender.

2:30:19 You know what they say about pressure,

2:30:20 [music] Zack Staten? It bursts pipes,

2:30:21 and it also makes diamonds. Somebody's

2:30:23 going to turn out a diamond here

2:30:24 tonight.

2:30:26 EJ hits that a mile high.

2:30:29 Why are the Texas Tailgaters running for

2:30:31 all their worth, and Jordan Hussein

2:30:33 grabs it?

2:30:35 Usually, it's going to be your

2:30:36 outfielder who's charging that ball that

2:30:38 would call off the shortstop and third

2:30:40 baseman. But, when your captain is your

2:30:41 shortstop, and he's that guy, Jordan

2:30:43 Hussein, as Grub agrees, he's going to

2:30:45 make that play 10 times out of 10.

2:30:46 Jordan Hussein, out number one.

2:30:50 Armando Becerra, the third round pick

2:30:53 for the Fighters in that same November

2:30:55 draft. Looks at a slider coming right

2:30:58 towards him.

2:30:59 >> [cheering]

2:31:01 >> He's two for two on the night. Couple of

2:31:03 singles and a ball for a sprint. It's

2:31:04 been a beautiful night for the man in

2:31:06 30.

2:31:08 But, they need him to get aboard here

2:31:10 and move Lacey up to second [music] or

2:31:12 maybe even third.

2:31:14 Nick Lopez is losing his mind on the DJ

2:31:16 table.

2:31:18 Blake Morgan is fist pumping, and

2:31:20 Armando Becerra swinging and fouling.

2:31:23 Now, what do you go to here? We seen in

2:31:25 that two-strike count against Logan

2:31:27 Lacey the slider that went all the way

2:31:28 to the backstop.

2:31:30 But you're facing a lefty, it might not

2:31:31 go that far out.

2:31:33 Even towards the outside.

2:31:35 One, two. It is outside. Trying that

2:31:38 heater.

2:31:40 I'd love to see a pitch that Reese

2:31:42 hadn't thrown that much this year. His

2:31:43 changeup is disgusting. See if he'll go

2:31:45 to it here on two and two. Mondo's got

2:31:47 speed to burn if he can use it here.

2:31:50 Outside, ball three.

2:31:54 Got to be in his zone here, Zack.

2:31:57 Ball four sprint is going to get Lacey

2:31:59 at least to third. Mondo, we saw could

2:32:01 go to second.

2:32:04 AND INSIDE, BALL FOUR SPRINT.

2:32:07 THAT ONE GETS HIGH up on J5. Lacey going

2:32:10 to hold up at third. And Armando will

2:32:13 stay at first. So, runners on the

2:32:14 corners, one away, and the guy coming up

2:32:18 is Kaden "Peanuts" Green. Just one homer

2:32:22 on the world tour, but this

2:32:24 is where [cheering]

2:32:26 he can shine the most.

2:32:28 The Firefighters have got [music] to

2:32:30 have Peanuts swinging for something.

2:32:32 A ball four sprint would do the job

2:32:34 well.

2:32:35 This is where you flash that superstar

2:32:38 leap

2:32:39 for number two in black and neon.

2:32:44 And it feels like he's due here tonight.

2:32:47 He's grounded out and struck out twice.

2:32:49 Oh for three.

2:32:54 >> [cheering]

2:32:54 >> One, oh.

2:32:56 Peanut, lightning foul back.

2:33:08 What a game we've had tonight here.

2:33:11 Winner goes to the weekend to play the

2:33:14 Savannah Bananas, and Peanut fouls it

2:33:16 back.

2:33:17 >> [cheering]

2:33:19 >> They'll play for the Open Championship

2:33:21 and an automatic spot in October's

2:33:24 Banana Ball Championship League

2:33:25 Playoffs.

2:33:29 This is what this means to both teams.

2:33:32 One, two.

2:33:33 >> [music]

2:33:33 >> Peanuts stays alive.

2:33:38 Caden Green was the best hitter in 2025

2:33:41 against the Texas Tailgaters that

2:33:43 continued at Scottsdale.

2:33:45 Combined coming into tonight, nine of 18

2:33:47 with a homer and three RBI.

2:33:50 He doesn't need the homer, but he needs

2:33:51 something productive.

2:33:52 And he won't get it.

2:33:54 >> [cheering]

2:33:55 >> Strike three from Reese Miller. Perhaps

2:33:58 the biggest strikeout of his season thus

2:34:00 far, his first here tonight. And the

2:34:03 Texas Tailgaters are one out away from

2:34:06 playing the Savannah Bananas in the

2:34:08 Banana Ball Open Championship Series.

2:34:10 But a man who stands in the way, Zack

2:34:12 Staten, has been on fire.

2:34:15 How about this for dichotomy? From one

2:34:17 of the most sure hitters in the sport to

2:34:19 a rookie. Lamar Sparks has home run

2:34:22 power

2:34:24 and a good eye there. Tough one.

2:34:27 Tough one to lay off.

2:34:30 We saw Armando steal second at one point

2:34:34 to take away a double play opportunity.

2:34:35 They don't need the double play.

2:34:37 But could they get Armando in a scoring

2:34:39 position here if this count continues?

2:34:41 Two, oh.

2:34:45 Logan Lacey is at third, Armando Becerra

2:34:48 at first.

2:34:50 Lamar moves out of the way of that one,

2:34:52 but it was inside the zone for a strike.

2:34:55 He's over for three tonight.

2:34:58 He could land one here.

2:35:00 It gives the Fighters a shot. [music]

2:35:03 Lamar fooled.

2:35:07 Deuces wild.

2:35:09 Two on.

2:35:11 Two out.

2:35:12 Two balls, two strikes.

2:35:14 >> [cheering]

2:35:22 >> Lamar broke it back up the middle and it

2:35:25 will land.

2:35:26 ARMANDO ON HIS WAY TO THIRD. [cheering]

2:35:28 LAMAR STOPS at first. LAMAR, EXCUSE ME,

2:35:31 ARMANDO AT THIRD.

2:35:32 >> [cheering]

2:35:33 >> A run scores. Huge for the rookie. And

2:35:36 how about that bat dying a hero?

2:35:40 Lamar sparks an RBI single and now the

2:35:43 game-tying run in scoring position with

2:35:45 Armando Becerra 90 ft away.

2:35:48 The game-winning point/run stands at

2:35:51 first and it's Darian McDowell who pinch

2:35:54 hit for Dakota McFadden his last time

2:35:56 up. Didn't play in Albuquerque because

2:35:59 of some injury issues. Tonight comes

2:36:01 back in, stares at a slider for strike

2:36:04 one.

2:36:06 Firefighters just need one to send it to

2:36:08 showdowns, where they have been so good

2:36:11 in their tenure.

2:36:13 The 0-1.

2:36:14 Oh, McDowell wanted it. Strike two.

2:36:17 >> [cheering]

2:36:26 [cheering]

2:36:27 >> The 0-2.

2:36:29 Got him!

2:36:31 Will Miller sends the Texas Tailgaters

2:36:34 to the first ever Banana BALL OPEN

2:36:37 CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES!

2:36:40 4-3 the boys in blue and orange!

2:36:44 It advances to the weekend!

2:36:47 >> [cheering]

2:36:50 >> AND HOW ABOUT THE BOYS FROM TEXAS DANCE

2:36:53 A LITTLE BIT?

2:37:18 >> [music]

2:37:36 >> Oh my gosh.

2:37:38 There's any doctors out there,

2:37:40 you know a cardiologist, I could use it

2:37:42 right now after that ninth inning where

2:37:44 the Texas Tailgaters somehow hung on by

2:37:48 a final score of 4 to 3 to advance to

2:37:50 the first-ever Bananaball Open

2:37:52 Championship Series. And as you see it

2:37:54 here, number one versus number three,

2:37:56 7:00 p.m. Eastern tomorrow night. It'll

2:37:59 be game one. The Bananas will be the

2:38:00 home team against the Texas Tailgaters.

2:38:03 And then Sunday afternoon, 1:00 Eastern

2:38:04 time here from Savannah, Georgia, the

2:38:06 Tailgaters will be the home team. Both

2:38:08 of those games will be on the Banana

2:38:10 Ball YouTube channel. The Banana Ball

2:38:12 Open presented to you by GEICO. And as

2:38:14 we know, the winner is guaranteed a spot

2:38:17 in the Banana Ball Championship League

2:38:18 playoffs in October.

2:38:21 Pitching, pitching, pitching, and trick

2:38:24 plays. The name of the game. That is a

2:38:26 macro level of what this Tailgaters

2:38:28 season has been. And a man who just

2:38:30 found out 2 days ago that he was going

2:38:32 to start this ball game here tonight. An

2:38:35 All-Star from last year, Christian

2:38:37 Davis, what say you, Michael Swartz?

2:38:39 Hey. I got one question, Christian

2:38:41 Davis. Are you ready to play baseball

2:38:43 tomorrow? Oh, we about to get a W

2:38:45 tomorrow. AND GO GATORS, BABY!

2:38:47 [screaming]

2:38:49 YOU WERE LISTENING TO BLACK EYED PEAS

2:38:51 BEFORE THE GAME. You told me to stay

2:38:52 pumped. Is that the key to success? Stay

2:38:54 pumped

2:38:56 and have fun with your boys. That's the

2:38:57 recipe for for wins. Let's have some fun

2:38:59 tomorrow. Our Banana Ball backstage

2:39:01 question is how many signatures from

2:39:03 Jonathan? How many signatures do you've

2:39:05 signed in your life?

2:39:07 Let's go last 2 years. I will say about

2:39:09 1,027.

2:39:12 Do you want to go meet some of the fans?

2:39:14 LET'S GO TO SOME OF THE FANS. HEY, WE'RE

2:39:15 DOING A CROWD TOUR. WE'RE GOING TO THE

2:39:17 FANS. LET'S GO. LET'S GO. LET'S GO. TO

2:39:19 THE FANS WITH YOUR SHOWMAN OF THE GAME.

2:39:21 SHOWMAN OF THE GAME WITH THE FANS. LET'S

2:39:24 GO. LET'S GO. LET'S GO. LET'S GO THROUGH

2:39:25 THE CROWD. THROUGH THE CROWD. THROUGH

2:39:27 THE CROWD. WE'RE GOING. WE'RE GOING.

2:39:29 WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE CROWD. THROUGH

2:39:30 THE CROWD. WOO.

2:39:31 >> [cheering]

2:39:34 >> We're going.

2:39:37 We're going.

2:39:39 Woo.

2:39:41 Three plays that he was able to induce

2:39:42 10 of them and five strike outs. We talk

2:39:44 about [music] vintage CD so so much this

2:39:46 year, but it's Christian Davis here

2:39:48 tonight who he is in the year of 2026

2:39:52 and who he was here tonight. The longest

2:39:54 outing ever

2:39:55 >> [music]

2:39:55 >> in the history of a Texas Tailgater when

2:39:57 they needed him the most. I want to pull

2:39:59 the curtain back Zach Staten. [music]

2:40:01 Last night, my good friend, our skipper,

2:40:04 Joe Mikulik, called me while I was

2:40:05 sitting in my living room watching the

2:40:07 Bananas and the Clowns and he said,

2:40:09 "Brett, we're throwing Christian Davis

2:40:10 tomorrow." And I said, "What? Hey guys,

2:40:12 here's Chris Clark, which is your ace.

2:40:15 Chris Clark, which has a 1.02 ERA. Chris

2:40:18 Clark, which has been one of the very

2:40:20 best pitchers in this whole sport. He's

2:40:21 not throwing, he said, "We got CD." And

2:40:24 Christian Davis who found out less than

2:40:26 48 hours ago he was throwing this game

2:40:27 here tonight, goes out there and not

2:40:29 only is the best player on the field, he

2:40:32 almost single-handedly won this ball

2:40:34 game here tonight. Five strike outs,

2:40:35 five and a third, three points earned,

2:40:37 but again, the most important stat not

2:40:39 on your screen. Induced 10 trick plays

2:40:42 tonight for that defense behind him in

2:40:44 the Texas Tailgaters. Zach, we just seen

2:40:46 an absolute master class of an animal

2:40:50 and those Firefighters proved here

2:40:52 tonight if nothing else, they're

2:40:53 probably going to be there in October.

2:40:55 Very gritty bunch. You see it there. 10

2:40:57 hits to seven. The Firefighters offense

2:40:59 really came alive there in the back half

2:41:01 of the game, but there were too many

2:41:03 empty innings there in the middle half

2:41:04 and they had a lot of guys stranded on

2:41:07 second and third tonight that they've

2:41:08 usually been bringing home. Tonight,

2:41:10 they could not get them against

2:41:11 Christian Davis and Brett Sanchez, too.

2:41:13 You give them that and Reese Miller.

2:41:15 That's a way to bounce back. Look, he

2:41:16 harbored some damage there. He harbored

2:41:18 some adversity, but Reese Miller showed

2:41:20 there's a future for him in this sport,

2:41:21 too, and it's clear as day he's a Texas

2:41:23 Tailgaters lockdown closer. Big time

2:41:25 credit though. Again, you mentioned all

2:41:26 those Tailgaters, Jovan Ray, the way he

2:41:28 responded after giving up that home run

2:41:31 to Kyle Martin. He was special tonight.

2:41:33 Jovan five strike outs, five trip plays

2:41:35 induced behind him. That's a guy that I

2:41:37 really think Val Perez and these

2:41:38 Firefighters can lean on moving forward.

2:41:40 However, let's talk the next two nights.

2:41:43 The Bananas and the Tailgaters tomorrow

2:41:45 night right here on the Banana Ball

2:41:47 open, excuse me, on the Banana Ball

2:41:49 YouTube channel. The Banana Ball open

2:41:51 presented to you by GEICO. 7:00 p.m.

2:41:52 tomorrow night. The Bananas the home

2:41:54 team, Tailgaters the away team. Sunday

2:41:56 afternoon 1:00 p.m. Eastern. Tailgaters

2:41:59 the home team, Bananas the away team.

2:42:01 And if the Bananas and the Tailgaters

2:42:03 split those two games, we will

2:42:05 immediately go to showdowns after game

2:42:08 number two. Zach Staten, this is a

2:42:10 blessing. I can't wait to join Biko and

2:42:12 Josh these next two days.

2:42:13 >> You will get to do that. I'll be

2:42:14 watching from home with a lot of folks

2:42:16 there in Banana Land. The Texas

2:42:18 Tailgaters survive and advance literally

2:42:20 here in game two of the Banana Ball open

2:42:23 presented by GEICO. The final score four

2:42:25 to three over a rowdy in-game

2:42:27 Firefighters squad. They'll next They'll

2:42:30 be in action next against the

2:42:32 Indianapolis Clowns in Greenville, South

2:42:34 Carolina. The Texas Tailgaters in action

2:42:36 tomorrow as Brett Loftis just said. What

2:42:38 a great team that we've just brought

2:42:39 this broadcast to you with a led by our

2:42:42 great producer Chadwick Folkestad, our

2:42:43 tremendous director Alex Gross, the

2:42:45 great Jose Taito Benitez on the Spanish

2:42:48 broadcaster. You hear him in the

2:42:50 background. Maddie Warren, Michael

2:42:51 Schwartz down on the sideline. [music]

2:42:53 For Brett Loftis, I'm Zach Staten. The

2:42:55 Texas Tailgaters are going to the

2:42:56 weekend. Brett lost this, take it home.

2:42:58 TEAR IT UP!