Texas Tailgaters @ Savannah Bananas

0:26 Heat.

0:44 Heat.

1:13 FSU.

1:15 It's done.

1:23 THE SAVANNAH BANANAS, THE PARTY ANIMAL,

1:27 >> the firefighters, Texas Hailgator,

1:29 >> local beach coconut,

1:30 >> Indianapolis.

1:31 >> We started as a college summer team with

1:34 one goal, to make baseball fun, and it's

1:36 grown into something so much bigger.

1:39 >> No doubt, Banana Ball is a hit.

1:41 >> I couldn't be more proud to be a part of

1:42 this organization. I'm just really

1:43 grateful to be here and I really want to

1:46 inspire all these kids out there to go

1:47 and chase their dreams.

1:48 >> I'm incredibly blessed to be able to

1:50 play in front of this many people and

1:51 make this big of an impact.

1:53 >> BIG and now we have a chance to make an

1:55 even bigger impact with new players.

1:58 >> This is a great great pick.

1:59 >> Congratulations.

2:00 >> New opportunities.

2:01 >> It just makes so much sense.

2:03 >> And new rivalries.

2:04 >> We're going to come up with our game

2:05 plan to be able to like counteract some

2:07 of their speed. Don't fix what ain't

2:08 broken for what is about to be the

2:10 biggest year of Banana Ball yet.

2:14 Demolished

2:17 >> 75 stadiums.

2:18 >> Alex Mes with 102,000

2:22 fans

2:23 >> in 45 states.

2:24 >> Yes.

2:25 >> In front of 3.4 million fans.

2:28 >> And it's good. No way.

2:31 >> And we're going to impact every single

2:34 one of them. Man, this is going TO BE A

2:36 MOVIE.

2:38 >> WELCOME to the greatest show in sports.

2:40 >> When I was talking about a movie, this

2:42 is what I meant.

2:50 >> The Banana Ball Championship League is

2:53 off and running in epic style. Across

2:56 the last two nights, we've seen the two

2:58 newest teams in the sport claim

3:00 thrilling victories in Dickauser

3:02 Stadium. Now the show shifts to do

3:05 Tambble as over 60,000 fans have

3:08 gathered to see the Texas Tailgator take

3:11 on the Savannah Bananas in the grand

3:13 finale of the Banana Ball kickoff. The

3:16 Tailgator enter their sophomore season

3:19 with a veteranfilled lineup and a

3:21 retoolled pitching staff. And I'll tell

3:23 you what, a very similar strategy being

3:26 employed by the Savannah Bananas as well

3:28 as we welcome you inside with Josh

3:30 Tleski, Bo Scalla. Great to have Banana

3:33 Ball back in the ESPN world, Disney

3:35 Plus, and as always, the Banana Ball

3:37 YouTube channel. Josh, we are two games

3:40 into the history of the Banana Ball

3:42 Championship League. New rules in play,

3:45 the equalizer point, the defender out

3:47 there, Mark Smith, an unbelievable play

3:50 last night as the designated uh fielder.

3:53 How have you seen these new rules put

3:54 into place? Well, I think the equalizer

3:56 point has been that big X factor through

3:58 these first two games as each of the

4:00 away teams through the first two

4:02 matchups have earned that equalizer

4:04 point and netted an extra one in the

4:06 ball game that helped them emerge

4:08 victorious. So, that is certainly on the

4:10 minds of the Texas Tailgator playing as

4:13 the visiting team against the Bananas

4:15 tonight, but this is also their first

4:17 game in a football stadium. So, they're

4:19 not only trying to impress defensively,

4:21 but they want to bash the ball as we've

4:23 got 50 foot nets installed from right

4:26 field all the way to right center,

4:27 courtesy of netting pros. And they want

4:30 to be the third team to spoil the party,

4:33 if you will, during this Banana Ball

4:36 kickoff series. As we mentioned, a lot

4:39 of new faces over on the Savannah

4:41 Bananas side of the field. to help get

4:43 them straight. Let's get it on down to

4:45 the field to Sam Bowman.

4:48 >> Guys, I'm here with Savannah Bananas

4:50 now, veteran Ty Jackson. The guy's been

4:53 around and Ty, you got a few new guys

4:55 wearing yellow this year. Would you mind

4:57 maybe introducing me? I got you, Sam. I

4:59 got you, Sam. This dude JB, Jacob Aella,

5:02 uh Sean Fluke, BASICALLY THE GINGER. I

5:04 LOVE IT. NEXT GUY, FASTEST man alive,

5:07 JT. I'm his last name. Is he faster than

5:09 me though? Nope. All right. EAST PARISH,

5:12 AKA REGGIE CALLS him Ethan, but that's

5:14 cool. This you dude is a unit.

5:16 Everything's bigger in Texas. You're

5:17 from Texas, right?

5:18 >> Yes, sir.

5:18 >> Nope. It don't matter. All right. This

5:20 dude is about 67. Race the camera. Raise

5:22 the camera. You're 67, right?

5:24 >> Yeah. He's actually 67 now. Frankie,

5:26 man, this dude is FROM NEW YORK.

5:27 FRANKIE, CAN WE GO THERE? ARE WE GOING

5:28 TO GET dollar slber?

5:34 Yeah, that's you're on the team, right?

5:36 >> Yeah.

5:36 >> Yeah. He's going to hit 10 home runs

5:37 this year. Now G baby, we have to be

5:39 really, really, really quiet because

5:40 he's G baby. Grand Besser pacifier

5:44 diaper. Bro, this dude's gonna put the

5:45 other team to sleep. AD, right? AD,

5:50 >> first pick of the Bananas draft this

5:52 year. How you feeling? That's okay, you

5:54 know. All right, Bryce Gre. HEY, YOU A

5:57 2K LEGEND, RIGHT? He's not better than

5:59 me. All right,

6:02 >> he don't say much, but he Hey, he's a

6:05 deadly assassin, right? That's all we uh

6:08 So, Sam, that's about all the rookies.

6:09 There's about 20 more left in the locker

6:10 room, but that's all we got.

6:12 >> Uh well, now you know them, I think. Uh

6:15 thanks, Ty. Guys,

6:24 >> thank you, Sam and Ty. Let's take a look

6:26 at some of the new stars on the Nanners.

6:29 Max Young Goldberg was their second

6:30 round pick. Austin Drury went number

6:32 four overall in the first round. and

6:34 Derek Clenna will be a superstar

6:36 entertainment player here in 2026.

6:39 >> And they've all got different

6:40 backgrounds for the Bananas. You've got

6:41 Drury who spent time throughout his

6:43 minor league career in the Los Angeles

6:45 Dodgers organization and had a career

6:47 3.35 earned run average in that span,

6:50 spending time as a starter and a relief

6:52 pitcher. So, he gives the Bananas a lot

6:54 of flexibility. Max Young Goldberg tore

6:57 it up in the Pioneer League last season,

6:59 setting the RBI record with 130 runs

7:03 batted in. And you don't want to forget

7:05 about Derek Glenna, who is an

7:07 entertainer for sure, having spent time

7:09 on Broadway and was even nominated for a

7:11 Tony in 2020, but this was a guy

7:14 pitching at UCLA in his college career.

7:16 So, he is a really talented righty. And

7:19 he kind of combines the best of both

7:21 worlds. not only a talented ball player

7:23 but an uber talented performer as well.

7:26 We should see young Goldberg swing it

7:28 for the first time in the bottom of the

7:29 first if we get there. He's sandwiched

7:31 in a threehole right between Reese

7:33 Selectiatis and Dan Ober. Austin Drury

7:36 we will see on the bump and Cla I think

7:38 we will see as well. I'm sure he'll do

7:39 some singing as he is right now. Let's

7:42 get it on down to the field.

7:46 >> Now we need everyone to get those hands

7:49 in the air. Get those spirit fingers

7:51 going

7:54 all the way around the stadium. Get both

7:56 hands in the air. Let me see those

7:59 spirit fingers

8:01 for a tradition we've honored in Banana

8:04 Land since the first game back in 2016.

8:10 fans, it is now time to meet

8:16 tonight's banana baby, Millie,

8:26 >> five months old

8:30 and blowing bubbles.

8:33 She was born for this moment

8:37 >> and she will never remember this moment.

8:48 >> Fans, keep it going one more time for

8:53 tonight's banana baby, Millie.

9:04 They're rough and they're rowdy. They

9:08 get started early and they never stop.

9:10 They're here to go big and they ain't

9:12 going home. They are the Texas

9:16 Tailgator.

9:26 Jesus.

9:50 And now the starting lineup for the

9:52 Texas Tailgator. Leading off the second

9:55 baseman, number 16, Travis Moo.

10:03 DH number nine, Nick Lopez.

10:12 At third base, number six, Jordan Bore.

10:21 The extra hitter number 27, Kyle Martin.

10:32 Number 11, the first baseman, M. Dford.

10:41 Right fielder number 28, Jose Gonzalez

10:45 Jr.

10:50 The catcher number 26, Taj the

10:53 quadfather,

10:54 Porter.

10:59 Center fielder number seven, Indiana,

11:02 Stanley.

11:08 Left fielder number two, Zack Watson.

11:15 Short stop number five, Jordan Who's

11:31 we'll hear more about this powerful

11:33 Texas tailgator lineup from their

11:35 skipper Joe Mikolik and we'll hear about

11:38 the Nanners from their head coach Tyler

11:40 Gillum after this short break.

11:51 Happy birthday.

12:16 One more time. The Texas

12:19 tailgator.

12:33 Ladies and gentlemen,

12:36 I am bringing SOME BANANAS POWER TO THE

12:40 PLATE. His name is Grady. Grady is 5

12:45 years old and he's attempting to hit a

12:48 home run against THESE TAILGATORS. SO,

12:52 CAN I HEAR SOME NOISE FOR MY DEAR FRIEND

12:55 GRADY?

13:01 He's digging in the box. HERE COMES

13:03 PITCH number one.

13:06 Tailgators are throwing the heat. The

13:08 counts 0 and one. Here comes pitch

13:10 number two.

13:13 He's throwing high heat this. WHOA.

13:15 SPLIT. Holy cow.

13:18 Split says he's had enough of this

13:20 nonsense. HE'S STEALING THAT. OH MY

13:22 GOSH. Still Split. What was that about?

13:28 Well, the fight's fair at least now.

13:30 Grady's got the BALL ON THE TEA. HERE'S

13:32 A SWING. BOOM.

13:35 THAT BALL'S CRUSHED INTO RIGHT FIELD.

13:38 They're going to try to throw him out at

13:40 first.

13:42 The ball

13:46 here with Bananas head coach Tyler

13:49 Gillum. Dilly, nine years. You've had

13:51 opening days with 5,000 fans. Tonight,

13:54 60,000 in Tallahassee. And throughout

13:55 2026, more than 3 million fans will

13:58 watch Banana Ball. Can you even put that

14:00 in perspective?

14:01 >> Yeah, it's crazy. You know, the quote

14:03 that comes to my mind is it's kind of

14:05 fun doing the impossible. You know, I I

14:08 think this is proof, you know, of all

14:10 those dreamers out there, those

14:12 creators, those builders, those people

14:14 that are thinking about doing things

14:15 that have never been done before. It's

14:18 possible. We're doing it. The Banana

14:20 Ball Championship League is here and

14:22 tonight we're making history. We got

14:24 some new guys wearing yellow. How do you

14:26 get them ready for a crowd of 60,000?

14:28 Well,

14:28 >> I tell you what, we got so many great

14:30 people inside of our organization. It

14:32 started with recruiting Barry Aldridge,

14:34 our recruiting coordinator, getting the

14:36 right people in house. We call those

14:38 people OKGs, our kind of guys, and we've

14:41 trained their butt off. We got guys like

14:42 Macio training all the dance moves, Zack

14:45 Franelo on all the entertainment. Our

14:47 great coaches have prepared these guys

14:50 for a moment like this right here.

14:52 60,000 fans tonight and it's going to be

14:54 electric.

14:55 >> Coach Gillum, I'm fired up. I know you

14:57 are. I can't think of a better coach

14:59 that looks this good in cowboy boots.

15:01 Hey, Brett Loftess, can you think of a

15:03 better one?

15:05 >> Oh, yeah. Thanks, Sam. He's right here.

15:06 His name is Joe Mik. Skip. Second year

15:09 with the Tailgator. First year of the

15:11 Banana Ball Championship League. Five

15:13 football stadiums for our tailgator this

15:15 year.

15:16 >> How does that make you feel?

15:17 >> Oh, it's a it's a great feeling. I can't

15:18 believe it. I'M PINCHING MYSELF. BUT I

15:20 WOKE UP THIS morning and it's like I'm

15:22 going to be in a football field playing

15:24 a baseball game. I won't be playing, but

15:26 I'll be dancing with you guys. Let's

15:28 rock and roll.

15:29 >> 2026 new year, new look for the

15:31 Tailgator. Probuilt squad. How does that

15:34 make you feel?

15:35 >> I I was thinking about balance. The

15:36 coaching staff thinking about balance uh

15:38 from pitching to to to position players.

15:41 WE WE HAD TO DO SOMETHING TO EQUALIZE

15:43 the the bananas, the party animals, and

15:45 now obviously the clowns and coconuts

15:47 and the fire. We had to do something a

15:49 little bit better and we plus the

15:50 experience. I love my squad. The squad's

15:53 unbelievable. They're they worked hard

15:54 to get to this moment. Great stage

15:57 tonight. Can't wait to get this started.

15:59 We're about to tailgate UP AND THIS IS

16:02 GOING TO BE ELECTRIC. PEOPLE STAY WITH

16:04 US.

16:04 >> ALL RIGHT. Simple Mick. Simple Mick.

16:06 They're going to go to work tonight.

16:07 Tailgator is going to get a win.

16:08 >> Oh, WELL, IF YOU PREDICT THE WIN, I GOT

16:10 MY WORK GLOVES ON. WE'RE PLAYING BANANA

16:12 BALL IN A FOOTBALL STADIUM. IT'S TIME TO

16:15 GATOR HER UP AND WE'RE GONNA GET A WIN.

16:18 >> WE'RE GOING TO GATOR HER ON up to the

16:20 commercial break. More Banana Ball Cup

16:21 next here on ESPN Plus in the Disney

16:24 Plus app.

16:46 first romping and stomping his way out

16:50 of the Texas tailgator dugout. This man

16:54 knows about two things, stakes and

16:58 weights. Ladies and gentlemen, please

16:59 welcome Taj THE QUADFATHER

17:03 PORTER.

17:07 >> Look at his blood.

17:11 He weighs in at a beefy 225

17:16 LBS.

17:20 And opposing him, making his way out of

17:24 the Savannah Bananas dugout, I need you

17:27 all to say something with me. Everybody

17:29 say, "Hey, Pooky."

17:34 Because we are here to welcome TAR TO

17:38 FLY.

17:40 JACKSON.

17:51 He weighs in at a lean and mean 190 LBS

17:55 OF PURE POTASSIUM POWER.

17:59 And now home plate on fire, Vincent

18:02 Chapman.

18:04 >> 3 2 1 go.

18:08 It

18:10 f

18:16 it

18:19 out. I said do it. How you do it?

18:22 it.

18:36 >> Welcome back to Banana Ball here on the

18:38 ESPN app, Disney Plus, and the Banana

18:41 Ball YouTube channel. What a finish to

18:44 the home run hitter. Youngster

18:47 able to make it all the way around the

18:49 bags. an electrifying 360 ft. Not a

18:54 professional banana ball player yet, but

18:56 the Texas tailgator jam-packed with guys

18:58 with plenty of professional baseball

19:01 experience. Let's take a look at some of

19:03 the notables. It starts with the skipper

19:06 Joe Miklick over 40 years between

19:08 playing and coaching in the minors. Kyle

19:10 Martin, five years in the minors. Four

19:13 more years in independent professional

19:15 baseball. And then Chris Clark, seven

19:17 years in minor league ball.

19:20 Well, Joe is a really respected presence

19:22 as the manager of this tailgator team.

19:24 Again, coaching at all levels. Kyle

19:27 Martin and Chris Clark though, both guys

19:28 who made it up to Triple A. Martin in

19:30 the Padres's organization. Clark

19:32 pitching very successfully in that Cubs

19:34 or these rookies are ready to rally

19:37 behind Joe Miklick as they chase the

19:39 title in the first year of the BBCL.

19:41 Another fellow with some pro baseball

19:43 experience, Jose Gonzalez Jr., Brett

19:45 Loftess. Checked with him a little a

19:47 while ago.

19:50 Who's ever? We are playing banana ball

19:53 in a football stadium with tailgator

19:55 written across the chest. Jose, brother

19:56 Gonzalez. Brother, you're a rookie this

19:59 year, but you're not new to banana ball.

20:01 You played in the first ever two games

20:02 of this sport. Now you look around. How

20:04 does that make you feel?

20:05 >> I mean, it's it's super special. I mean,

20:07 to see how far we've come in just six

20:09 years, it's it's incredible.

20:10 >> Pick up the pace a little bit, man. I

20:12 know you can walk a little bit. And I

20:13 know you're a rookie in this sport, but

20:14 geez, speaking of being a rookie, you're

20:16 from Texas and now you get to represent

20:18 your home state. A lot of guys from

20:19 Texas on this team, but getting to

20:22 represent the Lone Star State, man,

20:23 that's got to be special.

20:24 >> It is. I'm so happy and proud to be

20:26 here. I mean, I'm ready to put on a good

20:27 show all year long for the people back

20:29 home in Texas and people are here right

20:30 now.

20:31 >> Texas State graduate and a legend there,

20:33 brother. Our walk has taken us out here

20:35 with some bananas and all the way out

20:37 here to right field. only 27 ft when you

20:41 look at it as we'll spin around. Let's

20:43 spin around here. Left-handed hitter.

20:45 You predict to hit any home runs out

20:47 here tonight?

20:47 >> I mean, if I don't, then there's

20:49 something wrong with me because it's in

20:51 the IN THE FIELD, BABY. COME ON.

20:54 >> 27 feet in these 50 foot nets courtesy

20:57 of netting pros. Tell you what, a lot of

20:59 offensive football stadiums. Vico and

21:01 Josh.

21:07 Well, brothers got as good a shot as

21:09 anybody to leave the yard tonight. Let's

21:11 take a look at the numbers in the five

21:13 games the Bananas played in football

21:16 stadiums last year. 16 long balls in

21:18 total. Super Reese had the foregone

21:20 conclusion, a long ball in each of them.

21:22 And Danny Ober, the only man to have two

21:25 in one game. Robert Anthony Cruz, well,

21:28 he had a home run in three of the four

21:29 football stadiums.

21:30 >> Yeah, those nanners had 16 of 36 home

21:33 runs in football stadiums a season ago.

21:36 Of course, Alexi's final home run, a

21:38 walk-off in Charlotte to win the game

21:40 for the Naners. And Danny Overst had two

21:43 home runs in a game in Charlotte as

21:45 well. And for Robert Anthony Cruz, he's

21:47 going to be coming off of the bench in

21:49 tonight's contest. But the Bananas know

21:51 when they insert him into this ball

21:53 game, he's got the potential to impact

21:55 this game in a major way. Yeah, what a

21:57 weapon to have as a pinch hitter at any

21:59 time for Tyler Gillum and company. Let's

22:01 get a gander at the dimensions here in

22:04 Do Campbell Stadium. It is 207 down the

22:08 right field line. For the lefties, you

22:10 absolutely love to see it. 310 to dead

22:12 center. It gets the deepest out in left

22:16 center. 450 ft to left center and 350

22:19 down the left field line. Again, they're

22:20 really funky dimensions. You've also got

22:22 to consider a 50ft net that stretches

22:24 from right field all the way to right

22:26 center. But the approach for these

22:28 lefties is certainly to tap into that

22:30 pull power. And we saw guys such as Dan

22:33 Obur when he had that multi-h home run

22:35 game last season in Charlotte really

22:37 focus as a right-handed batter on his

22:40 opposite field approach to conquer those

22:42 50oot nets.

22:43 >> Yeah, a lot of different plans for the

22:45 hitters tonight. Are they going to swing

22:47 for that short porch or stick to their

22:49 usual approach? We have much more banana

22:53 ball pregame action in just a little

22:56 bit.

23:11 But are you ready to get them really

23:13 fired up for tonight's show?

23:16 >> Yes.

23:17 >> Yes, she is. All right, Cindy. Whatever

23:20 you do, they're going to do. So, let's

23:23 bring it. Here we go.

23:26 Oh, we're clapping and jumping. Good

23:28 start, Cindy.

23:31 Keeping up. Hey, baby. I like this. Get

23:34 those arms going, Cindy. Oh, we're

23:37 raised to the roof. How do you know

23:39 that? I like it, though. Oh, all right.

23:43 She knows where she is. I love it. Great

23:47 job.

23:49 All right, jumping jacks. Here we go.

23:53 Keep it going, Sydney.

23:56 >> Oh, wow. All right, we're back clapping.

24:01 Sydney, look around.

24:03 60,000

24:05 fans going crazy for you fans. Let's

24:09 hear it for six-year-old Sydney.

24:23 Oh

24:32 >> Ladies, gentlemen, boys and girls, and

24:36 potassium enthusiasts from around the

24:38 world. Tonight, you and thousands of

24:41 your friends here live and millions more

24:43 watching at home have gathered here to

24:46 witness something beyond your wildest

24:49 imagination. From Montana to Savannah,

24:53 from the aisle of man to Tokyo.

25:19 Back to the action. The young professor

25:22 getting us fired up.

25:33 This is the time for all 16,000

25:37 people HERE AT FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY

25:41 to get on your feet and give me your

25:44 voices

25:49 because this IS THE GREATEST SHOW IN THE

25:53 SPORTS. Ladies and gentlemen, this is

25:57 fun in a ball.

26:00 >> Oh yeah, FSU. It's time to meet the

26:04 starting lineup for your Savannah

26:07 Bananas.

26:09 Leading off the center fielder, number

26:11 five, Dr. The Doc Meadow.

26:18 Batting second, the right fielder number

26:20 two, Reese Superman,

26:23 Alexis.

26:27 Batting third and playing first base, he

26:29 wears number nine, Max Young Goldber

26:47 at third base. Number four, Kyle KJ

26:53 Jackson.

26:57 He's the captain and the man behind the

27:00 dish, number one, Bill Lord.

27:09 At second base, number eight, our

27:12 greatest showman, Jackson,

27:20 the left fielder number 18. He does it

27:23 all. Danny Hosley

27:30 at shortstop wearing number six. He's

27:33 our glove magician, Ryan Cox.

27:40 And the extra hitter, number seven, tie

27:44 to Fly Jackson.

27:48 On the mound, number 88, Noah Net.

27:54 The Bananas are led by Tyler Gillum,

27:57 assisted by Adam Vro, Vyant, Ryan

27:59 Kellogg, Bryce Stober, and Reggie Hort.

28:43 You're going to get an opportunity to

28:44 leave a legacy that is going to last

28:46 forever.

28:47 >> I said, "My goal is to turn banana ball

28:48 into party out of the ball."

28:50 This locker room right here is y'all's

28:51 firehouse. So remember when you put

28:52 these jerseys on who you represent.

28:54 We're the Texas tailgator. We're the

28:57 Texas tailgate.

29:01 >> This jersey represents a history that

29:03 was represented by players before us.

29:05 >> Jackie Bradley Jr.

29:11 >> The door was already closed.

29:14 >> Look what Ben BACK UP THE MIDDLE. HOSLEY

29:17 GOT IT BEHIND HIS BACK. BACK FLIP HAND.

29:21 YES, SIR.

29:22 >> Jumping between the legs

29:24 behind the back. Bookish

29:27 and it's scored by a fan. It's over. The

29:30 Texas Snailgator have won their first

29:32 game in franchise history. Bluear left

29:36 field. THE RAIN MAKER FROM ASHBY VING.

29:40 SUPER REESE. Are you kidding me? And the

29:43 Savannah Bananas will be the number one

29:46 seed in the indivis

29:54 sends the firefighters to the 2025

29:58 Banana Bone Tour Championship final.

30:00 Skulls deep RIGHT CENTER FIELD. JAKE

30:04 SKULL TO right again. Bouncer to Swan.

30:07 He going between the legs. The party

30:09 animals have won the first ever Animal

30:12 Tour Championship.

30:33 >> This is what the sport of banana ball

30:35 has been building to across its six

30:38 years of existence. The Banana Ball

30:41 Championship League is here. The Loco

30:43 Beach Coconuts and Indianapolis Clowns

30:46 are both 1 and 0. The firefighters and

30:48 party animals 0 and one. Tonight we get

30:52 the finale of the Banana Ball kickoff.

30:54 The Texas Tailgator, the away team, the

30:56 Savannah Bananas, the home team here in

31:00 Dope Campbell Stadium. Over 60,000 fans

31:04 on hand

31:07 for the third game in Banana Ball

31:09 Championship League history.

31:12 Bananers finished last year, the best

31:14 season, the best record in the regular

31:16 season rather, 46 and 26. The Tailgator

31:20 third best, 9 and 24 across their first

31:24 regular season in existence. as we

31:27 welcome you back inside with Josh

31:29 Tipsky, Bo Scalla, thank you so much for

31:31 spending your Saturday night with us

31:33 here in virtual Banana Land. Josh, what

31:35 do you expect from the Bananas and

31:37 Tailgators here tonight? Well, I expect

31:39 a pretty fierce rivalry considering that

31:41 these guys are going to be playing in a

31:42 couple other football stadiums this

31:44 season. Neanfield and Kyle Field, for

31:47 example, and it's going to be a tough

31:49 night for the pitchers and for the

31:50 batters. We saw last season an average

31:52 of over seven home runs per game in

31:55 football stadiums. So look for the long

31:57 ball, but look for the defense to shine

32:00 as well. Trick plays, of course, have

32:01 always been a staple of Banana Ball. And

32:04 last season, we saw teams averaging 18

32:07 per game playing in football fields. So

32:10 I think the gloves are also really going

32:12 to stand out as both of these teams

32:13 impressed defensively a season ago.

32:16 Speaking of the gloves, let's get a

32:17 gander at the Savannah Bananas defensive

32:20 alignment. So far in the very young

32:21 history of the BBCL, the equalizer has

32:24 the equalizer point has been won by the

32:27 away team in both games, the Ners trying

32:29 to buck that trend. Left to right in the

32:31 outfield, it's Danny Hosley, Dr.

32:33 Meadows, and Reese Select Seiatus. Third

32:34 to first in the infield, you see Kyle

32:36 Jackson, Ryan Cox, Jackson Olsen, and

32:39 Max Young Goldberg with with Bill Loy

32:41 behind the dish and Noanisnick on the

32:43 mount.

32:43 >> Well, Ryan Cox is still the Banana Ball

32:45 all-time leader in trick plays. had 210

32:48 a season ago. A new single season record

32:51 in banana ball history. And Dr. Meadows,

32:54 he made some of his own in center field.

32:56 The first outfielder to ever reach 100

32:59 or more trick plays in a season. He had

33:02 129. And don't forget about Alec

33:04 Ziggler, the designated fielder tonight.

33:07 He can enter any inning at any position

33:10 the Bananas choose, but you'll likely

33:11 see him at first base in the middle of

33:14 it all. The Bananas pitching staff's

33:16 leader, Noah Nisnik. He had five trick

33:18 plays a year ago and has many attempts.

33:21 The 2024 Banana Ball Rookie of the Year,

33:24 the ace of the staff once again last

33:26 year, and he gets the opening night ball

33:29 from the get- go once again. And it's

33:31 his second straight opening night start

33:33 for the Savannah Bananas. He's playing

33:34 in his third World Tour. Last year, he

33:36 led all pitchers in innings pitched,

33:38 strikeouts, and fan caught foul balls.

33:41 He induced 14 of them and he's certainly

33:43 hoping to do that at the start of this

33:45 ball game. He also averaged three outs

33:47 in 4 minutes and 1 second on the pitcher

33:50 mound. I think this should be a pretty

33:52 fearsome Texas tailgator lineup that Niz

33:55 is up against. At the top, the second

33:57 baseman Travis Mono, followed by their

33:59 offensive leader a year ago, Nick Lopez.

34:02 Then Jordan Bar, their second round

34:04 draft pick, Kyle Martin, their

34:05 fourthrounder hitting cleanup. Matt

34:08 Danford, Jose Gonzalez Jr., Taj Porter,

34:10 Indiana Stanley, Zack Watson, and Jordan

34:12 Hussein. To round it out, Nick Lopez was

34:15 the lone offensive all-star for the

34:17 Tailgator a season ago. Batted 352 for

34:20 that squad. And for M Danford, a

34:22 powerful righty. Grew up an hour away

34:24 from Tallahassee. So, tonight's kind of

34:26 a special homecoming of sorts. And I

34:29 know he wants to impress the folks here

34:31 in Dope Campbell Stadium. Yeah, Danford

34:33 out of Grand Ridge, Florida, has an

34:36 immense amount of family and friends in

34:39 Do Campbell tonight. The only thing left

34:41 to do before first pitch is hand it off

34:44 to Jesse Cole.

34:45 >> Banana Nation, it is time on three. I

34:50 need everyone here to yell start the

34:52 clock. One, two, three.

34:59 >> Showtime. leading off in the

35:02 >> and away we go after two fantastic games

35:05 across the last two nights at Dick

35:07 Howouser Stadium with over 12,000 fans

35:10 in total attending over 60,000 Banana

35:14 Ball fans have converged

35:17 on the football stadium here at FSU and

35:20 a heater just a bit inside to the switch

35:24 hitting Travis Mono former White Sox

35:26 minor leager a visitor in 2024 on Banana

35:30 Balls developmental team. He was

35:32 overqualified for the spot on that

35:34 roster and the tailgator for a second

35:38 straight tour. Hit 326 last year.

35:43 Very disciplined bat. Didn't swing at

35:46 the first pitch in any of the five

35:48 scrimmages in spring training. Ahead two

35:51 and one here.

35:55 Out shot to Cox between the legs. A kiss

35:58 OF THE BANANA BALL. BUT MAX YOUNG

35:59 Goldberg can't turn it into a double

36:01 trick play. Clangs off the mitt. Mell

36:04 cruises into second and a costly

36:07 mistrick play to start the night. Max

36:09 Young Goldberg, a Banana Ball rookie,

36:11 was actually kind of looking like he

36:13 would be drafted as an outfielder.

36:15 Instead, the Bananas opted to draft him

36:17 as a first baseman. He's still getting

36:19 acclimated to the position. And you see

36:21 him getting a little aggressive early in

36:23 this contest. And the throw from Cox not

36:26 quite at his hip. So he has to make that

36:28 adjustment unable to corral the ball and

36:32 it puts Mono already in scoring position

36:34 for the all-star last season Nick Lopez.

36:37 How about a one two Nisnik Olsen Cox and

36:41 Meadows dancing. Mono getting in on the

36:44 action as well.

36:47 Second pitch to the second batter of the

36:49 ball game.

36:52 Bananas decide to turn it into a boogie

36:55 and Nisnik dials up a fast ball that

36:58 just misses wide. So 200 count

37:03 the former Kentucky Wildat was first

37:05 team all SEC

37:07 a year ago and kept that momentum going

37:11 in his rookie campaign in Banana Land.

37:14 Shots this one foul to count two and

37:16 two. Lopez led the tailgator as Josh

37:18 mentioned hit 352. It's 438 OBP 480

37:22 slugging all best on the team and he

37:25 serves this one out to right. It's going

37:27 to clang off that 50ft net. Mono trying

37:30 to come all the way in. Nisnik cuts off

37:32 the throw. Great base running from Lopez

37:35 to get an extra 90.

37:38 Two batters in. Tailgator with a run

37:40 just like that. And no surprise that

37:42 Nick Lopez is the man collecting the

37:45 first hit of the season for the Texas

37:46 Tailgator. Picking up the run. batted in

37:49 as well. In 33 of his games last year,

37:52 he had multiple hits in 11 contests.

37:58 First look at Jordan Bar. He smashes

38:01 this deep out to left center. That's the

38:03 wrong part of the park if you're trying

38:04 to leave the yard. Danny Hosley shows

38:07 off his fantastic arm. A one hopper to

38:09 KJ. Lopez does not test it.

38:12 And a big first out for Noah and

38:15 company.

38:22 Barth had a three-run homer off Nisnik

38:25 last Saturday in the final spring

38:26 training game

38:28 trying to repeat the performance. Came

38:31 up just a bit shy

38:34 as Kyle Martin has allin a strike on

38:36 him.

38:38 Excellent chance at being the home run

38:41 leader here in his rookie campaign in

38:42 Banana Land. 275 career professional

38:46 long balls.

38:50 It's been a winding road that's brought

38:52 Kmart to the Texas Tailgator, their

38:54 fourth round draft pick.

38:57 This a guy not only with all those home

38:58 runs, but last season in the American

39:00 Association won the home run derby. So,

39:04 it's a very powerful B. This ballpark

39:06 kind of tailored perfectly for the big

39:09 left-hander.

39:11 2-2 fouled straight back. We'll do it

39:14 again.

39:16 Yeah, Martin 31 home runs last year

39:18 between his time with the Cleburn

39:22 Railroaders in the American Association

39:24 and the York Revolution in the Atlantic

39:26 League where he won his first

39:28 professional title. It's actually his

39:30 first championship

39:32 since he was a big league World Series

39:34 champ in high school.

39:37 LONG RUN. BILL LAVOY TRIES TO bareand it

39:40 out of the sky. ends up getting his legs

39:42 taken out by Kyle Jackson. We hope

39:45 everybody's okay.

39:49 >> Oh, that was a spooky play.

39:52 >> An accidental slide tackle from KJack.

39:54 It looks like Bill's head hit the grass

39:56 pretty hard.

40:02 >> Great to see Bill walking off under his

40:05 own power.

40:06 A kiss to the stance. the nine-year

40:09 veteran captain of the Bananas

40:12 looks no worse for wear. AJ looks okay

40:16 as well. Yeah, definitely a spooky play.

40:18 Tough. You see Loy nor KJ called each

40:21 other off while trying to field that

40:23 ball in foul territory. Now Nisnick

40:26 takes a little bit of time before

40:28 delivering the payoff pitch that Martin

40:30 smokes into right field. That one carums

40:33 off the netting and it's just a single

40:36 for Martin and Nick Lopez is held up at

40:39 third base as well. That's respect to

40:42 the powerful arm of Reese Alexi right. A

40:45 reminder it's 207 down the right field

40:48 line, 350 down the left field line, 450

40:51 to left center, 310 to dead center. So

40:53 bizarre dimensions as always in a

40:56 football stadium. Lot of room for Max

40:57 Young Goldberg to play with as he makes

40:59 the catch. Lopez really broke for it and

41:02 then retreats back to third.

41:06 >> An enormous second out

41:09 as M. Danford is retired.

41:15 Runner still on the corners for Jos

41:17 Gonzalez Jr.

41:20 as Nisnik checks on Martin at first.

41:25 Brother as they call him back in banana

41:28 land. 2020 collegiate banana.

41:32 He has torn up professional baseball

41:34 since we last saw him in the Pioneer

41:37 League in 2024. Hit 370 with 19 pumps.

41:43 Fouls the fast ball straight back.

41:51 Shot back up the middle. Dr. Meadows

41:53 makes a diving, tumbling catch.

41:59 and Nisnik able to strand a pair, but a

42:02 run comes home for the Tailgator.

42:03 They've got a chance to earn the first

42:05 point tonight. Well, that's a great job

42:06 by Noah Nisnik able to escape trouble in

42:09 the first inning. Leave guys on the

42:11 corners. And now things in the hand of

42:14 the Tailgator playing in their first

42:15 football stadium to see if they can get

42:18 on the board and earn that point in the

42:19 first inning.

42:20 >> Before we take a look at the Tailgator

42:23 defensive alignment, we're going to get

42:24 the world's slowest race.

42:27 Jesse Cole chatting to the over 60K in

42:30 attendance

42:32 >> here in the capital of the Sunshine

42:34 State.

42:36 >> Looks like it's going to be a pretty

42:37 enormous race.

42:44 >> By my count, 11 babies

42:48 >> competing for the ultimate glory

42:51 of champion in the world's slowest race.

42:56 Nobody making a big break early except

42:58 for the youngster in the white hoodie

43:01 CHUGGING AWAY. WHAT SPEED.

43:05 The youngster broke away from the pack

43:08 but now pausing and now another top is

43:12 starting to get the motor going a little

43:14 bit. Everybody else just enjoying the

43:17 view.

43:20 It's got to be an absolutely bizarre

43:22 experience

43:24 >> to be in the middle of

43:27 a full capacity dope Campbell Stadium

43:30 and only one youngster is going to take

43:33 THE CAKE HERE. ABSOLUTE DOMINANCE

43:36 CHUGGING TOWARDS THE FINISH line

43:41 but stopped at the very end.

43:44 So close YET SO FAR AWAY. OH NO.

43:52 AND GRABBING THE FINISH LINE. I THINK

43:54 THAT COUNTS.

43:58 Easy victory for that baby in the

44:00 world's slowest race. Holy moly. Future

44:03 Olympian right there. Quick look at the

44:06 Gator defense.

44:08 Left to right in the outfield. Watson

44:10 Stanley and Gonzalez. Third to first in

44:12 the infield. Bar Hussein Mono and

44:14 Danford Porter behind the plate. What

44:16 was Hussein who finished with 49 trick

44:18 plays last season to lead the Texas

44:20 tailgator. Certainly expected to get

44:22 more than 50 this season. And Watson and

44:25 Stanley in left and center field. Both

44:27 capable of backflip catches in the

44:29 outfield that you may see in tonight's

44:31 ball game. In the middle of it all,

44:33 Chris Clark with nine different pitches.

44:36 The pride of West Lake Village,

44:38 California was a star at USC. Second

44:41 team all-American closer. parlayed that

44:44 into a fourthround draft pick by the

44:46 Cubs in 2019

44:48 and seven years in the organization

44:50 getting up to AAA

44:53 2020. He was the number 14 ranked

44:55 prospect in this Cub system. Third

44:58 overall pick by the way in the Banana

45:00 Ball player draft. This is a guy with a

45:02 pretty killer resume and a really good

45:05 command of the strike zone as he finally

45:07 gets the strike against the Bananas

45:09 leadoff man Dr. Meadows.

45:12 deuces on Dr. who hit 365 last year.

45:15 Second straight tour pacing the bananas

45:17 in batting average. Chance for the fans

45:20 have yet to see a foul out to the fans

45:23 in this young banana ball championship

45:25 league. And a catch but after a bobble.

45:29 So it's not an out. It's got to be a

45:30 clean catch

45:33 for the fans to put away the hitter.

45:38 Another

45:42 2-2 coming from the 67 righty.

45:46 >> This one launched deep down the right

45:48 field line. Tailing

45:51 foul just barely.

45:53 Right on top of it. John Crosser, the

45:55 right field umpire, had just about as

45:57 good a view in the house. Really close

45:59 call. Meadow certainly wanted it. Had

46:01 already stuck the finger up in the air

46:04 thinking that this one was going to get

46:06 him extra bases. And you see Jose

46:09 Gonzalez Jr. in right field also well

46:12 aware that ball not landing fair for the

46:14 bananas leadoff man. Brother may be the

46:17 only guy who had a better view than

46:18 crosser.

46:20 Count runs full on Meadows. Only homered

46:23 once last year. It was over the green

46:25 monster in Fenway Park.

46:29 Known for getting the bat on the ball.

46:33 Payoff pitch

46:36 called. Strike three. Clark goes to the

46:39 fast ball.

46:41 Nicks the top of the inside corner and

46:45 he's fired up as he should be. Yeah,

46:47 that was paint from Chris Clark against

46:49 Dr. Meadows. First out of his young

46:52 Banana Ball career. And it comes be in

46:54 the K. And you see him fired up out on

46:59 the pitcher mound

47:01 getting in on a little song and dance

47:03 early. This is what you like to see from

47:06 a former minor league arm.

47:09 And

47:09 >> what an arm it is.

47:11 >> Got up to 97.5.

47:13 Fastest fast ball he has ever thrown.

47:15 Thinks he'll probably sit 90 to 95 here

47:17 in banana ball. Everybody loses a couple

47:19 ticks in velocity because of how quickly

47:22 you have to throw every pitch. Don't get

47:25 a lot of time to take a deep breath, sit

47:27 back. Whoa, how about this? Reeseleiatis

47:31 is going to steal first base.

47:34 on a ball that ended up tucked into the

47:37 net behind home plate

47:41 >> across five plus games in

47:44 football stadiums. It's the first time

47:46 we've ever seen that.

47:49 How about it? Yes, certainly an

47:52 interesting situation. I think a good

47:54 call made by Vincent Chapman with that

47:56 ball technically going out of play on

47:58 what was a wild pitch. And now from one

48:01 former Pioneer League man to another.

48:03 Max Young Goldberg at the dish. Alexion

48:06 is taking off and he will swipe second

48:08 base successfully. Super Reese now in

48:12 scoring position with one out. That's

48:15 the tying run. So he swipes first on a

48:18 wild pitch that goes out of play. And on

48:21 the next offering swipes second.

48:25 >> Another legend of the Pioneer League,

48:27 MJG at the dish.

48:30 ball and a strike on the Nanner's first

48:32 baseman.

48:37 It's

48:37 >> Max's trick play miss that led to the

48:39 tailgator pushing a run across in the

48:41 top half.

48:43 Just tore the cover off the ball. Last

48:46 year in the Pioneer League hit 361,

48:48 reach base at a 476 clip. Talked about

48:53 that Pioneer League record 130 stakes.

48:57 It all came together

49:00 >> and he's fired up to be a part of banana

49:02 ball. His first career at bat is going

49:04 to end with a backwards K on a beautiful

49:07 back door bender from Clark.

49:09 Both his strikeouts looking. Kay went to

49:12 the inside part of the plate against Dr.

49:14 Meadows the rightander. Now goes outside

49:17 against Max Young Goldberg and gets the

49:20 punch out. And now it's Danny Oburst

49:24 who's up at the dish swinging through

49:25 the first pitch. And Alexis is going to

49:28 be ruled out at third base by Hunter

49:31 Ives. And that will net the Texas

49:34 Tailgator the first POINT IN TONIGHT'S

49:37 BALL GAME. Aggressive base running

49:41 ends up biting the bananas in the rear

49:43 end. Another look. Nice quick tag from

49:46 Jordan Bar. Tailgator up one nil.

49:50 >> One inning in. Talk to Skip. I think

49:52 with all righties we're in over here. I

49:54 don't think it's much of a point.

49:56 >> Cowboy Kyle being drafted to the

49:58 bananas.

50:16 Let's

50:33 go.

51:10 I told him I wanted to be in yellow for

51:12 as long as I continue to play this game.

51:14 But I don't want to come back to a team

51:16 that sucks. Um, I don't want you to feel

51:18 like you are pressured into drafting me

51:20 in a certain spot.

51:30 >> Well, we finally get to him a minute

51:32 after I expected. Cowboy Kyle Luig with

51:34 the mic on him in the middle of it all.

51:36 How are you doing tonight, my friend?

51:38 >> Yeah, I got you. You got me.

51:40 >> Third going for you. Hey, nice bag. I've

51:43 >> got sunshine jacket.

51:46 >> Oh, Bill Loy to it as well. Be quiet for

51:50 a second. Sorry.

51:52 1 2 3.

52:00 >> Do it again.

52:00 >> Yeah.

52:04 >> Oh my gosh. Heads up.

52:05 >> Am I throwing hard?

52:07 >> What do we want here?

52:09 >> What do we want here? Go side arm, but

52:11 go up.

52:11 >> Okay.

52:14 >> Nut. I don't hear you guys saying it up

52:15 there, Bo.

52:20 >> Right down the middle.

52:21 >> How about that?

52:23 >> Oh, man.

52:24 >> There we go. Good job, Max.

52:26 >> We'll take an out.

52:27 >> Hey.

52:27 >> All right, how you guys doing? Let's get

52:29 into a little bit of chat. This might be

52:31 quick.

52:31 >> We're up on the ninth floor, so kind of

52:33 feels like we're looking at you from a

52:34 blimp.

52:35 >> Here's a knuckler. up

52:39 as always though, Kyle. So,

52:40 >> I didn't think about the uh set up in

52:42 this bathroom, this uh football stadium.

52:44 >> Go slaughter.

52:46 >> Yeah.

52:47 >> And there's no bathroom down here. So, I

52:49 need this in closed.

52:50 >> Uh-oh.

52:52 >> That was a good one there. But that

52:53 might be a home run. No, it's not.

52:56 >> Holy

52:56 >> WOW.

52:57 >> SUCH A SICK INDIVIDUAL, MAN.

52:59 >> I think I just learned

53:01 >> you did. BUT THAT'S OKAY CUZ IT'S ONE OF

53:03 THE CRAZIEST TRICK PLAYS YOU'LL EVER

53:05 SEE. I'm going to BE HONEST, I

53:07 >> NO WAY I get to keep that one, right?

53:08 That's got to go to the dugout.

53:10 >> I CUT CUSSING OUT OF MY LIFE LIKE TWO

53:11 YEARS AGO. It's been a while, BUT THAT

53:14 WAS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.

53:15 >> HEY, what's the MPI ad up there, fellas?

53:17 >> You're at 1 minute and 20 seconds right

53:19 now, Cowboy Kyle. And you should be

53:21 thanking Dr. Meadows as well. THAT'S A

53:24 MINDMELTING TRICK PLAY.

53:28 >> OH, YEAH.

53:28 >> THANKS, SWEETIE.

53:29 >> This is going to happen, man.

53:31 >> Let's do it again. Let's get another

53:33 strike here and then uh we're going to

53:35 get a platform.

53:38 >> Dude, that's like

53:40 >> that's a ridiculous fit.

53:41 >> Yeah. What do you want?

53:42 >> Rock strikes.

53:43 >> Okay, cool.

53:45 >> Looking like Reese Miller out there.

53:48 >> Oh my god.

53:50 >> Two two.

53:51 >> Yeah. Let's uh go to the same arm slot.

53:53 Throw a heater.

53:54 >> I like a cutter.

53:55 >> Okay, that work.

53:59 >> That wasn't the cutter. The stuff is

54:02 electric.

54:02 >> All right, reset.

54:04 >> Shake off.

54:11 >> Oh, yeah. Squeeze that. Squeeze that.

54:14 That's got some height, though.

54:19 >> No catch.

54:19 >> Three, two. Should we get him clapping?

54:21 >> Yeah, get him clapping and then run up a

54:23 slider.

54:24 >> It's not going to be good for your MPI,

54:26 Kyle.

54:26 >> It's okay. I gave up on a showman, Bo.

54:28 >> Oh, okay. Cool. There we go. This place

54:31 should be a loud clap right here. Let's

54:32 see what they got.

54:33 >> How many people can clap at the same

54:35 time? I kind of like a little bit on the

54:37 climb.

54:38 >> That's what I wanted. Cool.

54:40 >> Coming from down under.

54:51 >> Good work, guys.

54:52 >> That was fun. We should do that more

54:53 often. I'm sorry we couldn't chat.

54:55 >> Hey, let's do the thing. Let's do the

54:56 thing.

54:57 >> Come on.

54:58 >> THEY'RE DOING THE THING. OH, THERE WE

55:00 GO.

55:02 >> Let's go in a circle. Why not? How long

55:05 can I do it?

55:11 >> All right. Bye, guys.

55:24 >> We're going to finish that song lyric.

55:26 But let's make it a competition. Young

55:28 professor, where are you at?

55:30 >> I tell you what, Jesse, I'm going to go

55:32 ahead and represent all of our fans

55:35 behind third base out in left field in

55:37 the left field end zone. THE BEST IN

55:39 CLASS OF TALLAHASSEE.

55:41 >> YEAH. YEAH. You may have that side, but

55:44 I got the entire outfield side in right

55:47 field, center field, and all the way

55:49 around. And we call this the winning

55:52 section.

55:54 First song.

55:58 together.

56:15 >> We are off to a great start.

56:16 Tallahassee, that first point goes to

56:20 the third base side.

56:23 Next song

56:26 This is our jam. Here we go.

56:48 >> You guys sound so good. That point goes

56:50 to the OUTFIELD SECTION. WE'RE TIED.

56:55 This is for all the marbles, baby. Let's

56:58 go.

57:00 >> This is our jam.

57:22 One of the greatest trick plays you will

57:24 ever see. Dr. Meadows behind the back

57:28 power slide. WHAT A way to kick off his

57:31 tour defensively after a diving catch in

57:33 the first. Look, these guys are

57:35 competitive from a trick play aspect.

57:37 They all want to have the greatest

57:38 highlight of all time. Dr. Meadows, of

57:41 course, has ripped the barehanded

57:43 backflip catch, but there is such a high

57:46 level of difficulty, not only to make

57:48 the sliding grab behind Cowboy Kyle, but

57:51 catch it behind the back as well. It is

57:53 an early contender already for the

57:56 greatest trick play of the 2026 World

57:59 Tour. And it shouldn't be a surprise. It

58:02 comes from the guy who had 129 last

58:04 year, second most only to Ryan Cox. He

58:07 had 98 trick plays the year before. It's

58:09 the only outfielder to ever have triple

58:12 digit trick plays on a tour as it's a

58:15 meaty part of this Nanner's lineup in

58:17 the last of the second. Four, five, and

58:18 six. Dan Oburst

58:21 with 1-1 count. Christian Davis, first

58:23 man out of the pen for the Gator.

58:29 >> Oburst here in his eighth season as a

58:32 Savannah Banana.

58:35 >> Third straight tour as the primary

58:37 designated hitter.

58:40 mainly the first baseman before that

58:43 and you saw him really embrace that DH

58:46 role. He's been able to focus on the

58:47 thing that he does the best and that's

58:49 swinging the bat. Had a careerhigh nine

58:52 home runs a season ago and has now run

58:54 the count full against the tailgator

58:57 allstar CD.

59:03 >> Highf fly ball deep down the right field

59:06 line. It will knife foul.

59:08 talked about it on the pregame show. Dan

59:10 the only banana to ever have a multi-h

59:13 homer game in a football stadium. Did it

59:15 last year in Charlotte

59:26 goes RIGHT BACK DOWN THAT RIGHT FIELD

59:28 LINE. THIS time it's foul again.

59:35 Well, a clear strategy in play for Danny

59:38 O.

59:42 Oh, so consistent. 318 last year. Led

59:45 the tour with his six triples

59:49 and earns the sprint.

59:52 Oh no, the throw sailed over Jonathan

59:54 Lutters, the designated FIELDER IN AT

59:56 SHORT. THE THROW back into the infield.

59:58 Sailed as well. Oburst is going to get

1:00:00 three bases on the sprint.

1:00:05 It's the first sprint we have seen

1:00:07 tonight. All seven fielders behind the

1:00:08 pitcher and catcher have to touch the

1:00:10 ball before it's live.

1:00:14 >> The inning winning run 90 ft away for

1:00:16 Kyle Jackson.

1:00:30 pushing to the limit.

1:01:09 it it

1:01:25 of course we got a Specialty walk up

1:01:27 from the kid who has taken Banana Ball

1:01:30 by storm.

1:01:33 Plenty of signs in the stands for Kyle

1:01:36 Jackson

1:01:37 out of Bowling Green, Ohio.

1:01:41 Spent his

1:01:44 four years of college ball at Kent

1:01:45 State. Mir was a MAC champ

1:01:48 and led the tour last year with a 481 on

1:01:52 base percentage in his rookie campaign

1:01:54 after he was a visitor in 2024. He was

1:01:57 the runner up for the rookie of the year

1:01:58 award last season, a Banana Ball

1:02:00 Allstar. And he wasn't guaranteed

1:02:02 playing time at the start of the season.

1:02:04 That's what Tyler Gillum and Adam Byron

1:02:06 told Kyle Jackson. Yet he wound up

1:02:09 starting in 62 of the Banana's 72 games

1:02:13 and was great with the men in scoring

1:02:15 position as HE SWINGS AWAY AND BLASTS

1:02:18 THIS ONE CLEARING the 50ft net. It is a

1:02:22 walk up two-run shot for Kyle Jackson

1:02:25 and the Ners even the score at one.

1:02:42 Well, KJ homered in the first banana

1:02:45 ball game ever played in a football

1:02:47 stadium in Tampa last year. He homers in

1:02:51 the first game in a football stadium in

1:02:54 2026.

1:02:56 >> And we are nodded at a point each. He's

1:02:58 with Sam Bowman.

1:02:59 >> Hey KJ, is that how you push it? Push it

1:03:02 to the limit, man. Can't worry about

1:03:04 what people might say. It's who I am.

1:03:06 Got to live my dream my own way. Kyle

1:03:08 Jackson. HE DOES IT ALL.

1:03:11 >> Kentucky burpee race. Let's see if

1:03:13 that's as exciting.

1:03:16 >> No doubt about that.

1:03:19 >> With you by having our own variation,

1:03:22 but we couldn't find any horses. So

1:03:24 instead, ladies and gentlemen, we have a

1:03:25 brand new game. It's called the Kentucky

1:03:28 Burpee Race.

1:03:37 That's right. We have two teams of four.

1:03:39 Four of our fans and four of the most

1:03:42 respected vouchers in all of Banana

1:03:44 land. Our manas. When I say go, these

1:03:47 two are going to drop down to a burpee,

1:03:50 PICK UP A SODA, CHUCK the whole thing,

1:03:52 and then they have to burp into a

1:03:54 microphone before they can run down, tag

1:03:56 their partners, who will do the same

1:03:57 thing. The first team to make it all the

1:04:00 way around with their burpees and burps

1:04:02 wins. Gentlemen,

1:04:04 on your marks, get set, go.

1:04:11 I'll get that chug. Get that chug.

1:04:24 He got it. HE GOT IT. GO.

1:04:30 We may have some

1:04:33 collateral damage depending on how these

1:04:35 burps go.

1:04:38 We are very even.

1:04:42 Oh, hit with a good one. Takes off

1:04:45 running with the wheels. The cheese gets

1:04:48 tagged in. The fans are in. Hit that

1:04:50 burpee.

1:04:57 Man, Anna's taking the lead. Oh yeah,

1:05:04 >> she's with the wheels.

1:05:06 Spidey a a crossfit coach. It all comes

1:05:10 down to this.

1:05:16 There he comes.

1:05:19 NO QUESTION ABOUT IT, LADIES AND

1:05:21 GENTLEMEN. THEY CANNOT BE STOPPED. GIVE

1:05:23 IT UP FOR THE WINNERS OF THE KENTUCKY

1:05:25 Murphy race, the Manas.

1:05:29 >> Brand new ball game here in Tallahassee.

1:05:34 1-1 as we go to the third. Austin Drury,

1:05:37 the new man on the mound. A Florida

1:05:39 native out of Land O Lakes. 5 years in

1:05:42 the Los Angeles Dodgers organization.

1:05:44 After three more years of professional

1:05:46 baseball, he finds himself in the yellow

1:05:48 and blue. He's the fourth overall pick

1:05:50 by the Bananas in the Banana Ball

1:05:52 Championship League player draft. And

1:05:54 they had a lot to like for this former

1:05:57 Dodgers minor league arm. Crossed nearly

1:06:00 200 innings pitched in the minors. A

1:06:02 3.35 earn run average 199 strikeouts and

1:06:07 he commands fast ball cutter change up

1:06:09 and sweeper as the Bananas are going to

1:06:13 they are unable to get the out at first

1:06:16 base. Seth Markham ruling that Jordan

1:06:19 Usain reached safely.

1:06:22 Another look right here.

1:06:24 Yeah, Ziggy just couldn't hold on to it.

1:06:28 The Banana's designated fielder.

1:06:31 Not able to get a firm grip on the trick

1:06:34 play attempt from Jackson Olsson. The

1:06:35 official scoring ruling. Josh,

1:06:41 >> right now I think Eileen trick play

1:06:43 missed.

1:06:45 Back to the top of the order. Travis

1:06:47 Mono plunked. He reached on a trick play

1:06:49 missed by Max Goldberg at first. His

1:06:52 first time. All right,

1:06:55 >> we got ourselves

1:06:57 >> another derby.

1:07:00 >> Two for the price of one inning.

1:07:05 >> Mono with a big lead

1:07:07 >> and he's going to absolutely dominate.

1:07:10 Allen and Fletcher never stood a chance.

1:07:14 Good horsey.

1:07:18 >> So, two on, no outs, and Austin Drury in

1:07:23 his first career banana ball inning in a

1:07:26 bit of trouble. To the two-hole we go.

1:07:28 Nick Lopez, an RBI single, his first

1:07:30 time. Switch hitter against another

1:07:33 southpaw.

1:07:35 >> Once again, swing from the right side.

1:07:36 He's got a ball and a strike on him.

1:07:39 >> Has to look out for a five pitch mix

1:07:40 from Drury. Couple fast balls.

1:07:44 Two seam, four seam, cutter, change up,

1:07:47 and a slider. That was a beautiful

1:07:49 bender right there as Drury's back

1:07:52 ahead.

1:07:57 Job by Lopez

1:07:59 to fight off the one, two.

1:08:15 And another hit by pitch. So backto back

1:08:18 Gators are plunked by AD and the bags

1:08:22 are juiced with none gone.

1:08:28 The plot thickens.

1:08:32 This is surprising to see from Austin

1:08:34 Drury who was rated so highly heading

1:08:37 into that player draft because of his

1:08:39 ability to throw strikes.

1:08:42 Having some tough time with control

1:08:44 against Mono and now Lopez and now the

1:08:46 ever dangerous Jordan Bar up at the

1:08:49 plate who's coming off a 19 home run

1:08:52 season last season in Independent Ball.

1:08:56 That was his third straight year with

1:08:58 the Sou Falls Canaries as he goes down

1:09:02 swinging on that nasty slatter from

1:09:04 Drury. That is a

1:09:06 ginormous first out. Only took three

1:09:08 pitches to take care of the Sou Falls

1:09:13 legend.

1:09:14 Guy who spent

1:09:17 all five years of his college career in

1:09:20 Sou Falls,

1:09:23 South Dakota as well.

1:09:27 Kyle Martin trying to pick him up.

1:09:33 >> One-1 count on the dangerous lefty.

1:09:41 That one gets by Loy, but it's a short

1:09:44 back stop here in Bobby Baldin Field at

1:09:47 Do Campbell Stadium. So, right back to

1:09:50 him and Hussein never stood a chance if

1:09:52 he was trying to come home.

1:09:55 A mistriick play and two hit batters.

1:09:58 Bags juiced with one away. A check swing

1:10:03 >> on a heater that scrapes the outside

1:10:05 corner.

1:10:08 The 2-2

1:10:11 swing and a miss. Backto back punch

1:10:14 outs. Drury goes back to the slider and

1:10:17 he's an out away from escaping. Yeah,

1:10:20 just wound up fooling Kyle Martin who's

1:10:23 taken big swings in this ball game.

1:10:27 Just had him way out in front of the

1:10:29 bender. And now Direian out away from

1:10:31 getting out of this. But got something

1:10:33 special coming from M Danford.

1:10:43 angle.

1:11:22 Special night for M. Danford.

1:11:25 Grew up an FSU fan. Talked about it.

1:11:29 Grew up just 45 minutes down the road.

1:11:34 Popped out his first time. He's got the

1:11:37 bases loaded with two outs.

1:11:42 all the power in the world. Three long

1:11:44 balls last year and he was a monster

1:11:45 against the Bananas last season in eight

1:11:47 games. Had three doubles, a home run

1:11:49 against the boys in yellow and batted

1:11:52 375 with the men in scoring position.

1:11:54 Kyle Jackson charges, transfers between

1:11:57 the legs and picks up the third trick

1:11:59 play of the ball game for the Nanners.

1:12:02 And Austin Drury miraculously escapes

1:12:05 trouble with the bases loaded and keeps

1:12:08 the Gators off the board. He pulls off

1:12:11 the elusive Noble Tiger.

1:12:13 >> Bases loaded with no outs. Somehow he

1:12:16 gets out of it unscathed.

1:12:18 >> The United States there are over 400,000

1:12:21 children and teens in foster care. Look

1:12:24 around. That's enough to fill Doe

1:12:26 Campbell Stadium seven times with the

1:12:29 number of children and teens in care. To

1:12:31 raise awareness and support communities,

1:12:34 we created Bananas Foster, the official

1:12:37 nonprofit of Banana Ball. Our

1:12:40 organization is dedicated to celebrating

1:12:43 those in the foster care community while

1:12:45 educating and inspiring others to get

1:12:48 involved.

1:12:49 Tonight, we are celebrating the

1:12:52 Singleary family. Stacy and Sid have

1:12:55 been a licensed foster family for 20

1:12:58 years. Since being licensed, they have

1:13:02 cared for newborns all the way up to

1:13:04 teenagers and have focused on reunifying

1:13:07 the kiddos they care for with their

1:13:09 biological families, which is the

1:13:12 ultimate goal of foster care. In total,

1:13:16 they have welcomed 100 children and

1:13:20 teens into their home.

1:13:23 fans, please join us in celebrating this

1:13:26 amazing family for making a difference

1:13:28 right here in your community.

1:13:53 Well, another massive shout out to Stacy

1:13:57 and Sid Singleary, heroes in the foster

1:14:00 care community here in the Sunshine

1:14:02 State

1:14:13 Bananas Foster with this weekend's 5050

1:14:16 raffle. If you want tickets, just scan

1:14:18 the QR code on the big board. Winning

1:14:20 ticket number for the three-day combined

1:14:22 jackpot will be announced later tonight.

1:14:24 Just keep your eyes peeled to that

1:14:27 board. Now, ladies and gentlemen, direct

1:14:30 your attention and check out our world

1:14:33 famous Bananas Pepe.

1:14:38 And get those hands clapping, yo.

1:15:14 Uh, while the banana band blasts away. I

1:15:16 can't believe I haven't done this yet.

1:15:18 Hello, YouTube. Come on. Good evening,

1:15:21 YouTube. Oh, it feels so good getting to

1:15:25 chat with you all. Thank you for hanging

1:15:27 out with us here.

1:15:30 What a fun ball game so far.

1:15:33 Bananas and Tailgators, both

1:15:35 fantastically talented squads. Chat's

1:15:37 been going crazy here on the Banana Ball

1:15:39 YouTube channel.

1:15:43 Banana Band blasting away here on the

1:15:46 campus of Florida State with over 60,000

1:15:49 fans on hand for the third game in the

1:15:52 history of the BBCL, the Banana Ball

1:15:55 Championship League.

1:16:00 We get to welcome in as we head to the

1:16:03 bottom of the third inning

1:16:05 the tailgator first ever designated

1:16:08 fielder, none other than Jonathan

1:16:11 Sunshine Lutters. Woo! Sunshine, you've

1:16:14 been all over the place.

1:16:17 How has this designated fielder

1:16:18 experience been for you thus far?

1:16:20 >> Oh, I'm absolutely loving it. I'm I'm

1:16:22 giving a lot of credit to Matt Wolf who

1:16:24 really was the creator of the idea. It

1:16:27 gives the ability to have one fielders

1:16:28 to be anywhere at the field at any time

1:16:31 if you replace any player and be

1:16:33 entertaining, have some fun, play some

1:16:35 good defense.

1:16:37 Bill Loy at the dish and son of a gun. I

1:16:40 think

1:16:41 >> I like you right here.

1:16:42 >> Brett Loftess is somewhere here, right

1:16:43 Brett? You down there, buddy?

1:16:45 >> Man, they gave me a microphone. I'm

1:16:46 going be honest with you, Bo. I can't

1:16:48 hear myself think down here. 60,000

1:16:50 people. This is the loudest place I've

1:16:53 ever been in. I'm also kind of afraid.

1:16:54 Uh-oh. Fan call foul ball potentially

1:16:57 for the captain Biller Roy on

1:17:00 >> that almost went hate.

1:17:03 >> Sunny.

1:17:03 >> Yeah.

1:17:04 >> Last time I talked to you was your

1:17:05 birthday. I asked you what you're going

1:17:07 to get for your birthday. This is going

1:17:09 to be a lot cooler than any birthday

1:17:10 gift you can receive.

1:17:11 >> Yeah. No, I mean a 10 win baby. That's

1:17:13 what we're looking for. That's what

1:17:14 we're going for, man. I mean this team's

1:17:16 awesome and so many great dudes and a

1:17:19 little dog would be awesome. Oh

1:17:24 >> yo. OH YEAH. MOON TRAVIS MONELF for out

1:17:27 number one here in the bottom of the

1:17:29 third.

1:17:32 >> Sunshine, can you hear anything right

1:17:33 now?

1:17:34 >> Wow. Besides your beautiful voice in my

1:17:35 ear.

1:17:37 >> Not much.

1:17:39 >> I'm going to have to keep my head on a

1:17:40 swivel down here. I told Gilly to

1:17:42 protect me down here in third base

1:17:43 coaching box, but I'm rather afraid. I'm

1:17:45 really afraid for our cameraman Russ

1:17:47 who's got his back to Jackson Olsen. Oh,

1:17:49 another fan called foul ball

1:17:50 opportunity.

1:17:53 Oh my gosh. Pico and Josh, we've had

1:17:55 about four of these bobbled tonight.

1:17:58 >> Still haven't seen one yet in 2026.

1:18:01 >> Well, you know, at the baseball stadium,

1:18:03 Sunshine, they had the netting that went

1:18:04 over the stands here. There's plenty of

1:18:06 room.

1:18:08 >> Oh, good pitch.

1:18:09 >> Sunshine, this has got to be the most

1:18:11 people you've ever played in front of.

1:18:13 >> 100% without a doubt. And how cool is

1:18:14 this, man? I mean, so many people

1:18:16 watching Banana Ball and being here in

1:18:19 person. So many more online. It's It's

1:18:21 incredible. It's so so cool. Count home

1:18:24 run.

1:18:24 >> Oh man.

1:18:28 >> All right, ladies and gentlemen,

1:18:30 >> welcome to the

1:18:36 >> I'm guessing no.

1:18:45 >> Go, Josh.

1:18:47 >> Just absolutely caught it. There

1:18:50 was coach Tyler Gillum. And now Sam

1:18:52 Bowman is gonna have Jackie at home

1:18:54 play.

1:19:06 >> Hey. HEY, JACKSON. JACKSON. HEY. SORRY

1:19:08 TO BOTHER YOU, BUT I thought what you

1:19:09 did was really neat there. How's it feel

1:19:11 to hit home runs again?

1:19:13 >> Feels really cool. I'm not sure if that

1:19:14 would be gone on a regular stadium, but

1:19:16 it's gone here, so I'm happy.

1:19:18 >> We're all really proud of Jackson

1:19:19 Olsson. And then isn't that smile worth

1:19:21 a million bucks?

1:19:22 >> Hey, I'm proud of you, too.

1:19:23 >> Yeah,

1:19:24 >> nice. He gives. He gives so much.

1:19:32 >> Thanks, SB. What a shot. Jackson Olsen.

1:19:35 There was nothing cheap about that. That

1:19:37 would have been out of any baseball

1:19:39 stadium you have ever seen. Nanners up

1:19:42 2-1 after three.

1:19:50 We got two dads and we got two sets of

1:19:52 kids. AND THE FATHERS have to catch

1:19:55 their kids out in the outfield as they

1:19:58 run off. So kids, are you ready?

1:20:03 On your mark, get set, go.

1:20:09 NOW, DADS, CATCH THEM.

1:20:14 AND HERE THEY GO.

1:20:17 WHO'S GOING TO CATCH HIM FIRST?

1:20:24 We got ONE IN THE OUTFIELD. WILL HE GET

1:20:26 THE OTHER ONE?

1:20:28 WE GOT ONE CAUGHT. OH.

1:20:32 AND NOW TRYING TO GET THE OTHER SON.

1:20:36 This is a lot of work for the dads.

1:20:40 They are RUNNING IN CIRCLES, BUT THE

1:20:42 KIDS ARE GETTING TIRED. AND I THINK THE

1:20:45 DADS ARE TOO. AND HE'S GOT THEM. AND THE

1:20:48 WINNER OF THE FATHER SON CATCH. LET'S

1:20:51 HEAR IT FOR HIM.

1:21:24 Welcome back to Banana Ball on the ESPN

1:21:26 app, Disney Plus, the Banana Ball

1:21:28 YouTube channel. Well, how about the

1:21:29 social media superstars? Kyle Jackson

1:21:32 walk-off two-run tater to win the second

1:21:35 and then Jackson Olsen with the solo

1:21:38 shot annihilated out to right center to

1:21:41 win the third. And just like that, the

1:21:43 Savannah Bananas have their first lead

1:21:45 of 2026. Pair of lefties taking

1:21:47 advantage of the dimensions in this

1:21:49 unique ballpark of ours. And again,

1:21:51 these guys aren't just good on the

1:21:53 social media side of things. Olsson and

1:21:56 KJ making the impact. And now a banana

1:21:58 ball rookie and Jacob Aela takes the

1:22:00 mound. A 10th round pick from the

1:22:02 Bananas and a guy pitching at Mercyhurst

1:22:04 a season ago who both started and closed

1:22:08 across his collegiate career and now

1:22:10 enters in the fourth for his squad. He's

1:22:13 got Jos Gonzalez Jr. Taj Porter and

1:22:16 Indiana Stanley due to swing it for the

1:22:18 tailgator

1:22:20 as brother skies this one to shallow

1:22:24 left. Hosley crashing in will make a

1:22:26 sliding basket snag.

1:22:31 An adventurous first out to kick off our

1:22:33 fourth frame.

1:22:39 Spent his entire college career at

1:22:41 Mercyhurst. They were D2 for the first

1:22:43 three years, then leveled up to division

1:22:45 1 baseball.

1:22:48 >> Couple years in the Coastal Plane League

1:22:50 as well. You Martinsville Mustangs.

1:22:56 Taj Porter, the Dunkin Donut batter of

1:22:58 the game,

1:23:01 >> sends that one behind him. Not caught by

1:23:04 the fans. Bounced into a trick play from

1:23:07 Olsen at second, his first time. And the

1:23:10 night was pretty easy there for Jacob

1:23:11 Aela. Two pitches gets the out. Connor

1:23:13 Harris, the 68 right-hander, is now on

1:23:16 the pitcher mound for the Nanners out of

1:23:19 Avon, Connecticut. another draft pick of

1:23:22 theirs and he goes up against the Dunkin

1:23:25 Donut batter Taj Porter. Heck of a debut

1:23:28 for Brazila. So he's got zeros on his

1:23:32 career banana ball erra as this one's

1:23:34 bounced to Ziggy fielded between the

1:23:35 legs. He'll take it to first himself.

1:23:39 And Connor Harris, the pride of Avon

1:23:42 Connecticut,

1:23:44 starts his banana ball career with a

1:23:46 ground out induced.

1:23:49 Anders up four nothing in the

1:23:50 allimportant

1:23:52 trick play battle.

1:23:57 Now Indiana Stanley

1:23:59 who flew into that miraculous sliding

1:24:01 behind the back grab by Dr. Meadows his

1:24:04 first time quickly behind O2. Harris

1:24:07 pounds the zone. He's got a very funky

1:24:09 delivery as you can see. Forcing fast

1:24:12 ball 126 knuckle curve and then a kick

1:24:15 change up.

1:24:18 He's dabbling with the slider. It's all

1:24:21 arms and legs. Dan Oburst facing him in

1:24:23 live AB said one of the most

1:24:24 uncomfortable plate appearances you

1:24:26 could ever have. When you've got those

1:24:27 limbs flying everywhere, you're going to

1:24:29 get a lot of deception with the ball

1:24:31 coming out of the hand of Connor Harris.

1:24:33 Really tough to pick up on. And that

1:24:35 fast ball is also pretty live with a big

1:24:38 right-hander as he slows things down

1:24:41 against Indiana Stanley. And he fouls

1:24:44 this one off down the left field in left

1:24:47 field foul territory. Right. Indie wants

1:24:49 that one back. It was a hanger. It was

1:24:51 just a little early to the punch.

1:24:55 Another 2-2

1:24:57 and the count is full.

1:25:01 Harris four years at George Washington

1:25:03 University. Finished up with a couple

1:25:05 seasons at Winthra.

1:25:08 And he starts his banana ball career

1:25:12 with two outs. The cap on it. A punch

1:25:15 out of Indie Stanley.

1:25:18 Gas for the banana ball vet. And Bazela

1:25:21 and Harris

1:25:22 combined talents for the second one,

1:25:25 two, three inning for Bananas pitching

1:25:28 tonight. They just need one run in the

1:25:30 bottom half to add another point.

1:25:39 baby Tallahassee has ever seen. So,

1:25:42 let's get those hands up in the air,

1:25:45 everybody. Hands up in the air all the

1:25:48 way around.

1:25:50 Let's kick it. Here we go.

1:25:52 Get those hands clap.

1:26:04 Get those arms. Wait a minute.

1:26:17 >> Keep it going.

1:26:33 Now, let's fly.

1:26:35 >> Hope you're hey babying at home,

1:26:36 everybody. I turned on the wrong

1:26:38 headset, so you couldn't hear me when I

1:26:39 tried to say it the first time.

1:26:41 >> I turned on the ghost headset.

1:26:43 >> We got three of them up here. Only two

1:26:45 guys.

1:26:46 >> No one's talking on that one.

1:26:47 >> Now, let me hear you singing.

1:26:48 >> You're new. You're getting adjusted to a

1:26:51 new console.

1:26:52 We got so many buttons on this thing.

1:26:54 It's okay. OH, LOOK AT JOSE BONITEZ.

1:26:57 Cheeto

1:26:59 >> crushing it. Three straight nights with

1:27:01 a broadcast.

1:27:02 >> ONE MORE TIME

1:27:02 >> FOR Jose Bonitez. If you haven't heard

1:27:05 him sing Hey Baby yet,

1:27:07 >> please, please tune in and listen to his

1:27:10 golden pipes.

1:27:11 >> It's on Instagram. Check out Jose or

1:27:14 Steve Kellogg.

1:27:15 >> You guys collab.

1:27:18 >> Talk about a powerful collaboration. God

1:27:20 father,

1:27:21 >> the new Spanish voice of Banana Ball.

1:27:23 >> Oh my gosh, Jose is such a superstar

1:27:26 already. He's going to take over the

1:27:27 world once more folks

1:27:30 learn what he's doing broadcasting our

1:27:33 young sport and espanol.

1:27:46 Over 60,000 fans moving it and grooving

1:27:49 it here in Tallahassee dancing to hey

1:27:52 baby, a banana ball institution.

1:27:57 You come to a banana ball game, you're

1:27:58 going to be heyay babying whether you

1:28:00 like it or not. And you're going to like

1:28:01 it.

1:28:05 >> Danny Hosley leads off the bottom of the

1:28:07 fourth. Jimmy Lewis the new man on the

1:28:09 mound for the tailgator.

1:28:12 no run support. So, he's got to put up a

1:28:14 goose egg to keep the deficit at just

1:28:16 one. Hosley,

1:28:18 the greatest two-way player in the

1:28:20 history of our young sport behind O2 and

1:28:22 a guy who tore it up against the Texas

1:28:24 Tailgator last year, batting .455

1:28:27 against them. Had a double and a home

1:28:29 run and continues to hack against Lewis.

1:28:32 Another one put in foul territory and we

1:28:35 are still without a fan caught foul ball

1:28:38 here in the bottom of the fourth.

1:28:41 Check swing. Did he go? Seth Markham

1:28:43 says no down the first baseline. I'll

1:28:45 tell you what, it is awfully early.

1:28:46 Obviously, it's only four pitches into

1:28:48 his tour, but Jimmy Lewis, great sign.

1:28:50 He's pounding the zone thus far. He's

1:28:53 got just about as good a stuff as you

1:28:55 could ever find. Former second round

1:28:56 draft pick by the Dodgers.

1:28:59 >> It's just all about staying in the zone.

1:29:11 Heck of a take there by Hosley on a

1:29:14 nasty bender. So from 02 to 32

1:29:18 comes the payoff from Lewis who spent

1:29:21 six years in the Dodgers organization

1:29:23 and unfortunately he loses Hosley. It

1:29:25 feels like my fault. Broadcasters jinx.

1:29:28 Osley is content with one base as it's

1:29:32 great ball four sprint defense.

1:29:33 Tailgator get it to all seven fielders

1:29:36 behind Lewis and Porter in short order.

1:29:39 Yeah, that's what you're hoping to see

1:29:40 from the Texas Tailgator. Quick sprint

1:29:42 defense. You can't afford to have guys

1:29:44 in scoring position, especially in an

1:29:47 atmosphere like this, this ballpark.

1:29:49 Certainly catering to offense tonight.

1:29:52 And for Danny Hosley, that's a pretty

1:29:54 classic result that you'll see from him.

1:29:56 Traditionally, a guy who's kept the OVP

1:29:58 over 100 points higher than his batting

1:30:01 average in his Banana Ball career.

1:30:06 Osley

1:30:08 will have to head back to first. He was

1:30:09 off on the pitch. 02 count on Ryan Cox.

1:30:11 A legend of the game here in his fifth

1:30:13 World Tour. Of course, the all-time

1:30:15 leader in trick plays, but took his

1:30:17 offense to a whole new level in 2025.

1:30:20 Hit 290. Reach base at a 393 clip.

1:30:26 You're getting that from the captain of

1:30:27 your defense, the best trick play guy in

1:30:29 the history of banana ball. I mean, that

1:30:30 is fantastic. and he was a hero when the

1:30:32 Bananas played in Clemson in late April

1:30:35 in 2025. Had the go-ahead home run to

1:30:38 deliver them the victory. And it was

1:30:40 just his second career long ball came at

1:30:43 the perfect time. Osley off again as

1:30:46 Ryan Cox a high-fly ball deep to right

1:30:51 and a leaping attempt. It ends up stuck

1:30:54 in the wall. That'll be a ground rule

1:30:56 single

1:30:57 >> when it gets

1:31:00 ledged between Oh yeah, the umpires are

1:31:02 going to take control. They're going to

1:31:03 send Cox back to first and Hosley back

1:31:05 to second. It's an odd one because that

1:31:07 had so much air time.

1:31:10 >> They're allowing Hosley at the moment to

1:31:12 stay over at third base, which is

1:31:15 awfully interesting to me. I concur.

1:31:18 That's the inning run. That's a big

1:31:20 decision by the umpires. The ball gets

1:31:23 nestled in between the net and the brick

1:31:25 wall. It's a ground rule single. I would

1:31:28 think that Hosley should be at second

1:31:29 base.

1:31:30 >> Same here. I mean, the thing was up in

1:31:32 the air for forever. He was pretty much

1:31:34 at third by the time it landed. So, I

1:31:36 guess they're making a judgment call

1:31:37 that he earned third base. That's

1:31:43 an interesting decision to say the

1:31:45 least. The one-two count on Ty Jackson.

1:31:47 Five tailgators in the infield, only two

1:31:50 out in the outfield.

1:31:53 Tai two fly the extra hitter.

1:31:58 They're in his second full world tour.

1:32:00 21 and 22 collegiate banana. Won Pettic

1:32:04 Cups in both of those seasons. Was a

1:32:05 visitor in 2024.

1:32:09 The Energizer Bunny heartbeat of this

1:32:11 team able to spoil the two- two

1:32:14 offering.

1:32:15 >> Lives to see another pitch. Again, he

1:32:17 ended the tour incredibly hot across his

1:32:20 final 27 games of the year. A 379

1:32:23 average, eight extra base hits, seven

1:32:25 runs batted in, but he's unable to

1:32:28 deliver here in the fourth. Swinging

1:32:30 through the fast from Jimmy Lewis and a

1:32:33 big punch out for the right-hander. It's

1:32:37 massive.

1:32:38 >> Inning winning run 90 ft away.

1:32:41 >> And now Jimmy Lewis falls behind Dr.

1:32:44 Meadows. We're back to the top of the

1:32:45 order.

1:32:48 Dr. struck out looking

1:32:50 back in the first.

1:32:54 Not a guy who strikes out a lot. 20 ball

1:32:56 four sprints earned last year. Only

1:32:58 nineks.

1:33:01 Good to see Stilts hanging out with the

1:33:03 folks in the stands as it's three

1:33:06 straight balls.

1:33:08 Drainly

1:33:10 taking here.

1:33:14 >> Lewis finds the zone.

1:33:19 He's got to do it again.

1:33:24 >> He can't.

1:33:26 And that's an inning win

1:33:28 for the Bananas. Meadows with 20

1:33:32 walk-offs a year ago, a year ago rather.

1:33:34 Notches his first

1:33:37 of 2026. And the Nanners

1:33:40 have walked off three straight innings.

1:33:43 They lead 4-1.

1:33:45 with four innings behind us.

1:33:50 >> And let's get it down to Jesse Cole.

1:33:52 >> And with this being the banana ball

1:33:54 kickoff,

1:33:56 we have to do a promotion that involves

1:33:58 kicking off. But we're actually going to

1:34:01 go for field goals. Well, as you can

1:34:03 see, they took down the post, but we

1:34:06 have stilts.

1:34:08 So, stilts will be our field goal posts

1:34:12 as he gets up. AND WE'VE GOT THREE

1:34:15 COUPLES THAT ARE GOING to have to kick

1:34:17 to see who can get it through the stilts

1:34:19 uprights.

1:34:22 The first couple is Josh and Lyanna.

1:34:28 13 years married. Whoever kicks it

1:34:31 through is OUR WINNER. HERE WE GO.

1:34:36 Just a bit outside.

1:34:38 Our next couple IS CARA. HOLD UP. NOT

1:34:42 YET. CARA AND JARED, HOW LONG HAVE YOU

1:34:44 GUYS BEEN TOGETHER?

1:34:45 >> Two years.

1:34:46 >> Two years married. Here we go.

1:34:53 Oh,

1:34:55 it was a good kick.

1:34:57 And now our next couple. Your name?

1:35:00 James. James and

1:35:03 >> Emily.

1:35:04 >> James and Emily. And how long you guys

1:35:07 been together? Two and a half years.

1:35:09 Dating. YES. DATING FOR TWO AND A HALF

1:35:11 YEARS. JAMES AND EMILY, HERE WE GO.

1:35:28 She said yes.

1:35:34 Let's hear it for James and Emily.

1:35:50 One more time for our special couple,

1:35:52 the newly engaged, James and Emily.

1:36:00 >> Well, if you've been with us for a

1:36:02 while, you know we love love in Banana

1:36:04 Land. Who do you think was more

1:36:05 surprised, our our lady on the field or

1:36:08 or the lady we captured in the stands?

1:36:10 I'm I'm willing to say it might have

1:36:12 been the lady in the grand stands. our

1:36:15 fantastic moderators in the uh YouTube

1:36:17 chat. Banana Ball YouTube. I'd love to

1:36:20 see what the people on there think.

1:36:21 >> Throw up a poll for them.

1:36:25 >> We go to the fifth. Bananas have scored

1:36:28 three straight points after the

1:36:29 tailgator won the first. We get to see

1:36:31 the banana ball debut of Tristan Lec out

1:36:34 of Niantic, Connecticut.

1:36:37 Southpaw spent his entire collegiate

1:36:39 career at the University of Rhode

1:36:40 Island. Fantastic numbers across his

1:36:43 tenure with the Rams.

1:36:46 Known for his control behind 3 on Zack

1:36:48 Watson. Make it 3-1.

1:36:53 Fast ball change up. Curveball slider

1:36:55 for LeC as KJ whips this between the

1:36:57 legs.

1:36:59 Notches. Another trick play. And boy,

1:37:03 ever since giving up an unearned run in

1:37:04 the first inning, the entire Bananas

1:37:06 pitching staff has been lights out. And

1:37:08 that was kind of a perfect plate to

1:37:10 summarize how well these bananas

1:37:12 pitchers have been over the last three

1:37:15 innings. They've collected four

1:37:17 strikeouts cumul cumulatively. And

1:37:20 you've also seen a lot of weak contact

1:37:22 as the Nanners now up to five trick

1:37:24 plays. And the Tailgator haven't had a

1:37:27 hit since the first inning of play as

1:37:29 this one is lofted into foul territory.

1:37:32 Jackson gives it some chase and that one

1:37:35 will wind up into the seats and not

1:37:38 caught but a souvenir for that

1:37:40 youngster.

1:37:42 Jordan Hussein

1:37:45 fights off the O2 pride of Houston,

1:37:48 Texas after he was a party animal in

1:37:50 2024. Is a no-brainer to be the captain

1:37:52 and shortstop of the tailgator in their

1:37:54 inaugural season as he goes down

1:37:55 swinging. Great execution by LeC. Hits

1:37:59 the spot with the high heat.

1:38:01 shows off the trickery with the glove.

1:38:06 >> Team USA baseball and the first runner

1:38:10 in the pit in the women's professional

1:38:13 baseball league, it's Kelsey

1:38:17 Witmore.

1:38:23 Well, as you heard from Shark, the first

1:38:26 overall pick in the Women's Professional

1:38:28 Baseball League,

1:38:31 where we predict she will be a two-way

1:38:32 superstar.

1:38:34 She's

1:38:36 the best pitcher in Banana Ball history

1:38:38 when it comes to women. She was an

1:38:39 absolute bar raiser last year in his

1:38:41 rookie in her rookie season. Yeah, she

1:38:44 was just unbelievable. got to pitch in

1:38:47 her home city of San Diego and earned

1:38:49 the win in Petco Park and she wanted to

1:38:52 come back and continue to dominate in

1:38:54 banana ball in 2026. She throws fast

1:38:57 ball sinker, change up slider, and

1:38:59 curveball. And let's not forget she has

1:39:02 pitched for team USA's women's baseball

1:39:05 team. And in 2022, she was named the USA

1:39:08 baseball sports woman of the year. Well,

1:39:11 >> yeah. Also plays an unbelievable center

1:39:13 field. She's got a dangerous bat.

1:39:16 And what a talent.

1:39:22 >> And for the top of the order, Travis Mo

1:39:24 turns around and hits from the left side

1:39:26 for the first time tonight.

1:39:32 Reached on a trick play, missed his

1:39:33 first time, was plunked

1:39:36 in the third inning when the tailgator

1:39:37 loaded the bases with no outs, but could

1:39:39 not push anyone across against Austin

1:39:42 Drury.

1:39:46 Hitters count 3-1 to Mono. Yanked foul

1:39:50 count is full.

1:40:01 >> The payoff.

1:40:04 Fouled. Look out, Ivon Trazac. Holy

1:40:06 moly. Evasive maneuvers from our

1:40:09 director of creative content.

1:40:12 You'll just have to take my word for it.

1:40:16 >> Oh, look at off going for Ivon again.

1:40:32 Hot shot right to Jackson Olsen. Kelsey

1:40:35 Whitmore comes in and does her job.

1:40:37 takes care of Moon

1:40:39 and combines talents with Tristan Lec

1:40:43 for one, two, three top of the fifth.

1:40:46 Banana's pitchers have retired nine

1:40:48 straight as the Nanners take a 3-1 lead

1:40:51 into the bottom of the fifth.

1:41:13 And once again, it's just us YouTube as

1:41:15 we get to watch Austin Krisminsky in

1:41:17 company. Hey, Chase Auff

1:41:20 throwing t-shirts out into the crowd.

1:41:21 Shout out Dalton Pon. What's really cool

1:41:23 is when you have a kickoff event like

1:41:25 we've seen in Banana Ball this weekend

1:41:27 that when you reach the final game and

1:41:29 with 60,000 in the seats, you can send

1:41:32 guys from the four other Banana Ball

1:41:34 teams into the stands to mingle with

1:41:36 fans, make those really cool

1:41:38 interactions and give them the greatest

1:41:40 Banana Ball experience possible. So, it

1:41:43 is so cool to see the Coconuts, clowns,

1:41:45 firefighters, party animals, all taking

1:41:48 part in this ball game in a unique way.

1:41:51 Yeah, there's over 100 Banana Ball

1:41:52 players in the stands at all times

1:41:54 tonight, plus the cast and crew for

1:41:58 all six of our teams.

1:42:02 Really special event.

1:42:10 And naturally, Jesse Cole will be

1:42:13 putting the cherry on top. Folks think

1:42:15 he's got a t-shirt in that right hand.

1:42:16 No, it's the Dolce and Banana. Banana's

1:42:20 tidy whiteies.

1:42:22 >> Stay tuned on the tidy whitey front

1:42:23 tonight, YouTube. You You may see

1:42:25 something interesting.

1:42:26 >> All right, we're bringing ESPN back into

1:42:28 the fold.

1:42:37 Jonathan Sunshine Lutters, the first

1:42:40 designated fielder in Texas Tailgator

1:42:43 history. And we get to check in with

1:42:44 Sunshine once again

1:42:47 as they've got you moving around the

1:42:50 field throughout this whole night.

1:42:52 >> I love it. Got you moving all over. All

1:42:54 over.

1:42:55 >> Now, of course, with the designated

1:42:57 fielder, Sunshine, you can play at a

1:43:00 different position every inning, just

1:43:02 whatever your manager decides. So, are

1:43:04 you the one who's telling Joe Miklick

1:43:06 that you want to be playing all over the

1:43:08 diamond?

1:43:09 >> No, that's uh Mick made that decision.

1:43:11 we in spring training he decided that'd

1:43:14 be a cool idea like hey like if you if

1:43:16 you play outfield I'm like absolutely so

1:43:17 and I hadn't played outfield since 12

1:43:19 years old so I kind of lied a little bit

1:43:21 there but I mean I think it's a cool

1:43:23 idea that you can have a player that can

1:43:24 move all the way over positions and I

1:43:26 made a few good catches to my credit so

1:43:28 I had some sort of validity so I mean

1:43:31 that's all I'm going off of but Mick was

1:43:32 all for it I'm happy he was if not like

1:43:34 I would just do whatever he wanted me to

1:43:36 do I love Mick and he he wants to win I

1:43:38 want to win whatever he wants is what I

1:43:39 want

1:43:40 >> Peter just misses is 3-1 count on Reese

1:43:42 Seleiatis. Joe Speron, the new man on

1:43:44 the mound for your tailgator.

1:43:47 >> Healthy swing and a miss from Reese

1:43:49 Seleiatis who famously hit a home run in

1:43:51 all four football stadiums last year.

1:43:55 >> Only player who can say that.

1:43:58 And he earns the sprint. So Lutters and

1:44:01 company will all have to converge on

1:44:03 second base. And once again, great

1:44:04 sprint defense.

1:44:06 >> I was a little late there, boys. Uhoh.

1:44:08 Little more. Number nine, Max.

1:44:11 >> Hey, it want it.

1:44:14 >> I got you earlier.

1:44:21 >> Now, Max Young Goldberg struck out

1:44:23 looking his first time.

1:44:30 >> Here we go.

1:44:35 >> A chance for you.

1:44:36 >> Here we go. Off the wall. Play well.

1:44:39 >> Way to play it well.

1:44:40 >> Firing it into second.

1:44:41 >> Oh yeah.

1:44:42 >> And you keep MJG to a single.

1:44:45 >> Man, you look like a natural out there.

1:44:48 >> Can't believe Cleave and a great throw

1:44:50 in.

1:44:51 >> Yeah. One bounce like a base.

1:44:53 >> I knew I needed to go to the ball.

1:44:55 >> First hit in MJG's banana ball career.

1:44:58 >> I am.

1:44:59 >> Can't believe they never put you in the

1:45:00 outfield in your Satan Hall days.

1:45:03 >> Yep.

1:45:05 Here we go.

1:45:06 And now you crash in to be the fifth

1:45:08 infielder.

1:45:12 >> Dan over.

1:45:13 >> Oh no.

1:45:14 >> A HIGH-FLY BALL deep to right center.

1:45:17 And that's souvenir city.

1:45:20 >> All right boys. It was fun. I just stay

1:45:22 with it though. Right.

1:45:23 >> Thank you so much Jonathan. Appreciate

1:45:24 you.

1:45:25 >> You got it. Of course. Anytime.

1:45:26 >> Thank you sunshine.

1:45:30 Yeah,

1:45:34 >> his first blast

1:45:36 >> in the Banana Ball Championship League

1:45:39 and it puts the Bananas up 4-1.

1:45:41 >> That's fine.

1:45:54 >> Third walk-off home run of the night.

1:45:56 Dan's with Sam Bowman. Hey Danny, we saw

1:45:59 KJ, then Jackson, then you. Is this a

1:46:02 big boost for your Instagram followers

1:46:04 tonight?

1:46:05 >> It could be. There's a lot of people

1:46:06 here. That was like a 400 foot home run.

1:46:11 >> Guys, like, follow, submit, request.

1:46:14 >> Follow him, too. Follow him, too. Oh my

1:46:15 god. Oh my god.

1:46:17 >> Pico Josh Obur. He's going viral.

1:46:24 First KJ, then Olsen, now Obururst

1:46:29 as the Nanners have walked off four

1:46:31 straight innings.

1:46:34 What do we got going on here with the

1:46:35 man Nanas? Oh no,

1:46:38 Shark, do you know what's happening?

1:46:43 To check in with our PA announcer and

1:46:45 DJ, I have not a clue what's going on.

1:46:54 your potassium plant. Try banana. Side

1:46:57 effects may include sudden urge to

1:46:58 alphabetize your kitchen spices,

1:47:00 temporary belief that you can speak

1:47:01 fluent dolphin, mild confusion when

1:47:02 encountering revolving doors,

1:47:03 uncontrollable nodding during dramatic

1:47:04 movie scenes, brief obsession with

1:47:05 collecting decorative frocows, random

1:47:06 knowledge of 17th century ship building,

1:47:07 laughing at your own jokes before

1:47:08 telling them, sudden interest in

1:47:09 competitive bird watching, compulsive

1:47:10 whistling of elevator music, ability to

1:47:12 remember every embarrassing moment from

1:47:13 middle school. Temporary fear of overly

1:47:14 enthusiastic squirrels, strong desire to

1:47:16 reorganize the fridge at 2 a.m.

1:47:18 Persistent feeling that someone just

1:47:19 said your name, mild overconfidence

1:47:21 while assembling furniture, temporary

1:47:22 belief that you're good at karaoke,

1:47:23 random craving for pickles and lemonade,

1:47:24 talking to plants, and expecting

1:47:25 thoughtful responses. Sudden

1:47:26 appreciation for documentaries about

1:47:27 rocks. Increased likelihood of losing TV

1:47:29 remotes. Preferred to start a podcast.

1:47:30 Difficulty remembering why you walked

1:47:31 into a room. Temporary belief that you

1:47:32 could win a cooking show. Sudden

1:47:33 fascination with weather radar.

1:47:34 Compulsive use of the word indeed. Mild

1:47:36 urge to narrate your life like a nature

1:47:37 documentary. Unexpected interest in

1:47:38 antique spoons. Persistent feeling that

1:47:40 your socks don't match. Ability to hum

1:47:41 the wrong part of every song. Sudden

1:47:42 desire to learn the harmonica. Belief

1:47:44 that you could probably fix the Wi-Fi.

1:47:45 You can't. Increased likelihood of

1:47:46 waving back at someone who wasn't waving

1:47:47 at you. Brief confusion about what day

1:47:49 it is. Overconfidence in trivia games.

1:47:50 Temporary urge to dramatically sigh.

1:47:51 Randomly checking the fridge again even

1:47:52 though nothing changed. Sudden belief

1:47:53 that you left the stove on. Excess

1:47:54 enthusiasm about offices. temporary fear

1:47:56 that ducks are judging you. I'll explain

1:47:57 knowledge of three magic tricks. Mild

1:47:58 urge to dramatically adjust imaginary

1:47:59 classes. Talking to your GPS even when

1:48:00 it's correct. Some nurplane lands

1:48:01 temporarily belief that every song is

1:48:02 about you and mild suspicion that the

1:48:03 dog knows more than it lets on. Try

1:48:05 Banana Philill today.

1:48:10 >> Are you going to try Banana Philill

1:48:12 today, Josh?

1:48:14 >> Yeah, probably. I I unfortunately this

1:48:17 happened all the way back in in high

1:48:19 school, believe it or not, was asked to

1:48:21 fire some t-shirts into the crowd out of

1:48:23 one of those cannons.

1:48:24 >> Okay.

1:48:25 And it it just I couldn't I this was

1:48:28 failure to launch for me. Oh no. So I

1:48:32 mean this this actually hits home quite

1:48:34 a bit. Yeah. Um projectile dysfunction

1:48:37 is it's no joke. It's no laughing

1:48:40 matter. Ah Spidey, even though it went

1:48:42 to black and white, he still overcame

1:48:45 the uh PD there. And I really wish that

1:48:47 we had had these supplements back when I

1:48:50 was a youngster.

1:48:51 >> LAUNCHED OUT TO LEFT. ROBERT Anthony

1:48:53 Cruz tries the back flip catch. It

1:48:56 squeaks out of the glove and Nick Lopez

1:48:59 will reach on the trick play miss. So

1:49:02 Rack off the bench into left replacing

1:49:05 Danny Hosley.

1:49:07 Pretty perfect flip. Ball just snuck out

1:49:11 of there as Rack makes his 2026 debut

1:49:14 here in his third tour. Frankie

1:49:16 Moscatello,

1:49:17 number 99, the man they call Gazoo, the

1:49:20 new man on the mound as Jordan Bar skies

1:49:22 this foul territory. It will reach the

1:49:25 seats and would have been unbelievable

1:49:27 if it could have been caught by the

1:49:29 fans. That was a mile high.

1:49:32 Bar a fly out in strikeout so far in his

1:49:35 first career banana ball contest.

1:49:39 Good to see Rack back from paternity

1:49:41 leave and flippable even though he did

1:49:43 not haul the ball in.

1:49:46 Congratulations to Robert Anthony and

1:49:49 Gigi Cruz on the birth of their

1:49:52 daughter.

1:49:56 Bar tried to hold up. Check to first.

1:49:59 Wow. Seth Markham says he did.

1:50:03 So it's a successful check swing.

1:50:07 And the pride of Rocky Point, New York,

1:50:11 will attack on the one-two.

1:50:14 Patello bounces it. Guy who has spent

1:50:17 eight years

1:50:19 in independent professional baseball,

1:50:21 over 500 career pro strikeouts.

1:50:25 Pretty much everywhere he's gone, he's

1:50:27 been the closer or the fireman. Guy who

1:50:29 comes in in the most important parts of

1:50:32 every ball game out of the bullpen. Yeti

1:50:34 makes his money based off of the

1:50:36 splitters that he throws, which he is

1:50:38 utilizing here against Jordan Bar with

1:50:40 the two strike count. It's a big reason

1:50:42 he's earned the nickname Frankie

1:50:44 strikeouts across his indie ball career.

1:50:51 And that splitter has turned into the

1:50:52 banana split as that'll be a wild pitch.

1:50:55 Good aggressive base running by Lopez to

1:50:59 advance to third.

1:51:02 Also a live fast ball. 92 to 96. He's

1:51:05 touched 98. Impressive for a guy who

1:51:08 stands 5'8 on the bump.

1:51:11 A big curve ball as well. Rounding out

1:51:14 the three- pitch mix. High fast ball

1:51:16 gets Bar to chase.

1:51:21 Deceptive rise on that.

1:51:25 And going back to the third inning when

1:51:28 the tailgator had the bases loaded with

1:51:30 no outs. That is now four straight outs

1:51:33 with a runner on third for the Gator and

1:51:35 the sixth strike out of the night for

1:51:37 Bananas pitching. Moscatello just

1:51:39 reaching back and trying to get as much

1:51:41 fuzz on that heater as humanly possible.

1:51:44 So Bar set down on strikes for the

1:51:46 second time tonight. And now it's Kyle

1:51:48 Martin at the dish, one for two with a

1:51:50 single and a strike out.

1:51:56 Two professional baseball veterans in

1:51:59 their rookie campaigns in banana ball

1:52:01 squaring off in front of over 60,000

1:52:03 fans here on the campus of FSU.

1:52:07 20 count to Kyle Martin. Singled his

1:52:10 first time, then struck out in the

1:52:12 third.

1:52:13 High pop into the seats once again.

1:52:16 Would be really impressive if it was

1:52:18 caught and it was not.

1:52:24 Got a guy with over 500 pro strikeouts

1:52:26 on the bump. A guy with 275 pro home

1:52:29 runs in the left-handed batters box.

1:52:38 And a couple guys who have played a lot

1:52:40 of pro ball up in Canada. Ocatello spent

1:52:43 four years for Keip Quebec in the

1:52:45 Frontier League.

1:52:48 Pal Martin three years up in Winnipeg.

1:52:54 as

1:52:55 >> he can't connect on the 3-1.

1:53:04 >> Former Gold Eyes legend

1:53:08 ready for the payoff.

1:53:12 He'll take it and earned his first

1:53:14 banana ball RBI.

1:53:18 Close

1:53:21 at second. Good aggressive base running

1:53:23 by Kmart.

1:53:26 >> Gets two bags on the ball for Sprint.

1:53:28 Drives in Lopez.

1:53:30 And the Tailgator have their first run

1:53:32 across

1:53:34 since the first inning.

1:53:37 An unearned run at that

1:53:41 as Li reached on the trick play missed.

1:53:45 We see blank and chip spoon porter and

1:53:48 Davis starring in the runcoring

1:53:50 celebration.

1:54:05 That's certainly not ideal for Frankie

1:54:06 Moscatello issuing the sprint allowing

1:54:09 the tailgator to celebrate. But that's

1:54:11 just the first ball four sprint issued

1:54:13 tonight from Bananas pitching. A big

1:54:16 reason why you see them leading four

1:54:18 points to one in this ball game. Bananas

1:54:20 again only one ball for sprint on the

1:54:22 tailgator side of things. Their pitchers

1:54:24 has have issued four tonight.

1:54:27 That's a big difference in this ball

1:54:29 game.

1:54:32 Now M Danford as that one gets away from

1:54:34 Loy. Second wild pitch this inning.

1:54:39 Martin grabs an extra 90.

1:54:46 >> Right side of the infield in for the

1:54:48 Bananas. Taylor Justice actually in for

1:54:50 M. Danford.

1:54:56 Justice second year with the Tailgator.

1:54:59 Another one of their former visitors.

1:55:01 Was on Banana Ball's developmental team

1:55:03 in 2024. before that CPL champ with the

1:55:06 bananas in the summer of 22.

1:55:09 A guy who wasn't exactly anticipated as

1:55:13 one of the coach franchise selections

1:55:15 before the player draft, but Joe

1:55:17 Miklick, Andrew Bartman, Brandon

1:55:19 Pennington, they love the mindset, the

1:55:21 mentality that Taylor Justice brings

1:55:23 into that locker room and the fact that

1:55:26 he can suit up behind the dish and at

1:55:28 first base. But in his first plate

1:55:30 appearance of 2026, Justice is down on

1:55:34 strikes.

1:55:37 >> Just keep your eyes on me. I said you're

1:55:40 holding back. She said, "Shut up and

1:55:43 dance with me. This moment is my

1:55:46 destiny." She said, "Sut

1:55:49 up and dance with me. Let's go.

1:55:58 We were victims of the night. A chemical

1:56:02 physical grip tonight. Helpless to the

1:56:06 face and the fading light. Oh, we were

1:56:10 bound to get together. Bound to get

1:56:13 together. She took my arms. I don't know

1:56:16 how it happened. We took the floor and

1:56:19 she said, "Oh, don't you dare look back.

1:56:22 Just keep your eyes on me." I said,

1:56:24 "You're holding back." She said, "Shut

1:56:27 up and dance with me. This moment is my

1:56:31 destiny." She said,

1:56:34 "Shut up and dance with me."

1:56:37 >> Coming into pitch for your civil.

1:56:47 >> How about that for an intro? Kid out of

1:56:50 West Coina, California. 14 years on

1:56:52 Broadway after he spent a year playing

1:56:55 baseball at UCLA, but realized that he

1:56:59 had an incredible career ahead of him in

1:57:02 musical theater. And boy did he. Yeah.

1:57:03 And he's the perfect blend of sports and

1:57:06 musical theater that's coming into

1:57:07 Banana Ball. A collaboration that really

1:57:09 set the social media world on fire when

1:57:11 he announced that he was joining this

1:57:13 squad. And you just knew a guy as

1:57:15 talented as him, he had to have a

1:57:18 signature entrance in his very first

1:57:20 banana ball appearance. Now, time to see

1:57:22 if those baseball skills are going to

1:57:25 translate in this matchup against

1:57:26 brother Jose Gonzalez Jr.

1:57:30 Jose for two, a line out and fly out.

1:57:32 Cleno's got a four pitch mix

1:57:35 as this one to the moon and back

1:57:40 and not caught by the fans. Clenum fast

1:57:43 ball in the mid 80s. Sinker slider curve

1:57:46 ball

1:57:52 and a back pick over at third. Kmart

1:57:55 wise to it. And Clint is a guy who's

1:57:57 really taking this seriously. He's been

1:57:59 in the gym working out throwing bullpens

1:58:02 when he's even been away from the team.

1:58:05 And he said he wants to make sure that

1:58:07 he's going to be hitting 90 this season

1:58:09 at some point when he's pitching for the

1:58:11 Nanners. Yeah, lives in the upper west

1:58:13 side of Manhattan. His wife and two kids

1:58:15 these days throwing bullpins to his

1:58:16 brother-in-law. Any chance he can get as

1:58:19 this one is chopped to first. Siggy

1:58:21 fields it between the legs and Derek

1:58:23 Lenna. Nice start to your banana ball

1:58:25 career. Strands Moscatello's man on

1:58:29 third and induces a trick play. Nanners

1:58:31 now up 6nil in that department. Yeah, it

1:58:34 looks like they're going to be able to

1:58:35 deny the equalizer point tonight's game

1:58:38 and still four to one. Nanners on top

1:58:41 against the Gators.

1:58:51 Gators in honoring the men and women

1:58:53 that serve this great nation. As we

1:58:57 salute

1:58:59 our hometown heroes of the night, we

1:59:02 thank you for your service and

1:59:04 commitment to our great country.

1:59:09 to our police officers,

1:59:13 to our firefighters,

1:59:17 to our nurses,

1:59:20 to our EMS workers,

1:59:24 to our dispatchers,

1:59:27 and to our school teachers.

1:59:32 The bananas and tailgators say thank

1:59:34 you.

1:59:43 Ah,

1:59:43 >> ladies and gentlemen, here they come in

1:59:45 center field. It's the banana nas.

2:00:22 What a scene here at Bobby Bowden Field

2:00:25 at Do Campbell Stadium. Over 60,000 fans

2:00:29 on hand for the conclusion of the Banana

2:00:32 Ball kickoff. And Savannah Bananas up

2:00:34 4-1 in points halfway through the sixth

2:00:38 inning.

2:00:41 And the Banana Nanas still boogieing out

2:00:43 in center field.

2:00:45 Part of the original cast back on the

2:00:47 Savannah Bananas inception in 2016. They

2:00:50 were there for the opening day dancing

2:00:52 in the rain as Brett Allen,

2:00:56 the man from Newcastle, Australia, toes

2:00:59 the slab for the first time in his

2:01:01 banana ball career. Known as the wonder

2:01:02 from down under and pitching with his

2:01:04 crocodile friend Nigel every time he

2:01:07 takes the mound. He was selected in the

2:01:09 sixth round by the Texas Tailgator in

2:01:11 the Banana Ball Championship League

2:01:13 player draft and pitched collegiately at

2:01:15 Treasure Valley Community College,

2:01:17 Barton Community College, and Reinhardt

2:01:19 University. And in his last two seasons

2:01:21 at Reinhardt, 19 saves for the

2:01:24 Sidewinder, who is all arms and legs,

2:01:27 much like we saw from Connor Harris of

2:01:29 the Bananas, who he was teammates with

2:01:32 last season on the developmental team,

2:01:34 the Visitors.

2:01:35 >> Yeah, bite my tongue. This is a

2:01:36 tailgator debut. Brett Allen appeared in

2:01:38 four of the five games the visitors

2:01:40 played last year.

2:01:42 Coach Croco absolutely loved him. He

2:01:44 can't find the zone against KJack, who

2:01:48 has great speed, shown it off right

2:01:49 here, gets to second before all seven

2:01:51 fielders behind the pitcher and catcher

2:01:54 can get a hold of the banana ball.

2:01:57 So Kyle Jackson after the walk-off

2:01:59 two-run shot that won the second inning

2:02:01 and nodded us at a point each earns

2:02:04 himself a ball for Sprint. talked about

2:02:07 it his first time. It's the patience at

2:02:09 the plate. Big part of his tour leading

2:02:11 481 on base percentage last year.

2:02:13 >> And again, it just feels like these

2:02:14 sprints are plaguing the tailgator too

2:02:17 much in tonight's game. Fifth one issued

2:02:19 by their pitching staff. And now Bill

2:02:22 Loy, an MVP candidate from a season ago,

2:02:25 is at the dish and he's ahead in the

2:02:27 count 1 and0. Bill popped out his first

2:02:30 time. didn't get a chance to talk about

2:02:32 how stupendous his eighth year as a

2:02:35 banana was. Hit 343, had a 448 on base

2:02:40 percentage, a Banana's team best 608

2:02:43 slug

2:02:44 and 1.056 OPS. That's on base percentage

2:02:48 plus slugging. I mean, for a guy who's

2:02:50 been known for his defensive abilities,

2:02:52 it was a real coming out party

2:02:54 offensively. a career-high seven long

2:02:56 balls as Allen

2:02:58 looks at KJ at second, but no one

2:03:00 covering. Yeah, the OPS plus for Bill

2:03:02 was over 150 last season, meaning he was

2:03:05 more than 50% better than the tour

2:03:07 average hitter. And he's very

2:03:10 disciplined at the plate, very

2:03:12 experienced, and a guy who gives

2:03:15 pitchers fits. You see Loy able to foul

2:03:18 off the payoff from Brett Allen.

2:03:23 Foul tip into the mit of Taylor Justice

2:03:26 who's comes in has come in defensively

2:03:28 for Taj Porter after taking M Danford's

2:03:32 spot in the lineup. That is a huge

2:03:35 bounceback from Donnie Allen. He's

2:03:38 behind 3-1. Ball four would have tied

2:03:40 the inning right there.

2:03:44 He's behind Jackson Olsen 1. Launched a

2:03:46 ball into the seats in right center. The

2:03:49 longest of the three Savannah Bananas

2:03:52 walk-off home runs we have seen so far

2:03:54 tonight. Heck of a start to tour number

2:03:57 four for the great eight.

2:04:00 This will bounce to the right side. Moon

2:04:03 will whip it between the legs

2:04:07 and two down as KJ advances to third.

2:04:10 That is finally the first trick play of

2:04:12 the ball game tonight for the Texas

2:04:14 Tailgator. They've had a hard time

2:04:16 inducing a lot of soft contact,

2:04:18 especially with the unique dimensions of

2:04:20 this park. And we take a little break in

2:04:24 the action to introduce the bat boy in

2:04:27 tonight's contest.

2:04:31 I don't think we've ever seen a bat boy

2:04:34 pull out the bat straight up in the air.

2:04:38 What a pose.

2:04:41 Excellent work as Robert Anthony Cruz

2:04:44 takes his first hack of year number

2:04:47 three as a banana. It turns out to be a

2:04:49 Brett Allen trick play. What a bounce

2:04:51 back and a backflip

2:04:53 for Donnie to close off a scoreless

2:04:56 bottom of the sixth and netting the

2:04:58 Tailgator their second point of the ball

2:05:00 game. They have pulled within two

2:05:04 as we head to the seventh. Nanner still

2:05:06 up 4-2.

2:05:15 and spend some quality time with your

2:05:17 family. And that's exactly what we're

2:05:18 about to do. Down on the field with me,

2:05:20 I got two dads. I got Scott and I got

2:05:22 Garrett. And at second base, I have

2:05:24 their children. These dads are going to

2:05:27 have to run to second base, pick up

2:05:28 their kid, and finish the trip around

2:05:30 the bases. The first dad back through

2:05:32 the finish line will be our winner.

2:05:35 We're calling this one Hold Your Horses.

2:05:38 Tallahassee, are you ready?

2:05:42 Then we're going in three, two, one, go.

2:05:49 And they're off, ladies and gentlemen,

2:05:51 like two stallions in the breeze,

2:05:54 conserving that dad energy until we get

2:05:56 to second. Which kid is yours? I hope

2:05:59 you remember. They're up on the backs

2:06:02 and they're moving. This is where the

2:06:05 race truly begins. And what's is at

2:06:08 third? Another horse. They're hopping.

2:06:12 It's anybody's race.

2:06:15 Look at those heads bobin. It's a two-h

2:06:18 horse, a fourhorse race. Will it be

2:06:20 Scott? Will it be Garrett? It's too

2:06:23 close to call. It's Garrett by a man.

2:06:27 Hold your horses.

2:06:51 Well, the trick plays have been coming

2:06:53 in bunches for the Bananas so far

2:06:55 tonight. They lead 6-2 as they try and

2:06:58 fend off the equalizer point attempt by

2:07:01 the Tailgator. That might be one of the

2:07:03 best we'll see all year. Dr. Meadow

2:07:04 sliding behind the back. Ridiculous.

2:07:06 KJ's grabbed a couple over at the hot

2:07:09 corner and Ziggy. A couple over at first

2:07:12 base. The first ever Bananas designated

2:07:15 fielder. Getting a couple ground balls

2:07:18 between the legs.

2:07:21 Reminder that if the away team has more

2:07:22 trick plays than the home team going

2:07:24 into the final inning, they earn a

2:07:26 point.

2:07:28 Beach Coconuts able to do it on the

2:07:30 opening night of the tour and the

2:07:31 Indianapolis Clowns able to do it last

2:07:33 night.

2:07:36 Chances for the Tailgator not looking as

2:07:37 good, but they have picked up a couple

2:07:39 trick plates. grabbed him. And

2:07:42 Brent Allen's scoreless bottom of the

2:07:44 sixth as GBaby Grant Besser

2:07:48 out there in the Bananas tidy as Josh

2:07:51 alluded to earlier in the night. Yeah,

2:07:54 he's really embracing his nickname on

2:07:56 the mound. He's going to be the go-to

2:07:58 setup lefty for the Bananas this season,

2:08:00 replacing the role Zack Phillips played

2:08:02 a season ago and Besser last season at

2:08:05 Indiana Tech. 81 strikeouts, only 15

2:08:09 walks. He was phenomenal and the Bananas

2:08:12 love how funky he is with his arm angle

2:08:15 on the mound. He was first team all

2:08:18 Wolverine Hooser Athletic Conference.

2:08:21 Nice defensive swing, soft liner snag by

2:08:24 Ziggy over at first. So Taj Porter, the

2:08:27 Dunkin Donut batter, retired for a third

2:08:29 time tonight, but once again not struck

2:08:32 out. So the full capacity crowd still

2:08:34 donutless.

2:08:40 and Indiana Stanley

2:08:43 a 2024 visitor after he was a 2022

2:08:48 collegiate banana now in his second

2:08:50 campaign with the tailgator. Wow. 360

2:08:53 Besser. Did he get the K? No. Seth

2:08:56 Markham says Indie was able to hold up.

2:08:59 Bill Loy disagrees.

2:09:06 And the next pitch, Besser does get the

2:09:08 K.

2:09:10 >> First Ner strike out for their fourth

2:09:12 rounder. Again, his execution's just

2:09:15 elite already. Looks like he's going to

2:09:17 be very comfortable in his rookie

2:09:19 campaign. Spent a little bit of time on

2:09:21 that developmental team, the Visitors, a

2:09:23 season ago. And what I love about Grant

2:09:25 Besser, this guy works on with a

2:09:28 lightning fast pace on the pitcher

2:09:29 mound. A minute and 50 seconds into the

2:09:32 inning right now and already jumping

2:09:34 ahead. Counts now one two. He misses

2:09:38 inside to Watson.

2:09:40 Strike out and ground out tonight for

2:09:42 the former Orioles minor leager as the

2:09:45 fans come up empty once again. Besser's

2:09:49 not overpowering. It's up 88 to 90 with

2:09:52 the fast ball. Circle change is his

2:09:54 go-to and the slerve very effective as

2:09:56 well. Broken bat. Ryan Cox will have to

2:09:59 eat that. Watson was rated the fastest

2:10:03 high school baseball player coming out

2:10:05 of high school when he was headed to

2:10:07 LSU.

2:10:09 And you see why right there. Guy can

2:10:10 absolutely fly. And we get a look at Ty

2:10:14 Jackson doing a podcast. You'll be able

2:10:15 to find it on Spotify, Apple Music,

2:10:18 wherever you get your podcasts. He's

2:10:20 going to, I think, do this every game

2:10:22 this year, at least every weekend. And

2:10:24 he just does it for a half inning, no

2:10:26 matter how long the inning is. Has he

2:10:28 titled it yet? Do we have a name for

2:10:29 this podcast?

2:10:31 >> I don't know. Jason Arin comes off the

2:10:34 bench and he's quickly behind O2.

2:10:43 Arin started as the designated runner

2:10:45 tonight. So, the designated runner is

2:10:46 burned for the tailgator with Arin pinch

2:10:49 hitting here. And he continues to be a

2:10:51 tough customer. Besser pounding the

2:10:52 zone. Arin continues to spoil the two

2:10:54 strike pitches. You see a 279 average, a

2:10:57 home run for Jason R. And he was doing

2:10:59 some of his best work coming off the

2:11:01 bench for the Tailgator a season ago.

2:11:03 He's trying to take ADVANTAGE OF THE

2:11:05 RIGHTY LEFTY MATCHUP. KYLE JACKSON,

2:11:08 ANOTHER WEB GEM AND HIGHLIGHT ON HIS

2:11:10 LEDGER in tonight's contest. A pair OF

2:11:13 TRICK PLAYS, A WALK-OFF HOMER, AND A

2:11:16 GREAT leaping grab TO END A SCORELESS

2:11:20 TOP OF THE SEVEN.

2:11:22 YOU look up electric factory in the

2:11:25 encyclopedia, see a picture of Kyle

2:11:27 Jackson. Let's get it down to the young

2:11:29 professor for some big balls.

2:11:31 >> Young professor, what do you do?

2:11:34 >> Well, everybody, it is a big ball game

2:11:37 tonight. So, that means it's time for

2:11:39 everybody's favorite game. IT'S TIME TO

2:11:41 PLAY BIG BALL.

2:11:45 This is college edition. Let's go ahead

2:11:47 and meet our contestants. First, a

2:11:49 student representing the University of

2:11:52 Central Florida.

2:11:56 Our next contestant is representing the

2:12:01 U University of Miami.

2:12:07 Our next contestant from Gainesville,

2:12:10 Florida.

2:12:15 And finally, representing your Florida

2:12:18 State University seinal.

2:12:23 All right, gentlemen, let's spread out.

2:12:27 Here's how it's going to work. When I

2:12:28 say go, they have to run into the center

2:12:30 and collide. The last one standing will

2:12:34 be the winner of big balls. Contestants,

2:12:37 on your mark, get set, go. Here they

2:12:41 come. F. Oh, two two out. WE'VE GOT FSU

2:12:46 AND THE GATORS LEFT, LADIES AND

2:12:48 GENTLEMEN. THE ULTIMATE RIVALRY

2:12:50 SHOWDOWN. Get them up. Get him up. Mark,

2:12:53 get set, go.

2:12:57 Down he goes. Here's your winner, ladies

2:13:01 and gentlemen. FSU.

2:13:08 Well, to the delight

2:13:10 of over 60,000

2:13:12 here in Dope Campbell Stadium,

2:13:16 the man with the FSU

2:13:19 big ball

2:13:22 emerges victorious. What do I have to do

2:13:24 to get you to finally go up against me

2:13:27 in that?

2:13:28 >> I would do it. I'm dying. I do the bit.

2:13:31 >> I'll literally do it after this

2:13:32 broadcast.

2:13:33 >> Of course I will.

2:13:34 >> Get out of town. I just want to take my

2:13:36 pants off. Hey, sounds like Hey, don't

2:13:39 say that.

2:13:39 >> I can't stain these.

2:13:40 >> I'm not doing that. That That's grass

2:13:42 stain.

2:13:42 >> You have to wear pants.

2:13:45 >> Different pants, but not these pants.

2:13:46 Dakota Stilt to Albertton is

2:13:50 the new man at the dish. Jonathan

2:13:52 Hughes, welcome to Banana Ball, my

2:13:54 friend.

2:13:57 Six years in the miners and the first

2:14:00 man he faces at his young Banana Ball

2:14:03 career is the tallest athlete in the

2:14:05 world.

2:14:12 That one rifted. DIVING STOP AT third

2:14:15 and behind the back. Yeah, you bet. Good

2:14:18 time there for Jordan Bar. That's his

2:14:23 first career trick play. Brother with

2:14:24 the scoop at the other end. Good barrel

2:14:26 from Stilts, but once Bar made the sweet

2:14:30 diving play, he got all the time in the

2:14:32 world.

2:14:34 Yeah, it starts with a great play and

2:14:36 then Bar the wherewithal knowing that

2:14:38 they're gunning for the equalizer point

2:14:40 right now transfers behind his back

2:14:42 before throwing over. Stilts not able to

2:14:44 get down the line very quick now. Six

2:14:47 strict plays for the Nanners. Three for

2:14:49 the Texas Tailgator. And it's a tall

2:14:52 task for them to earn that equalizer

2:14:53 point. Bananas averaged nearly 11 12 per

2:14:56 game last season. Tailgator had just 5.2

2:15:00 per game.

2:15:02 Tai gets four straight bad ones. He

2:15:04 earns the ball for Sprint. Tailgator

2:15:06 Sprint defense has been good. Tai is

2:15:08 testing it. The seventh and final man to

2:15:11 touch it, Kyle Martin. And the tag just

2:15:14 a hair late.

2:15:16 Tai two fly showing that he can indeed

2:15:19 fly.

2:15:21 He's fearless. He's reckless sometimes,

2:15:24 but when you get plays like that from

2:15:26 Tai Jackson, he gets you into scoring

2:15:28 position. You've just got to love it.

2:15:30 That's exactly why he's the spark plug

2:15:32 on this team. And you see him, he's

2:15:35 always having fun regardless of the

2:15:37 outcome. When did he lose his cleat? I

2:15:40 don't know how that happened. Little

2:15:43 sholess Joe Jackson situation there for

2:15:45 Tai Jackson. Back to the top of the

2:15:47 order. 01 count on Dr. Meadows

2:15:51 in a walk-off ball for sprint to win the

2:15:53 fourth inning. Struck out looking his

2:15:55 first time.

2:15:56 Try not to overuse the word steel when

2:15:58 it comes to late round draft picks in

2:16:00 the inaugural banana ball player draft.

2:16:03 But Jonathan Hughes in the eighth round,

2:16:05 he can find the zone consistently could

2:16:08 turn into one of the best pitchers in

2:16:09 the sport. He throws eight different

2:16:10 pitches, six years in the miners,

2:16:14 split evenly between the Phillies and

2:16:17 Atlanta Braves organization. guy who got

2:16:19 drafted second overall out of high

2:16:20 school, but chose to go to Georgia Tech

2:16:22 where he was a teammate of Andy Archers.

2:16:25 And showing off the nasty stuff right

2:16:26 there. Strikes out the doctor.

2:16:39 still in scoring position. Two down for

2:16:41 Super Reese, who led the 2025 tour with

2:16:45 his 28 inning enders.

2:16:51 One of those inning enders, a game

2:16:54 ender. The first

2:16:57 Bananas banana ball walk-off home run as

2:17:00 Alexi back through the middle.

2:17:03 STANLEY COMING UP THROWING. JACKSON WILL

2:17:05 BE AHEAD of the throw.

2:17:07 Super East picks up right where he left

2:17:09 off.

2:17:11 >> First walk-off of his third World Tour

2:17:14 and the Bananas lead back up to three

2:17:16 points.

2:17:18 Well, he's an MVP favorite for a lot of

2:17:20 guys this season. You want to bet your

2:17:23 best guy in that second hole a lot of

2:17:25 times in banana ball. Get them as many

2:17:27 plate appearances as possible. And Alexi

2:17:30 batted 328 with runners in scoring

2:17:33 position a season ago. comes through yet

2:17:35 again for the Nanners. Now up to a 5-2

2:17:39 lead tonight.

2:17:52 And once again, it's just us, YouTube.

2:17:55 It's just us.

2:17:56 >> How about the Jackson? The Jacksons and

2:17:59 JT down there

2:18:01 >> on the celebration.

2:18:02 >> Yeah.

2:18:39 This place going absolutely bonkers.

2:18:45 Obeying the instructions on the video

2:18:48 boards.

2:19:02 Hello everybody in the chat.

2:19:05 Thank you for responding to me. That's

2:19:06 so kind.

2:19:21 We head to the eighth inning. The

2:19:22 Savannah Bananas lead the Texas

2:19:24 Tailgator five points to two. Two frames

2:19:27 to play. Remember, every run scored in

2:19:29 the final inning counts as a point.

2:19:31 Another look at the celebrations. the

2:19:34 celebration rather I guess you could

2:19:36 call it celebrations

2:19:38 as Ty Jackson, Kyle Jackson, JT Sakalov

2:19:43 all taking part in the fun. And now

2:19:45 Allan Sat, the new man on the mound for

2:19:48 the Nanners.

2:19:54 Quick 20 count on Travis Mo. Top of the

2:19:58 order for the Tailgator. Lopez on deck.

2:20:00 Bar in the hole.

2:20:05 Tailgators down 6-3 in the trick play

2:20:07 department. So, it'll be tough to claim

2:20:09 the equalizer point, but certainly not

2:20:11 out of reach at all. They were down 6

2:20:12 nothing. They've responded with three

2:20:15 unanswered trick plays. And now a 2-2

2:20:18 count as another pair of minor leaguers

2:20:21 square off here in FSU. Sat off a former

2:20:24 Mariners farm hand

2:20:27 and he gives up a big TIME BOOM. TRAVIS

2:20:31 Mono to the moon and back.

2:20:35 First long ball in 2026 for the

2:20:38 Tailgator.

2:20:41 Again, one of the best bats on this

2:20:43 squat from a season ago. He's definitely

2:20:46 one to tap into that power on the

2:20:47 left-handed side of the plate where he

2:20:49 feels the most comfortable. And Buno

2:20:53 trying to spark a rally for the Gator

2:20:55 late in this game. was able to get the

2:20:58 leadoff pump against the former Mariners

2:21:00 farm hand in Satov.

2:21:02 >> How do you feel?

2:21:03 >> Well, Brett, it's plain and simple. I'm

2:21:04 the best there ever is. I mean, I wake

2:21:07 up in the morning and I piss excellence.

2:21:10 I'm I'm a big hairy AMERICAN WINNING

2:21:13 MACHINE. IF YOU AIN'T FIRST, YOU'RE

2:21:14 LAST.

2:21:23 >> How about that for the Moonman himself?

2:21:28 Mano, his third career banana ball home

2:21:30 run after launching a pair last year.

2:21:34 And Nick Lopez trying to go back to back

2:21:37 behind 01.

2:21:39 That one of the back stop. No chance for

2:21:41 Lopez to advance to first.

2:21:45 He's been aboard all three times

2:21:46 tonight. RBI single, a hit by pitch,

2:21:48 reached on a trick play missed his last

2:21:51 time. Well struck ball to Robert Anthony

2:21:52 Cruz in left.

2:22:04 And the county even had two and two.

2:22:05 Lopez has to look out for a four seam

2:22:08 fast. Sweeper, cutter, and change up

2:22:10 from Sat. It's about 90 to 92 with THE

2:22:13 GAS. AND LOPEZ, OH YES, HE DID. BACKTO

2:22:17 BACK JACKS FOR THE TAILGATOR HERE IN THE

2:22:20 EIGHTH.

2:22:25 WELL, that's where things get

2:22:27 frustrating. If you're Allan Satop, your

2:22:29 first banana ball appearance, you're

2:22:31 pitching in the football stadium and

2:22:33 ordinarily you think that those are

2:22:34 going to be caught for your outfielders.

2:22:36 Instead, they're leaving the yard trying

2:22:39 not to let his frustrations compound.

2:22:41 But right now, the tailgator have got to

2:22:43 try to continue to ride that momentum

2:22:46 thanks to back-to back jacks. Let's get

2:22:49 it back down to Brent Loftess.

2:22:50 >> It only took us eight innings. Backto

2:22:53 back jacks. First game in a football

2:22:54 stadium. Lie.

2:22:55 >> Oh my gosh. It's unreal. I mean, we're

2:22:57 just going to get the bat on the ball

2:22:58 now and just keep doing that over and

2:23:00 over. Why not?

2:23:00 >> Gator help and Josh.

2:23:03 >> Thank you, Britt.

2:23:09 Now, Jordan Barf

2:23:12 for three here in his banana ball debut.

2:23:13 Fly out in a couple strikeouts. That one

2:23:16 up the middle. That's going to be a

2:23:17 tough play. Jackson Olsson no throw.

2:23:20 >> There's Bar's first career hit.

2:23:26 I can promise there will be plenty more

2:23:28 to come.

2:23:30 >> That is August Augustina University's

2:23:33 all-time leader in hits, doubles, RBI,

2:23:36 and total bases.

2:23:46 >> Kyle Martin can't hold up. County even

2:23:48 at one and one.

2:23:57 and sat off able to jump ahead.

2:24:00 >> Kmart the pride of Greenville, South

2:24:02 Carolina,

2:24:04 went to the University of South Carolina

2:24:05 after growing up a diehard Clemson

2:24:07 sports fan.

2:24:11 This one, a cloud hunter, Jackson Olsson

2:24:15 will put it away for the first down.

2:24:22 So Kmart

2:24:24 one for three in his debut

2:24:30 >> and Taylor Justice gets his second crack

2:24:33 at it tonight. He struck out looking

2:24:35 back in the sixth.

2:24:48 >> Big swing to miss. He's behind one, two.

2:24:52 Sat off has easy cheddar. Farmboy from

2:24:55 Ridgely, Maryland and gets the punch out

2:24:58 looking. Front door bender and a beauty

2:25:01 for his first career strike out in

2:25:03 banana land. Yeah, just some frozen

2:25:06 pizza against Taylor Justice. Great

2:25:09 breaking ball coming in and catching

2:25:11 that inside corner. And for Satov, I

2:25:14 know still probably a little frustrated

2:25:16 with the results right now. But

2:25:18 thankfully, Banana Ball works with point

2:25:21 scoring. So even though there are two

2:25:23 runs up here in the top of the eighth,

2:25:26 looks like the most that the Bananas

2:25:28 could allow right now, unless that

2:25:29 2-hour time limit expires is just the

2:25:32 Tailgator earning another point, making

2:25:34 this a three to five ball game.

2:25:38 Two balls and a strike on brother Jose

2:25:40 Gonzalez Jr. 0 for three. Line out. Fly

2:25:42 out. Ground out.

2:25:55 And two balls go to Satov. I think one

2:25:58 from Loy, one from Chapman. So he'll

2:26:00 choose his favorite and Cox will flip it

2:26:03 to him. Sat off. Another one of the many

2:26:06 Erskin guys in Banana. Coach Krakco

2:26:09 Disciple.

2:26:17 Allen spent his last three years with

2:26:18 the Flying Fleet after couple years of

2:26:21 Jo and Chesapeake Community College

2:26:24 right down the road from his hometown.

2:26:26 Payoff pitch, bounced foul. We'll get to

2:26:29 do it again.

2:26:34 Brother Ajuko product himself. a couple

2:26:37 years at Navaro College and finished up

2:26:39 with three years at Texas State.

2:26:42 Spent his summer in Savannah, right

2:26:44 between his two collegiate tenures.

2:26:51 AND HE'S LAUNCHING DEEP OUT TO RIGHT

2:26:54 CENTER. KISS IT GOODBYE.

2:26:56 Third long ball of THE FRAME FOR THE

2:26:59 GATOR. JOS GONZALEZ JR. A FLIGHT OF

2:27:02 PASSAGE.

2:27:07 WELL, they may not be his first career

2:27:10 banana ball RBI's. He had three across

2:27:12 the first two Banana Ball games ever in

2:27:15 this sports existence. BUT NOW IN 2026,

2:27:19 BACK IN BANANA BALL, he launches his

2:27:21 first career homer. And he's with Brett

2:27:24 Wis,

2:27:25 >> brother. FIRST CAREER DINGER IN A

2:27:27 FOOTBALL STADIUM.

2:27:28 >> Football stadium. I mean, it's nuts.

2:27:29 This place is buzzing. Come on,

2:27:31 >> Josh Tipsky. How many tailgator ters can

2:27:34 you have in one inning?

2:27:36 >> Well, I'll answer for you, Brett. So

2:27:38 far, three. But I think we could have

2:27:40 some more.

2:27:42 And how poetic. Loft has talked with

2:27:46 brother on the pregame about that short

2:27:48 porch and red. I mean, there was nothing

2:27:49 cheap about that one. sent out to right

2:27:52 center

2:27:54 and sat off

2:27:57 ends the bleeding but a four spot

2:28:00 as the Gator go long balls away

2:28:04 three times in the top of the eighth and

2:28:07 with less than 7 minutes left on our

2:28:09 two-hour timer. Looks like we're going

2:28:11 to get the world's fastest inning. John

2:28:14 Reed

2:28:16 hustling out to tow the slab.

2:28:20 2025 Banana Ball Allstar.

2:28:24 One of the two tailgators pitchers

2:28:27 who made the All-Star team alongside

2:28:29 Christian Davis and now Eastston Parish.

2:28:33 It's his first career banana ball at

2:28:35 bat.

2:28:38 Banana seventh round draft pick

2:28:41 to back up Bill Loy. But this is a guy

2:28:45 who has some serious pop. developed it

2:28:48 late in his career at St. Mary's

2:28:50 University in San Antonio.

2:28:56 He's learned how to minimize the

2:28:57 movement and his swing a little bit, tap

2:28:59 into his pullside power more. And Parish

2:29:03 trying to tap into it here, but swings

2:29:05 through the full count heater. And John

2:29:07 Reed notches his first strikeout of

2:29:10 2026.

2:29:12 Well, that was beautiful location

2:29:15 on the gas from the former Washington

2:29:17 Nationals minor leager.

2:29:26 02 count on Danny Barrels. A sprint his

2:29:30 first time. Three-run walk-off home run

2:29:33 to win the fifth inning for the Nanners.

2:29:43 Chopper just fouled.

2:29:51 >> Oburst famously loves hitting against

2:29:54 lefties, but Johnny Reid about as tough

2:29:57 as they come.

2:30:02 This is in with the bender.

2:30:12 And now the payoff pitch.

2:30:15 Fouled away. Another opportunity for the

2:30:18 full capacity crowd. And we are still

2:30:22 without a foul out to the fans in 2026.

2:30:25 Very surprising considering we saw 139 a

2:30:29 year ago. Now Ober skies this one into

2:30:33 left center field. And Watson is going

2:30:36 to haul this one in. Very surprising.

2:30:39 Yeah, there was no trick play effort

2:30:41 made for the tailgator trying to earn

2:30:43 that equalizer point, but I guess that

2:30:46 they want to make sure that this lead

2:30:49 holds for them.

2:30:51 But that I mean then again, you could

2:30:53 make a 3 to five game, a four to five

2:30:55 game even if you just try a little tip

2:30:57 drill there. 100% as Kyle Jackson's got

2:31:01 a ball and a strike on him

2:31:04 and chops this one fair down the first

2:31:07 baseline.

2:31:08 Jos Gonzalez Jr. ball never left his

2:31:12 hand so it is not a trick play. Wouldn't

2:31:14 matter anyway as the Tailgator down two

2:31:18 points going to the final inning where

2:31:20 every run scored counts as a point.

2:31:30 all the way around the stadium. Let's

2:31:32 lighten up and join in and sing yellow.

2:31:57 Where is

2:32:14 >> one more time?

2:32:30 of everything we do.

2:32:34 >> Let me hear you.

2:32:47 and all the places.

2:33:12 Keep it going.

2:33:34 We love you so much.

2:33:36 >> Joe Campbell Stadium turned yellow.

2:33:40 >> In the middle of the eighth inning,

2:33:42 check that after eight innings. World's

2:33:46 fastest in the middle of the eighth. And

2:33:48 now we go to the ninth where every run

2:33:50 scored counts as a point. The Bananas

2:33:52 lead 53.

2:33:55 I would wager to guess

2:33:58 >> we're about to see

2:34:00 >> one of the best closers in Banana Ball

2:34:02 history.

2:34:06 >> And as I just mentioned, here's what it

2:34:08 means to reach the last inning in Banana

2:34:10 Ball. That's right. All runs scored in

2:34:12 the final inning count as points. The

2:34:14 Tailgator need two runs to tie this game

2:34:16 up. Three runs if they want to take the

2:34:19 lead against the Bananas. And if we see

2:34:21 a tie at the end of our nine innings,

2:34:24 that of course sends us to Showdown

2:34:26 Tiebreakers. And the Texas Tailgator,

2:34:28 they still haven't used their golden

2:34:30 batter tonight either.

2:34:42 Are you even a human, young man?

2:34:52 >> DANNY HLEY, EVEN HE KNOWS HOW DISGUSTING

2:34:55 THAT ONE WAS. HE IS ABSOLUTELY DIALED IN

2:34:59 ON THAT PINTEREST MAN.

2:35:10 >> Are you serious? Till the snake says

2:35:13 where we are.

2:35:15 >> Fang and a miss. Osley with a huge cave.

2:35:19 >> If you want it, you can get it for the

2:35:21 rest of your life.

2:35:22 >> Osley sticks with it. Blows the gas by

2:35:25 him. If you want it, you can get it for

2:35:41 >> here is the aforementioned Danny Dittle,

2:35:45 Vienna, Virginia native here in his

2:35:48 fourth Banana Ball World Tour. One of

2:35:49 the best pitchers in the history of the

2:35:51 sport. Career game number 153 for Danny

2:35:55 Dittle. Started the game in left field.

2:35:57 Now he's in as the bananas closer and he

2:36:01 has 54 career saves in 65 opportunities.

2:36:06 Had an earned run average below one

2:36:08 pitching in major league ballparks a

2:36:11 season ago. And for Danny Dolf, his

2:36:13 career strikeout rate is 30.8%.

2:36:18 Out of all of the batters he's faced in

2:36:20 his career, he has struck at nearly 31%

2:36:23 of them. It's unbelievable. The most

2:36:26 prolific strikeout pitcher in Banana

2:36:28 Ball's history, and it's all thanks to

2:36:30 his deadly Vulcan change up that he

2:36:33 throws the first pitch to Indiana

2:36:35 Stanley.

2:36:37 Indy's got a couple punch outs so far

2:36:39 tonight after flying out his first time.

2:36:43 >> Tailgator need a base runner. Then they

2:36:45 can think about tying this game.

2:36:50 Chance for the fans again

2:36:53 and once again

2:36:55 they cannot make the play.

2:37:02 Swing and a miss. That's a sword for

2:37:04 Indiana. And what else but the Vulcan

2:37:08 change up to get the first strike out in

2:37:11 2026 for Hosley. And career strikeout

2:37:14 number 219

2:37:16 for Danny do it all. Unbelievable. Just

2:37:19 continuing to hammer that Vulcan change.

2:37:22 But Zack Watson follows up is Stanley

2:37:26 Strike with a single up the middle and

2:37:28 that brings the inning tying run and

2:37:31 point up to the dish. Shattered bat, but

2:37:34 it dies a hero. Looks like we got a

2:37:36 golden batter.

2:37:39 The Texas tailgator are invoking the

2:37:42 golden batter rule. Now batting in place

2:37:47 of Jordan Hussein is the tailgator

2:37:50 golden batter, Nick Leisure Lopez.

2:38:00 Who else but Nick Lopez,

2:38:03 who homerred just an inning ago.

2:38:07 He's two for three on the night. Couple

2:38:10 runs driven in.

2:38:12 He's reached base all four times.

2:38:18 The switch hitting designated hitter out

2:38:20 of Santa Ana, California.

2:38:23 They had a ball and no strikes. And of

2:38:25 course, you want to send up a guy who

2:38:26 can bat left-handed considering you've

2:38:28 got that short right field porch, albeit

2:38:30 with a 50ft net, courtesy of netting

2:38:33 throws. Lopez already has notched his

2:38:36 12th career multi-hit game in his young

2:38:39 banana ball career. He's behind one and

2:38:42 two against Hos.

2:38:47 Swing and a miss. Danny do it all. Right

2:38:51 back to the Vulcan change up.

2:38:55 His second K of this top of the ninth

2:38:58 and the Tailgator down to their final

2:39:00 lap. But here's the thing. If you can

2:39:02 get Travis Mono to reach base in any

2:39:05 capacity, it sends Nick Lopez back up to

2:39:08 the plate for a second time against

2:39:10 Hosley. And he's got to see the ball

2:39:12 coming out of the righthander hand. So

2:39:14 right now, if you're the tailgator, you

2:39:16 are just praying that Mono can keep the

2:39:19 line moving and send up again for

2:39:22 revenge.

2:39:24 Also homer just an inning ago,

2:39:30 >> one for three on the night.

2:39:33 He's reached three out of his four trips

2:39:35 to home plate.

2:39:45 D01

2:39:47 swaying and a miss. Osley sneaks the

2:39:49 fast ball by him. The Gator down to

2:39:52 their final strike.

2:39:57 Easy

2:40:03 take from Moon.

2:40:07 The one two swag and a miss. Danny

2:40:11 Hosley strikes out the side and slams

2:40:14 the door on the Tailgator as the

2:40:16 Savannah Bananas with a 53 victory in

2:40:19 their first game in the Banana Ball

2:40:21 Championship League.

2:40:28 IT'S AN ALL-AROUND DOMINANT OPENING

2:40:31 NIGHT PERFORMANCE from the Savannah

2:40:33 Bananas, both from an offensive and

2:40:36 pitching standpoint. Hosley able to shut

2:40:39 the door and the Nanners who were the

2:40:41 one seed entering the tour championship

2:40:44 last year unfortunately bounced by the

2:40:47 four seed firefighters are certainly

2:40:50 looking for revenge and to prove

2:40:52 themselves in the first year of the BBCL

2:40:56 and tonight they grab a very important

2:40:59 win that they hope makes a big statement

2:41:02 to the other five teams in this league

2:41:05 and we get our first Look at the brand

2:41:08 new celebration. Hey, Derek Clint is on

2:41:10 a mic. Let's listen in.

2:41:31 It's KJ Kyle Jackson,

2:41:35 the showman of the game. And it's more

2:41:37 than enough

2:41:39 chair.

2:41:42 Hey

2:41:44 me tonight

2:41:48 we got time.

2:41:51 IT'S LUCKY TO HAVE YOU IN my life.

2:41:56 Hey, you better hit the right and hit

2:41:59 the left. Now turn around and sign.

2:42:03 >> GET YOUR HANDS UP.

2:42:10 Cate with me tonight.

2:42:14 Cate like we got time.

2:42:18 It's lucky to have you in my

2:42:27 left now. Turn around and one more time.

2:42:30 Hit the right now. Hit the left now.

2:42:32 Turn around and slide.

2:42:35 Let's hear it for yours. Savannah banana

2:42:56 fans. Thank you SO MUCH FOR BEING A PART

2:43:00 OF a recordbreaking

2:43:02 historic weekend here at FSU.

2:43:06 We couldn't imagine a better place to

2:43:09 open our 2026 door. So, we want to

2:43:12 finish with one tradition with you

2:43:16 >> with Jesse talks to the full capacity

2:43:19 crowd. We'll get it down to Sam Bowman

2:43:21 with our showman of the game. Go Josh.

2:43:24 Hey, look. IT'S KJ. OUR SHOWMAN OF THE

2:43:26 GAME, KYLE. KJ Jackson. 60,000 people

2:43:29 here in Florida State. A big bananas

2:43:31 win. First game of the Banana Ball

2:43:33 Championship League for your boys in

2:43:35 yellow. How good does it feel to be

2:43:37 back? One, thank you for the fans in

2:43:39 Tallahassee for showing out. It was so

2:43:41 much fun. The energy was electric. On

2:43:44 our behalf, we've been working really

2:43:45 hard for this moment for a long, long

2:43:48 time. And we've been putting in the

2:43:49 hours, the rehearsals, the practice, and

2:43:51 to see it come to fruition here in front

2:43:52 of 60s something thousand people.

2:43:54 Unbelievable. I couldn't have scripted

2:43:55 it any better. It's not scripted, but if

2:43:56 it was, it might have looked like this.

2:43:58 It was perfect. I had so much fun.

2:44:00 >> Yeah, if you could script it, you had

2:44:01 Yeah, like you said, nearly picture

2:44:03 perfect game. The glove was working with

2:44:04 the trick plays, the bat with the home

2:44:06 run, and the walk up. KJ, can you come

2:44:09 down from a night like this?

2:44:11 >> Um, most definitely. I'm going to need a

2:44:13 lot of food, a lot of water. I'm going

2:44:14 to need a back rub. I might need a foot

2:44:17 rub. I don't even know. I needed

2:44:18 something, but I had so much fun. So,

2:44:20 honestly, it's all worth it.

2:44:21 >> Uh KJ, I do have a question. Uh banana

2:44:23 ball break uh backstage. 9-year-old

2:44:26 Ashlin, she got her question of the day

2:44:27 today, and she wants to know your

2:44:29 favorite Taylor Swift song. I know I'm

2:44:31 putting you on the spot here with this

2:44:32 one. M see this might be up Jackson's

2:44:35 alley so I hope he doesn't get offended

2:44:36 by this but I'm going to say the fate of

2:44:39 Oilia because one I love anything that

2:44:41 has to do with fate because I belong

2:44:43 here and I believe that fate has a big

2:44:45 role in all that we do and it's it's

2:44:46 meant to happen. So

2:44:48 >> KJ, you wax poetic every time I talk to

2:44:51 you. Final question. Is it the dancing?

2:44:54 IS IT THE SINGING? WHAT IS IT?

2:44:56 >> Um it's the baseball always beat Josh.

2:45:00 He hasn't missed a beat. Happy to be

2:45:02 back with these guys.

2:45:10 >> KJ talking about the fate of Oilia. His

2:45:13 fate showman of the night on the opening

2:45:16 night for the Savannah Bananas in 2026.

2:45:20 The walk-off home run that knotted

2:45:23 things up in the second inning.

2:45:26 A flurry of trick plays over at third

2:45:28 base. and Kyle Jackson. Should we be

2:45:32 surprised? Of course not. A superstar on

2:45:35 and off the field. Guy who's taken this

2:45:37 sport by storm. And give the kid a web

2:45:39 jam as well. Superb leaping grab on that

2:45:42 hot shot. Just an allaround really

2:45:44 impressive first game in 2026 for KJ.

2:45:47 He's the man who got everything started

2:45:49 for the Bananas tonight when you

2:45:50 consider that walk-off home run in the

2:45:52 second inning. Of course, splashed the

2:45:54 leather as well. a pair of trick plays,

2:45:56 that great leaping grab at the hot

2:45:58 corner as well. And what I think when I

2:46:01 think about Kyle Jackson, I know that he

2:46:03 was a little bummed. He wasn't the

2:46:04 rookie of the year a season ago as Andy

2:46:07 Cosgrove of the Party Animals beat him

2:46:09 out. But I know he wants to win the MVP

2:46:12 award in 2026 in the first year of the

2:46:14 Banana Ball Championship League. And the

2:46:17 fans clearly franchised him for a

2:46:19 reason. He's really beloved, but the

2:46:21 coaching staff loves him as well. I

2:46:24 remember Tyler Gillum saying that KJ's

2:46:27 one of the guys who has dazzled him the

2:46:29 most in a single try out and you see all

2:46:31 of that talent being brought to the

2:46:33 diamond. He has really delivered and

2:46:36 become one of Banana Ball's standout

2:46:38 performers. And no doubt about it. I

2:46:41 mean KJ the kid out of Bowling Green,

2:46:44 Ohio, guy who when his college career

2:46:46 ended on a Thursday, he was in Columbus

2:46:48 watching the Bananas play the party

2:46:50 animals. 2 days later, 2 days after

2:46:53 that, he was down in Savannah for the

2:46:55 visitors. I mean, just a go-getter who

2:46:57 had his eyes on Banana Ball throughout

2:46:59 his college career. And I know a big fan

2:47:01 of his is Jesse Cole as well. To hear

2:47:03 from the man in the yellow suit, let's

2:47:06 get it down to Brett Loftess.

2:47:08 >> Jesse, to kick off the first three games

2:47:11 of the Banana Ball Championship League,

2:47:13 you said, "Hey, why don't we go to

2:47:14 Tallahassee, Florida to Florida State,

2:47:16 all six teams play in three shows."

2:47:19 describe this one here tonight. You

2:47:21 know, it's just special. We started with

2:47:22 just one team, a small town team in

2:47:24 Savannah, Georgia, hoping to sell a few

2:47:26 tickets. 11 years later, to build this

2:47:29 league, to build what we have with six

2:47:31 teams to play in front of 70,000 fans

2:47:34 this weekend. You know, our first big

2:47:36 tour, I remember we did seven cities and

2:47:38 we're like, we're going to play in front

2:47:39 of 70,000 fans. We don't know how we're

2:47:41 going to do it. And then tonight caps it

2:47:44 off. 70,000 fans. One of the most

2:47:46 electric crowds atmosphere. These guys,

2:47:49 the players, the cast, the staff has

2:47:50 worked so hard. To think it started with

2:47:52 just four of us and now to know we have

2:47:54 hundreds of people with one job to

2:47:57 create fans and create special moments

2:48:00 and they did that tonight and the crowd

2:48:01 brought it and I can imagine a better

2:48:03 kickoff the last three days.

2:48:05 >> Starting next weekend going through

2:48:07 October, three different tours. People

2:48:09 said you couldn't do one. People said

2:48:11 you couldn't do two. Now we're doing

2:48:13 three. Jesse, what do you expect in

2:48:15 2026? People say a lot of things, but it

2:48:18 comes down to believing in yourself. And

2:48:19 belief is the most powerful thing in the

2:48:21 world. And these guys, this crew, our

2:48:23 people, we believe in this. We believe

2:48:26 in bringing joy, bringing fun every

2:48:28 single day. And it's hard what we do. We

2:48:30 don't know how to do one tour, two tour,

2:48:32 three tours. We didn't know. We didn't

2:48:34 know how to do football stadiums. We

2:48:35 didn't know how to do cruise ships. We

2:48:36 didn't know how to do any of this. But

2:48:37 we believed if we came together and

2:48:39 created something and focused solely on

2:48:41 the fans and focused on creating

2:48:43 something people never seen before, it

2:48:44 would work. And when you have a bunch of

2:48:46 people going in the same direction,

2:48:47 believing in something, you can

2:48:48 accomplish anything. And that's what

2:48:50 this group gets to do every single

2:48:51 night. And the fans, I think they're

2:48:53 witnessing, they're watching something

2:48:54 happen. The power of people coming

2:48:56 together. When you bring great people

2:48:58 together with a mission that believe in

2:49:00 something, it's amazing what happens.

2:49:02 And we're doing that right now. And

2:49:03 we're just getting started. Just getting

2:49:05 started, guys. A historic weekend here

2:49:08 in Tallahassee 2026. There's a lot to

2:49:10 come. Bo Josh,

2:49:16 >> thank you Brett Loftess. Always great to

2:49:18 hear from Big Yellow. Welcome back into

2:49:21 the booth with Josh Tleski, Bo Scala.

2:49:24 Happy opening weekend. What a banana

2:49:26 ball kickoff it was. We got to see

2:49:28 victories from the Loco Beach Coconuts

2:49:30 and Indianapolis Clowns across the last

2:49:32 two nights. And then the Savannah

2:49:34 Bananas show why they had the best

2:49:36 record in 2025. just a half game better

2:49:39 than the party animals, but they did go

2:49:40 into that tour championship as the one

2:49:42 seed. A pretty impressive 5-3 win

2:49:44 tonight.

2:49:44 >> Yeah, and they had the veterans really

2:49:46 coming through for them when you

2:49:47 consider Kyle Jackson, Jackson Olsson,

2:49:49 Dan Oburst, all launching walk-off home

2:49:52 runs for them in tonight's contest. And

2:49:54 then they really retoled that pitching

2:49:56 staff. They only kept four pitchers from

2:49:58 a season ago on this team and overhauled

2:50:01 it. Got a lot of new guys and they

2:50:04 looked really talented tonight. They

2:50:06 neutralized that tailgator offense for

2:50:08 the most part in this ball game. It led

2:50:11 them to a 5-3 victory, but at large,

2:50:14 this was a very historic and incredible

2:50:18 Banana Ball kickoff weekend to open up

2:50:20 the 2026 Banana Ball Championship League

2:50:23 season. When you consider two expansion

2:50:26 teams, the Loco Beach Coconuts, the

2:50:28 Indianapolis Clowns, both grabbed wins

2:50:31 and in unique fashions, as you saw, the

2:50:34 Clowns were able to get that win against

2:50:36 the defending champs in the party

2:50:37 animals. Just unbelievable offensive

2:50:40 performances. And for the Loco Beach

2:50:43 Coconuts, they used the ninth inning and

2:50:46 being able to score multiple runs that

2:50:48 became points to take down the

2:50:50 firefighters. Both of those teams earned

2:50:52 an equalizer point as well. But here's

2:50:54 the interesting note. If we see more

2:50:57 from the Bananas like we saw tonight,

2:51:00 it's going to be very difficult for all

2:51:02 the other teams to earn equalizer points

2:51:04 against them and also come up with a

2:51:07 ninth inning comebacks. When you

2:51:08 consider just how dominant this pitching

2:51:11 staff was in tonight's contest and in

2:51:13 these unique football stadium

2:51:16 dimensions, the coconuts, the clowns,

2:51:18 the bananas, all 1 and 0. And it's the

2:51:21 firefighters, party animals, and

2:51:22 tailgators all 0 and one after the

2:51:24 banana ball kickoff. Let's take a look

2:51:26 at what next weekend has in store. It's

2:51:28 going to be a really interesting one.

2:51:30 All six teams are playing on Saturday

2:51:33 and Sunday. We'll start with the

2:51:34 Savannah Bananas. They are taking on the

2:51:37 firefighters in Savannah. So, Grayson

2:51:39 Stadium on Saturday and Sunday. Those

2:51:42 games will be on the Savannah Bananas

2:51:44 YouTube channel. Then, when it comes to

2:51:46 these Texas Tailgators, they're heading

2:51:48 out to Frisco, Texas. That will be a

2:51:51 really fun battle against the Loco Beach

2:51:53 Coconuts with a 1-0 Coconuts against the

2:51:55 O-1 tailgator. It'll be exciting to see

2:51:58 what happens in that series. And then

2:52:00 for the party animals, they go to

2:52:01 Memphis, Tennessee, a brand new city for

2:52:04 Banana Ball and they take on the

2:52:06 Indianapolis Clowns. So, we get to see a

2:52:08 rematch of the fantastic battle that

2:52:10 they had last night. Cannot wait to see

2:52:12 how all three of those two game sets go

2:52:14 next weekend.

2:52:15 >> Yeah, it's going to be super exciting. I

2:52:16 know the party animals feel a little

2:52:18 chip on their shoulder already looking

2:52:20 for revenge against this clown squad.

2:52:22 Meanwhile, the Bananas get to go back

2:52:24 home, play in Savannah, and the

2:52:26 Tailgator finally get their first

2:52:27 headline games of the season in Frisco,

2:52:30 Texas. So, it's going to be super

2:52:32 exciting to see how these things unfold,

2:52:34 as you've got to remember, these first

2:52:36 11 games of the season are very

2:52:38 important as they will determine seating

2:52:41 for the Banana Ball Open, which we will

2:52:43 see in midApril. And just a quick

2:52:45 reminder, Banana Ball live games will

2:52:47 not be on the Banana Ball YouTube

2:52:49 channel next weekend. It'll be the

2:52:50 Savannah Bananas YouTube channel, the

2:52:52 Texas Tailgators, and the Party Animals

2:52:54 as they are all the home teams across

2:52:56 these next series, at least for the

2:52:58 first game. That is uh thank you so much

2:53:01 to our entire cast and crew. Thank you

2:53:03 to you, the fans, for standing by and

2:53:05 sticking with us here on our first

2:53:07 Bananas and Tailgators game of 2026. For

2:53:10 our director, Chris Haynes, and the

2:53:12 fantastic folks that we have in the

2:53:14 control room in Savannah. for our

2:53:16 producer here on site, Keegan Woods, our

2:53:18 executive producer, Josh Richardson, all

2:53:21 of our folks down on the field, Mr.

2:53:23 Brett Loftess, and Sam Bowman. Big

2:53:25 thanks to Kyle Bill and Sunshine for

2:53:27 getting miked up. Of course, the man to

2:53:29 my right, to your left, Josh Tleski up

2:53:32 in the booth, the statistical savant of

2:53:35 our young sport. I am Bo Scalla saying

2:53:37 so long for now. It was a 5-3 victory

2:53:40 for the Nanners tonight. Can't wait to

2:53:42 see what happens in the six banana ball

2:53:44 games we get next weekend. And until

2:53:46 then, WE WILL SEE YOU LATER.

2:54:05 It's a war champ.

2:54:51 Heat. Heat.