Savannah Bananas @ Texas Tailgaters

0:00 Heat.

0:14 Heat.

0:22 Heat. Heat.

1:00 I want

1:07 to do a

1:33 Uh-huh.

1:38 Heat. Heat. N.

2:30 Oh yeah.

2:36 Oh.

4:16 Welcome in to Banana Ball live on ESPN.

4:20 We come to you from College Station,

4:22 Texas, where over 102,000 fans have

4:25 converged on Kyle Field, the sixth

4:28 largest stadium in the world to witness

4:31 the Savannah Bananas take on the Texas

4:33 Tailgator. And you couldn't dream up a

4:36 better pitching matchup as the number

4:38 three overall draft pick Chris Clark

4:40 gets the ball for the Gator. Well, the

4:41 Bananas counter with the number four

4:43 overall pick, Austin Drury. Two former

4:46 minor league arms dueling in the biggest

4:48 game in Banana Ball history. We have

4:51 that and so much more to discuss here on

4:54 our 2026 Banana Ball World Tour pre-show

4:57 presented by DQ DQ. Happy tastes good.

5:02 And boy does it feel good to have these

5:06 fellas in the booth with me as we

5:09 welcome you inside with Josh Tvki, the

5:12 statistical soant of our sport. Brett

5:14 Loftess, the voice of the Texas

5:16 Tailgator. I am Bo Scala. Happy Saturday

5:19 night here in virtual Banana Land. Just

5:21 two nights ago, these two teams did

5:23 battle in front of the smallest crowd in

5:25 Banana Ball history. And holy moly, did

5:27 the Tailgator put a whooping on these

5:29 nanners.

5:30 >> I don't think it's an underestimation to

5:32 say that is the single most complete

5:34 game any team's played in Banana Ball

5:35 this year. But the Texas Tailgator in

5:37 their complete existence, 15 trick

5:40 plays. Kmart sends one out of the yard.

5:42 Five points to nothing. The Bananas only

5:44 scored one run in the whole game. The

5:46 Texas Tailgator complete and utter

5:48 domination on Thursday night in front of

5:50 just a thousand people at Navasota High

5:52 School.

5:53 >> But this Savannah Bananas team, it still

5:55 is the number one team in the sport

5:57 looking to stop a two-game losing streak

5:58 though.

5:58 >> Yeah, that's right. They still have the

6:00 best record in the Banana Ball

6:01 Championship League and they're sending

6:02 Austin Drury to the mound. And the

6:04 Bananas have won every single game that

6:07 Drury has started for them. So, they

6:09 feel awfully confident when he's getting

6:10 the ball from the get- go. And this

6:12 offense, it may be scuffling as of late.

6:16 But it's just 185 ft to the left field

6:19 foul pole, albeit with 50 foot nets,

6:21 courtesy of Netting Pros. I think it'll

6:23 aid that Bananas offense.

6:25 >> Well, let's take a quick look back in

6:27 time at what happened two nights ago.

6:29 Just 30 minutes down the road at

6:32 Navasota High School. Bunker Field had

6:35 1,000 fans on hand. No tickets required,

6:38 just the first thousand. And boy, they

6:40 got to see Kyle Martin, the best hitter

6:42 in all of April, do his thing. That was

6:44 his fifth long ball here in April,

6:46 earning player of the month honors

6:48 >> and his sixth on the year, which now

6:49 leads the Banana Ball Championship

6:51 League. And the first trick play belongs

6:54 to the trick play leader in Banana Ball,

6:56 Jonathan Sunshine Looters. How many

6:59 times did he bounce it off the leg? One,

7:01 two, three, four, five, six, seven

7:04 times, Josh Delesky. And that's a record

7:06 for the most kick juggles we've ever

7:08 seen. So they ride that momentum into

7:10 the bottom half of the second inning.

7:12 And it's Taylor Justice striking against

7:14 the Savannah Bananas yet again this

7:17 season. Walks up the frame against

7:19 Cowboy Kyle Luig. And is now up to six

7:22 walk-offs this season, leading all

7:24 players. But when it comes to Brett

7:26 Sanchez and the Texas Tailgator, they

7:28 were cooking. Indiana Stanley, Texas

7:30 tornado warning here in the Lone Star

7:33 State. Third trick play of the ball game

7:35 for the Gator and the Nanners trying for

7:38 a counter punch. They would get it with

7:40 a little jolt from their designated

7:41 fielder. Alex Ziggler kicking off the

7:43 bottom of the third with a daring

7:45 between the legs trick play on a high

7:47 chopper. And then Jackson Olsen keeping

7:49 the trick play momentum going. Fielded

7:51 and thrown between the legs. Ziggy

7:53 behind the back off a Mac. Danford in a

7:55 jeans boots. An old button-down shirt

7:58 get up after the walk up. And then how

8:00 about Ryan Cox, the glove magician,

8:02 making it a five trick play inning.

8:04 Doubling up there with Ziggy again.

8:05 >> Yeah, most trick plays the Bananas have

8:07 had in a single inning this season. But

8:09 the Texas Tailgator immediately

8:11 responded. Jordan Bar, Jordan Hussein,

8:14 they've got the double trick play. And

8:16 then how about Kyle Jackson? Another one

8:18 skyed in the air. It's Luners and

8:20 Hussein with a pair of trick plays.

8:23 >> Book it. Book it. Book it. Book it.

8:24 Right there in those last two

8:25 highlights. And then what about this?

8:27 Five, four, three, bucket. Sunonny in

8:30 second. That's five trick plays in about

8:32 15 seconds. That's how quick the Texas

8:34 Tailgator took over the trick play lead

8:37 and they never relinquished it on

8:39 Thursday night. And then to just add on

8:41 into the lead in the ball game. Got to

8:42 get a runner in score position. Welcome

8:44 to the auction again. Kyle Mark says,

8:46 "I'm 33 years old, but I'm still nimble

8:48 as all get out as he narrowly narrowly

8:52 evades attack." I think he's been doing

8:54 some water aerobics. Next pitch, Jordan

8:57 Bar didn't even need to swing to bat. He

8:59 walks it off to make it a three to

9:00 nothing lead for the Tailgator.

9:02 >> Truly one of the most acrobatic slides

9:04 I've seen in my young broadcasting

9:06 career there from Kmart. And then

9:08 Stanley out in center field flashing the

9:10 leather taking a hit away from his

9:12 counterpart. And Jordan Hussein on the

9:14 mic with us putting a close to six

9:16 scoreless innings from Brett Sanchez who

9:18 dazzled once again. And with 10 trick

9:19 plays induced as well. And speaking of

9:21 trick plays, you saw them from the

9:23 pitchers as well. A pistol squat strike

9:26 out from Brett Allen coming into relief.

9:28 But then the very next batter, Billoy

9:31 does his signature walk up from the

9:33 crowd and goes deep on the 1-1 pitch for

9:37 the first run of the night for the

9:38 Savannah Bananas. Second home run of the

9:41 regular season for Loy. And then he went

9:44 right back into the crowd to celebrate

9:46 with the youngsters.

9:47 >> That would be the only run the Bananas

9:49 would score in the whole ball game as

9:50 the Tailgator made up for it with two in

9:52 the home half there. Cal Martin yet

9:54 again. Book it, book it, book it.

9:56 Hunching, hunching, hunching. Cal Market

9:58 made it four to nothing. And then my

10:00 good friend from Austin, Texas, Jimmy

10:02 Lewis, strands two in scoring position

10:04 to set up another walk-off opportunity.

10:06 And another ball for Sprint does the

10:08 trick. Five to nothing after eight

10:10 frames. The Tailgator let it.

10:12 >> That was Taylor Justice's second

10:13 walk-off of the game. Tour leading sixth

10:16 on the year. And then Hussein with the

10:18 barehanded snag in the ninth. Just for

10:20 fun. Jonathan Lutters, get yourself

10:22 another trick play as Reese Miller

10:25 completes the shut out of the Savannah

10:27 Bananas. And how about that? After the

10:30 Nanners took the first three games this

10:32 year against the Tailgator, the

10:33 Tailgator have responded with three

10:35 straight wins against the Savannah

10:37 Bananas. Very impressive stuff. And

10:40 speaking of impressive stuff, how about

10:42 the Aprils from Kyle Martin and Brett

10:44 Sanchez? Not very often you see the same

10:47 team produce both players of the month.

10:49 Kyle Martin, I mean, we've seen it in

10:51 that highlight tape. He almost

10:52 single-handedly powered the offense on

10:54 Thursday night, but he's done that the

10:56 entire month of April. Five of his six

10:58 home runs came in April, hit 500. I

11:00 mean, he's just incredible. Three

11:02 walk-offs as well in the home game.

11:03 Brett Sanchez though, Josh, I I mean,

11:05 you look at these stats. 18 strikeouts,

11:07 only two ball four sprints in three

11:09 appearances. A special special month

11:12 that may not be matched for the rest of

11:13 the year in Banana Ball.

11:14 >> And look, we mentioned trick pitch

11:16 strikeouts just a couple minutes ago.

11:18 Brett Sanchez, three of his 18

11:20 strikeouts, they were trick pitch Ks.

11:22 And you saw the 0.71 earned run average.

11:26 This guy, he didn't start the season in

11:28 the Texas Tailgator rotation. Now with

11:30 some threeame series getting mixed in,

11:33 he has moved into that rotation and I

11:35 don't think he is going anywhere anytime

11:37 soon. He's been utterly dominant. We

11:40 have seen the bananas and tailgators do

11:42 battle here in 2026 more than any other

11:45 teams here in the Banana Ball

11:47 Championship League. It started on that

11:49 grand conclusion in Tallahassee and Do

11:51 Campbell Field. The Bananas outslugged

11:53 the Tailgator with that 5-3 win and then

11:56 they were able to survive and sweep that

11:58 twoame set up in Keenan Stadium at

12:00 Chapel Hill. But it was the Banana Ball

12:02 open final where the Tailgator flipped

12:03 the script, swept that open final,

12:05 clinched that playoff birth, and then of

12:07 course the 5-nil win we saw two nights

12:09 ago. And I think the evolution of the

12:10 tailgators this year has been the

12:12 evolution of the season. You look only

12:14 three trick plays on opening night in

12:15 Tallahassee. You hit three home runs,

12:18 but again, you only able to produce

12:19 three points. You go to Chapel Hill. You

12:21 gave one away in game one. Game two

12:23 domination. The Banana Ball Championship

12:26 League Open. What a weekend. Three

12:28 straight wins, those last two coming

12:29 over the Bananas. And then Navasota High

12:31 School, complete domination. It's been

12:33 the evolution of the tailgator

12:34 throughout the year and a microcosm has

12:36 been against the boys in yellow. And the

12:38 offense evolved in April for the

12:39 Tailgator. They batted 335 in that month

12:42 with 11 home runs. That is certainly

12:45 what propelled them to some key

12:47 victories against the Savannah Bananas.

12:49 Yeah, what an impressive month for the

12:51 Tailgator. The only team that has

12:53 already clinched a spot in the playoffs

12:55 thanks to that Banana Ball Open title.

12:58 When we return, we will be talking about

13:01 this star-studded pitching matchup and

13:03 hearing from Austin Drury himself.

13:19 also in shortstop wearing number four.

13:22 He's pretty and he's gritty. Kyle KJ

13:26 Jackson

13:31 at second base wearing number nine the

13:34 doggy man Max John Goldberg.

13:42 Also at second base, wearing number

13:44 eight, the greatest showman, Jackson

13:48 Olsen.

13:54 At first base, our bat trickster and

13:57 balance extraordinaire, Alex Ziggy

14:01 Ziggler.

14:06 on the mound. Please make some noise for

14:09 our celebrity DJ of the night, Duplo.

14:18 And behind the plate on the mic, wearing

14:21 number one, myself, Bill the Ro.

14:38 Something big is

14:43 something big. I feel it happening out

14:45 of my control. Pushing, pulling, and

14:48 it's grabbing me. Feel it in my bones.

14:51 Like, oh.

14:58 So, the big is happening.

15:10 Welcome back to Banana Ball live on

15:12 ESPN. We are less than 20 minutes away

15:15 from first pitch tonight here in Kyle

15:18 Field. And let's take a look at the aces

15:21 we've got on the bump here tonight

15:24 because it does not get any better than

15:26 this. It is Austin Drury and Chris

15:29 Clark. Both tied for second on the tour

15:32 with those 24 strikeouts. The ERA

15:34 Sterling and both with over 20 innings

15:37 pitched. I mean, this is as good as it

15:39 gets. I mean, these guys are certainly

15:41 front runners for rookie of the year at

15:43 the moment and pitcher of the year as

15:45 well. Both of these guys rank in the top

15:46 10 and earned run average in Banana

15:48 Ball. And you see the ERA plus numbers.

15:51 100 is what you consider league average.

15:54 Jury more than two times better than the

15:56 tour average pitcher. Chris Cork has

15:58 been more than four times better when

16:01 you look at earned run average alone. I

16:03 mean, these guys have really proven why

16:05 they were both first round selections in

16:08 the Banana Ball player draft. Well,

16:09 you've got to combine 12 years of minor

16:11 league experience between these guys.

16:13 And the similarity between the two, it's

16:16 just an uncomfortable play appearance as

16:18 you'll see through these Chris Clark

16:19 highlights. I think they're the two most

16:20 uncomfortable ABS for any batters in all

16:23 of the sport. 22 and a third. You

16:25 mentioned the ERA plus. You mentioned

16:27 the strikeouts. The ERA 161. That's

16:30 great in baseball, but in a league in

16:32 Banana where the RA, the average ERA is

16:34 up near seven this year. That is

16:36 exceptional. Doesn't get much better

16:38 than that in only six ball four sprints.

16:40 Chris Clark does not issue out free

16:42 passes and therefore he gets a lot of

16:44 outs, gets a lot of strikeouts, and also

16:46 top 10 in trick plays induced as well.

16:48 Chris Clark is maybe the single most

16:52 major league ready player in his

16:54 previous baseball life that has ever

16:56 come to banana ball. Not named Jackie

16:57 Bradley Jr.

16:58 >> 100%. I mean he was up there at AAA in

17:01 De Moine and if not for injuries I think

17:03 he would have got a shot in Wrigley

17:05 Field for the Chicago Cubs. But boy are

17:07 we blessed to have him here in Banana

17:09 Land. When it comes to Austin Drury,

17:11 this is a guy who spent 5 years in the

17:13 Los Angeles Dodgers organization, was

17:16 part of that legendary Tulsa Drillers

17:18 rotation that was throwing the most high

17:20 velocity pitches in all of affiliated

17:22 baseball. They were at DA doing that.

17:24 And Drury has hit the ground running

17:26 here in Banana Land. And look, he fell

17:28 out of the Dodgers organization because

17:29 he allowed a few too many walks and he

17:32 was certainly disappointed in that. And

17:34 he really took it personally. And you've

17:36 seen what an effective strikethrower he

17:38 is in Banana Ball. He has just a 3.3%

17:42 ball four sprint rate this season. That

17:44 is the second lowest mark of any pitcher

17:47 in the Banana Ball Championship League.

17:49 So, you just expect a lot of strikes

17:51 when AD's on the mound. And he's got a

17:54 great mix of velocities as well. Let's

17:56 hear from the very man himself, Austin

17:59 Drury. Sat down a little while ago with

18:01 Sam Bowman.

18:06 Well guys, Austin Drury, he's going to

18:07 be pretty busy on the mound tonight. So,

18:10 we figured let's get him off his feet

18:11 for a little bit. Let him enjoy the view

18:13 that a 102,000 other folks are going to

18:16 be taking in today. AD, when you hear

18:18 the number 102,000,

18:21 how's it hit you?

18:23 >> You know, it doesn't hit me physically

18:24 yet, but I just feel extremely grateful

18:26 to just hear that number and and just

18:28 know that we get to perform in front of

18:30 that and put it on a show for them. It's

18:31 it's extremely humbling. So, hey D,

18:34 you're a guy who decided to drop out of

18:38 school, bet on yourself, let's go pro

18:40 ball. When you made that decision, did

18:42 you ever think, "Hey, I'll be at Kyle

18:43 Field one day, playing in front of the

18:46 biggest crowd in Banana Ball history."

18:48 >> You know, I made that decision out of

18:49 heart. I really love this game. But

18:50 never did I think once I'd be playing in

18:52 front of half the people, let alone

18:54 102,000 out of football stadium in

18:56 Texas.

18:57 >> Now, I know I was talking to your buddy

18:59 Max Young Goldberg. You said a little

19:00 nerves for this maybe this left porch

19:02 over here. Did you get sleep last night

19:05 knowing that just down the line there?

19:08 >> Perfect sleep, but it was right when I

19:09 woke up. I I pulled up Instagram and I

19:11 see the porch. So, you know, it is what

19:13 it is. We're playing at a level playing

19:14 field. Both teams have it. So, I just

19:16 got to work with it.

19:17 >> AD, no home runs tonight. You think

19:18 maybe end of the year you'll have

19:20 102,000 Instagram followers?

19:22 >> You know what? That's that's uh that's a

19:24 blessing if I do. You know, we love the

19:26 fans. So, that's all I can say.

19:28 >> He's competing with Grant Besser. get

19:29 this guy some follows and

19:31 >> July 1st. Yeah. Hey, he's got to go

19:32 pitch, though. I guess we should give

19:34 our seats up for the other fans. Uh,

19:36 >> they'll show up. In fact, I think

19:37 they're just about here, guys.

19:42 >> Thank you very much, SP. Yeah, I think

19:44 that was a wise decision, my friend.

19:47 When we come back, we're going to get to

19:48 hear from the tailgator skipper Joe

19:50 Molick on why this is such an emotional

19:52 night.

20:00 batters may not step out of the batter.

20:02 If they do, they will get called a

20:03 strike. Rule number eight, there are no

20:05 mount visits. Rule number nine, the

20:07 banana ball challenge rule. During the

20:09 game, each team has an opportunity to

20:11 challenge one umpire called per game.

20:14 And if that's not enough for you, Vince,

20:16 not only do the players and coaches get

20:18 to challenge your authorities, so do the

20:21 fans. your fan challenge representative.

20:23 He won the tailgator gauntlet earlier

20:25 today. Who was our fan challenge

20:27 tonight, Garrett?

20:28 >> That would be Christian there, Vincent

20:30 Chapman. Christian,

20:36 >> he doesn't like to be challenged. No.

20:38 Rule number 10, the golden batter rule.

20:40 Once per game, each team can take any

20:42 hitter in their lineup and have them bat

20:44 in any spot. And finally, the most fans

20:47 first rule of them all. College Station,

20:49 I gotta ask you, did you bring your

20:52 gloves with you tonight?

20:56 >> That is good because if any of you fans

20:59 catch a foul ball in this game, it

21:01 counts for an out. And the first fan to

21:04 catch a foul ball for an out will win

21:05 free Dairy Queen for their entire row.

21:08 And those are the rules of Banana Ball.

21:12 All righty, fans. We are mere moments

21:15 away from a banana ball battle breaking

21:17 out right here on Kyle Field. But first,

21:20 we've got some beef to settle, which can

21:22 only mean one thing. It's time for the

21:24 banana ball riff.

21:28 Each team will present one

21:29 instrumentalist and they will go

21:31 headtohead and then it will be up to

21:33 you, the fans, to decide who wins our

21:36 riff. Without any further ado,

21:39 introducing first, making his way out of

21:43 the Savannah Bananas dugout, hailing

21:47 from the world famous Banana Band, he is

21:52 oozing Sachs Appeal. Ladies and

21:55 gentlemen,

21:59 welcome back to our 2026 Banana Ball

22:01 World Tour pre-show presented by DQ. DQ

22:05 happy tastes good.

22:08 And what a wonderful venue for banana

22:11 ball. Kyle Field, the sixth largest

22:14 stadium in the entirety of planet Earth.

22:17 And let's take a little look at the

22:19 history of this wonderful football

22:22 stadium. It was built in 1927. That

22:26 means this is year 100 for Kylefield.

22:28 And for the cool cost of just 650 bucks.

22:31 Now that would be over 12 grand today.

22:33 still feels like a steal to me.

22:35 Renovated in 2014. Now, if you really

22:37 want to build one of these things,

22:38 that's $483 million. That that makes a

22:41 little bit more sense there. And the

22:43 12th man, that is what this fan base is

22:45 called. It is widely regarded as the

22:47 toughest fan atmosphere in all of

22:49 college football.

22:50 >> I mean, yeah, you think about all of

22:51 these teams in the Southeastern

22:53 Conference coming to play Texas A&M.

22:55 Nobody wants to be here. And the Bananas

22:58 and Tailgators, they're in for a lot of

23:00 crowd noise tonight. Joe Mikolik and his

23:02 wife Candy know all about that as Rex

23:04 Castillo caught up earlier with our

23:06 skipper and his wife.

23:10 >> Coming to Kyle Field was more of a

23:12 homecoming for head coach Joe Miklick.

23:14 So instead of trying to get him out of

23:15 the stands. We decided to keep him up

23:17 here with the rest of the Agies. Head

23:19 coach Joe Miklick as a lifong Texas A&M

23:22 fan you decided to pursue pro ball.

23:25 Look, was it ever a possibility, a

23:27 thought, a dream that you could one day

23:30 be playing and coaching on a diamond

23:32 here at Kyle Field?

23:33 >> No, obviously not. This is a this is a

23:35 dream come true. And I and you know,

23:37 gosh, all my years of minor league

23:39 baseball and professional baseball, you

23:41 know, I just wanted to get a shot to to

23:43 get to the big leagues and it came up

23:44 short and, you know, to nobody's fault,

23:47 but uh it's something that we deal with

23:49 in in real life. You deal with failures,

23:51 you deal with things that you don't

23:52 reach. But however, now with Banana

23:54 Ball, Fans First Entertainment came

23:56 calling and with the help of my sweet

23:58 dear wife Candy, we're standing here

24:01 today in front of 102,000 people. And I

24:04 can't wait to get it started.

24:06 >> And as you mentioned, his dear sweet

24:08 wife, Miss Candy, who is actually right

24:10 here and an Aggie herself. You know what

24:12 this place means. There you go. There's

24:14 the 12. You know what this place means

24:16 to Aggies all over the world and to

24:18 college football in general. Your worlds

24:20 are colliding now. What is this like to

24:21 experience this? This is so exciting.

24:23 When they announced this at the

24:24 selection show last year, I thought this

24:27 absolutely would be the biggest dream I

24:29 could ever have. And so, yeah, it's

24:31 awesome. I get to be here and watch Joe

24:33 and the Texas Tailgator, Savannah

24:35 Bananas, at my home turf at Texas A&M. I

24:39 couldn't be more excited.

24:40 >> And this story has one other beautiful

24:42 twist. We don't get Coach Joe without

24:44 Miss Candy telling him, "Hey, go try

24:47 banana ball. You've done minor league

24:48 ball. You've done pro ball for a long

24:50 time. So simply, we have to thank Miss

24:52 Candy for everything, don't we?

24:54 >> Absolutely. Well, there was a day I woke

24:55 up and I said, I don't know if I can do

24:57 this Banana Ball stuff. I think I'm

24:58 going to stay with the the Rockies who

25:00 took care of me for 15 years. I felt

25:02 loyal to him. However, she looked at me

25:04 with death in her eyes and said, "No,

25:06 you've got to go to Banana Ball. You've

25:08 got to go to the Fans First

25:10 Entertainment because this is what it's

25:13 all about."

25:13 >> That that's the perfect way to say it.

25:15 And basically, thank you, Miss Candy,

25:16 for everything for the for the Mix guys.

25:19 Let's send it back up to you. We're

25:20 ready to play the biggest banana ball

25:21 game in history.

25:24 >> No doubt about it, Rex. Thank you so

25:27 much to Candy and Mick and everybody out

25:31 there. The wife is always right. Candy,

25:33 thank you so much. Again, I've said it a

25:35 couple dozen times. We appreciate you

25:36 immensely.

25:52 First, they are the world famous Banana

25:57 Band.

26:10 And now,

26:12 Texas

26:15 and Alice C. Ziggler.

26:19 up in the top deck of your manas.

26:26 Your manas

26:35 way up in the 400s, her royal highness,

26:39 Princess Patessia.

26:47 In section 334, the Texas Two Steppers

26:58 up in section 347, the biggest tailgator

27:02 around, the Beefy Boys,

27:10 the best trick rumbler in town in

27:12 section 415,

27:14 JJ Smash.

27:21 The hungriest mascot in sports, it's

27:24 Grub.

27:27 And the world's strongest banana is

27:29 Splat.

27:32 And ladies and gentlemen, the greatest.

27:40 >> Welcome back to Banana Land this week.

27:43 How about Kyle Field with over 102,000

27:46 fans? Before we get that, let's get a

27:48 look at our Banana Ball rules brought to

27:50 you by DQ.

27:54 >> Banana Ball is the fastest and most

27:56 entertaining show in sports and the 11

27:59 rules guarantee the most fans first

28:01 experience every second.

28:03 >> Unbelievable.

28:04 >> Welcome to the Banana Bowl Championship

28:06 League.

28:07 >> Rule number one, win the inning, win the

28:10 point. The team that scores the most

28:12 runs in an inning wins the point.

28:13 >> It's a walk-off winner to the deepest

28:16 pole field. Oh my goodness.

28:19 >> With the equalizer point, trick plays

28:21 provide the away team an opportunity to

28:23 earn a point going into the final

28:24 inning. And in the final inning, every

28:27 run counts as a point. Rule number two,

28:30 banana ball has a 2hour time limit,

28:33 guaranteeing that every game is

28:35 fast-paced and action-packed. Rule

28:38 number three, no stepping out of the

28:40 batter's box. If you do, it will result

28:42 in a strike.

28:42 >> Back stepped out of the box and because

28:44 he stepped out of the box, that's it.

28:46 >> Rule number four, no bunting, cuz

28:49 bunting sucks. If you bunt, you'll be

28:52 thrown out of the game. Rule number

28:53 five, batters can steal first base.

28:56 >> Ball three, get it taken off for first

28:57 throw from Leroy in time.

29:00 >> Rule number six, there's no walks. Walks

29:04 are ball for sprints. The batter can

29:06 advance as far as they want until every

29:08 position player touches the ball.

29:10 >> No defenders have touched the banana

29:12 ball. It is a four base spread to open

29:15 up the ball game.

29:16 >> Rule number seven, no mound visits.

29:20 >> Nope. Rule number eight, foul balls

29:23 caught by a fan count as an out.

29:25 >> Oh, they did. They can't guard it on the

29:29 court. We're going to show

29:31 >> rule number nine, the showdowns. In

29:34 showdowns, the best of the best face off

29:36 in the biggest moment. One hitter verse

29:39 one pitcher with one fielder behind

29:41 them. And the hitter has to score deep

29:44 to right center. See you later.

29:48 >> Rule number 10, the banana ball

29:50 challenge role gives the coaches and

29:52 you, the fans, a chance to impact a call

29:54 on the field. Rule number 11, the golden

29:58 batter. Once a game, each team can give

30:00 any player in a bat, regardless of the

30:03 lineup. This offers the biggest matchups

30:05 on the biggest stage.

30:07 >> Big on big.

30:09 It's good. It's good. It's good. Get out

30:13 of here.

30:14 That thing had a family.

30:18 >> And those are the rules of banana ball.

30:24 to win this.

30:25 >> Now that we've got the 11 rules that

30:27 turn baseball into banana ball, I think

30:30 it's about time we get fired up with the

30:32 rhinestone cowboy himself, Mr. Garrett

30:35 Lampert, talking to over 102,000 fans.

30:38 Garrett, what's going on down there?

30:40 >> To deliver a Texas size beatd down to

30:44 whoever lines up across from them. And

30:46 tonight, ladies and gentlemen, well, it

30:49 looks like the Savannah Bananas are

30:53 about to find out why you don't mess

30:57 with Texas.

31:02 But this is not your granddad's pastime.

31:06 This is not just another night at the

31:07 ballpark. No, this game is baseball by

31:10 birth, but it's fruit by name and an

31:13 absolute worldwide phenomenon by the

31:16 grace of God.

31:18 So, now is the time for all 102,000

31:26 people here at Kyo Field to get up on

31:30 your feet and give me your voices.

31:39 Because this is the greatest pregame in

31:42 sports and it never ends. Because ladies

31:44 and gentlemen, this is Banana Ball.

31:51 Kyle Field, it's time to meet the

31:53 starting lineup for your Savannah

31:56 Bananas.

31:59 Leading off the DH, number 19, Dan Ober.

32:10 Next, the third base number four, Kyle

32:13 KJ

32:15 Jackson.

32:19 Batting third, the catcher number one,

32:23 Bill Loy.

32:30 In left field, number 15, we call him

32:33 rack. Robert Anthony Cruz.

32:39 The extra hitter number five, Dr. The

32:42 Doc Meadow.

32:48 Ashual number six, our club magician,

32:52 Ryan Cox.

32:57 Center fielder number two, Reese

33:00 Superman.

33:06 At second base, number eight, our

33:08 greatest showman, Jackson,

33:16 the right fielder number 18. He does it

33:19 all. Danny Osley.

33:27 And at first pace number nine, Max Young

33:31 Goldberg

33:35 on the mound for your Savannah Bananas

33:37 number 11, Austin Drew.

33:44 Savannah Bananas are led by Tyler

33:46 Gillum, assisted by Adam Po, Virant,

33:49 Ryan Kellogg, Bryce Stober, and Reggie

33:53 the legend.

34:18 Ladies and gentlemen, it's time to meet

34:21 the starting lineup for the Texas

34:25 two Gator.

35:07 Leading off for the Texas Tailgator, the

35:09 DH number nine, Nick Lopez.

35:16 The right fielder number two, Zack

35:19 Watson.

35:23 The extra hitter number 27, Kyle Cam

35:27 Martin.

35:31 At third base number six, Jordan Bar.

35:37 Over at first base number 85, Taylor

35:41 Justice,

35:45 the left fielder number 28, we call him

35:48 brother Jose Gonzalez Jr.

35:54 Second baseman number 11, Mac Danford.

36:02 The catcher number 26, Taj the

36:05 quadfather, Porter.

36:09 Centerfielder number seven, Indie

36:13 Standing.

36:17 at shortstop number five Jordan who say

36:27 on the mound

36:29 number 44 Chris Clark.

36:35 The tailgators were led by Joe Michelin

36:38 assisted by Coach Penny and Love Shack

36:41 Baby.

36:44 The team is escorted from the Texas&M

36:48 rodeo team.

37:21 Ladies and gentlemen, at this time we

37:24 ask that you please rise if you're able

37:27 and remove your caps.

37:29 here to honor America with the singing

37:32 of tonight's national anthem. Please

37:35 welcome to the field Matteo Lopez.

37:42 Oh, say can you see

37:48 by the early

37:51 light

37:54 so proudly

37:56 we held

37:58 at the twilight

38:01 last

38:05 but stripes and bright stars

38:09 through the peril.

38:12 lost fighters

38:17 we watched

38:20 were so gallently

38:23 stream

38:39 through the

38:42 that our flag was still there.

38:48 Oh, say does that star spangled

39:00 for the land

39:03 of the free

39:08 and the world

39:10 of the brave.

39:18 One more time for Matteo Lopez.

39:33 It is the biggest game in Banana Ball

39:36 history and we bring it to you live on

39:39 ESPN. Over 102,000 fans have filled Kyle

39:43 Field, the sixth largest stadium in the

39:46 world, to see the Savannah Bananas take

39:49 on the Texas Tailgator.

39:52 It is an absolutely absurd scene here in

39:55 College Station, Texas, as we welcome

39:58 you inside with the statistical savant

40:01 of Banana Ball, Josh Tvki, and the voice

40:03 of the Texas Tailgators, Brett Loftess.

40:05 I am Bo Scalla. Happy Saturday night to

40:08 you. Welcome in to the biggest game in

40:10 our young sports history. And just two

40:12 nights after, the Texas tailgator about

40:14 a half an hour down the road in

40:16 Navasota, Texas beat the Brakes off the

40:18 Nanners 5 nothing in the smallest game

40:20 in Banana Ball history.

40:22 >> The single most impressive performance

40:24 maybe this year out of any team, but

40:25 definitely the most complete performance

40:27 in the history of the Texas Tailgator.

40:29 Five to nothing victory, 15 trick plays,

40:32 and only one run did the Savannah Banana

40:34 score, but no points. the most complete

40:36 game those boys in blue and orange have

40:38 ever played.

40:38 >> It means two straight losses now for the

40:40 Bananas, but they are still 11 and three

40:42 on the year. They have a two and a half

40:44 game lead over the firefighters in first

40:46 place, looking to write the ship here

40:47 tonight. They still feel very

40:49 comfortable even though they know this

40:50 is the premier rivalry in 2026 between

40:53 the Bananas and the Gators. And guys,

40:56 we've got the loudest crowd ever, the

40:58 shortest porch to left field ever. I

41:00 cannot wait to see what happens

41:02 throughout this banana ball game as

41:04 we've also got the best pitching matchup

41:06 of the season.

41:07 >> Yeah, we have a lot to dig in and we are

41:09 so close to first pitch. Let's start

41:11 with the Texas Tailgator defensive

41:14 alignment behind the big boy Chris Clark

41:16 at the center of the diamond. Left to

41:18 right in the outfield, it's Jose

41:19 Gonzalez Jr., Indiana Stanley, and Zack

41:22 Watson. Third to first in the infield,

41:24 it's Jordan Barf, Jordan Hussein, then

41:26 Jonathan Lutters and Taylor Justice.

41:28 Tosh Porter is behind the plate and the

41:30 designated fielder for the tailgator is

41:33 Mr. Lutters which is why you see him at

41:34 second base from the get-go.

41:36 >> Yeah, Jonathan Sunshine Lutters is going

41:38 to play second base presumably all nine

41:40 innings tonight. The designated fielder.

41:41 He pitched it for the sport of banana

41:43 ball this year and it has been employed

41:45 the most with him. Taj Porter his

41:47 battery mate arguably the best starting

41:50 pitcher this sport has to offer. A major

41:52 league arm that has come to our lovely

41:55 sport. the third overall pick in the

41:56 inaugural Banana Ball player draft. That

41:59 man right there, Chris Clark, a 161 RA,

42:02 third best in Banana Ball this year. 24

42:04 strikeouts, tied second best in only six

42:07 ball four sprints. A 161 RA is great in

42:10 regular Major League Baseball. We're

42:12 talking Banana Ball. His erra plus is

42:15 bonkers, Joshki.

42:16 >> Yeah, it's unbelievable what Clark's

42:18 been able to do. and threw his first 22

42:20 and a third innings pitch. He still

42:22 hasn't allowed a home run in his banana

42:24 ball career. That certainly means

42:26 something when you consider it's just

42:29 185 ft to that left field foul pole,

42:31 albeit with 50 ft nets, courtesy of

42:33 netting pros. Yeah, that is the shortest

42:36 short porch in banana ball history. 5 ft

42:39 shorter than it was in Death Valley in

42:41 Clemson last April. And this banana

42:43 starting lineup presented by PNC Bank

42:46 has a very different look to it tonight

42:49 than it has the previous 14 games this

42:51 year. Dan Oburst at the top, followed by

42:53 Kyle Jackson and Bill Loy. All having

42:55 fantastic seasons. Robert Anthony Cruz

42:58 elevated to the cleanup spot. Then it's

43:00 Dr. Meadows hitting fifth, the normal

43:01 leadoff hitter, followed by Ryan Cox,

43:03 who spent nearly every game in the

43:05 10-hole. Then Reese selects Yiatis,

43:07 Jackson Olsen, Danny Hosley, and Max

43:09 Young Goldberg, who spent all 14 games

43:11 in the three hole. now is hitting second

43:13 lead off.

43:13 >> Yeah, it's a massive shakeup for the

43:15 Bananas lineup, but Tyler Gillum said

43:17 the whole thought process was to get

43:19 quality abs against Chris Clark and give

43:22 the guys who have had the most success

43:23 against him the most opportunities to

43:26 bat against him. Guys like Obur, Kyle

43:28 Jackson, and Bill Loy. And for Over and

43:30 Loy, both guys batting from the right

43:32 side of the plate, they should benefit

43:34 from the short porch and left. The only

43:37 thing left to do before we get our first

43:39 pitch is start the clock. Jesse Cole.

43:43 >> In banana ball, we like to say start the

43:46 clock. But in tailgator country and here

43:50 in the great state of Texas, we're going

43:53 to say like the grill. So help me out on

43:56 three. We're going to say like the

43:58 grill. Ready? One, two, three.

44:08 One thing to say, giggle.

44:17 >> Well, you can't start the clock at a

44:18 Texas Tailgator headlining game if you

44:21 don't start the grill first. And son of

44:23 a gun if Andrew Bartman looks a whole

44:26 lot different than Jesse Cole. Jump

44:28 scare to get us going here tonight. And

44:31 Dan Oburst goes fishing on the first

44:33 offering from the 6 foot7 ready Chris

44:35 Clark. Seven years in the Chicago Cubs

44:38 minor league system here in Banana Land

44:41 and it's a Jordan Hussein between the

44:43 leg transfer for a trick play. Two

44:45 pitches in. Heck of a start for the

44:47 Gator. Well, not surprising either.

44:49 Jordan Hussein 15 trick plays last

44:51 month. He only missed one for the Texas

44:54 Tailgator. If they keep the ball on the

44:56 ground tonight, they're going to have an

44:58 easy time denying the Bananas that

44:59 equalizer point.

45:00 >> It's also interesting to see where he's

45:02 playing again. He's almost playing on

45:04 the outfield cut here. Going to be very

45:06 interesting. Look at the defensive

45:08 setups tonight with that short porch out

45:10 to left.

45:10 >> High fast ball cut on and missed by Kyle

45:13 Jackson. The runner up for the rookie of

45:15 the year award last year. KJ shot.

45:20 Hussein behind the back. No, it sneaks

45:23 out of the mitt and Kyle Jackson is able

45:25 to beat the wrap to first base. A very

45:28 rare trick play missed from Hussein.

45:31 That is only his fourth in 40 attempts

45:33 this year. Snow cold right out of his

45:35 glove there. Hussein had it pinned and I

45:38 tell you what, KJ running down the line.

45:40 Maybe not a full 100% as Jordan Hussein

45:43 still almost got him despite the trick

45:44 play missed.

45:46 >> That's good speed on first. KJ five for

45:49 five in his stolen base tries this year.

45:52 And now the nine-year banana Bill Loy

45:55 digs in here in his fifth banana ball

45:58 world tour. After four years as a

46:01 collegiate banana in the Coastal Plane

46:02 League, this is an unfamiliar spot for

46:04 him in the three-hole. This is his 254th

46:07 career banana ball game. It is the first

46:10 time he has ever batted third in this

46:12 Savannah Bananas lineup, but he

46:14 certainly earned it. and he batted 563

46:16 in April with two home runs and five

46:19 runs batted in.

46:21 >> He's trying to send that to the short

46:22 porch. Comes up empty

46:26 and the count even at two and two.

46:28 Clark's got a kitchen sink of an

46:30 arsenal. Nine different pitches with the

46:32 fast ball sitting 90 to 95.

46:36 This one lifted. First chance for the

46:38 fans tonight.

46:42 And Loy survives it. In case you are

46:45 just joining us, it's the largest crowd

46:46 in Banana Ball history. Over 102,000

46:50 fans on hand here in Kyle Field.

46:56 Swing and a miss. Nasty slider there

46:58 from Clark for his first K.

47:01 >> 25 strikeouts now on the year for Chris

47:04 Clark. Number one tonight as he'll take

47:07 it off and throw up the risit bag. one

47:10 of his he's got more signature sies than

47:13 he does pitches and he's got eight

47:14 pitches.

47:21 >> Laser beam off the bat of Robert Anthony

47:23 Cruz finds some grass in center as

47:26 Indiana Stanley will fire in. Rack with

47:28 the first knock of the night for either

47:30 side after he went one for four Thursday

47:32 night at Bunker Field. And that bat is

47:35 starting to heat up.

47:37 seems to especially love swinging it

47:39 against these tailgators.

47:42 >> Dr. Meadows with two ducks on the pond

47:44 and two outs.

47:52 >> Still nursing that injured right

47:54 hamstring. That's why you don't see him

47:55 in the field defensively, but one of the

47:57 best hitters in the history of the

47:58 sport. His 405 batting average, best on

48:01 the bananas. Certainly a testament to

48:03 that here in his fourth tour. Yeah. One

48:06 of eight guys in Banana Ball, still

48:07 batting north of 400 this season. But

48:10 he's already fallen behind O2. This is

48:12 where the Bananas struggled a month ago.

48:14 Just a 188 average with men in scoring

48:17 position. Something they're trying to

48:19 find solutions to tonight as Meadows

48:22 will take high. Tosh Porter thought he

48:25 was going to get the call from Vincent

48:26 Chapman behind the plate and Kyle

48:28 Jackson was off and running and swipes

48:31 third base. Rack stays put at first. So

48:34 runners on the corners. One-two pitch.

48:38 >> There goes Cruz. Dr. A poke out to

48:41 center and it's going to be Jos Gonzalez

48:43 Jr. tip drill into the hat of Jonathan

48:46 Sunshine. Luners double trick play with

48:49 a whole lot on the line.

48:50 >> Bucket. Bucket. Jos brother Gonzalez is

48:54 playing in left center field due to the

48:56 porch. Jonathan Sunshine Looters runs

48:58 about 100 ft on the way out there. And

49:00 look at that. Three trick plays to none

49:04 after one half inning here at College

49:06 Station.

49:07 >> Trick play number 10 on the year for

49:09 Brother. Number 46 on the year for

49:11 Sunshine. Leading all defenders. Here's

49:13 how the Bananas align defensively. Left

49:16 to right in their outfield. It is Rack,

49:18 Alexi, and Hosley. Third to first in the

49:20 infield. KJ Cox, Olsen, and Young

49:23 Goldberg. Loy is behind the plate, and

49:26 it is Alex Ziegler, the designated

49:27 fielder. Yeah. And you'll likely only

49:28 see Max Young Goldberg play one inning

49:31 defensively at first base before that

49:33 designated fielder, Alec Ziggler, comes

49:35 in and plays the remainder of this

49:36 contest. 24 trick plays for Zigg. Had

49:40 three on Thursday night for the Savannah

49:42 Bananas. He has been quite the impact

49:44 player for them as they're second in

49:46 banana ball with 133 trick plays as a

49:50 team. And in the middle of it all, the

49:52 six-foot southpaw out of Land O Lakes,

49:54 Florida, Austin Drury after five years

49:57 in the Dodgers organization, making it

49:59 up to DA Tulsa. This is a guy who spent

50:02 three years in Indie Pro ball, pitched

50:03 professionally in Venezuela and Mexico.

50:06 And boy, does his stuff work so far in

50:07 banana ball. And you've seen the Bananas

50:09 have won every single start that Austin

50:11 Jury has made this season. A key reason

50:13 he's tied for the tour lead with his

50:16 three wins on the pitcher mound.

50:20 And let's get a look at the Texas

50:22 Tailgator starting lineup brought to you

50:24 by PNC Bank. The switch hitting DH Nick

50:27 Lopez out the top followed by Zack

50:29 Watson. Then you see Kyle Martin at

50:31 1.312 OPS, third best in Banana Ball.

50:35 Jordan Bar sandwiched in between Martin

50:37 and Taylor Justice who's 1.32 for OPS is

50:40 second best in the sport. Then it's

50:42 brother Danford, Porter Stanley, and

50:44 Hussein to round it out. Most

50:45 importantly, I want to look at here

50:46 since Nick Lopez slided in the leadoff

50:48 spot back in the open. The Tailgators

50:50 are five and two in that stretch. It's

50:52 been something about a table setter

50:54 having to switch hitting all-American

50:56 and Nick Lopez at the top of the order.

50:59 >> All-American and first team all SEC, his

51:02 final year of college at Kentucky after

51:04 a couple years at USC before that.

51:08 a rookie of the year finalist last year,

51:10 a banana ball allstar,

51:13 one of the most impressive hitters in

51:14 the sport ahead 200

51:18 and make it three balls in no strikes.

51:20 Talked about it on the pregame show, but

51:22 Austin Drury with only three ball four

51:25 sprints on the year, that has been part

51:27 of his calling card as he gets a high

51:29 strike to get back in the count.

51:32 That's compared to those 24 strikeouts.

51:36 >> And the count from 3 0 to 32.

51:47 >> Payoff pitch.

51:50 >> Bouncer to Kyle Jackson under the glove.

51:54 So an E5. Big turn from Lopez, but

51:57 nowhere to go with that short portion

51:59 left as Cox brings it in. And look,

52:02 these are, you know, interesting

52:04 dimensions in College Station. And of

52:06 course, it took a lot of time to set up

52:08 the playing surface here in College

52:10 Station. You don't necessarily get a ton

52:12 of time to get familiarized with the way

52:15 in which the ball plays off the grass

52:17 and the dirt. Jackson expecting to get a

52:19 little more of a hop and instead winds

52:22 up with an early E5.

52:24 Ball fouled away by Zack Watson here in

52:26 his third World Tour. Was a firefighter

52:28 in 2024. This is his second campaign

52:31 with the Tailgator

52:32 and such a sturdy bat. Former LSU star,

52:35 another guy who was first team all SEC

52:37 hitting in your two-hole. And it's about

52:38 his glove, too. He was a twotime gold

52:40 glover at LSU. The only player in the

52:43 history of that program to have two gold

52:44 gloves. Three-game hitting streak was

52:46 broke on Thursday. But this is the guy

52:49 who is starting to trend up here in this

52:51 tailgator lineup, which is why Joe Mik

52:53 has moved him back up in the two spot.

52:56 >> Ball in two strikes now on the former

52:57 Baltimore Orioles minor leager. Yeah,

52:59 since the conclusion of the Banana Ball

53:01 Open, Watson five for his last 12 at the

53:04 dish. I just like his ability to get on

53:06 base and keep this lineup churning.

53:09 Swing and a miss. High stinky cheese

53:12 from AD as he grabs his first punch out.

53:17 >> And if there's been a way that the

53:18 Bananas have gotten these tailgators

53:20 out, whether it's been the open, whether

53:21 it was Thursday night, whether it was

53:23 back in March or April, it has been that

53:25 elevated fast ball sometimes up and out

53:27 of the zone. The tailgator oblige a lot

53:30 on that pitch

53:31 >> and there's no other inning for Austin

53:33 Drury where he's going to go to that

53:34 heater more. He just challenges batters

53:36 in the first inning of play. You're

53:38 either going to hit the fast ball or

53:39 you're not. And Kyle Martin fresh off of

53:42 being named offensive player of the

53:44 month for April is at the dish and hits

53:47 this one deep out to left field and it

53:49 will hit off the 50ft net. Robert

53:52 Anthony Cruz plays it well. And so it is

53:56 a high long single for Kyle Martin.

54:00 >> Something special coming from the Texas

54:03 Tailgator. What do we have going on?

54:14 >> Help me. I can't change.

54:21 Oh, I can't change

54:26 my life.

54:56 coming.

55:04 >> Holy moly, what a run from the

55:07 Bradington, Florida native. That was a

55:09 country mile or two. One of the best

55:11 runners in all of the sport, the Texas

55:13 Tailgator designated runner, Jacob

55:15 Pipper. The pride of Long Island

55:17 University is 8 for8 in stolen bases

55:20 this year and has eight of the 17 stolen

55:23 bases that the Tailgators have swept.

55:27 >> But the man who really matters is still

55:29 Nick Lopez. The inning winning run

55:30 leading off second base as Jordan Bar,

55:33 another one of the hottest guys in the

55:34 sport, takes a mighty swing and a miss

55:36 on the fast ball to even up the count.

55:40 Jordan hitting 389 a 441 on base

55:43 percentage here in his first world tour.

55:45 The tailgator second round draft pick in

55:47 November and he is catching fire two for

55:49 two a double a walk-off on Thursday

55:51 night and now has a walk up in four of

55:53 his last five for the tailgator but will

55:56 be set down via the K. Austin Drury each

55:59 of his first two outs swinging

56:02 strikeouts as you see another heater and

56:05 it's up in the zone for AD.

56:08 That's a perfect pitch right there. Too

56:10 close to take

56:12 and with some VO. AD sits 92 to 95 with

56:15 the gas.

56:17 Able to tie up Bar.

56:19 >> Got to be careful with this guy. Taylor

56:20 Justice the only player in blue and

56:22 orange this year who was hitting over

56:24 four and 400 coming in this ball game in

56:26 College Station. And he had two

56:28 walk-offs on Thursday night.

56:32 >> One on a double, one on a ball for

56:34 sprint. Everybody got

56:38 >> a ball in two strikes on the tailgator

56:41 first baseman here in his second tour

56:43 with the tailgator after he was a 2024

56:46 visitor, a 2022 collegiate Savannah

56:48 Banana.

56:51 >> And a good fight on the one two. We'll

56:53 get another.

56:54 >> Tell you what, they got a net down the

56:56 lines here for the fans. But in these

56:58 dugouts, you got to keep heads up here

56:59 at Calvin Station.

57:04 Screamer. It's going to be peppered off

57:06 the wall in left center. Alexi has a

57:09 cannon. Firing home. Not in time. Lopez

57:12 scores. Taylor Justice, his tour leading

57:15 seventh walk-off of the year. And the

57:18 Gator strike first. And how about that?

57:21 His third one in two days. Taylor

57:24 Justice is just beating down the boys in

57:27 yellow. And the Texas Tailgators pick

57:29 right up where they left off on Thursday

57:31 night. one to nothing after Run Frame.

57:34 And the boys from the Lone Star State

57:36 are leading the biggest banana ball game

57:38 of all time here on ESPN.

58:03 Ladies and gentlemen, I know we're all

58:05 having a good time, but every once in a

58:07 while, I got to make a serious

58:08 announcement. This is one of those

58:09 times. If you are the owner of a light

58:12 blue Subaru Cross Trek with Texas

58:16 plates,

58:18 >> you're getting

58:21 a free car wash.

58:52 Love is in the air tonight. at Kyle

58:55 Field. That means the bananas and

58:56 tailgators, they're heading into the

58:58 crowd to hand out beautiful roses to

59:00 you, our beautiful fans. If you would

59:02 like a rose, let us hear you.

59:10 Welcome back to Banana Ball live on

59:12 ESPN. Take a look at the dimensions here

59:15 in Kyle Field. It's 185 ft to that 50ft

59:19 net, courtesy of Netting Pros, down the

59:21 left field line. That's the shortest

59:22 fence in banana ball history. Dead

59:24 center, it's 261. Then it gets polo

59:27 groundsesque out in right center. That's

59:30 429 and 375 ft to the right field pole.

59:34 That's deeper than any trip from home

59:37 plate to a foul pole in all of Major

59:38 League Baseball.

59:42 These football stadiums, they giveth and

59:44 they taketh away. Ryan Cox in the six

59:47 hole, leading off this second inning

59:48 with the Tailgator up one point to

59:50 nothing. thanks to the Taylor Justice

59:53 two out RBI single to win the first

59:55 inning. And Coxy, what a fifth world

59:58 tour the glove magician is having. Comes

1:00:00 in hitting .357, leading the Bananas

1:00:03 with his 525 on base percentage

1:00:07 ahead 3-1 here. And we've seen him play

1:00:09 four different contests where he's drawn

1:00:11 multiple ball four sprints for the

1:00:14 Savannah Bananas. His plate discipline

1:00:16 pretty much unparalleled amongst the

1:00:18 guys on this team. And Coxy always

1:00:21 working great played appearances has run

1:00:23 the count full.

1:00:26 Payoff pitch. There's another ball four

1:00:29 sprint for Ryan Cox with ball four fired

1:00:33 in banana ball. All seven fielders

1:00:34 behind the pitcher and catcher have to

1:00:36 touch the ball before it is live. The

1:00:37 tailgator have it down to a science.

1:00:40 Toxy not the fleetest of foot so he is

1:00:42 content with just one base on his sprint

1:00:44 as the Banana's designated runner Bryce

1:00:47 Grazafi

1:00:48 comes in to run

1:00:52 now Reese Alexiatis in the seven hole

1:00:55 he's hit second in all 14 games before

1:00:59 tonight

1:01:01 >> and I talked to Ree today I said Ree how

1:01:03 do you feel about hitting the bottom

1:01:04 half of the order he was very candid

1:01:05 with me he said it feels weird he said

1:01:07 but there's anything it can do it that

1:01:08 can light a fire into me he And it's

1:01:10 already been lit.

1:01:13 >> Chance for the fans.

1:01:17 No dice on a big league foul ball.

1:01:22 Super East Reese, the 2023 Pioneer

1:01:24 League MVP. This is his third World

1:01:26 Tour.

1:01:29 And he leveled up immensely from year 1

1:01:30 to two as Gresafi is off from first. But

1:01:33 a foul ball. Well, look out. This one's

1:01:35 going to stay in play. Grizz is going to

1:01:36 have to run back to first. Oh, Taylor

1:01:38 Justice. He thought Chris Clark was

1:01:41 there to put the finishing touches on

1:01:43 his tip drill. That should have been a

1:01:45 double play. What a big break for the

1:01:46 Bananas.

1:01:50 >> Yan Clark, I think, just expecting

1:01:52 Justice to be able to make the catch,

1:01:54 flip it to him, and it's an quick easy

1:01:56 double play and makes it a lot easier

1:01:59 for Clark to finish the second with a

1:02:01 pretty nice minutes per inning mark.

1:02:03 Instead, has to throw another pitch to

1:02:06 Alexi. will miss high

1:02:12 2-2

1:02:13 highf fly ball deep to left field super

1:02:17 Alexiatis

1:02:19 the football stadium king strikes again

1:02:22 two-run shot from super

1:02:27 the Savannah Bananas able to capitalize

1:02:30 on the trick play miss from the Texas

1:02:33 tailgator and Farice Alexi He has become

1:02:37 the guy who is amazing at hitting home

1:02:40 runs out of football stadiums. The sixth

1:02:44 different football stadium in which he

1:02:46 is homerred. And for more on that, we're

1:02:48 going to throw it to Sam Bowman.

1:02:50 >> Ree, you love football stadiums. New

1:02:52 spot in the lineup tonight. Little fire.

1:02:54 >> Little fire. Don't know that one.

1:02:56 >> I think it back. What you think? I think

1:02:59 it was further. Reys, good work.

1:03:03 For those who may not know, that is

1:03:05 sarcasm from Super Reese. That was like

1:03:07 a 200 ft fly ball. Canacorn to left in

1:03:10 any baseball stadium.

1:03:12 >> Count's all the same tonight. Bal,

1:03:14 >> no doubt about it. Alexi's second home

1:03:18 run of the year. His first was in the

1:03:20 Superdome in New Orleans. That one was

1:03:23 hit with much more authority off Garrett

1:03:25 Delena.

1:03:28 >> Ball and two strikes on Jackson Olsen.

1:03:37 And the count even at two and two. That

1:03:39 one just misses wide. Olson here in his

1:03:42 fourth Banana Ball World Tour

1:03:45 and down swinging

1:03:48 on some serious VO from Clark. His

1:03:50 second strike out.

1:03:51 >> And Chris Clark, he loves to go to that

1:03:53 elevated fast ball the same way that

1:03:55 Austin Drury does deep in counts. Right

1:03:58 there you seen him attack Jackson

1:03:59 Olsson. actually struck him out twice at

1:04:01 UNCC on a back foot. Slider right there.

1:04:03 Just elevated fast ball and an easy out

1:04:05 number one.

1:04:06 >> Slider for a strike to Danny Hosley.

1:04:10 Only one for 15 so far on the year, but

1:04:13 has been hitting into a lot of bad luck.

1:04:15 Just picked up his first strike out of

1:04:16 the season on Thursday night over in

1:04:19 Navasota.

1:04:21 Couple ball for sprints. This is a

1:04:23 career 288 hitter though.

1:04:26 And that's across

1:04:28 474 plate appearances coming into his

1:04:31 fourth world tour.

1:04:34 It's a bat you just trust to find it.

1:04:38 Yeah, he can be a tinkerer at the plate.

1:04:40 Big focus in the second half of last

1:04:42 season was staying strong at the plate.

1:04:45 And you see Hosley trying to incorporate

1:04:47 some of that here, but he can't get the

1:04:48 bat off of his shoulder. It's Chris

1:04:51 Clark with a punch out looking against

1:04:53 Danny Ditall.

1:04:58 Nice bounce back from Clark after

1:05:01 >> the football stadium. Two-run shot from

1:05:04 Super Reese. Back to back haves.

1:05:06 >> Yeah, a backwards pole right there. That

1:05:08 was beautiful stuff. And then you see

1:05:09 Chris Clark roll the dice coming off the

1:05:12 mound.

1:05:14 >> Pitcher pitch gets the call from Vincent

1:05:16 Chapman. Young professor. What's going

1:05:18 on down there? Ladies and gentlemen,

1:05:21 please welcome Dude Perfect.

1:05:57 What do they got here from Dude Perfect?

1:06:06 I

1:06:06 >> think Tyler Tony's about to take an at

1:06:08 bat against Chris Clark,

1:06:11 the world's greatest athlete. So

1:06:15 proclaimed by the fans of Dude Perfect

1:06:17 and now facing one of the very best

1:06:19 pitchers in Banana Ball.

1:06:21 >> Well, I'll tell you what, talking to

1:06:22 Bill Loy after he was part of the

1:06:24 Savannah Bananas Dude Perfect

1:06:25 collaboration in the offseason, he's a

1:06:28 believer in the athletic skills of Tyler

1:06:30 Tony, he is an absolute freak at every

1:06:32 sport he plays. And he's getting a free

1:06:34 fast ball and it goes all the way to at

1:06:37 least the second deck out of our view

1:06:39 here from our broadcast booth on the 50

1:06:42 yd line.

1:06:45 Uh just a bit hot

1:06:48 >> and there's the strike out.

1:06:51 >> Filth from Chris Clark as he sits down

1:06:54 Tyler Tony and strikes out three

1:06:57 straight after the two-run homer from

1:06:59 Reese Alexi.

1:07:00 >> Is Chris Clark now the greatest athlete

1:07:03 of all time after striking out Tyler

1:07:05 Tony? Absolutely disgusting. But what a

1:07:08 great moment. the Aggie alumni able to

1:07:11 come in and strike out here in College

1:07:12 Station. Now to Jesse Cole.

1:07:16 >> All right, let's send it way

1:07:19 in the upper deck to Mr. Jesse Cole.

1:07:26 Fans coming to bat at some point later

1:07:32 in the game and now completing the

1:07:35 world's longest walk up. Please welcome

1:07:39 Ty Jackson.

1:07:54 >> Well, once again, the casting in Banana

1:07:56 Land is absolutely perfect. Nobody

1:07:58 better to walk every single step of Kyle

1:08:02 Field

1:08:04 than the man in his fifth year as a

1:08:06 Savannah Banana, Mr. Tied two Fly

1:08:08 Jackson. This is the guy who is known in

1:08:10 the locker room as the Energizer Bunny.

1:08:12 I mean, he will do anything and

1:08:14 everything to try and help his team win.

1:08:17 Bring the right vibes. You see the scuba

1:08:19 right now for Tai Jackson. That is going

1:08:21 to slow him down, guys. If he's going to

1:08:24 get to home plate eventually. Either

1:08:27 way, I I guess we'll just see who's in

1:08:30 the box when he finally makes it down

1:08:32 there. And that's just who he'll bat

1:08:34 for. Pooky told me he told his skipper

1:08:36 Tyler Gillum earlier today

1:08:39 >> just just it might be the ninth inning.

1:08:41 It might be the ninth inning by the time

1:08:43 I make it down there.

1:08:44 >> We've already got two scubas and now a

1:08:46 long 67. I've got the overunder at

1:08:48 triple digits for both of those.

1:08:51 >> And I'm taking the over. I'm hammering

1:08:52 it.

1:08:53 >> You know, usually I I like to keep the

1:08:55 MPI clock, but I might need to see the

1:08:57 time it takes Tai Jackson to finally

1:09:00 reach home plate today. Well, it started

1:09:02 about 7:33 p.m. Central time according

1:09:05 to my internal clock as his brother gets

1:09:08 a fast ball up and in. That is a scary

1:09:11 place to get hit. Jose, the pride of

1:09:14 Spring, Texas, taps his helmet. That

1:09:15 means to his teammates and the

1:09:18 entertainment team, I'm a he says, "Hey,

1:09:20 no worries, AD." By the way, that's

1:09:22 Austin Drury's sixth batter he has hit

1:09:24 this year. Ties him with Garrett Deleno

1:09:26 for the tour lead.

1:09:27 >> One of my all-time favorite Austin Drury

1:09:29 quotes. He told us earlier this year, I

1:09:31 don't walk too many guys or issue out

1:09:32 ball force principle ball, but I'll hit

1:09:34 somebody. He said, I will. And it's not

1:09:36 intentional. Ball just kind of gets away

1:09:38 from him there. But now you bring up the

1:09:40 inning tying run here in M Danford and

1:09:43 one of the more mighty swingers in all

1:09:46 of Banana Ball. No home runs so far here

1:09:49 in his second World Tour, but pacing the

1:09:50 tailgator with his six doubles.

1:09:55 And he led them last year with his four

1:09:56 long balls. Can't catch up to the heat.

1:09:59 He's behind O2.

1:10:00 >> Did have a home run off the Bananas in

1:10:02 the banana ball open,

1:10:05 >> but none in the regular season.

1:10:07 >> Yeah, that was a monster three-run shot

1:10:08 off Kyle Lewigs that turned the Tides in

1:10:12 game two of that Banana Ball Open final.

1:10:19 Followed up the Kyle Martin walk-off

1:10:21 homer the inning before.

1:10:27 2-2

1:10:29 just misses. I do not know where I

1:10:33 >> think Vitza Chapman is saying below the

1:10:34 knees.

1:10:35 >> That's a beautiful pitch there from

1:10:36 Austin Drury.

1:10:37 >> Looked pretty good payoff.

1:10:40 And that is a rare Austin Drury ball for

1:10:43 sprint.

1:10:45 >> Brothers got pretty good wheels. He will

1:10:46 chug it all the way to third as Danny

1:10:49 Hosley is the seventh and final fielder

1:10:51 behind the pitcher and catcher to touch

1:10:52 the ball. Making it live. Now it's

1:10:54 tailgator at the corners. And now one of

1:10:56 the very few times you'll say it's a

1:10:59 shame that Austin Drury starting because

1:11:00 the tailgators have so many switch

1:11:02 hitters. And now Taj Porter who has a

1:11:05 lot of power in his right-handed swing

1:11:07 facing this lefty Austin Drury has a

1:11:09 chance to hit one 185 ft to left and

1:11:12 walk off this inning.

1:11:13 >> And you saw a nice swing from Taj Porter

1:11:14 batting from the right side on Thursday

1:11:17 night. Able to rope a double against the

1:11:19 Savannah Bananas and takes a nice swing

1:11:22 with the very first pitch he sees from

1:11:24 Drury. This one to the left of the left

1:11:27 field foul pole and out of play and not

1:11:30 caught by a fan either.

1:11:31 >> You know, Taja's lone dinger this year

1:11:33 came in a football stadium at UNC in

1:11:35 Chapel Hill from the left side. Short

1:11:37 porch was in right field there. Shall I

1:11:39 say deja vu question mark

1:11:41 >> and it was a three-run shot. That one

1:11:44 off Jacob Aella.

1:11:46 Look out, Taj. Wow. How about the

1:11:49 athleticism on display?

1:11:52 They don't call him the quad father for

1:11:54 no reason. Using those legs to stay up,

1:11:58 >> able to get a piece of the bender from

1:12:00 Drury and stay alive.

1:12:04 >> Taj here in his third tour was a party

1:12:06 animal in 2024 and now one of the

1:12:09 leaders for a second straight year on

1:12:11 the tailgator as he does a good job of

1:12:14 laying off that high heat.

1:12:20 >> Runners on the corners. Two- two pitch.

1:12:24 Chopper foul. We'll do it again.

1:12:27 Neither Michelick nor KJ can make the

1:12:29 play.

1:12:39 >> Another two- two. Great take.

1:12:43 Doesn't offer up on the bender. And ball

1:12:45 four will score at least one run here.

1:12:50 Payoff

1:12:52 spikes it. It's back-to- back sprints

1:12:55 from Drury after the hit by pitch.

1:12:57 Gonzalez scores easily from third.

1:13:00 Danford takes his place. A ribeye for

1:13:02 Taj Porter and the Bananas inning lead

1:13:05 cut in half.

1:13:08 >> And Taj has been seeing the ball so

1:13:09 well. Been seeing it very, very deep. I

1:13:12 go back to that Chapel Hill series when

1:13:13 Taj hit that home run again. He has been

1:13:15 really, really hot since there not

1:13:17 making contact right there. Still

1:13:19 getting an RBI. still getting on base

1:13:20 with that ball for a sprint. And now the

1:13:22 inning tying run stands at third. But

1:13:24 first, we must talk to our good friend

1:13:26 Indiana Stanley.

1:13:50 I got

1:14:07 >> a shirtless Indiana Stanley, a man of

1:14:09 the people. He's been a fan favorite

1:14:12 since he debuted in Banana Land summer

1:14:14 of 2022. Such a key part of that Bananas

1:14:18 championship squad as they won their

1:14:19 second straight Pettic Cup. He was

1:14:21 really a primary catcher going back and

1:14:23 forth with Taylor Justice on that team.

1:14:24 Now in his second year as a tailgator

1:14:27 after he was a visitor and party animal

1:14:29 in 2024. He's one of those Greek

1:14:31 athletes. His transition into center

1:14:33 field. We've always known that he's got

1:14:35 an incredible arm and the bat speaks for

1:14:37 itself as well. Stanley, the guy who

1:14:40 likes to hack early and swings at this

1:14:42 one and fouls it away, led the tailgator

1:14:45 in their inaugural season last year with

1:14:47 four long balls.

1:14:53 Quick 02 count on Indie

1:14:57 and Indie. His fourth and final long

1:14:58 ball of the year last year came in the

1:15:00 tailgator's largest venue in Houston.

1:15:02 So, could he do the same here in 2026

1:15:04 and walk off this inning?

1:15:08 >> Chance for the fans to take care of

1:15:09 Stanley.

1:15:11 >> They do not make the catch.

1:15:18 Indie out of [ __ ] Georgia, an NI guy

1:15:21 408 at Georgia State College and crushed

1:15:24 it at Columbia College of Missouri. Here

1:15:26 goes down swinging on the high fast ball

1:15:28 from Drury. His third K.

1:15:32 Yeah, that's been one of the unfortunate

1:15:33 aspects of Indiana Stanley's game.

1:15:36 Entering tonight, he's got a strikeout

1:15:38 rate that sits at 29 and a half%,

1:15:42 meaning that's in his total plate

1:15:44 appearance. He has struck out in 29 and

1:15:46 a half of them. That ticks up a little

1:15:48 bit higher. And now the inning is in the

1:15:51 hands of Jordan Usain currently on a

1:15:54 fivegame hitting streak for the

1:15:55 Tailgator.

1:15:57 The Houston, Texas native has the

1:15:59 batting average up to 297, reaching base

1:16:02 at a 381 clip. As pesky as they come in

1:16:06 the box, so tough to strike out.

1:16:11 Three 0 count.

1:16:11 >> When you have a league average hitter,

1:16:13 297 or league batting average in Banana

1:16:15 ball right now hitting in your tin hole.

1:16:17 This a really special lineup. Five are

1:16:19 just trying to turn it back to the top.

1:16:21 He takes four straight balls from Austin

1:16:23 Drury which will tie this inning as

1:16:25 Danford trots home and Portor will

1:16:28 rumble all the way to third. Osley

1:16:30 thinking about a throw. Cox says no

1:16:32 let's eat that. So the inning tied at

1:16:35 two runs each and the inning winning run

1:16:38 just 90 ft away.

1:16:40 >> Three ball four sprints Olston Drury had

1:16:43 on the season coming into tonight. He's

1:16:45 hit three in this inning. Two of which

1:16:47 have resulted in RBI sprints. And as you

1:16:49 mentioned the inning winning run now

1:16:51 standing 90 feet away in format matage.

1:16:54 >> Yeah that was the first truly

1:16:55 uncompetitive one. Four straight balls

1:16:57 to Hussein the 10hole hitter

1:17:01 >> when AD through 20 innings only had

1:17:04 three sprints coming into tonight.

1:17:08 A hit batter and three sprints here in

1:17:10 the bottom of the second. But now an 02

1:17:12 count on Nick Lopez who reached on an

1:17:14 error his first time

1:17:17 and would come around to score the

1:17:18 inning winning run.

1:17:20 >> Yeah, this is one of those situations

1:17:21 where I think the adrenaline just gets

1:17:23 the better of you if you're Austin Jury,

1:17:25 especially feeding off a crowd this

1:17:27 large and you see yet another pitch from

1:17:30 AD that comes in spiked. But that is an

1:17:33 excellent stop from Bill Loy behind the

1:17:35 dish.

1:17:36 >> I don't know if that pitch made it 55

1:17:38 ft. Heck of a play by Loy.

1:17:41 Hussein off from first. Shattered bat,

1:17:44 popped in the infield. Cox with a tip

1:17:47 and never had a chance at a double play.

1:17:49 Either way, Hussein running with his

1:17:51 head up, heads up, base running and is

1:17:54 able to keep the inning alive with his

1:17:56 retreat back to first.

1:17:59 >> And that bat just shattered in half.

1:18:01 Great field there by Ryan Cox. Didn't go

1:18:03 for the tip drill to Kyle Jackson trying

1:18:05 to double up Jordan Hussein at first,

1:18:07 but even better base running. Fiverr

1:18:09 taking off but retreating right back to

1:18:10 first.

1:18:12 >> Yeah, Cox kind of hedging his bets there

1:18:14 because if he catches it normally, it

1:18:16 turned out he didn't have a chance at

1:18:18 the double play, but the tip drill.

1:18:19 That's about as quick a trick play as

1:18:21 you could pull off. So, the inning

1:18:24 winning run still at third

1:18:26 and a ball and a strike on Zack Watson

1:18:28 as he swings through the change up from

1:18:30 AD.

1:18:33 Watt a strikeout victim his first time.

1:18:36 Great stop by Bill Loy. It's a very

1:18:38 short back stop in all of these football

1:18:40 stadiums, but still if it gets away from

1:18:43 the catcher, Porter could chance it and

1:18:45 try and win the inning coming in from

1:18:47 third.

1:18:50 >> I'm not breaking any news here though.

1:18:51 And Taj is the slowest guy on this

1:18:54 tailgator team.

1:18:55 >> And that's something Taj would openly

1:18:57 admit to you.

1:19:00 >> We don't call him the biggest for

1:19:02 nothing.

1:19:03 >> The biggest the largest.

1:19:04 >> Two two. Look out.

1:19:08 Back foot bender actually nearly gets

1:19:10 Oh, it did get a piece of Watson.

1:19:13 >> They got him on the right toe.

1:19:17 >> Vincent Chapman disagrees though,

1:19:21 but looks like Wad's correct.

1:19:23 >> Yeah, it definitely got him. It hit off

1:19:24 of Wad's toe and into Bill's mitt. So,

1:19:28 that's how you can see that Viza Chapman

1:19:30 may be trying to debate with him that it

1:19:32 didn't hit him. However, we're not even

1:19:33 going to look at this. Wad's going to

1:19:35 have to stand back in there on a 3-2

1:19:36 count despite getting a hit on the back

1:19:37 foot.

1:19:38 >> I mean, it's interesting because if

1:19:40 you're the tailgator, you might take

1:19:41 this. Ball four wins the inning for you

1:19:44 instead of a fresh count, albeit the

1:19:46 almighty Kyle Martin. Banana Ball's

1:19:49 player of the month in April lurks in

1:19:50 the on deck circle. Anyhow, we get a

1:19:52 payoff and a foul ball. So, we'll do it

1:19:54 again.

1:19:59 Another

1:20:05 3-2. And there it is. Ball four. The

1:20:08 fourth ball for sprint of the inning

1:20:10 issued out by AD. Zack Watson earns the

1:20:13 walk-off. Porter scores and it is two

1:20:16 nothing Tailgator through two innings

1:20:19 here in Kyle Field. Banana Ball live on

1:20:22 ESPN.

1:20:33 right now with the singoff. We're going

1:20:34 to play three songs. When the song

1:20:36 finishes, we're going to finish that

1:20:38 song lyric. But let's make it a

1:20:40 competition. Garrett, who you

1:20:41 representing?

1:20:42 >> Jesse, I'll be representing the entire

1:20:45 left field side all the way around third

1:20:48 base. And this is the loudest college

1:20:50 station has to offer, brother.

1:20:53 >> Yeah. Yeah. Well, I've got all of center

1:20:55 field and all the way down the right

1:20:57 field and the first base side. And we

1:21:00 call this the winning section.

1:21:05 >> First song.

1:21:21 Amazing.

1:21:38 The first point goes to the third base

1:21:41 and left field side.

1:21:44 >> Oh, we got this one.

1:22:13 You sound so good. That point goes to

1:22:15 the first base at right field side. That

1:22:19 means we're tied and this is for the win

1:22:21 as loud as you can be.

1:22:26 >> What a wild second inning we just had

1:22:28 here in Agguiland. It started in the top

1:22:31 half with the Reese Alexiatis moonshot

1:22:34 two-run homer out to the short porch in

1:22:37 left field. And you think if you're the

1:22:39 Savannah Bananas, boy, we have something

1:22:41 cooking all of a sudden. But in the

1:22:43 bottom half, a hit batter and four ball

1:22:46 for sprints issued by Austin Drury, who

1:22:48 only had given up three sprints across

1:22:50 20 innings coming into this game. And

1:22:52 that flipped the script on the inning.

1:22:54 It's got the Tailgator up two-nil. Yeah,

1:22:56 very uncharacteristic for Drury, but the

1:22:59 Bananas back to the top of the order

1:23:00 here in the top half of the third

1:23:03 inning. And Dan Ober, a guy who is among

1:23:06 the top five all-time hitters when it

1:23:08 comes to home runs, 27 of them in his

1:23:11 career. Three have come here in football

1:23:14 stadiums and the Bananas would love to

1:23:16 see him jumpst start this inning

1:23:17 offensively.

1:23:18 >> And Danny O's been on the heater the

1:23:20 past couple of weekends. You look at

1:23:21 what he did last weekend in New York

1:23:22 City. Three home runs in the Banana Ball

1:23:24 open. Had three home runs there. Again,

1:23:26 you talk about power and then you give

1:23:28 that guy who pulls everything 185 ft to

1:23:31 left field.

1:23:33 He just tried to hit that ball to

1:23:35 Austin.

1:23:37 >> And not only are you seeing the power

1:23:38 from Dan, you're just getting

1:23:40 consistency. Dating back to June of

1:23:42 2025, he's batted 300 or better in every

1:23:46 single month. Six consecutive months for

1:23:49 Dan where he's batted above 300.

1:23:56 Obururst as consistent as they come.

1:23:58 Nearly gets the foul ball to a broadcast

1:24:00 booth here on the 50 yd line at Kyle

1:24:02 Field. Falls short but not caught by the

1:24:05 fans.

1:24:07 That's the important part for the 8-year

1:24:08 banana.

1:24:10 Three collegiate seasons. This is Dan's

1:24:12 fifth world tour.

1:24:18 And he'll get another two- two pitch

1:24:20 from Chris Clark.

1:24:24 Another

1:24:29 foul ball

1:24:32 >> to the upper deck and not caught.

1:24:39 Battle between Titans here in Banana

1:24:42 Ball. Obur grounded out to first to open

1:24:44 up this contest.

1:24:47 Putting up a heck of a fight here.

1:24:51 There's another bouncer to the left

1:24:53 side. Barf gets rid of the glove

1:24:54 barehanded. Nice scoop from Taylor

1:24:57 Justice to put a bow on a web gym from

1:25:00 his third baseman.

1:25:02 I mean, this guy was nearly going to be

1:25:04 a shortstop in banana ball. The

1:25:06 tailgator drafted him. They decided the

1:25:09 best place for him was at the hot corner

1:25:11 and they have got an elite play from

1:25:13 Jordan Bar. 20 trick plays this season

1:25:16 and you see him flash the leather just

1:25:18 making a good old baseball play to

1:25:20 retire Danny Barrels.

1:25:24 Also, let let's not get lost in the fact

1:25:26 of that scoop over there by Taylor

1:25:27 Justice at first. Him and Mack have

1:25:29 split time over there on the right side

1:25:30 infield. What a play for out number one.

1:25:33 >> Big swing and a miss from Kyle Jackson.

1:25:37 Reached on a trick play, missed his

1:25:39 first time

1:25:41 as it's a trick pitch. Chris Clark

1:25:44 bounces it right off of KJ.

1:25:53 Little

1:25:53 >> kid out of Bowling Green, Ohio. A-OK.

1:25:55 Okay,

1:25:57 >> Chris Clark. A little chuckle.

1:25:58 Obviously, he knew that one got away

1:26:00 from him after the bounce. Seen him try

1:26:01 to regrip it there. Don't ever think he

1:26:03 quite got the right grip on it and just

1:26:05 spun inside and hit KJ.

1:26:07 >> And you like that for Kyle Jackson off

1:26:09 the armor, it looks like.

1:26:17 and Bill Laoy coming from the stands.

1:26:36 smile.

1:26:54 Come on. Come on. Come on.

1:27:07 Sh.

1:27:24 What a journey it's been for Bill Loy

1:27:27 here in his 9inth World Tour out of the

1:27:29 small town of Dublin, Georgia.

1:27:33 And he's out there line dancing in front

1:27:35 of over 102,000 fans here in College

1:27:37 Station, Texas.

1:27:40 after he joined the Bananas on a

1:27:42 temporary contract in the summer of

1:27:44 2018. He was only guaranteed two weeks.

1:27:47 He's turned it into nine seasons. And

1:27:49 being the co- captain of the Savannah

1:27:51 Bananas alongside Cowboy Kyle Luig,

1:27:54 Laroy has really emerged as a leader

1:27:57 even more this season according to Tyler

1:27:59 Gillum with a plethora of rookies that

1:28:01 have been added to this squad. and again

1:28:03 elevated into this three hole because

1:28:05 Gillum said he's been looking for the

1:28:07 big moments as this one's hit to

1:28:09 Hussein. And how about this? A double

1:28:12 trick play, double play for the Texas

1:28:15 Tailgator between the legs for Lutters

1:28:18 and Hussein. And now five in the ball

1:28:21 game for the Gator who have put up

1:28:23 another scoreless frame against the

1:28:25 Nanners.

1:28:26 >> Book it. Book it. Everything's bigger in

1:28:29 Texas just like that 643 double play.

1:28:40 Across the United States, there are over

1:28:43 400,000 children and teens in foster

1:28:45 care. Look around. That's enough to fill

1:28:48 Kyle Field four times the number of

1:28:51 teens in care. To raise awareness and

1:28:54 support communities, we created Bananas

1:28:56 Foster, the official nonprofit of Banana

1:29:00 Ball. Our organization is dedicated to

1:29:03 celebrating those in the foster care

1:29:05 community while educating and inspiring

1:29:07 others to get involved. Tonight, we are

1:29:11 celebrating the Robersonson family.

1:29:13 Brian, a school teacher, and Christy, a

1:29:16 nurse, wanted to continue to help

1:29:18 children outside of their careers. So,

1:29:22 five years ago, they became a licensed

1:29:24 foster family. In that time, they have

1:29:27 focused on welcoming infants into their

1:29:30 home in hopes to reunite them with their

1:29:32 biological families.

1:29:35 In total, they have welcomed 17 children

1:29:39 into their home. Fans, please join us in

1:29:43 celebrating this amazing family for

1:29:45 making a difference right here in your

1:29:47 community.

1:30:01 And for the first time tonight, we get

1:30:03 to say hello YouTube Texas Tailgator

1:30:06 YouTube channel version. Hope you're

1:30:08 having a wonderful night. Perfect time

1:30:11 to get to chat as we shout out the

1:30:13 Robertson family.

1:30:16 >> Wearing tailgator jerseys here tonight.

1:30:18 >> You love to see it,

1:30:19 >> man. That's pretty cool here in the

1:30:20 biggest Banana Ball game of all time,

1:30:22 our Bananas Foster family tonight. Such

1:30:24 a special family we get to honor wearing

1:30:26 those beautiful denims. And right here

1:30:29 on the Texas Tailgators YouTube channel

1:30:31 and I love to see in the chat Jennifer

1:30:33 Garcia, Melissa C, we got Banana Ball

1:30:38 News all dropping the buckets in the

1:30:40 chat for the bookets from Brett Loftess.

1:30:43 >> Booket bucket. Bookets galore right now.

1:30:45 Huh. The more times I get to say it, the

1:30:47 happier I am.

1:30:50 Oh, Jake Kelly says, "You can always

1:30:52 tell a Texan." Oh, but you can't tell

1:30:54 them much.

1:30:59 >> Oh boy.

1:30:59 >> It's like Josh gets talking all them

1:31:01 numbers. I'm just like, "Book it, man."

1:31:02 That's all I got to say, you know.

1:31:05 >> Yeah, man. And I love that for you. We

1:31:08 all have our strengths, you know. It's a

1:31:11 mly crew here at BTV. Oh, hello, Jose

1:31:14 Bonitez. Cheito in the booth next to us.

1:31:18 It's been a really fun night for all of

1:31:19 us here and thank you so much for

1:31:21 spending it with us. This has been a

1:31:22 blast so far. It's just going to get

1:31:25 better from here.

1:31:37 While I am certain you are having a

1:31:39 blast watching this broadcast, I also

1:31:41 know that it feels good to see the

1:31:42 action live. Geico and the Banana Ball

1:31:44 Championship League are teaming up to

1:31:47 send one lucky winner on the Ultimate

1:31:49 Fan Experience to the 2026 Banana Ball

1:31:52 Championship on October 10th. Win four

1:31:55 tickets, airfare, hotel, and a VIP

1:31:58 onfield experience. Go to it feelsgood

1:32:01 to gobbananas.com

1:32:03 to enter.

1:32:07 We know the Texas Tailgator will be in

1:32:09 the Banana Ball playoffs.

1:32:12 We'll see if they can get to that

1:32:13 championship. They're the only team that

1:32:15 has clinched a playoff spot here on May

1:32:18 2nd. They did it just a couple weeks ago

1:32:21 by taking down the Bananas in the Banana

1:32:23 Ball Open Championship.

1:32:26 Our first ever mid-season tournament as

1:32:27 Kyle Martin just keeps doing Kyle Martin

1:32:29 things. Single his first time off the

1:32:32 net in left. this time strokes one into

1:32:34 right center and he's two for two.

1:32:35 >> He's hitting over 500 against the

1:32:38 Savannah Bananas this year. That was his

1:32:40 ninth hit against them in the regular

1:32:43 season. We're not even counting his

1:32:45 performance in the open that included

1:32:46 two long balls. The auction has been

1:32:48 very introduced here to the Savannah

1:32:50 banas.

1:32:51 >> Five of his last six games now have been

1:32:53 multi-hit contests. Kyle Martin swinging

1:32:56 a hot bat.

1:32:59 >> And that's the fourth round draft pick

1:33:00 for the Tailgator. our second rounder

1:33:02 Jordan Bar in the box. He is scorching

1:33:04 hot. He was the MVP of the Banana Ball

1:33:07 Open player of the week last week.

1:33:12 >> Talk about what he did in April. Jordan

1:33:13 Bar 524 batting average in the month of

1:33:17 April and only struck out once in six

1:33:19 games played.

1:33:20 >> That'll do. As will this boogeie from

1:33:22 Austin Drury. Lost the banana ball, but

1:33:25 finds it and gets himself a sword from

1:33:26 Bar. Nasty back foot bender.

1:33:30 Jordan out of Cold Spring, Minnesota,

1:33:35 >> as he demolishes this laser beam with a

1:33:38 one-way ticket to the net in left.

1:33:41 Pretty much a double anywhere else. That

1:33:43 is

1:33:44 >> a single here in Kyle Field.

1:33:46 >> Talk about all these benefits tonight,

1:33:48 Bo and Josh, about that short left field

1:33:50 porch. That may be one of the negatives

1:33:52 as a hitter right there. Demolished it.

1:33:54 Look at that. That 50ft net by netting

1:33:56 pros did a good job eating that back up

1:33:58 and spitting it back out in the field of

1:33:59 play.

1:33:59 >> Well, yeah. 57% of Bar's hits have gone

1:34:02 to left field this season. If he can

1:34:04 just elevate a little bit more, he's

1:34:06 going to have no problem collecting a

1:34:08 home run for the Gator tonight.

1:34:11 Two on, nobody out for Taylor Justice.

1:34:14 It was Martin Bar and Justice who drove

1:34:16 in all five points for the Tailgator on

1:34:19 Thursday night.

1:34:22 And neither of them were retired. They

1:34:24 were a combined eight for eight reaching

1:34:25 base.

1:34:28 Taylor with the RBI single to win the

1:34:30 first inning tonight. His last three

1:34:32 trips to the dish have been walk-offs,

1:34:34 which has him up to seven on the year.

1:34:36 Two more than anybody else in the Banana

1:34:38 Ball Championship League.

1:34:46 >> We get another 2-2.

1:34:48 >> Does have an opportunity to continue

1:34:49 that walk-off streak here as well. Kyle

1:34:51 Martin 180 ft away from making the three

1:34:54 nothing Tailgator lead.

1:34:56 >> Swing and a miss. Austin Drury finally

1:34:58 solves

1:35:00 Mr. Justice

1:35:03 and a pretty perfect time for AD's 4th

1:35:06 K. Yeah. And you see him mixing up the

1:35:09 location there going to the slider in

1:35:12 the dirt. Great scoop as well from

1:35:14 Billy. And now a lefty on lefty match up

1:35:17 for AD as Jos brother Gonzalez is up in

1:35:20 the box hit with a pitch his first time

1:35:22 up.

1:35:25 And it's easy to get overshadowed in

1:35:26 this powerful tailgator lineup. Brother

1:35:29 coming into this thing is OPS North of a

1:35:32 thousand. Seventh best in Banana Ball as

1:35:34 he scorches this and it's off the top of

1:35:37 the net in left field. A stop sign for

1:35:39 Kmart as that one played perfectly by

1:35:42 Rack. So the net takes away another

1:35:45 extra base hit from the Tailgator, but

1:35:47 they've got him loaded.

1:35:47 >> And brother who has five home runs,

1:35:49 second best in banana ball this year.

1:35:51 Two of those have come inside out. He's

1:35:53 a great opposite field hitter. Almost

1:35:55 had his sixth homer of the year right

1:35:57 there, but instead just loads him up for

1:35:59 the RBI machine who led the tailgator

1:36:01 and ribbies in 2025. Mac Danford

1:36:09 >> 10 count on Big Mac.

1:36:15 He scoots this the other way and that

1:36:18 will do it. Four straight singles from

1:36:22 the Tailgator in the third and they have

1:36:24 won every inning tonight. They are up

1:36:26 three zip.

1:36:27 >> What a birthday gift from M Doodle to

1:36:30 his lovely wife Eene Badford. Walks it

1:36:33 off here in the third inning to make it

1:36:35 three to nothing. They hadn't got him

1:36:37 out yet. Madoodle the proud of Grand

1:36:39 Florida putting on for the boys in blue

1:36:41 and orange.

1:36:42 >> Let's get it down to Jesse Cole for the

1:36:44 world's slowest race.

1:36:54 Ladies and gentlemen, we know that you

1:36:56 missed the Kentucky Derby today, but we

1:36:59 have a very special surprise for you

1:37:01 because it's time for our very own

1:37:03 diaper derby. Tonight is the biggest

1:37:05 banana ball game in history, which means

1:37:07 that we are about to have the biggest

1:37:10 baby race the world has ever seen. 27

1:37:15 babies racing here at Kyle Field. Who

1:37:19 will be our golden temple? It's time to

1:37:22 find out. Parents, let's get their

1:37:24 babies on their mark.

1:37:27 Get set,

1:37:30 go.

1:37:31 >> In front of over 102,000 fans here in

1:37:35 Kyle Field, 27

1:37:38 babies are on the grass out in deep

1:37:41 right field. And who will win the

1:37:44 largest baby race in the history of

1:37:47 planet Earth?

1:37:48 >> There's a baby crawling in a circle. Bo

1:37:51 looping back around to the starting

1:37:53 line.

1:37:54 >> To win the world's slowest race, you've

1:37:56 got to go straight. And this one with

1:37:58 the little army crawl out to a lead.

1:38:03 Oh, we've got a bear crawl right on the

1:38:05 line. And now parking it. The army

1:38:08 crawler continuing to make some forward

1:38:11 progress with a smile on her face.

1:38:15 And the bear crawl, that's a crying

1:38:17 baby. I'm sorry to show you that, folks.

1:38:20 Oh no, but the bear crawling baby might

1:38:24 come from behind to win it. It is neck

1:38:26 and neck. Our finish line is bending and

1:38:29 that should be a victory for our army

1:38:32 crawling baby. Oh, it's a photo finish.

1:38:36 Let's get it down to Sam Bowman with our

1:38:38 winner

1:38:38 >> real quick. Big win. We want to talk to

1:38:41 102,000 fans. You cried. You worked

1:38:43 through it. How are you feeling?

1:38:47 >> Yay. Big win, guys. Big win.

1:38:51 >> Congratulations.

1:38:52 >> I'm surprised Sam Bowman wasn't crying

1:38:54 down there.

1:38:55 >> Those were tears of joy.

1:38:57 >> Yeah,

1:38:58 >> cuz that little Tikeke knew they were

1:39:00 going to win.

1:39:00 >> Nice snag, Chris Clark. And he's going

1:39:02 to flip it with the glove to Taylor

1:39:04 Justice. A trick play for the big boy to

1:39:07 kick off our fourth frame.

1:39:09 >> Revolutionary bucket from CC.

1:39:13 >> Took the glove off the left hand onto

1:39:16 the right hand. Look at this.

1:39:20 Oh my gosh.

1:39:23 >> I mean, you're getting multiple moves

1:39:25 out of Chris Clark. Not only does this

1:39:27 guy dominate on the pitcher mount, but

1:39:29 he can feel his position well at the

1:39:32 same exact time. And again, the Texas

1:39:34 Tailgator, nobody has more trick plays

1:39:37 than them. This team just feeds off of

1:39:39 that energy. They will take any

1:39:41 opportunity they get to rip these trick

1:39:44 plays.

1:39:44 >> And you know the biggest note there when

1:39:45 they won the Banana Ball Open, locking

1:39:47 themselves into the playoffs in October

1:39:49 a few weeks back.

1:39:50 >> Oh, D Meadows, what a rude interruption.

1:39:53 That ball smashed to the second deck.

1:39:56 His first home run of the year

1:40:04 and the first home run he has hit since

1:40:06 he conquered the green monster in Fenway

1:40:10 Park. If there's a guy who loves a high

1:40:12 wall, whether it's the monster or a 50ft

1:40:16 net, Dr. Meadows is going to make sure

1:40:18 that it is no problem for him

1:40:21 whatsoever. The second long ball the

1:40:24 bananas have collected against Clark

1:40:26 tonight.

1:40:28 >> Sam Bowman.

1:40:29 >> Yeah. D first home run as a dad. How's

1:40:31 it feel?

1:40:31 >> Feels great. Uh we need right here. Ryan

1:40:33 Cox right here. We keep going. We keep

1:40:35 rolling over. We got reach coming from

1:40:36 com. We got some more home runs. I love

1:40:38 you clever. I love the kids.

1:40:40 >> That's just a good dad. Great dad, guys.

1:40:43 Couldn't agree more. SB. Thank you very

1:40:45 much. I think Dr. started speaking in

1:40:47 cursive there.

1:40:50 I mean, ordinarily that guy's patrolling

1:40:53 center field for you. Meadow still

1:40:54 dealing with a little bit of an ailing

1:40:56 hamstring, but he said, "I can swing the

1:40:59 bat just fine." And he proved it right

1:41:01 there. Good call by Tyler Gillum to put

1:41:05 Dr. Meadows in this lineup. And in the

1:41:07 five spot tonight again, switching

1:41:09 things up, but it paid off right there.

1:41:12 >> Yeah, Dr. told me in the football

1:41:14 facility today, he said, "Ran, I don't

1:41:15 really care about anything else this

1:41:16 weekend. I just want to swing the bat."

1:41:18 And that's exactly why. right there.

1:41:22 >> Ryan Cox with a 2-2 count on him. He

1:41:24 worked a ball for a sprint and came

1:41:26 around to score in the second inning

1:41:35 and works the count full here. Now, I

1:41:37 know it's not the ninth inning. I know

1:41:38 it didn't win game one of the World

1:41:40 Series, but a little Kirk Gibson to that

1:41:42 home run from Dr. Meadows as he limped

1:41:44 around the bags, still nursing that sore

1:41:47 right hamstring.

1:41:50 just happened to happen in front of over

1:41:52 102,000 fans in the fourth inning at

1:41:54 Kyle Field. It hasn't won anything yet.

1:41:57 Coxy works his second sprint of the ball

1:41:59 game as the Bender just barely missed

1:42:01 the outside corner there from Clark. And

1:42:04 Cox, how about his weekend so far here

1:42:08 in East Central Texas? Five plate

1:42:12 appearances, four ball, four sprints.

1:42:14 You won't believe this, but Ryan Cox

1:42:16 hasn't collected a hit for the bananas

1:42:18 since the 11th of April, but he's got

1:42:21 seven ball four sprints in his game

1:42:24 since then. I mean, he is unbelievable

1:42:26 at just being able to get on. And now

1:42:29 Reese Selects hacks up the first pitch

1:42:32 from Chris Clark. And that one will

1:42:34 drift. Fall foul out of play. Bryce

1:42:36 Grisley also running at first. 11 stolen

1:42:38 bases tied with Dr. Meadows for the most

1:42:40 in banana ball. However, he's been

1:42:42 thrown out three times, twice a by

1:42:44 tailgator catcher Taj Porter.

1:42:47 >> Wow, that was a good looking breaking

1:42:49 ball from Chris Clark. Vincent Chapman

1:42:51 will tell you it missed low

1:42:55 >> as this one scorched past the diving

1:42:57 attempt of Bar as it hugs that third

1:43:00 baseline. Grazafi a big turnaround

1:43:02 second and slams the brakes.

1:43:05 Super Reese two for two on the night

1:43:08 following up his two-run homer with a

1:43:10 single.

1:43:11 >> Jordan Bark came up limping there a

1:43:13 little bit again. Good effort down the

1:43:15 line. See JB kind of got caught that

1:43:17 right knee on the foul line. But yeah,

1:43:19 back to Reese. You put him down in that

1:43:20 seven hole and he's caught fire through

1:43:22 his first two at bats.

1:43:24 >> Yeah. And entering play tonight when

1:43:26 guys are either on first or the bases

1:43:28 are empty. Alexi was batting just a buck

1:43:31 38. And now he's got two hits tonight.

1:43:34 both with guys on first and one of them

1:43:37 includes a two-run homer. How about that

1:43:40 sign from Travis Mono?

1:43:43 >> His wife's name is Sydney, by the way,

1:43:45 not Taylor,

1:43:46 >> right? Yeah. No, he's talking about

1:43:47 Taylor Swift. Jackson also a big Taylor

1:43:50 Swift fan. So, I think that's where

1:43:52 >> Right. 100%.

1:43:53 >> Right. And she is a very different

1:43:56 Travis than Mono.

1:43:58 Bounding ball gobbled up by Lutters. He

1:44:01 is going to be able to get the kick over

1:44:04 to Hussein. Great running though by

1:44:05 Gafi. He scores from second.

1:44:09 And let's take a look. Randy Voss, the

1:44:10 second base umpire, is saying that the

1:44:12 ball left Hussein's glove on the

1:44:14 exchange.

1:44:16 >> Yeah, that that appears to be the right

1:44:18 case. But still, you got to give a lot

1:44:21 of credit to Bryce Grizzafi. He knew

1:44:23 that they were attempting that double

1:44:25 play, so he just decided to run right

1:44:27 through that third base bag and try to

1:44:29 score. And it pays off for the Bananas.

1:44:32 Now their second inning tonight where

1:44:34 they've scored multiple runs in an

1:44:36 inning against the Tailgator.

1:44:38 Some really cool trick play there from

1:44:41 Sunshine.

1:44:43 Overshadowed by the run coming in.

1:44:45 >> Still the innovation of our game, right?

1:44:46 The hustle play there from Bryce Kafi,

1:44:48 but using the feet there from Jonathan

1:44:51 Sunshine Lunters. One of the very few

1:44:52 players who will do that and get

1:44:53 trickery.

1:44:54 >> Jordan Barh behind the back flip over to

1:44:57 first to take care of Hosley. Trick play

1:45:00 for Bar, but two runs come across for

1:45:02 the Nanners. A chance to claim their

1:45:05 first point in this ball game as the

1:45:07 Tailgator have won all three innings so

1:45:10 far. We'll bring you more Banana Ball

1:45:12 live on ESPN after this.

1:45:20 Uh,

1:45:24 >> it's time for the biggest Hey baby in

1:45:28 history. So, everyone get those hands up

1:45:31 in the air

1:45:33 all the way up and join along. Here we

1:45:36 go.

1:45:38 Clap those hands.

1:45:50 Get those arms waving.

1:46:03 >> Keep it going.

1:46:18 Now let's shuffle to the side. Keep it

1:46:20 climbing.

1:46:31 I'm going to make my own.

1:46:46 >> One more time.

1:47:00 You guys are amazing. Give yourselves a

1:47:02 round of applause.

1:47:16 Welcome back to the biggest game in

1:47:18 Banana Ball history live here on ESPN.

1:47:21 We have over 102,000 fans in the heart

1:47:24 of Brazos Valley. Kyle Field,

1:47:29 the unbelievable football stadium of the

1:47:32 Texas A&M Aggies. And in the middle of

1:47:34 it all, Derek Clenna, first man out of

1:47:38 the pen for the Bananas here tonight. A

1:47:41 rookie taking over for another rookie.

1:47:43 And Clenna, well, he did start his

1:47:46 baseball career at UCLA. He ditched that

1:47:50 journey for 14 years on Broadway.

1:47:53 Awarded or nominated for a Tony for his

1:47:57 work in Jagged Little Pill. But the

1:48:00 whole time still playing

1:48:03 Broadway softball, keeping the arm loose

1:48:06 and induces a mile high pop from Taj

1:48:09 Porter into the seats. Not caught by the

1:48:12 fans. This is only the second time this

1:48:14 year he's gotten a fresh inning.

1:48:16 The other was in the Superdome in New

1:48:18 Orleans against the party animals.

1:48:22 Normally Clint coming in with two outs,

1:48:25 but he faces the tailgator catcher to

1:48:28 open up the bottom of the fourth with

1:48:30 the Bananas up two runs trying to earn

1:48:32 their first point. This a move kind of

1:48:33 made out of necessity. Austin Drury just

1:48:36 didn't have his best stuff. 71 pitches

1:48:39 across three innings. Tailgator only had

1:48:42 two hits against him this season.

1:48:44 entering play tonight. They got six

1:48:46 against Drury in tonight's contest. So,

1:48:49 the Bananas turn it over to a righty,

1:48:51 but Clea has fallen behind 3-1 against

1:48:54 TSH Porter.

1:49:00 Count is full. Yeah, Drury against the

1:49:04 Tailgator this year coming into tonight.

1:49:06 four innings, just those two hits you

1:49:07 mentioned, eight strikeouts,

1:49:10 but he only goes an inning and two/3

1:49:12 tonight as far as what he is credited

1:49:15 for as Taj is able to hold up on the

1:49:18 high fast ball and will earn the ball

1:49:21 for sprint, his second of the night.

1:49:23 It's the most rapacious game I've seen

1:49:26 through almost four innings that the

1:49:27 tailgator have ever played. Taj with two

1:49:29 ball for sprints, Max got a ball for a

1:49:31 sprint. Wad with a walk-off ball for a

1:49:34 sprint in the second. I mean, you talked

1:49:35 about what you seen at Austin Drury and

1:49:37 because he got walked off three times

1:49:39 was in large part due to the free

1:49:41 passes, but also just such an elite

1:49:43 approach right now is now only after one

1:49:45 batter Harris is going to come in here

1:49:47 to pitch for the Savannah Bananas.

1:49:50 >> Fascinating. So, you go from Clenna to

1:49:52 Harris, the 68 righty, another rookie,

1:49:54 all three bananas who have thrown

1:49:56 tonight here in their first Banana Ball

1:49:58 World Tour. And a tall task for him as

1:50:02 you can see at the bottom of his graphic

1:50:03 as there goes Jacob Pipper. Throw from

1:50:06 Loy not in time.

1:50:09 Pip a perfect nine for nine on the year

1:50:11 in his stolen base tries.

1:50:13 >> Run wild. Jacob Pipperick.

1:50:16 >> And how about that? Y'all see who was

1:50:18 covering second there? Robert Anthony

1:50:20 Cruz playing that rover position now.

1:50:23 Fiveman infield there for the Savannah

1:50:25 Bananas

1:50:27 as his D perfects back out or field be

1:50:32 looks like some shenanigans are a foot

1:50:37 trick pitch from Connor Harris and Dude

1:50:39 Perfect who has the banana ball.

1:50:45 >> It was Sparky and he messed up and away.

1:50:49 >> All right. Thank you, dude. Perfect.

1:50:54 So a 1-1 count on Indiana Stanley

1:51:00 >> lofted left side of the infield. Cox tip

1:51:03 drill and Rack will

1:51:06 catch a little basket catch. Boaroon

1:51:09 Ryan Cox gets credit for the second

1:51:11 bananas trick play on that one.

1:51:15 And you see the point for Robert Anthony

1:51:17 Cruz. He's telling Ryan Cox, "Next time

1:51:19 I've got you, we can team up for a

1:51:22 double trick play." But Connor Harris

1:51:24 with the quick out on three pitches and

1:51:26 now falling behind 10 against Hussein.

1:51:32 Harris has had three straight scoreless

1:51:34 outings coming into tonight. That

1:51:36 coincides with him going back to the

1:51:39 windup, but not given the opportunity

1:51:41 tonight

1:51:42 >> since he came in with a runner aboard.

1:51:44 He's been from the stretch from the

1:51:45 get-go.

1:51:49 And the big thought behind going back to

1:51:51 the windup was just to make sure that he

1:51:53 felt more in control on the pitcher

1:51:55 mound, had all his mechanics in tune.

1:51:59 But Harris and when he's had to pitch

1:52:01 out of the stretch since going back,

1:52:03 he's looked awfully sharp.

1:52:07 3-1 pitch coming to Jordan Hussein.

1:52:11 And he will take the fast ball high.

1:52:13 That will drive in Pippers from second.

1:52:15 Hussein's got great wheels and the throw

1:52:17 from Loy goes all the way to the wall.

1:52:19 Jordan's looking for three bases on the

1:52:21 sprint. Now he's getting the wave home

1:52:23 from Michelik. The final man to throw

1:52:26 it. Danny Hosley and it is late. Oh, a

1:52:30 disastrous ball for sprint. Defense by

1:52:32 the bananas. And the fourth inning is

1:52:34 tied. And that's your captain Jordan

1:52:37 Hussein. You play with grit. You play

1:52:40 with hustle. And most importantly, God

1:52:42 bless Texas because that's who Jordan

1:52:44 Hussein is always playing for. And look

1:52:47 at that, a two-run ball for Brent resets

1:52:51 the inning. And the Tailgator have a

1:52:53 chance now to walk off the first four

1:52:55 innings of this Banana Ball game. When

1:52:56 this guy first got to Banana Ball, he

1:52:59 told us he's like, I I'm not a guy with

1:53:01 a lot of power at the plate, but son of

1:53:03 a gun, I'm going to be the guy getting

1:53:05 you hustle doubles and giving my all on

1:53:08 the playing field. And you certainly saw

1:53:10 that mentality on full display a second

1:53:14 time tonight. The Bananas have had a

1:53:15 multi-run lead in an inning and been

1:53:18 unable to hold it. Alex Ziggler fields

1:53:21 this between the legs. Flip to Harris

1:53:23 just in time to get Nick Lopez. Third

1:53:26 trick play of the ball game for the

1:53:27 Bananas. They are still down five though

1:53:29 as they search for that equalizer point.

1:53:31 >> You see this a lot from Ziggy and I

1:53:33 don't want to take away from the trick

1:53:34 play at all. That's an amazing field

1:53:35 between the legs. Connor Harris, big man

1:53:37 kind of got caught up on his feet a

1:53:39 little bit there, but still able to make

1:53:40 the out at first. Great play by him.

1:53:45 And the only bright side of the bases

1:53:48 now being clear as Harris does get to go

1:53:49 to that wind up.

1:53:52 He's behind Wo to Zack Watson who struck

1:53:54 out his first time and had the inning

1:53:56 winning ball for Sprint back in the

1:53:58 second.

1:54:01 That ball deep out to right. Lot of room

1:54:04 for Danny Hosley behind the back. You

1:54:07 betcha with a bow. Three trick plays in

1:54:11 the frame for the Bananas,

1:54:14 but they are still down four in that

1:54:16 department and they give up the two-run

1:54:18 lead. Rare poor defense. Tailgator still

1:54:21 lead 3-0.

1:54:51 My life will be the same.

1:55:02 Please welcome our dancing first base

1:55:04 coach. His name is Stace.

1:55:18 Here's

1:55:46 a pitch for the Kansas.

1:55:50 This is Mr. K.

1:55:56 >> The bananas dancing. First base coach

1:55:58 Macio Harrison boogieing us into our

1:56:01 fifth inning of action in the largest

1:56:03 banana ball game of all time. Over

1:56:05 102,000 fans on hand here in Kyle Field

1:56:09 being delighted by the dancing first

1:56:12 base coach in his ninth year with the

1:56:13 team. And now Christian Davis here in

1:56:16 his second world tour. Guy who is on an

1:56:19 absolute heater is the first man out of

1:56:21 the pen for the tailgator and has a ball

1:56:23 and a strike on Max Young Goldberg.

1:56:25 >> His last two outings have been the best

1:56:27 two outings he's had in his banana ball

1:56:28 career. Five and a third he threw in the

1:56:30 open all scoreless induced double digit

1:56:32 trick plays and then last Sunday against

1:56:35 Loco Beach in Amarillo through four

1:56:37 innings and do six trip plays and only

1:56:39 gave up five hits. Both of those outings

1:56:42 scoreless for CD. Such a pleasure where

1:56:44 you can go from an ace to an ace for

1:56:45 these tailgates.

1:56:46 >> And a two- two count on the Dunkin Donut

1:56:49 batter of the game. If he strikes out,

1:56:51 the fans in attendance will receive

1:56:53 three donuts.

1:57:00 Highfly ball deep out to left center.

1:57:03 MJG

1:57:05 solo home run. Second of his banana ball

1:57:08 career. And the Nator's offense putting

1:57:10 some more pressure on now. Each of the

1:57:13 last two hits that Max Young Goldberg

1:57:16 has this season have left the yard,

1:57:18 collected his first career home run a

1:57:21 weekend ago in Yankee Stadium, and now

1:57:24 his first opposite field hit of the

1:57:27 season leaves the yard here tonight at

1:57:30 Texas A&M.

1:57:35 >> I don't know what the dance is.

1:57:37 >> It's like a halfway douge. It's uh yes,

1:57:40 it's an aggressive herkyjerky douge, I

1:57:42 believe. As you get another look at the

1:57:44 rain maker from Young Goldberg, the

1:57:46 banana second round draft pick last

1:57:48 November. The only rookie in this

1:57:51 starting lineup.

1:57:54 And as we talked about on the pregame

1:57:55 show, a guy who hit third all 14 games

1:57:58 this year until being demoted to the 10

1:58:00 hole tonight. And he responds in kind.

1:58:03 Hussein trying to whip it between the

1:58:05 legs. Golly, that is the third miss play

1:58:07 on the ball game for the captain, Jordan

1:58:10 Hussein, who only had four of them in 38

1:58:14 attempts coming into this game.

1:58:16 >> Yeah, I don't know if the ball's

1:58:18 slippery or what. I mean, you see the

1:58:20 transition fine, but just can't get in

1:58:21 the right hand. Josh,

1:58:22 >> I would chalk it up potentially to the

1:58:24 playing surface tonight. Again, it takes

1:58:27 a lot of work to try and get a field

1:58:29 like this together. Put all this dirt

1:58:31 down. You're trying to make sure it's

1:58:33 evened out and whatnot.

1:58:35 And certainly being tricky for Jordan

1:58:37 Hussein. And speaking of that, Lutters

1:58:40 with a bounce pass to Hussein. And it

1:58:43 caps off another double play in the ball

1:58:46 game for the Texas Tailgator.

1:58:50 >> 463.

1:58:52 Jordan Hussein made sure he gathered

1:58:53 that one up. Look at Sunny for a couple

1:58:56 of them here in the top of the fifth

1:58:58 inning. And you've got to be real quick

1:59:01 turning two on Kyle Jackson. One of the

1:59:03 fastest runners in the sport.

1:59:07 >> Looters with the trick play. Impressive

1:59:09 pickup by Hussein

1:59:12 to make it possible for a double play.

1:59:18 >> The ball and a strike on Bill Loy

1:59:23 >> who has struck out and grounded into a

1:59:25 643 double play. And since the home run

1:59:28 that we saw from Max Young Goldberg,

1:59:30 we're seeing what makes Christian Davis

1:59:32 so effective. He's a guy who's

1:59:34 traditionally keeping the ball on the

1:59:35 ground. Last time he was pitching in a

1:59:37 football stadium, seven ground outs in

1:59:40 deuce, but Bill Loy hits an absolute

1:59:43 laser beam into the 50ft net. It falls

1:59:46 behind the barricade. And so with these

1:59:49 dimensions, that will only go down as a

1:59:52 ground rule single for Bill Loy.

1:59:56 Yeah, if you get it nestled between the

1:59:58 wall and the barricade anywhere wide of

2:00:00 our 50ft net from left to left center

2:00:02 field, it's a ground rule double. But

2:00:04 that clearly part of where the net is

2:00:07 there. So just a ground rule single

2:00:11 as Robert Anthony Cruz has a ball and a

2:00:13 strike on him. Single his first time.

2:00:18 Robbed of a knock. His last trip to the

2:00:19 dish by Chris Clark.

2:00:26 And I tell you what, this is beautiful.

2:00:27 Kyle Field being lit up with all these

2:00:29 flashlights.

2:00:30 >> It's not even time for yellow yet.

2:00:36 >> Still a one-two count on Cruz.

2:00:39 >> Former Nationals minor leager here in

2:00:41 his third world tour.

2:00:45 And I don't think I'm saying anything

2:00:48 new to the vast majority of our offense

2:00:50 or our audience rather, but this is one

2:00:52 of the fan favorites here in Banana Land

2:00:56 as he bounces that past the glove of

2:00:58 Justice. Looters able to clean it up.

2:01:01 Heads up play by Sunshine to close the

2:01:04 frame.

2:01:05 >> The Texas Tailgator are just a gritty

2:01:07 bunch of guys representing the Lone Star

2:01:10 State. You've seen the two-run ball

2:01:12 force Brett from Jordan Hussein in the

2:01:13 last half inning. Right there, Jonathan

2:01:16 Sunshine Lutters picks up one of his

2:01:18 really good friends backing up Taylor

2:01:19 Justice in the shovel pass to get an

2:01:22 important out number three.

2:01:25 >> I've got that as a 343 put out.

2:01:27 >> Correct. That's what I have as well.

2:01:30 >> You don't see that every night at the

2:01:32 ballpark and you don't see ballparks

2:01:34 like this very often. Kylefield, the

2:01:38 sixth largest stadium on planet Earth.

2:01:42 Host to over 102,000 fans here tonight.

2:01:46 The biggest game in Banana Ball history

2:01:49 so far. Texas Tailgator domination.

2:01:52 Something special is happening down on

2:01:53 the field. Let's take a peek.

2:02:01 Stay a little while longer and pull a

2:02:03 little stronger until they tell us to

2:02:06 go. And as the night gets colder, I pull

2:02:09 you in closer to show you what these

2:02:12 hands are for. I'm talking

2:02:17 to you

2:02:19 for

2:02:22 I've been drinking for a while, but now

2:02:26 I'm too stepping into trouble. It ain't

2:02:28 a B. There something in a whiskey. Or is

2:02:32 it love? I'm pulling up a double just to

2:02:35 be sure. Either we go my place. Oh yeah.

2:02:38 I'm too stepping into trouble.

2:02:45 I'm too stepping into trouble.

2:02:51 I'm stepping into trouble.

2:02:58 I'm two stepping into trouble.

2:03:06 I'm a man on a mission making decision.

2:03:09 I ain't too drunk.

2:03:12 You're my blue baby. Drive me crazy. Hop

2:03:16 in my two. Let's roll. Oh, I do anything

2:03:22 to make you smile. Smile for me.

2:03:27 I've been drinking for a while. I'm

2:03:31 stepping in your trouble. It ain't

2:03:34 something whiskey. Oh, is it love? I'm

2:03:38 pulling up a double just to be sure.

2:03:41 Even we

2:03:44 stepping into trouble.

2:03:50 I'm too stepping into trouble.

2:03:56 >> I'm too stepping into trouble.

2:04:03 I'm two stepping into trouble.

2:04:09 I'm two stepping into trouble.

2:04:11 >> Performing their brand new single called

2:04:14 Two Step In. Make some noise for Adrien

2:04:17 Nunees and Deplo.

2:04:26 How about that for a halftime show?

2:04:31 Diplo and Adrien Nunees. What a combo.

2:04:36 You get a DJ from Topilo, Mississippi,

2:04:40 together with a Dominican American kid

2:04:42 from Brooklyn who happened to play

2:04:44 basketball at Michigan, you've got

2:04:46 yourself a country pop EDM banger.

2:04:51 >> Sounds pretty much like it was tailor

2:04:53 made for Banana Bowl.

2:04:54 >> Yeah.

2:04:56 >> Yeah. Yeah. I've been following Adrian

2:04:58 Nunees on TikTok for about 5 years.

2:05:01 >> Oh, you're an OG.

2:05:02 >> Yeah, I was I've been a fan of his music

2:05:03 for a while. to see him come out in a

2:05:05 Texas Tailgator uniform. He's a really,

2:05:08 really, really cool man. Especially here

2:05:10 again in the home of the 12th Bat, the

2:05:11 biggest banana ball game of all time at

2:05:13 Cal Field. Get some pyrochnics involved

2:05:16 as well. This has been an extremely

2:05:20 special night so far, especially for

2:05:22 those tailgators playing host to the

2:05:24 bananas here in their home state as Kyle

2:05:27 Martin fouls off the fast from Connor

2:05:29 Harris.

2:05:31 >> Tailgator won each of the first three

2:05:32 innings.

2:05:34 Bananas have put up two runs in a frame

2:05:37 twice. They have one run here in the

2:05:38 fifth. So far, they have not been able

2:05:40 to turn it into a point.

2:05:48 >> 02 and a swing and a miss. Connor Harris

2:05:51 sits down the hottest man in the sport

2:05:54 as Kyle Martin, his sixth trip to the

2:05:56 plate this weekend, finally does not

2:05:59 pick up a hit. And I'm telling you, the

2:06:00 recipe doesn't need to change right now

2:06:02 for the Bananas. The high heater, it's

2:06:04 always playing. And you get that

2:06:06 signature strikeout celebration from

2:06:08 Connor Harris. He is one of seven

2:06:11 Bananas pitchers with a strikeout rate

2:06:13 of 20% or better this season. The league

2:06:16 average right now sits at 16%.

2:06:22 This was a reloaded pitching staff

2:06:24 through that Banana Ball player draft

2:06:25 back on November 13th.

2:06:29 Eight out of the 11 picks were arms.

2:06:33 Harris, the banana's eighth rounder,

2:06:36 taken 60th overall out of Avon,

2:06:38 Connecticut.

2:06:40 Four years at George Washington

2:06:41 University, finished up with two years

2:06:43 at Winthre

2:06:45 as this one, a moon scraper,

2:06:50 falls down without any fans making a

2:06:53 play on it.

2:06:56 >> What about this guy, Jordan Bar? Now a

2:06:59 six-game hitting streak for him. Has hit

2:07:01 safely in 11 of his last 12 games.

2:07:04 Already got a single on his line

2:07:05 tonight.

2:07:11 >> Big swing to miss on the 3-1.

2:07:19 >> The payoff pitch

2:07:21 from Harris.

2:07:23 That ball blasted. See you later. Holy

2:07:27 moly. A lightning bolt into the seats

2:07:30 and this inning is tied.

2:07:31 >> A yayya for Jordan Bar. His second of

2:07:35 the regular season, but his third of

2:07:38 2026.

2:07:40 The man who had 19 pumps last year for

2:07:43 the Sou Falls Canaries pushes yet

2:07:45 another inning for the Texas Tailgator

2:07:48 and their first home run in this ball

2:07:50 game in Cal Field.

2:07:53 I got to hear from the man who got a

2:07:55 perm last night who is ready to play

2:07:58 here in College Station.

2:08:01 >> Jordan, a newer haircut. The perm is

2:08:03 Morgan. What's it like to hit a homer in

2:08:06 front of the biggest crowd in Banana

2:08:08 Ball history?

2:08:08 >> It was incredible. I mean, I was just

2:08:10 trying to hit the ball. I've been

2:08:11 getting my doors blown off all game. So,

2:08:13 he blew the doors off that belt, baby.

2:08:15 Thank you so much, JB. Guys, back to

2:08:17 you.

2:08:18 >> Thank you, Rex Castillo.

2:08:21 Golly, for a guy who's been getting his

2:08:23 doors blown off. He's now two for three

2:08:24 with a home run.

2:08:25 >> Yeah, right.

2:08:26 >> It's a high bar for Jordan Bar.

2:08:29 Understandably so.

2:08:31 >> One of the greatest baseball players in

2:08:33 the history of Sou Falls, South Dakota.

2:08:38 Started with his six years at Augustana

2:08:40 University and then three years with the

2:08:42 Sou Falls Canaries

2:08:44 out in the American Association. That is

2:08:46 really good baseball.

2:08:50 And a terror the whole time through as

2:08:52 it's a two-2 count now on Taylor

2:08:53 Justice. And the Bananas have blown all

2:08:56 three of the inning leads they have had

2:08:58 so far tonight.

2:09:01 And before Thursday night's game against

2:09:04 the Tailgator, they were leading the

2:09:05 Banana Ball Championship League and

2:09:07 being successful at holding inning

2:09:09 leads. Now they have fallen behind the

2:09:11 party animals and they've had four

2:09:14 straight innings in which they have had

2:09:18 blown leads when it comes to these

2:09:20 holds. That goes back to last Thursday

2:09:22 in Napasota.

2:09:24 That was the Bill Loy home run in the

2:09:27 seventh. They were not able to turn it

2:09:28 into a point.

2:09:35 And this ball is smashed out to right

2:09:37 center field. Taylor Justice to the

2:09:39 deepest part of the park. One hop into

2:09:41 the seats might have robbed him of a

2:09:43 triple. He'll have to be content with a

2:09:46 ground rule double. The only tailgator

2:09:48 entering tonight with a batting average

2:09:50 of over 400 continues his generational

2:09:53 run. I can't wait to tell my children

2:09:55 about 2026. Taylor Justice as he hits a

2:09:58 ground rule double. Jacob Pipperick

2:10:00 comes on the run from him and now

2:10:02 represents the inning run is Jason Art.

2:10:05 You might have watched some American

2:10:07 Idol a few months ago. Is not going to

2:10:08 swing the stick here in spite of Jose

2:10:10 Gonzalez.

2:10:12 >> Second year as the leader of the Texas

2:10:14 Tailgator band and a dangerous bat off

2:10:17 this bench. In fact, he has evolved from

2:10:19 just a role player here in 2026.

2:10:24 Jason Art, three walk-offs on the year,

2:10:26 three doubles.

2:10:28 cooled off a little as of late, but he

2:10:30 has a lot of pop in that swing

2:10:33 as he can't connect on the bender from

2:10:35 Harris and back to the dugout. Yeah,

2:10:37 that's what's plaguing Jason Art right

2:10:38 now in the month of April. He struck out

2:10:40 in 64% of his plate appearances and you

2:10:44 see him trying to make contact with that

2:10:46 breaking ball from Connor Harrison going

2:10:48 down whipping. So now things are in the

2:10:51 hands of M. Daner who already has a

2:10:54 walk-off and a run batted in tonight for

2:10:56 the Gator and he might have another.

2:10:59 Racing around third is Jacob Pipper. The

2:11:02 throw from Cox is nowhere near in time.

2:11:05 The Tailgator erupt for two runs and

2:11:08 walk off the bottom of the fourth. M

2:11:10 Danford have yourself a night.

2:11:13 >> The pride of Grand Ridge, Florida, Mac

2:11:16 Danford. A couple of walk-offs after

2:11:18 that. Yeah. Yeah. From Jordan Bar. Come

2:11:21 now, Texas.

2:11:32 Ladies and gentlemen, at this time, will

2:11:33 all members of the United States

2:11:36 military, both past and present, please

2:11:40 rise?

2:11:50 Please welcome our flyover crew from the

2:11:52 80th Flying Training Wing at Shephard

2:11:55 Air Force Base.

2:12:00 Please join the tailgator and bananas in

2:12:02 honoring the men and women that served

2:12:04 this great nation. As we salute our

2:12:07 hometown heroes of the night, we thank

2:12:10 you for your service and commitment to

2:12:12 our great country.

2:12:17 to our police officers,

2:12:21 to our firefighters,

2:12:24 to our nurses,

2:12:27 to our EMS workers,

2:12:30 to our dispatchers,

2:12:33 and to our school teachers.

2:12:38 The tailgators and bananas say thank you

2:12:41 so much.

2:12:54 Welcome back to Banana Ball live on

2:12:56 ESPN. What a weekend it has been for the

2:12:59 Texas Tailgator. Two nights ago in the

2:13:02 first popup game in the history of

2:13:04 Banana Ball game that was announced at

2:13:06 3:30 p.m. Eastern for a 700 p.m. first

2:13:09 pitch

2:13:11 and change that to Central everybody for

2:13:13 historical sake as it's a one-two count

2:13:16 on Dr. Meadows.

2:13:18 Make it two and two. Christian Davis out

2:13:20 for a second inning of relief. Tailgator

2:13:22 skunkked the bananas 5 nothing at

2:13:25 Navasota High School.

2:13:27 Now they're up 4-nil. And soft contact.

2:13:30 And that's going to be an infield single

2:13:32 for Dr. Meadows. A patented Dr. Meadows

2:13:35 knock right there. Even though he is not

2:13:38 100% when it comes to running.

2:13:40 >> And when Dr. Meadows is at his very

2:13:42 best, he's doing exactly that. He's

2:13:45 getting those singles, sneaking them up

2:13:46 the middle in the six hole, and beating

2:13:49 ground balls out. I know that's a great

2:13:50 effort from Jordan Hussein. Probably not

2:13:52 going to beat Dr. first there anyway.

2:13:54 And now Bryce Gafi will come in and run

2:13:56 in place of DR.

2:13:58 >> The Bananas designated runner used for

2:14:01 the third time tonight. Designated

2:14:03 runner can be used one time every trip

2:14:05 through the order. This is the third

2:14:07 time through the lineup for the Bananas

2:14:10 as they've reached their sixhole hitter

2:14:11 Ryan Cox.

2:14:14 A pair of ball four sprints tonight and

2:14:16 he finds himself ahead. Three balls, no

2:14:19 strikes. That one just missed a hair

2:14:20 high according to Vincent Chapman.

2:14:24 And right down the chute.

2:14:31 >> There is three ball force sprints for

2:14:33 Coxy on the evening. Now five on the

2:14:37 weekend.

2:14:39 It's just remarkable for

2:14:42 the five-year banana as Gafi goes first

2:14:45 to third and Christian Davis in some

2:14:47 trouble. Yeah. Unusual to see Davis fall

2:14:49 behind in counts like that. His ball

2:14:51 four sprint rate is just at 5.4%.

2:14:55 That is seventh best out of 43 qualified

2:14:58 pitchers. And it puts him in a tricky

2:15:00 situation with the Lexi up two for two

2:15:03 tonight.

2:15:05 A two-run homer in the second, a single

2:15:07 in the fourth. And that ball high out to

2:15:11 center field. Indiana Stanley's got a

2:15:13 cannon. He's going to tip it and it's

2:15:15 going to be a tip trail sacrifice fly.

2:15:18 So Indie deemed he was not going to have

2:15:20 a chance to gun down Grisafi at the

2:15:22 dish. Seated the run. Grabs the trick

2:15:25 play instead. Tipping it to Jason Arin.

2:15:28 I think that is wonderful, wonderful

2:15:30 feel there from Indiana Stanley knowing

2:15:33 that you're probably that far out. We

2:15:35 talked about how deep center field is.

2:15:37 Not going to have a chance at the plate

2:15:39 with such a plus runner and Bryce

2:15:40 Krisafi still adding another one to the

2:15:43 trick play count. 10 to four. The

2:15:45 Tailgator lead that category.

2:15:48 Bouncing ball. Hussein between the legs.

2:15:50 Luners does the same. It is the third

2:15:53 double play turn by the tailgator

2:15:55 tonight. They've picked up five trick

2:15:57 plays on them.

2:15:58 >> How about that? As you mentioned it, the

2:16:01 third double play, but the second double

2:16:03 trick play. Double play. Book it. Book

2:16:06 it. From the two boys in blue and orange

2:16:09 who lead the Banana Bowl Championship

2:16:10 League in trick plays. Sunshine and

2:16:12 Jordan Hussein. And a twominut and 48

2:16:15 second frame for Christian Davis, the

2:16:18 fastest of the night for any pitcher.

2:16:23 Take a look at trick play rate entering

2:16:25 tonight. The Texas Tailgator averaging

2:16:27 11 trick plays a game. That leads the

2:16:30 Banana Ball Championship League. The

2:16:31 Savannah Bananas at 9.5 per game. That's

2:16:34 the second most in the league. And now

2:16:36 including tonight, the Tailgator have

2:16:38 gotten third or have gotten double-

2:16:39 digit trick plays in 13 out of their

2:16:42 last 14 games they played. The only game

2:16:44 they got singledigit trick plays. The

2:16:47 only game they gave up the equalizer

2:16:49 point this year. They have been trick

2:16:51 play machines. Averaging 11 trick plays

2:16:54 a game is either going to negate the

2:16:55 equalizer point or it's going to win you

2:16:58 at the as the away team. And now

2:16:59 Jonathan Sunshine Lutters who's such a

2:17:01 trick play keen leading the league in

2:17:03 that category is going to go up to the

2:17:05 dish and hit on his unicycle.

2:17:08 How about the balance and athleticism on

2:17:10 display from the kid out of Lynfield

2:17:12 Massachusetts. This is going to be a

2:17:14 tough play. Oh, Jonathan Luners, you are

2:17:17 ridiculous. His third hit on the

2:17:19 unicycle this year.

2:17:21 >> Make it four.

2:17:23 >> He's gotten three singles and a double

2:17:25 on that unicycle this year. The fifth

2:17:27 time he's reached. He also reached on an

2:17:29 arrow. Sunshine has been a sensation on

2:17:31 that unicycle. And I got one more fun

2:17:33 one for you. He has never struck out in

2:17:36 his banana ball career when hitting on

2:17:38 the unicycle.

2:17:42 >> I mean, you have got to be kidding me.

2:17:44 Couldn't have put it in a better spot.

2:17:46 Right between Cox and KJ.

2:17:48 >> I'm going to tell y'all a secret between

2:17:50 me and God. I was really hoping he'd

2:17:52 leave the yard here with that short left

2:17:53 field porch.

2:17:54 >> He wasn't too far from it.

2:17:57 Three balls and no strikes. Well, now on

2:17:59 Indie.

2:18:00 >> That's exactly why you send him up. You

2:18:02 don't get to use him as your designated

2:18:04 fielder the rest of the night, but it's

2:18:06 one of those moments that you never

2:18:07 forget, especially if you're a big fan

2:18:09 of the Texas Tailgator who are

2:18:12 continuing to roll offensively. Stanley

2:18:16 a ball for sprint. And now guys on the

2:18:18 corners for the Gator.

2:18:20 >> You talked about relinquishing those

2:18:23 inning leads for the Savannah Bananas 90

2:18:25 ft away.

2:18:26 And they'll blow another one here as

2:18:28 Indiana Stanley seeing that one really

2:18:29 well. A four pitch ball four sprint. And

2:18:32 now Jordan Hussein who has two of those

2:18:34 comes up to the dish.

2:18:36 >> And each ball for sprint for Hussein has

2:18:38 driven in one of his teammates so far

2:18:40 tonight

2:18:41 >> and had one of the most exciting plays

2:18:42 in the sport of four baseball for

2:18:44 sprint. His last time up.

2:18:45 >> Yeah. Only the third we have seen so far

2:18:47 this season. This is game 47 across

2:18:50 Banana Ball in 2026.

2:18:53 Indie off for second. Good scoop by

2:18:55 Bill. No throw.

2:18:58 So Stanley his third steal in as many

2:19:00 tries this year. That takes the double

2:19:02 play out of effect

2:19:04 and the inning winning run in scoring

2:19:06 position.

2:19:08 Ball and two strikes on Jordan.

2:19:10 >> Rack has come. Coach Robert Anthony Cruz

2:19:12 has come all the way in on the infield

2:19:14 now. A fiveman infield here for the

2:19:16 Savannahis.

2:19:18 >> Yeah, just Alexi and Hosley in the

2:19:20 outfield.

2:19:22 And this one driven out to center. Super

2:19:25 leaping catch. What a play. He shows off

2:19:28 the Howitzer going a third. Not in time.

2:19:31 It's a sacrifice fly. The inning is

2:19:33 tied.

2:19:35 But Alexi saved the frame for now for

2:19:38 the Bananas. If he doesn't make the

2:19:39 catch, the Tailgator are up 5 nothing.

2:19:41 And you see why he wears the cape for

2:19:43 the Savannah Bananas. I mean, he is

2:19:46 soaring in the air to make that catch up

2:19:48 against the barricades and the netting.

2:19:51 A wouldbe walk up turns into a sack play

2:19:54 for the Tailgator. And now good wood

2:19:57 from Nick Lopez. Back at the top of this

2:19:59 order, but a rocket foul.

2:20:08 >> That one plunks Lopei

2:20:10 >> as he reaches for the second time

2:20:12 tonight.

2:20:18 Oh yeah, just a bender that caught him

2:20:20 on the thigh.

2:20:22 >> Not going to do anything other than make

2:20:23 you mad because you don't get to hit.

2:20:25 Zack Watson now an opportunity to earn

2:20:27 his second walk-off of the ball game.

2:20:31 >> Watson won the second inning for the

2:20:32 Tailgator with the ball for sprint.

2:20:34 That's sandwiched between a strikeout

2:20:35 and fly out and he is tied up on the

2:20:38 fast ball.

2:20:40 It's fast ball 126 knuckle curve. That's

2:20:42 what Lopez was just hit with. And a kick

2:20:44 change for Connor Harris. Lopez off for

2:20:47 second. Throw from Bill Loy. And Lope's

2:20:49 in a pickle. Oh no. And now we've got

2:20:53 Indie caught between third and home. And

2:20:56 KJ in control of the run down. Loy puts

2:20:59 the tag on. Good base running by Lopez

2:21:01 to take Stanley's spot at third.

2:21:03 >> That's a risk you'll take with one or

2:21:06 less outs and up four to nothing. Really

2:21:09 good first and third play. Nick Lopez

2:21:12 initiating the pickle. You seen Indie

2:21:15 get about halfway down the third base

2:21:16 line. Even better play by the captain,

2:21:18 Bill Loy, to get the out. But the

2:21:20 Bananas now get to bring the infield

2:21:22 back. They are keeping Robert Anthony

2:21:24 Cruz in the infield. So five infielders

2:21:26 still

2:21:28 as Zack Watson is down to his final

2:21:30 strike.

2:21:39 Bender just misses wide

2:21:43 >> and Nick Lopez only 90 ft away but one

2:21:46 strike away from the bananas at least

2:21:48 pushing this in.

2:21:51 >> Deuce is wild.

2:21:53 Chopper Harris makes the stab, flips it

2:21:56 over to Ziegler. No funny business. Just

2:21:58 making sure that they survive the sixth

2:22:00 inning without seeding a point. But it

2:22:02 is another Savannah Bananas inning lead

2:22:05 that has been blown.

2:22:08 Four of them now on the night as the

2:22:10 tailgator

2:22:12 still lead four to nothing now through

2:22:14 six innings of action. And this is

2:22:17 intriguing. The clock now under 22

2:22:20 minutes. You see the guys right back out

2:22:21 there on the field. Tailgator lead four

2:22:24 to nothing. Also lead the trick play

2:22:25 battle 12-4 as now our owner and creator

2:22:28 of an animal Jesse Kohl's on the field.

2:22:31 He just did the hardest and most

2:22:35 difficult walk up in history and started

2:22:38 all the way in the upper deck and went

2:22:41 around the entire stadium. The world's

2:22:45 longest walk up. Let's hear it for Ty

2:22:49 Jackson.

2:22:58 Wow. one of the most rockous evasions

2:23:02 from the crowd so far tonight.

2:23:05 Appreciating the over 5,000 steps. And I

2:23:08 mean that in the literal sense. Steps

2:23:10 that Ty Jackson had to climb and descend

2:23:14 here in Kyo Field. If I'm Ty Jackson,

2:23:16 I'm swinging for the fences. I don't

2:23:18 want to run anymore. This one dribbled

2:23:20 on the ground. Hussein, another trick

2:23:23 play for the Texas Tailgator. And Ty

2:23:26 Jackson after going all around Kyle

2:23:30 Field unfortunately grounds out in this

2:23:33 pinch hit at bat.

2:23:37 >> Still a hard 90 from that guy though.

2:23:39 You got to respect it man.

2:23:42 >> I mean the legs have to feel like jello

2:23:45 right now.

2:23:46 >> That's effort. That's energy. That's

2:23:48 what coach Reginald Horton asked from

2:23:50 the Savannah Bananas before the game

2:23:52 tonight.

2:23:55 Well, they've gotten effort and energy.

2:23:57 They have not gotten results. The

2:23:58 Bananas are down four nothing here in

2:24:00 the top of the seventh inning. Max Young

2:24:02 Goldberg

2:24:04 >> for his effort

2:24:06 in his lone plate appearance, a solo

2:24:07 home run.

2:24:09 >> Seen that just popped up on your screen.

2:24:11 Jordan Hussein and Jonathan Lutters kept

2:24:13 combined for 10 of the 13 trick plays.

2:24:16 But as Josh mentioned, when Sunny hit on

2:24:18 that unicycle, he is now no longer the

2:24:20 designated fielder. Mac Dford playing

2:24:21 second base now for the Texas Tailgator.

2:24:28 >> Full count from CD to MJG

2:24:32 and he will earn the ball for Sprint.

2:24:34 All seven fielders behind Davis and

2:24:36 Porter touch the ball to make it live.

2:24:39 And Young Goldberg respecting the

2:24:41 tailgator sprint defense takes just 90

2:24:43 ft.

2:24:48 It's a nice game offensively from the

2:24:51 banana ball rookie in the 10 hole so far

2:24:53 tonight.

2:24:55 >> And with the pride of Palo Alto,

2:24:57 California on first. The kid out of

2:25:00 Largo, Florida digs back in for his

2:25:02 fourth plate appearance. 0 for three so

2:25:04 far as Dan Overst and make it one for

2:25:06 four. Shoots that through the right

2:25:08 side. Manners have two on now with one

2:25:11 away. You know, it was only a matter of

2:25:13 time for Dan Over to get a knock in this

2:25:15 game. When the Bananas have played as

2:25:17 the away team, he has been the guy who

2:25:19 has been the nucleus of the offense.

2:25:22 Betting 417 with three doubles, a

2:25:25 triple, a home run, and six runs batted

2:25:28 in. And now just keeping the line moving

2:25:30 for Kyle Jackson, an MVP front runner

2:25:33 this year. Yeah, KJ's numbers

2:25:35 ridiculous. Leading or at least tied for

2:25:38 the Bananas lead with his three home

2:25:40 runs. That's with Overst himself as

2:25:41 Hussein has some trouble with it. Still

2:25:44 turns two. Fourth double play twisted by

2:25:48 the Tailgator tonight. Hussein's been a

2:25:50 part of three of them. You think Jordan

2:25:52 Hussein can't get in any better and then

2:25:54 he just does. A 63 double play. The

2:25:57 Texas kid says welcome to the Lone Star

2:26:00 State.

2:26:11 days.

2:26:13 If you're bored and your mind starts

2:26:16 changing, maybe just give me a head

2:26:20 start cuz I

2:26:23 I see the glass in your eye.

2:26:27 Just trying to keep it alive for crying

2:26:31 out loud. Come on, Sally.

2:26:35 That feeling's coming around.

2:26:39 Please don't go falling in love.

2:26:43 Yeah. Disappear when the wine

2:26:46 runs out. Come on, Sally.

2:26:51 I'll buy a couple of rounds.

2:26:55 Please don't go falling in love,

2:26:59 then disappear when the wine

2:27:02 runs out.

2:27:05 Hey there, little miss. Would you like

2:27:08 to be my Sally this evening? All right,

2:27:10 everybody can be my Sally. Let's go.

2:27:12 Y'all ready? Oh snap. Here we go again.

2:27:15 I'm falling head first. Sally makes it

2:27:18 deep. Sally makes my head hurt. Burn her

2:27:22 through the great vine. She could be a

2:27:24 diva like Minnesota.

2:27:34 To the bottom of the seventh we go here

2:27:36 in Kyle Field. The largest crowd in

2:27:38 Banana Ball history. Over 102,000 fans

2:27:42 have so far seen Texas Tailgator

2:27:44 dominance as the Bananas go to their

2:27:47 sophomore Kelsey Whitmore who has been

2:27:49 perfect across two and two third innings

2:27:51 so far this year. Yeah. Making her ninth

2:27:54 appearance of the 2026 World Tour. She's

2:27:57 played in the Pacific Association, the

2:27:59 Atlantic League, the Pioneer League, and

2:28:02 now she is dominating Banana Ball in her

2:28:05 second year with the guys in yellow and

2:28:08 goes after Kyle Martin with her very

2:28:11 first pitch. And this one out of play

2:28:13 and not hauled in by the fans. Big

2:28:16 bombers here for the Tailgator. Three,

2:28:18 four, and five in the lineup. Martin,

2:28:20 Bar, and Justice

2:28:22 as Kmart lost this right side. Olson and

2:28:26 Hosley converging. Jackie makes the

2:28:28 catch, backpedaling. Nice play from the

2:28:31 great eight.

2:28:33 >> And that's going to be it for Kelsey

2:28:34 Whitmore.

2:28:35 >> Yeah, great play there by Jackson

2:28:37 Olsson. Play looked a lot more difficult

2:28:40 >> than it than he made it look, I should

2:28:42 say. Again, great backpedaling play in

2:28:44 that large foul territory right there.

2:28:47 Finding his way towards a foul line.

2:28:48 Jacob Baza is going to come in after

2:28:51 that out by Kelsey Whitmore. This has

2:28:53 been a dude who was incredible to start

2:28:55 the year. Then gave up three runs in

2:28:57 Chapel Hill to the Texas Tailgator. You

2:28:59 see that opponent's batting average,

2:29:01 Josh Silvki, 167, and as you would note,

2:29:04 the lowest in the whole league.

2:29:05 >> Yeah, he's been phenomenal for the

2:29:07 Bananas, a guy they snagged in the 10th

2:29:09 round of the Banana Ball player draft.

2:29:11 He's got a 113 MPI plus as well, meaning

2:29:15 he has been 13% faster than the tour

2:29:18 average arm this year, which you really

2:29:21 love to see out of a rookie arm.

2:29:27 Ball at two strikes on Jordan Barf.

2:29:32 a single and a home run on his ledger

2:29:34 tonight

2:29:38 as the count evens up at two and two.

2:29:42 Baza out of North Huntington,

2:29:44 Pennsylvania. Five pitch mix. Fast ball

2:29:46 about 88 to 92

2:29:49 as this one is flipped into the seats.

2:29:52 Still waiting for our first foul ball to

2:29:54 be caught by the largest crowd in Banana

2:29:56 Ball history. Yeah, we've seen 26 fan

2:29:59 caught foul balls this season. We're up

2:30:01 to 315 all time and 14 of them have come

2:30:06 here in football stadiums. And no fan

2:30:09 out for Jacob Aela. Instead, a punch out

2:30:12 and a dance on the pitcher mound.

2:30:14 Something that he has been incorporating

2:30:17 a whole lot of.

2:30:22 That's just good old country hard ball.

2:30:24 Fast ball at the knees

2:30:26 as Baza stumbles off the mound and just

2:30:29 misses low with the heater to Taylor

2:30:30 Justice.

2:30:33 Two for three, a double. The walk-off

2:30:35 single that won the first inning. Look

2:30:37 out. Oh no. Our director of creative

2:30:39 content, Ivon Trazak, tried to skip

2:30:41 rope. I think that got him in the shins.

2:30:44 >> Ivon is an iron horse.

2:30:47 >> Yeah, I may have to massage my roommate

2:30:49 later tonight. Work on that for him as

2:30:52 Justice yanks this foul.

2:30:55 Got to take care of my guy.

2:30:58 >> It's one of my groomsmen.

2:31:03 >> Roller to Cox between the leg transfer.

2:31:06 Ziggler behind the back. Double trick

2:31:09 play from the Keystone State connection

2:31:11 for the Nanners behind their

2:31:13 Pennsylvania kid on the bump as Baza

2:31:16 puts up a zero with Kelsey Whitmore as

2:31:18 well.

2:31:41 right here.

2:31:48 I see here.

2:31:58 Oh my god.

2:32:09 Heat. Heat.

2:32:25 Let's take a look at tonight's smooth

2:32:27 plays of the game brought to you by

2:32:29 Tropical Smoothie Cafe. And it is this

2:32:32 unbelievable tailgator defense. In

2:32:35 specific, Lutters and Hussein up the

2:32:37 middle. may have combined for

2:32:39 double-digit trick plays as the Bananas

2:32:42 are in a tough spot trying to earn the

2:32:44 equalizer point with Eastston Parish,

2:32:48 the Texan himself,

2:32:50 getting a lead off this eighth inning

2:32:52 against Christian Davis out for his

2:32:53 fourth inning of relief as that is not

2:32:55 comfortable for Taj Porter. Checked on

2:32:58 by Vitza Chapman, but

2:33:00 the man out of Mandeville, Louisiana

2:33:02 looks no worse for wear.

2:33:09 as East Parish out of Leveria, Texas.

2:33:12 Ahead 3-1.

2:33:15 Banana seventh round draft pick.

2:33:18 Snagged as very pricey insurance for

2:33:21 Bill Loy, but this is a guy who can

2:33:23 absolutely sting the banana ball

2:33:27 as he spoils this 3-2 offering. He was

2:33:29 tearing it up through spring training

2:33:32 and has just yet to get his first start.

2:33:34 getting sparing pinch hit opportunities

2:33:38 as that one up the middle diving stop

2:33:40 Danford Eastston Paris the perfect place

2:33:43 for his first career banana ball hit he

2:33:46 does it in Kyle Field in front of over

2:33:48 100,000 fans that's a deep sigh of

2:33:51 relief for Easton Parish and one heck of

2:33:54 an effort by M Danford ranging up the

2:33:57 middle I mean this guy's a natural

2:33:59 corner infielder making a tremendous

2:34:02 play at second nonetheless Parish with

2:34:05 his first knock and Robert Anthony Cruz

2:34:08 is leaving the yard yet again the Texas

2:34:12 Tailgator.

2:34:33 Coach racks our crypt tonight.

2:34:37 I mean, that's the third time in the

2:34:38 last five games that Robert Anthony Cruz

2:34:41 has went deep against the Texas

2:34:43 Tailgator. The first home run he set off

2:34:46 a tailgator this year, not named Reese

2:34:47 Miller,

2:34:48 >> right? And the first time, it didn't

2:34:49 happen in the ninth inning to tie the

2:34:51 game. So,

2:34:53 >> if there is a silver lining for those

2:34:55 tailgators fans out there.

2:34:58 >> Oh boy. Two-run Jimmy Jack for Rack. His

2:35:00 second hit of the night.

2:35:03 Tell you what, the Bananas offense has

2:35:04 been doing their part. It's their

2:35:06 vaunted pitching staff that has not been

2:35:08 able to hold up their end of the

2:35:10 bargain.

2:35:12 >> This is a Bananas squad

2:35:14 leading the tour in minutes per inning.

2:35:16 Erra ship, which is sprints and hits per

2:35:19 inning, strikeouts per ball for sprint

2:35:22 allowed as that's going to be fielded

2:35:25 between the legs. Jordan Hussein put

2:35:28 another on the docket for Fiverr.

2:35:32 bucket.

2:35:34 >> I've never seen Jordan Hussein as hyped

2:35:37 up for a ball game as he was today. And

2:35:39 that's even more so than the two games

2:35:41 he played in his hometown of Houston,

2:35:43 Texas last year, just 13 miles from his

2:35:45 house. 102,000 people representing the

2:35:48 state of Texas here in Texas for the

2:35:50 Tailgator as this one's hit left side.

2:35:52 Jordan Bar trying to track it down. Oh,

2:35:55 JB.

2:35:57 That might have be the play of the

2:35:59 night. Trick play number 15. Book it for

2:36:03 out number two.

2:36:05 >> Swirling in foul territory. And he makes

2:36:08 the catch to finally retire Ryan Cox

2:36:11 tonight. You just see what makes the

2:36:14 Texas Tailgator in a league of their own

2:36:16 this seasonal. There is nobody who puts

2:36:19 the pedal to the metal when it comes to

2:36:21 trick plays like these guys.

2:36:25 Two-1 count on Reese Seleiatis.

2:36:29 having a heck of a ball game. Two-run

2:36:31 homer back in the second. Laser beam

2:36:34 single in the fourth. Sacrifice fly in

2:36:36 the sixth. He has driven in three

2:36:39 and launches this out to left field. It

2:36:42 is a two homer ball game for Super

2:36:45 Reese.

2:36:52 3-1 count. Christian Davis just trying

2:36:55 to stay in the strike zone against Super

2:36:57 Reese and Alexi makes him pay. The first

2:37:01 multi-H homer game in his illustrious

2:37:05 banana ball career. And I'm telling you,

2:37:08 this guy, there's nobody better at

2:37:11 batting in football stadiums than the

2:37:14 banana center fielder tonight.

2:37:17 Maybe he should stay in the seventh hole

2:37:19 instead of hitting second.

2:37:21 Uh, I don't actually believe that.

2:37:23 That's

2:37:25 that's just set in just

2:37:27 Jackson Olsen.

2:37:30 Hi to the fans

2:37:34 and still no foul ball caught by the

2:37:37 fine folks in College Station so far

2:37:39 tonight.

2:37:41 Olson looking to get off the schneide. 0

2:37:43 for three so far. strike out and a

2:37:45 couple ground outs

2:37:47 and bounces it to Danford between the

2:37:49 legs twice over the first trick play for

2:37:52 Big Mac

2:37:54 and it is 16-6 in trick plays. I'd say

2:37:58 the equalizer point is out of the

2:38:00 equation for the Bananas but the best

2:38:02 offensive inning yet. They put three on

2:38:04 the board and have a golden opportunity

2:38:07 to finally claim a point. Something

2:38:09 about that second base position tonight

2:38:11 for the Texas Tailgator adding a whole

2:38:13 lot of trick plays up. But as you

2:38:15 mentioned, long ball go boom. Coach Rack

2:38:17 and Reese Alexi there playing three in

2:38:20 the top half. And now the bananas are

2:38:22 right back out here in the home half of

2:38:23 the eighth. Jacob Baza picking up the

2:38:25 banana ball yet again in his second

2:38:26 inning of work.

2:38:29 >> Jose Gonzalez Jr. giving his home state

2:38:31 fans an opportunity.

2:38:35 And they're going to say that one was

2:38:38 juggled and caught. So it's not an out.

2:38:40 It's got to be a clean catch. Another

2:38:42 life for brother.

2:38:44 The pride of spring Texas

2:38:49 was in the Houston Astros minor league

2:38:51 system last summer.

2:38:54 Competed in the American Association as

2:38:56 well. He's find he's found his way back

2:38:58 to banana land after he was a 2020

2:39:00 collegiate banana and played in the

2:39:02 first banana ball game ever back on June

2:39:06 26th, 2020.

2:39:12 Two two count on Gonzalez.

2:39:22 >> Chopper to Olsen. fielded between the

2:39:24 legs, flips it right back through the

2:39:26 wickets.

2:39:29 >> And a big out for Baza to get things

2:39:31 going here in the home half of the

2:39:32 eighth. And the Bananas, even though

2:39:34 they're kind of out of this trick play

2:39:35 race, they're still trying to put on a

2:39:38 show for the fans tonight here in

2:39:40 College Station. And Jacob Aela finally

2:39:43 a guy who is figuring out how to keep

2:39:45 this Gator offense off the board as

2:39:49 dating back to our game at Navasota High

2:39:51 School on Thursday night. The Texas

2:39:53 Tailgator had scored in eight

2:39:55 consecutive innings against the Savannah

2:39:58 Bananas before they were finally held

2:40:00 scoreless in the seventh.

2:40:02 >> I'll tell you who cannot be contained. M

2:40:04 Danford. Have yourself a night in

2:40:07 College Station. Three for three with a

2:40:08 ball for Sprint. And

2:40:10 >> that was his first base hit that didn't

2:40:12 resort in the walk-off because somebody

2:40:14 was on base and the Tailgator trail

2:40:16 three to nothing in the inning.

2:40:19 But Danford sets the table for his boys

2:40:22 at the bottom of the order. Here's Tosh

2:40:23 Porter. Dangerous bat lurking in the

2:40:26 eight hole.

2:40:29 >> Fold on the fast ball. Count even at one

2:40:31 and one.

2:40:37 >> Another opportunity for the folks in the

2:40:40 seats

2:40:42 >> and they come up empty.

2:40:44 >> Look like they're trying to use a hat

2:40:45 there. really needs you to bring your

2:40:47 glove if you come to a banana ball game.

2:40:49 >> Relentlessly resourceful, but not

2:40:51 getting the result that we need.

2:40:54 >> Taj ball four sprints in both his plate

2:40:56 appearances so far tonight as Danford's

2:40:59 off on the pitch, but Porter had to

2:41:00 spoil the two strike offering.

2:41:04 Tell you what, when it comes to M.

2:41:05 Danford, too, what a super sub. He's not

2:41:07 been playing, at least offensively. He

2:41:09 has been playing a lot of defense

2:41:10 recently, but he's 12 for 13 on trick

2:41:12 plays now with the one he just grabbed

2:41:14 in the top half as this one's

2:41:16 tomahawkked off the net out in left

2:41:18 center. Danford got a great read on it.

2:41:20 He's going to go first to third as

2:41:22 Porter is aboard for his third time

2:41:24 tonight.

2:41:25 >> What about Rat playing that one off the

2:41:27 wall out there in left center field

2:41:29 jump throw back into the infield.

2:41:34 >> Oh boy. winning East Central Texas as

2:41:37 Derek Jeter has said many times. Little

2:41:40 looper diving play. Ryan Cox, the glove

2:41:45 magician, a magical snag.

2:41:49 I'm telling you, you can talk about the

2:41:51 trick plays all you want. He's Banana

2:41:53 Ball's all-time leader, but he is such a

2:41:56 def an elite shortstop when it comes to

2:41:59 his defensive abilities. An excellent

2:42:02 play from Coxy. Nonetheless, the Gator

2:42:05 bats continue to hack it against Jacob

2:42:09 Aela. And Hussein will extend his

2:42:12 hitting streak and tack on a third, no

2:42:16 fourth run batted in tonight.

2:42:19 >> And that if you count up the bottom four

2:42:21 guys in the lineup, they have knocked in

2:42:23 a combined six guys here tonight.

2:42:27 >> Remarkable production from the boys at

2:42:30 the bottom of this tailgator lineup.

2:42:33 as Nick Lopez wishes he had that one

2:42:35 back.

2:42:38 >> Less than a minute and a half on our

2:42:39 two-hour timer.

2:42:43 >> If it runs out before we get out of the

2:42:45 eighth inning, this will be our final

2:42:46 inning played tonight.

2:42:55 And the strike out from Baza on the

2:42:58 change up gets the Bananas their first

2:43:01 point of the ball game. It is 4-1 Texas

2:43:04 going to the ninth

2:43:13 permission. So I need everybody here to

2:43:16 get up on your feet and get those

2:43:19 flashlights out.

2:43:22 All around the stadium, we're going to

2:43:24 line up the Texas sky.

2:43:29 And now, if you would all please join in

2:43:31 with us, singing as loud as you can. A

2:43:34 little Friends in low places.

2:43:45 I showed up in booing.

2:43:52 The last one to know, the last one to

2:43:55 show. I was the last one you thought

2:43:58 you'd see.

2:44:01 And I surprise and the feeling inside

2:44:15 you.

2:44:18 >> Let me hear you.

2:44:23 When you see around

2:44:49 you

2:44:52 We love you so much, College Station.

2:44:55 Now, let's get it on

2:45:03 the battle.

2:45:07 Heading

2:45:10 to our final inning tonight here in Kyle

2:45:12 Field. We cut the lights and the 102,000

2:45:17 fans lit up the sky themselves.

2:45:20 An unbelievable scene

2:45:23 here in the heart of Agguiland.

2:45:27 Texas tailgator lead four to one going

2:45:29 to our last inning where every run

2:45:32 scored counts as a point. The Savannah

2:45:34 Bananas have 910 and one in their lineup

2:45:37 due to swing it. Danny Hosley, Max Young

2:45:39 Goldberg. And then at the top, Dan

2:45:41 Obururst.

2:45:43 And the Bananas do still have their

2:45:44 golden batter, which means they can hit

2:45:46 anyone in their lineup at any point in

2:45:49 time. And this is a team that has scored

2:45:51 some clutch come from behind wins this

2:45:54 season, including against the Texas

2:45:56 Tailgator. No team better than the

2:45:58 Bananas in the ninth inning as they are

2:46:00 batting 297 as a team, but they've got

2:46:05 to face off against one of the best

2:46:07 closers in the sport, Reese Miller.

2:46:10 Three saves in five opportunities. How

2:46:13 cool is this closer walkin?

2:46:17 Absolute fullbody chills in the home of

2:46:20 the 12th man. Reese Miller, a native of

2:46:23 Houston, Texas. Went to college at West

2:46:25 Texas A&M. Got to return home when he

2:46:28 played in Earillo last week in 20

2:46:30 minutes where he played college ball at

2:46:32 West Texas A&M in a get-right outing

2:46:34 from him going three up and three down

2:46:36 on Sunday afternoon, earning the win,

2:46:39 not the save, but the win the Texas

2:46:41 Tailgator on Sunday. And an opportunity

2:46:44 here with the bananas scoring that point

2:46:45 in the eighth is a save opportunity here

2:46:48 in the top of the ninth in his home

2:46:50 state. 14 strikeouts, only six ball,

2:46:52 four sprints. You see that erra though,

2:46:54 he has been plagued by the long loan,

2:46:56 specifically Robert Anthony Cruz. Be

2:46:58 interesting to see down by three points

2:47:01 here in a football stadium. The same

2:47:02 exact scenario we've seen at UNC if he

2:47:05 can write his wrongs here against the

2:47:07 Bananas and sweep the Savannah Bananas

2:47:09 here this weekend in Texas. You've truly

2:47:12 seen a fair share of home runs allowed

2:47:14 for Miller, but a lot of strikeouts as

2:47:16 well. A 27 12% strikeout rate, second

2:47:20 best among all pitchers in Banana Ball.

2:47:24 And opponents batting 214 against him.

2:47:26 But the Bananas, they are the only team

2:47:28 batting over 300 against Reese Miller.

2:47:34 Fast ball misses to Danny Hosley. It's a

2:47:36 five pitch mix. The Heater sits 92 to

2:47:39 95. The slider is his best pitch. He'll

2:47:42 throw it about 88% of the or 80% of the

2:47:44 time rather when it's cooking. And

2:47:46 Hosley gives the Nanders exactly what

2:47:48 they need, a base runner.

2:47:52 >> And how about Hos 0 for two tonight. Ty

2:47:55 Jackson in the spot last time up.

2:47:57 Grounded out. And we talked about how

2:47:59 Hosley maybe hadn't been his best self

2:48:01 at the dish right now. Gets a leadoff

2:48:03 single. Bryce Gafi now runs it first.

2:48:06 Now Max Young Goldberg, a homer and a

2:48:09 ball for sprint earned. Those are two

2:48:11 guys who competed in the Pioneer League

2:48:13 last year. Reese Miller was the reliever

2:48:16 of the year. Max Young Goldberg set the

2:48:18 RBI record with 130 stakes, but they

2:48:22 never faced each other.

2:48:32 This is only the second time they've

2:48:33 battled here in their banana ball

2:48:35 career.

2:48:36 Reese Miller won round one, but he's

2:48:39 behind three balls and no strikes this

2:48:41 time.

2:48:43 >> Ball four brings the game's tying run to

2:48:46 the dish

2:48:48 and it's right down Broadway at the

2:48:50 knees.

2:48:58 >> That's ball four. It misses up.

2:49:01 Gafi is going to go first to third. Good

2:49:04 sprint defense once again by the

2:49:06 tailgator. Young Goldberg content with

2:49:08 just one base. And here at the top of

2:49:10 the order, Dan Oburst, one of the most

2:49:13 dangerous hitters in the history of the

2:49:14 sport, represents the tie and run with

2:49:17 no outs.

2:49:28 >> It's just 185 ft to the left field pole.

2:49:32 Dan singled his last time. He was

2:49:35 hitless before that

2:49:38 >> and he's ahead 20. Dan now finds himself

2:49:42 in a second straight weekend with an

2:49:44 opportunity to hit a game tying home run

2:49:46 in the ninth inning.

2:49:49 >> Golly tried to hit it to the softball

2:49:52 field.

2:50:00 The 2-1 swing and a miss. There's the

2:50:03 slider. It is filthy.

2:50:17 >> And the count goes full.

2:50:22 >> All four will score at least one.

2:50:30 Everybody on the edge of their seats

2:50:32 here in Kyle Field.

2:50:35 >> The payoff pitch fouled away.

2:50:41 Miller went to the slider. Oburst able

2:50:43 to spoil it.

2:50:54 >> Another payoff. That ball blasted deep

2:50:57 out to right center field. Long run.

2:51:00 Zack Watson tracks it down. Grosafi will

2:51:03 score easily from third. But if you're

2:51:06 the Texas Tailgator, you trade that run

2:51:08 for an out. And it looks like we're

2:51:10 about to get a golden batter.

2:51:14 >> Ladies and gentlemen, the Savannah

2:51:16 Bananas are invoking the golden batter

2:51:19 rule. Getting in the place of Kyle

2:51:22 Jackson was the Savannah Bananas golden

2:51:26 batter. Please welcome Reese Superman

2:51:30 Alexi.

2:51:36 The plot thickens.

2:51:38 Super Reese Alexi

2:51:42 three for three with two home runs.

2:51:45 Four runs driven in so far tonight.

2:51:48 takes his turn representing the game's

2:51:50 tying run. And that one off the glove of

2:51:52 Taj Porter. That is massive pass ball.

2:51:55 Young Goldberg up to second. That takes

2:51:57 the double play out of effect.

2:51:59 >> The game ending potential double play.

2:52:08 >> Another battle between Pioneer League

2:52:10 legends. Talked about Reese Miller, last

2:52:12 year's reliever of the year. Alexiotis,

2:52:14 the 2023 MVP.

2:52:22 front door slider as Miller jumps back

2:52:24 ahead.

2:52:35 And this one bounced to Danford. He

2:52:37 bodies it over to first in time.

2:52:40 The Bananas down to their final out as

2:52:42 Young Goldberg advances to third.

2:52:44 >> And what a big play from M. Dan for just

2:52:47 getting that whole frame in front of the

2:52:49 banana ball, knocking it down and not

2:52:52 rushing himself to retire Alexi. Now it

2:52:55 is all up to Bill Loy whose home runs

2:53:00 this season have all come against the

2:53:02 Texas Tailgator and he is three for

2:53:05 three with a ball four sprint when

2:53:08 batting in the ninth inning this season.

2:53:12 Nobody better right now for the Savannah

2:53:14 Bananas.

2:53:19 10 count on the team captain and 9-year

2:53:24 veteran

2:53:25 had a solo home run Thursday night.

2:53:32 Fast ball well up 200.

2:53:43 Slider

2:53:46 gets the outside corner.

2:53:49 >> Over 102,000 fans, nearly everybody on

2:53:53 their feet here in Kyle Field.

2:53:57 That bender miss is up.

2:54:00 Ball four will make this a one-point

2:54:02 game.

2:54:10 >> Slider misses.

2:54:13 Late call from Vincent Chapman. Bill Loy

2:54:16 really did not have a chance to get a

2:54:18 good jump on that, but it does make this

2:54:21 a 4-3 ball game with the tying run now

2:54:24 on first. And Robert Anthony Cruz, who

2:54:28 has two ninth inning gametying home runs

2:54:31 this year off Ree Miller at the dish.

2:54:33 You have to wonder if Lightning could

2:54:35 possibly strike three times.

2:54:40 And this one wouldn't just tie the game.

2:54:42 It would be a go ahead shot for Rack.

2:54:46 >> It was a two-run homer for Cruz and

2:54:48 inning a go.

2:54:51 Fouls that off of himself.

2:54:54 How poetic is this? In Banana Ball's

2:54:57 biggest game ever, a rivalry between

2:55:00 Reese Miller and Robert Anthony Cruz

2:55:02 could potentially further the game or

2:55:03 end it. The Banana Ball open rack takes

2:55:06 him deep in the ninth inning. And then

2:55:08 in showdowns, Reese Miller gets a

2:55:10 showdown shutdown in route to the

2:55:12 tailgator, winning the banana ball

2:55:14 opening clutch in a playoff spot six

2:55:15 months early. Highfly ball straight

2:55:19 away. Jose Gonzalez Jr., the Texas kid,

2:55:22 puts it away and the Tailgator win the

2:55:26 biggest banana ball game of all time.

2:55:28 They hold on for three winners. If

2:55:30 you're going to come to Texas and you're

2:55:33 going to come at the king of Texas, you

2:55:35 better not miss. For the first time

2:55:37 ever, the Texas Tailgator have swept the

2:55:41 Savannah Bananas here in the Lone Star

2:55:44 State, winning the smallest banana ball

2:55:46 game of all time and the biggest banana

2:55:48 ball game of all time in the same

2:55:50 weekend here in East Central Texas.

2:55:55 The Tailgator reward is a dance in front

2:55:59 of over 100,000 fans.

2:56:03 A hard-fought victory.

2:56:06 They were up 4 nothing through five

2:56:09 innings.

2:56:13 >> Denied the Bananas a point in the sixth.

2:56:17 We're up 4-1 going into the ninth.

2:56:20 And stranded the game tying run on

2:56:22 first. The go-ahead run in the box as

2:56:25 here's Jesse Cole.

2:56:33 And let's hear it for the Savannah

2:56:35 Bananas

2:56:42 fans. It was years ago that we had

2:56:44 dreams of playing and entertaining in

2:56:46 front of this many fans, and you made so

2:56:48 many of our dreams come true. This was a

2:56:51 historic night, and we can't tell you

2:56:52 how much we appreciate the love, the

2:56:55 support, and bringing the electricity

2:56:57 tonight. We're not done yet. We're going

2:56:59 to finish with one tradition, but just

2:57:02 know how much we love you. We appreciate

2:57:05 Texas&M. Did you guys have fun tonight?

2:57:12 All right, we're going to have the

2:57:13 captain of the bananas, who's been with

2:57:15 us for many, many years, who's been

2:57:17 across this whole journey. He's going to

2:57:19 break us down and close us down tonight.

2:57:26 >> What's up, A&M?

2:57:37 I knew you guys would like that.

2:57:39 To be completely honest right now, it's

2:57:43 really frustrating. It's really

2:57:44 frustrating cuz we played terrible. We

2:57:47 did not have a good game tonight. I

2:57:49 didn't play very well tonight. But

2:57:51 looking around this ballpark, it's

2:57:53 really hard to stay mad for very long

2:57:55 because there's a really cool thing

2:57:57 happening here. There's 100,000 people

2:57:59 in one place with a bunch of smiles and

2:58:02 a bunch of joy all sharing the same

2:58:05 ballpark and and people are coming

2:58:06 together and that's way more important

2:58:08 than a baseball game or a banana ball

2:58:10 game. So, thank you guys for sharing

2:58:12 this space with us tonight.

2:58:22 It has been a long, crazy journey, but

2:58:25 it warms my heart to see all of you

2:58:26 people here. And thank you for believing

2:58:28 in this thing for so long and making our

2:58:31 dreams come true, getting to play in a

2:58:32 ballpark like this. I'm going to say it.

2:58:35 You guys are the best fans across the

2:58:37 entire country.

2:58:46 We will continue the postgame coverage

2:58:48 on the Texas Tailgator YouTube channel.

2:58:52 For now, we will send you to Sports

2:58:53 Center here on ESPN. A big thank you to

2:58:57 everybody who tuned in tonight to the

2:58:59 biggest banana ball game of all time.

2:59:01 For Rex Castillo, Sam Bowman, Josh

2:59:04 Tleski, Brett Loftess, our producer Chad

2:59:07 Reese, and our executive producer Josh

2:59:09 Richardson. I am Bo Scala saying so long

2:59:12 for now and see you later

2:59:21 and YouTube show. We're not going

2:59:26 anywhere. Oh yeah, you're going to get

2:59:29 two.

2:59:31 >> Two leaders.

2:59:32 >> No doubt. And if we were still on ESPN

2:59:35 for that entire time, well, sorry SVP or

2:59:37 whoever's hosting Sports Center.

2:59:41 That guy's got a shiny head.

2:59:43 >> Yes,

2:59:43 >> I love SVP, though. I love SP.

2:59:46 >> What a goat. Speaking of goats, we got

2:59:48 to hear from our showman of the game.

2:59:50 And for that, we'll get it on down to

2:59:51 Rex Castillo.

2:59:52 >> Guys, thank you so much, M. Danford, our

2:59:54 showman of the game. You've been part of

2:59:56 big wins, but have you ever been part of

2:59:59 something like this with the biggest

3:00:00 crowd in banana ball?

3:00:01 >> Oh, god, no. I've never been in front of

3:00:04 100,000 people in my life, probably

3:00:05 combined. Mac, you come in as a super

3:00:08 sub after Sunshine goes on the unicycle

3:00:10 for you, but also four wins against the

3:00:13 guys in yellow. What does this mean for

3:00:15 the Tailgators having all this momentum?

3:00:17 >> I mean, it means everything. I mean,

3:00:19 with a fan base like ours, I mean, we

3:00:21 can really do anything. I feel like we

3:00:22 can keep going. I mean, it doesn't stop

3:00:25 here. Not only are we a family, but I

3:00:27 mean, we're just a bunch of great ball

3:00:29 players.

3:00:30 >> A bunch of great ball players that over

3:00:31 100,000 people witness. But of a 100,000

3:00:34 people that witnessed, we had a Banana

3:00:35 Ball backstage question. Kind of a uh

3:00:37 something off the top of the head. Do

3:00:39 you know what your win loss record is?

3:00:41 Is from an 11-year-old from Banana Ball

3:00:43 backstage.

3:00:44 >> Sorry, buddy. I have no clue. We're just

3:00:46 here to play ball, man. I mean, we're

3:00:48 living the dream out here. But I mean,

3:00:50 all I can say is we just love this game,

3:00:52 dude. I mean, there's nothing else

3:00:54 really to say about it.

3:00:55 >> It's amazing. And I know we got to go,

3:00:56 but hey, I know Mrs. Danford, you have

3:00:58 to say something special to her, don't

3:00:59 you?

3:00:59 >> Baby girl, happy birthday. Hey, I love

3:01:02 you, sweetheart. Hey, had to make sure

3:01:04 we had to take care of the misses. Mac,

3:01:05 thank you so much, guys. Back to you.

3:01:06 >> How cool is that? What a birthday

3:01:09 present for you, Mr. Eileene Danford.

3:01:12 Your husband, Mac. Danford, was the best

3:01:14 player on a field that was in front of

3:01:16 102,000 people here in College Station,

3:01:20 the home of the 12th man. Well, it was

3:01:22 number 11 for the Texas Tailgator here

3:01:24 tonight. What did he do? Oh, ball four

3:01:27 spread, walk-off single, walk-off

3:01:29 single, and another base hit. He also

3:01:31 came into second base when Jonathan

3:01:33 Sunshine Lutters hit on the unicycle,

3:01:35 played the final three innings

3:01:36 defensively and added two trick plays to

3:01:38 his resume. Madoodle, the bride of Grand

3:01:41 Ridge, Florida, a play so small you

3:01:43 could fit it in here about 10 times,

3:01:46 was our showman of the night in the

3:01:48 biggest banana ball game ever played.

3:01:50 And the Tailgator knew this guy was

3:01:52 going to need to be going for this

3:01:54 offense to be fully complete. You saw

3:01:57 them score in every inning but one

3:02:00 tonight. And a key part of that was

3:02:02 because of M. Danford. They spent so

3:02:04 much of spring training working on him

3:02:07 and his swing to get him right. And

3:02:09 tonight the Texas Tailgator are

3:02:11 victorious here in College Station in

3:02:14 front of the largest audience ever in a

3:02:16 banana ball game. Got to hear from Big

3:02:19 Yellow after this historic ball game.

3:02:21 For that, we'll get it on down to Sam

3:02:22 Bowman.

3:02:24 >> Guys, everything is bigger in Texas.

3:02:26 Jesse's hats, the fans, 102,000. Jesse,

3:02:30 can you put into perspective

3:02:32 a dream that nobody else would have

3:02:35 dreamt to do?

3:02:36 >> Yeah, this was this was wild. uh you

3:02:38 know, you don't know what to expect

3:02:39 coming into this, but seeing this

3:02:41 stadium full, you know, an hour before

3:02:43 the game and the energy and the

3:02:45 enthusiasm, there was an emotional

3:02:46 moment for me when we went out in the

3:02:47 pregame plaza party to see 40,000 fans

3:02:51 out there and we finished our big

3:02:52 opening and they didn't want to leave.

3:02:55 They just stayed there and they stayed

3:02:56 there in appreciation for this. And for

3:02:58 us and the effort that we've put in the

3:03:00 11 years and the journey to say that

3:03:02 they just wanted to be a part of it,

3:03:03 they didn't want to miss that moment.

3:03:04 That was pretty special. And after a

3:03:06 night like this, hey, this wasn't the

3:03:07 best banana ball game. This was tough.

3:03:09 But when you take a step back and look

3:03:10 at the joy and the happiness, it's easy

3:03:12 to realize that what we're building is

3:03:14 special and tremendously grateful for

3:03:16 the fans and their support.

3:03:17 >> Yeah. Talk about, you know, the impact

3:03:19 of players. I was talking to Frankie

3:03:21 Moscatello. He he came down in the ninth

3:03:22 inning. He said, "I was in the crowd for

3:03:24 2 and 1/2 hours signing autographs

3:03:26 today, being out there making this. This

3:03:28 is a big state. 102,000 is great, but to

3:03:30 make sure that 102,000 people go home

3:03:32 and say, "Worth it. Worth it." It it was

3:03:35 an emotional night and you know when Ty

3:03:37 Jackson came down and he did the entire

3:03:39 upper deck and up and down and up and

3:03:41 down and it was one of the hardest

3:03:43 things he's ever done and I just told

3:03:44 him I loved him and this this place is

3:03:46 built on love and to see Frankie and so

3:03:48 many players on the tailgator you know I

3:03:51 know Brett Sanch is up there there's a

3:03:52 lot of them were up there a whole day

3:03:53 that's the commitment that these guys

3:03:55 make and I'm just so proud because they

3:03:57 understand that there's something more

3:03:58 important than just what happens on the

3:04:00 field and that's why I got to take a

3:04:01 step back because yes we didn't play the

3:04:02 best banana ball game it was sloppy for

3:04:04 all four sprits. We barely got the time.

3:04:05 It was a miracle. But again, there were

3:04:07 moments being created all over the

3:04:08 ballpark. And that's what matters most.

3:04:10 And that's what makes me proud and

3:04:11 that's what I can take back from this.

3:04:12 And that's why we're never going to stop

3:04:14 this man.

3:04:15 >> Jesse finally here. What is it about

3:04:17 Texas about taking these risks in Texas

3:04:19 from a popup game of 1,000 to 102,000

3:04:23 tonight. The biggest game ever.

3:04:25 >> Yeah, there's something about this

3:04:26 state. You know, when we look at uh the

3:04:27 support from around the country, Texas

3:04:29 is right up there in the top. And you

3:04:30 know, the first time we went to

3:04:31 Sugarland, you know, many years ago, and

3:04:33 I remember there were fans out there in

3:04:34 the cold rain waiting at 9:00 a.m. to

3:04:37 get in. There's a commitment. There's a

3:04:39 passion. And we see that with fans

3:04:40 everywhere. And, you know, we felt it

3:04:42 tonight. And so, yes, to do the first

3:04:44 ever popup game, 10,000 fans do it right

3:04:46 before the largest and the biggest game

3:04:48 in Banana Ball history says a lot. We're

3:04:50 always going to think about those fans

3:04:51 and give people an opportunity. And so,

3:04:53 1,000 102,000. There were a lot of

3:04:55 memories, a lot of moments created, and

3:04:56 especially for us as well. Well, what a

3:04:59 weekend it has been, guys. Put a bow on

3:05:02 it for us.

3:05:04 >> Thank you so much, Mr. Sam Bowman.

3:05:07 Always great to hear from Big Yellow

3:05:10 himself, Mr. Jesse Cole. As much of a

3:05:12 reason that we all got to experience

3:05:14 this magical night as anybody as we

3:05:17 bring you back inside the booth with

3:05:19 Josh Tvki, Mr. Brett Loftess, I am Bo

3:05:22 Scalla. Again, thank you so much for

3:05:24 spending Saturday night with us as well.

3:05:26 Uh, this was a super ball game,

3:05:28 especially for the Texas Tailgator who

3:05:31 have now won three straight and for the

3:05:33 first time ever swept the bananas in

3:05:36 Texas and in dominating fashion with the

3:05:38 five nothing win two nights ago and

3:05:40 dominated this thing all the way up

3:05:42 until things got a little dicey in the

3:05:43 ninth and Reese Miller was able to hold

3:05:45 on.

3:05:45 >> There's so many first here. This is the

3:05:47 first ever three-game winning streak for

3:05:49 the Texas Tailgator in their history.

3:05:51 The first time they've ever swept the

3:05:52 Savannah Bananas. the first time they

3:05:54 ever won the biggest banana ball game

3:05:56 ever. They won the first ever popup game

3:05:59 on Thursday night, winning the smallest

3:06:02 and the biggest banana ball games of all

3:06:04 time within 48 hours of each other,

3:06:06 albeit in their very own state. You

3:06:11 don't name a team after such a state

3:06:13 that carries the weight as the Texas

3:06:15 Tailgator, if you're Jesse Cole, if you

3:06:16 don't think they can have success in

3:06:18 that state. We've proven success on the

3:06:20 stands. We've proven success in the

3:06:22 entertainment, but this weekend the

3:06:24 Texas Tailgator wanted to prove that

3:06:26 success in between the lines and did so

3:06:28 against the namesake of the sport. Five

3:06:30 to nothing on Thursday and then four to

3:06:32 three here tonight in the biggest banana

3:06:34 ball game ever.

3:06:35 >> And after losing the first three battles

3:06:37 between the Bananas at Tailgator this

3:06:39 year, go into the two games in the open

3:06:41 final and the two games this weekend.

3:06:43 The Gator have beat the Bananas four

3:06:44 straight times. Yeah, I think you could

3:06:46 put all of the momentum the Texas

3:06:48 Tailgator have in the back of a pickup

3:06:50 truck right now. It is unbelievable what

3:06:53 they've been able to do. They're back to

3:06:54 an even 500 record as well in the

3:06:57 regular season. Again, they are

3:06:59 >> back Danford by the way.

3:07:02 >> And this team, they're still playing for

3:07:04 seeding. Let's not forget they clinched

3:07:06 the playoff spot. They want to be the

3:07:08 number one seed and they are starting to

3:07:10 chip away at that defeating the Bananas

3:07:12 who currently hold that one seed. So, a

3:07:15 big kudos to the Texas Tailgator. And

3:07:17 meanwhile, you focus on the Savannah

3:07:19 Bananas. This is the first time since

3:07:22 June 14th, 19th, and 20th that they have

3:07:25 lost three straight ball games. That

3:07:28 came back to 2025. So, it's been a while

3:07:31 since the Bananas have been in this kind

3:07:32 of position, and it's certainly a wakeup

3:07:35 call. And now they've got to see if they

3:07:36 can get right next weekend in Atlanta

3:07:38 against the Party Animals. and that was

3:07:41 the only other team that has given them

3:07:43 a headache this season. So, the Bananas

3:07:46 kind of in rocky waters right now, but I

3:07:49 genuinely believe if they can get this

3:07:51 offense going and straighten some things

3:07:53 up on the pitching side as well, which

3:07:55 was truly the downfall tonight, they'll

3:07:58 be back in a solid place next weekend.

3:08:01 And the Nanners swept in this twoame

3:08:02 series as the away team will be the the

3:08:05 away team for all three games this

3:08:07 coming weekend in truest park in Atlanta

3:08:09 against those party animals. As you

3:08:11 mentioned the party animals and coconut

3:08:13 still doing battle right now in Las

3:08:15 Vegas. And let's get a look at our

3:08:18 schedule for this upcoming weekend of

3:08:20 action because it is going to be a wild

3:08:22 one. It's that three-game series between

3:08:25 the Bananas and Party Animals in uh

3:08:28 Atlanta. And then, how about it, the

3:08:30 Tailgator go to Tulsa, Oklahoma, the

3:08:34 spot of one of the greatest banana ball

3:08:36 games of all time, the Frockus that

3:08:38 created challenges back on the 2023

3:08:41 World Tour. That'll be a really cool

3:08:42 series.

3:08:42 >> Yeah, I I'm really excited to see the

3:08:44 Indianapolis Clowns again in person. The

3:08:46 Tailgators haven't seen the Clowns since

3:08:48 the second full series of the year, the

3:08:50 third weekend of the year in Round Rock,

3:08:52 Texas. So, it's going to be really cool.

3:08:53 And how about another historic first?

3:08:55 The first ever Tailgator headliner not

3:08:57 played in Texas in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The

3:09:00 Texans cross the northern border of

3:09:02 Texas and go north to play in Oklahoma.

3:09:04 And then Coconuts firefighters going to

3:09:08 Witchah. How about that, huh? I'm really

3:09:10 fired up to watch that one as well. This

3:09:12 is going to be three amazing series next

3:09:14 weekend.

3:09:14 >> Yeah, I don't think you want to sleep on

3:09:16 the Coconuts firefighter series. I mean,

3:09:18 both of these teams right now have

3:09:19 pretty high-flying offenses. you could

3:09:21 potentially see a single game hits

3:09:23 record broken between those two squads.

3:09:26 So, I'm really intrigued to see them

3:09:28 match up yet again. It's going to be

3:09:29 another awesome weekend of Banana Ball.

3:09:32 We will certainly be throwing on the

3:09:33 Party Animals YouTube tonight to see

3:09:35 this rubber match between the Coconuts

3:09:37 and the Party Animals after Loco Beach

3:09:40 went absolutely bonkers with a banana

3:09:42 ball record 23 hits as they skunked the

3:09:45 party animals. Uh, all right, we have to

3:09:46 shut this thing down. And we've got our

3:09:48 wonderful folks in the control room an

3:09:50 hour in the future on the other side of

3:09:52 the country in Savannah. They did a heck

3:09:54 of a job tonight. Our broadcast directed

3:09:56 by Chris Haynes. Thank you to everybody

3:09:58 in that control room with Hany. And a

3:10:00 big thank you to our entire crew here in

3:10:03 College Station as well. What a weekend

3:10:05 with what it took to put on the show

3:10:07 Thursday night at Navasota High School

3:10:09 and then do it here in front of over

3:10:11 102,000 fans in Kyle Field.

3:10:13 >> There's a guy we don't shout out enough

3:10:14 publicly on air. Shawn McCcluskey. Shawn

3:10:16 McCcluskey. Our lead engineer in BTV

3:10:19 made it happen at Navasota on Thursday

3:10:21 night. Made it happen for us here again

3:10:23 today. Full tearown back in College

3:10:25 Station at Cal Field at 7 a.m. yesterday

3:10:28 morning to set our broadcast up here.

3:10:30 Sean McCcluskey the MVP this weekend to

3:10:32 make the pop-up game and the biggest

3:10:34 game in Bananaball history happened for

3:10:35 us on BTV.

3:10:36 >> That's right. An upstate New York guy at

3:10:38 that. Shout out Pikipsy New York. Uh

3:10:40 Sean McCcluskey as good as they come. We

3:10:42 are so thankful and blessed to have him

3:10:45 on our side. Uh, and a big thank you to

3:10:47 the rest of our crew here in Texas as

3:10:50 well for our executive producer Josh

3:10:52 Richardson, our producer Chad Reese, our

3:10:54 guys down on the field, Rex Castillo and

3:10:56 Sam Bowman, my buddies in the booth,

3:10:58 Josh Tleski and Brett Loftess. I am Bo

3:11:01 Scala saying so long for now. This

3:11:03 coming Thursday night on the

3:11:05 Firefighters YouTube channel and on the

3:11:07 Tailgator YouTube channel, you get some

3:11:09 more banana ball and then Josh and I

3:11:10 will have Drake on Friday night on the

3:11:13 Party Animals YouTube channel for three

3:11:14 straight ball games. It's going to be a

3:11:16 heck of a weekend. Can't wait to

3:11:17 experience it with you. Until then, we

3:11:20 will see you later.

3:11:42 Get up. Heat. Heat.

3:12:20 Heat. Heat.

3:12:41 Heat. Heat.