Indianapolis Clowns @ Party Animals

0:01 And we are live for history resurrected.

0:04 A brand atop the Negro Leagues, a

0:06 stalwart of inclusion and innovation. A

0:09 team whose name invokes emotion through

0:11 stories of Satchel Paige, Mamie Johnson,

0:14 and even the great Hank Aaron. But, in

0:17 1989,

0:19 that team vanished.

0:22 Until tonight, Tallahassee, Florida

0:24 plays host to history as the

0:26 Indianapolis Clowns are alive again.

0:29 But, this time with future stars

0:32 carrying Paige, Johnson, and Aaron

0:34 writing their own stories. Names like

0:38 Eric Fox,

0:40 the great Currel Pratt,

0:43 Bobby Ledet,

0:45 and even Jackie Bradley Jr.

0:48 Welcome to history

0:51 resurrected.

0:54 AND WELCOME INSIDE the Rage Cage. I'm

0:56 Drake Toll alongside Josh Celestsky as

0:59 we crisscross the new found Banana Ball

1:01 Championship League and watch the

1:02 defending tour champion Party Animals

1:05 meet the newest team in Banana Ball, the

1:07 Indianapolis Clowns. From Dick Howser

1:09 Stadium on the campus of Florida State,

1:11 Josh, tonight the weight of a league

1:14 sits on deserving shoulders.

1:16 >> And this is history that we're still

1:17 learning to fully comprehend as it's

1:19 happening. On one side, you've got the

1:22 Party Animals, the best team in Banana

1:23 Ball from a season ago, looking to

1:25 defend their title in the first year of

1:28 the BBCL. And on the other side of the

1:30 coin, it's the history with the

1:32 Indianapolis Clowns. A team introduced

1:35 in 1935

1:36 and paved the way for a lot of what we

1:39 have seen in Banana Ball. When you

1:40 consider the barnstorming female players

1:43 that were on that squad and great

1:45 entertainers like Goose Tatum. And we've

1:48 seen a lot of great entertainment from

1:50 these Clowns throughout spring training

1:52 games so far in 2026.

1:54 >> From Goose Tatum to Clark Gilmore. Crazy

1:57 how the evolution of the Indianapolis

1:59 Clowns has led us here. We got the

2:00 official number, over 100 million views

2:03 across all platforms. On that pitch,

2:05 Gilmore behind the back for a trick

2:06 play. A great opening to his Clowns

2:09 career, Mr. Irrelevant.

2:10 >> It was the first trick pitch strikeout

2:12 of his career and it goes from one

2:14 rookie to another. Bobby Lade, the

2:16 superstar shortstop for this Clown

2:19 squad. He's impressed with the glove and

2:21 the bat. Two home runs in spring

2:23 training, both of them against the

2:24 Animals.

2:25 >> Don't forget Joe Lidle. A golden batter

2:27 home run last week in his final spring

2:29 training game where he hit for the

2:30 cycle. That's a single, a double, a

2:33 triple, and a home run. Joe Lidle was a

2:36 star a week ago and right next to him,

2:39 who thought? Who would have thought? Joe

2:40 Lidle's playing next to Jackie Bradley

2:42 Jr. in Banana Ball.

2:44 >> First overall pick in the Banana Ball

2:45 player draft. This is a two-time World

2:48 Series champion that has joined the

2:49 Indianapolis Clowns and you can see from

2:52 these highlights the trick plays have

2:54 been a breeze for the MLB vet.

2:56 >> And we'll see Jackie Bradley Jr. play

2:58 against Jake Skole, the MVP of Banana

3:00 Ball last season. He wears X and he led

3:03 the tour in average, home runs, RBI.

3:05 That means he won the triple crown.

3:07 Right next to him, the Rookie of the

3:08 Year, Andy Cosgrove. When he first came

3:10 in, he was known for Love Island

3:11 Australia. Now he's known as Andy

3:13 Cosgrove, the Banana Ball player. He

3:15 took the tour by storm.

3:17 >> Yeah, you've got the lefty force in Jake

3:19 Skole, the righty slugger in Andy

3:21 Cosgrove. They're batting back-to-back

3:23 in the lineup in tonight's contest. Mike

3:25 the basis wanting to roll with his best

3:27 guys at the top of this order and they

3:30 were well deserving of the accolades

3:31 that they wrapped up and I think you can

3:34 expect some big power from these guys as

3:36 again, they want to be the key leaders

3:39 leading to the Party Animals to yet

3:40 another championship.

3:42 >> Have you pinched yourself yet?

3:43 >> I have pinched myself plenty today, my

3:46 friend.

3:46 >> go behind the curtain here. This is the

3:49 debut in Banana Ball of the Indianapolis

3:51 Clowns. The final standing Negro Leagues

3:54 team that folded in 1989 and is

3:56 resurrected here. Bob Kendrick, such a

3:58 spectacular job with the Negro Leagues

4:00 Museum, allowing this brand back into

4:03 sports against the defending champions.

4:05 The storylines are deep. The storylines

4:07 are rich. Josh, you say pinch yourself.

4:09 I'm not sure if that encompasses the

4:11 feeling, the the aura in Dick Howser

4:14 Stadium tonight.

4:14 >> I'm getting chills right now. I had

4:16 chills during the city selection show

4:18 when these teams were announced, and it

4:20 is just so cool to have the blessing of

4:22 Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro

4:24 Leagues Museum, who has allowed us to

4:26 make the Clowns Banana Ball six squad

4:28 playing tonight in Dick Howser Stadium.

4:30 >> You look a little stiff, Josh. Going to

4:32 get those muscles going. Hey, what do

4:34 you say we send IT DOWN TO THE FIELD? WE

4:35 GET JOSH WARMED UP FOR THE ONE TIME.

4:37 >> The fans to get ready. So, we need

4:40 everyone who is able to get up out of

4:44 your seat,

4:45 on your feet, and please help me welcome

4:48 tonight's fan warm-up, 6-year-old

4:51 Scarlett.

4:57 All right, Scarlett. Here's how it's

4:59 going to go.

5:01 Whatever you do, this whole sold-out

5:04 crowd is going to do. Are you ready?

5:08 >> Yes.

5:10 >> Let's do it.

5:15 We're starting with some claps.

5:22 Ooh, let's wiggle.

5:27 Ooh, bring it around town, y'all.

5:33 Ooh, we're jumping.

5:39 There we go. Wiggle.

5:43 Ooh.

5:46 Clap.

5:47 Clap.

5:49 Jump. Jump.

5:51 That's what we like.

5:58 Scarlett,

6:00 this whole crowd is cheering for you.

6:02 Tallahassee, give it up one more time

6:05 for tonight's fan warm-up, Scarlett.

6:32 >> Ladies, gentlemen,

6:35 boys and girls, and partiers from around

6:38 the world. Tonight, you and thousands of

6:41 your friends here live, and thousands

6:43 more watching at home, have gathered

6:45 here to witness something beyond your

6:48 wildest imaginations.

6:50 From Sixth Street to Bourbon Street.

6:53 From Tampa Bay to Broadway. Party people

6:56 come from across the globe to witness

6:59 this.

7:00 This is not baseball. This is the Rage

7:05 Cage, where the wildest, craziest,

7:08 sexiest players step into the gauntlet.

7:12 This is a game of the fans, by the fans,

7:15 and for the fans. But, this is not your

7:19 granddad's pastime. This is not just

7:21 another night at the ballpark. This game

7:24 is baseball by birth, fruit by name, and

7:27 an absolute worldwide phenomenon by the

7:30 grace of God, featuring Lil Jon.

7:37 This is the time for this sold-out CROWD

7:40 HERE IN TALLAHASSEE TO GET ON YOUR FEET

7:44 AND GIVE me your voices.

7:51 Because this IS THE GREATEST PARTY IN

7:56 SPORTS. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS IS

8:00 BANANA

8:03 BALL.

8:21 >> This week, a hot new bombshell enters

8:25 the villa.

9:19 >> Coming from Coming from the right field

9:20 bleachers, the extra hitter, number

9:22 four, Tanner Tindel

9:25 Thomas.

9:32 Coming from the left field bleachers,

9:34 the left fielder, number 12, Noah

9:37 Fischer.

9:47 Up above the first base dugout, the

9:48 second baseman,

9:50 number nine, Dustin

9:55 Baber.

10:00 Up above the third base dugout, the

10:02 third baseman, number eight, BRYSON

10:05 BLOOMER.

10:16 COMING from behind home plate, the

10:18 designated hitter, wearing 407, Michael

10:21 Baler.

10:28 And finally coming up from first base

10:30 dugout, he's your starting pitcher,

10:33 wearing triple seven,

10:36 GARRETT

10:39 DELANO.

10:45 THE HEAD COACH FOR THE PARTY ANIMALS IS

10:46 MIKE BOB OBAMA BASIS. He's assisted by

10:48 Thomas Simshady Simino and Anthony How

10:50 You Doin' Caramato.

11:10 Give it up one more time for your Party

11:11 ANIMALS STARTING LINEUP.

11:20 Ladies and gentlemen, at this time, we

11:22 ask that you please rise if able, remove

11:25 your caps, and join us in honoring

11:26 America with the singing of tonight's

11:28 national anthem. Please welcome to the

11:31 field Megan Herts.

11:36 >> Oh say can you see

11:43 by the dawn's

11:45 early light

11:49 what so proudly

11:52 we held

11:55 at the twilight's

11:58 last gleaming

12:01 whose broad stripes

12:04 and bright stars

12:08 through the perilous

12:13 fight

12:15 or the ramparts

12:18 we watched

12:21 were so gallantly

12:25 streaming

12:28 and the rockets'

12:31 red glare

12:34 the bombs bursting

12:37 in air

12:40 gave proof

12:42 through the night

12:46 that our flag

12:48 was still there

12:52 Oh say

12:54 does that star-spangled

12:59 banner

13:02 yet wave

13:05 o'er the land

13:08 of the free

13:13 and the home of the

13:17 brave

13:21 >> Thank you.

13:22 >> Tallahassee,

13:24 don't don't get down JUST YET. PUT YOUR

13:26 arm around the

13:28 person to your left. Put your arm around

13:30 the person to your right. We are kicking

13:32 this off WITH A BIG OLD SWAG, SIR.

13:48 >> JOSH DELEMOSKY!

13:52 6,000 PEOPLE

13:54 AT GRAYSON STADIUM.

13:57 THE BANANA BALL CHAMPIONSHIP LEAGUE HAS

14:01 ARRIVED.

14:02 THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS ARE HERE. AND A

14:05 BRAND NEW VIBE

14:07 TAKES THE FIELD TONIGHT. IT'S THE

14:09 INDIANAPOLIS CLOWNS. IT'S THE PARTY

14:12 ANIMALS. AND TO WHAT GREAT FORTUNE DO WE

14:15 HAVE TO BE HERE?

14:27 As electric an atmosphere as you can

14:29 garner, and here's how the Party Animals

14:32 will line up.

14:32 >> Tanner Hasley, if you want some PINK

14:34 BEADS, I NEED YOU TO MAKE

14:37 SOME

14:37 >> THE MAN to highlight, back from injury,

14:39 Chase Eacob at shortstop.

14:41 >> That's exactly right. 88 trick plays in

14:43 just 43 games last season for the Party

14:46 Animals, and the guy looking to take

14:49 that trick play crown in the first year

14:51 of the Banana Ball Championship League.

14:53 But don't forget about Dustin May for

14:55 who's got back-to-back 100 trick play

14:57 seasons for the Animals as this team

14:59 collectively tallied 543

15:03 a season ago.

15:05 >> And leading the way, the 2025

15:09 Banana Ball Tour Championship MVP, he

15:12 wears triple sevens. His name is Garrett

15:15 Delano.

15:16 And Josh, the Callahan Florida kid,

15:20 long-tenured Party Animal,

15:23 will face an Indianapolis Clowns brand

15:25 that's existed since 1935.

15:29 >> How do you feel the rubber tonight?

15:30 >> This is an exciting start for Garrett

15:31 Olano, the longest tenured pitcher on

15:33 the Party Animals, making his third

15:35 career opening night start for this

15:37 squad and had 52 strikeouts a season ago

15:41 leading all the Party Animals. He's

15:43 actually led this team each of the last

15:45 four years and to no surprise that this

15:49 is the guy Mike Veeck trusts with the

15:51 ball.

15:51 >> And tonight he will have to face the new

15:53 look Indianapolis Clowns and Josh,

15:56 it's

15:58 people will look at the name and they

16:00 will double take that Jackie Bradley Jr.

16:03 is now a starting center fielder in our

16:05 sport of banana ball and that's where

16:07 I'll start when it comes to the boys in

16:09 blue tonight.

16:10 >> That's right, he gets to bat second in

16:12 this lineup for the Indianapolis Clowns,

16:14 but he is surrounded by a lot of other

16:16 talented ball players. Got the former

16:18 Rays minor leaguer Nico Hoerner batting

16:21 behind him. Joe Lidle's coming off of

16:23 hitting for the cycle in the final

16:25 spring training game and Correll Prime,

16:27 a 2014 organizational player of the year

16:30 for the Colorado Rockies once upon a

16:32 time.

16:33 >> To the field we go, Josh.

16:35 >> Now to officially get this party

16:37 started, let's send it down to AJ.

16:45 >> Thank you, Panda.

16:47 TALLAHASSEE,

16:49 the moment you have been waiting for has

16:52 arrived. It is time TO KICK OFF THE

16:55 GREATEST PARTY in sports. We're going to

16:58 count it down and instead of zero, I

17:01 need you to yell "Start the party!" as

17:04 loud as you can. Here we go.

17:09 Three, two, ONE.

17:14 SHOWTIME!

17:15 THE CAMPUS OF FLORIDA STATE

17:18 >> LITTY OFF.

17:19 >> HOME.

17:21 To these two teams making both of their

17:22 debuts in the brand new Banana Ball

17:24 Championship League. GARRETT DELANO

17:27 FIRES AWAY and the Indianapolis Clowns

17:30 are back.

17:34 Bobby LaDay represents the blue.

17:37 It's the first time the team has seen a

17:38 pitch since 1989

17:41 and it happens in Banana Ball.

17:46 LaDay

17:48 savvy patience at the plate.

17:51 Kid out of Richmond, Texas, the

17:53 shortstop

17:55 for Eric Fox and company pops up.

17:58 High on the infield, Chase Acker at

18:00 shortstop TRACKING OVER BUT DUSTIN

18:01 BEAVER CALLS him off. No trick play but

18:03 an out for the Animals.

18:05 >> And that was a very interesting

18:07 situation. Acker was calling off the

18:09 center fielder and Dustin Beaver to try

18:10 and tip that ball over to him but for

18:13 some reason it seemed like Beaver

18:15 expected Acker to take charge over that

18:17 play. In the end, no trick play happens

18:19 for the Party Animals.

18:21 >> JACKIE BRADLEY JR. TO THE PLATE. DUSTIN

18:23 BEAVER, THE TRICK PLAY. JBJ, MLB vet

18:27 retired, one pitch and another out for

18:29 Garrett Delano.

18:30 >> Good designated hitter.

18:31 >> Well, that's what you love to see. A

18:33 major league veteran getting aggressive

18:35 against one of Banana Ball's best in

18:37 Garrett Delano and likely won't be the

18:40 last time we see him grounding into a

18:42 trick play out to Dustin Beaver. But

18:44 what a fine start for Jackie Bradley Jr.

18:47 >> He gives way to Nico Hoerner.

18:51 Former 18th rounder of the LA Dodgers,

18:54 spent time in Australia, in Mexico.

18:57 Carries a lot of baseball experience

18:58 into Banana Ball, five seasons as a

19:00 minor leaguer.

19:08 Delano, 6'2" 210 lb righty.

19:12 is ahead 0-2.

19:15 >> Holsizer's got a lot of power in this

19:17 bat. It's a guy who had 87 home runs

19:20 across his minor league career. Always

19:22 trying to swing for the fences.

19:24 Sometimes that leads to an uptick in

19:26 strikeouts though for the powerful

19:28 righty.

19:30 >> Delaney with a take outside, still has

19:32 two strikes on him.

19:34 Delaney with a clean first.

19:40 Holsizer fighting. Josh, he had 1,788

19:43 plate appearances in the minor leagues.

19:46 Brings it to banana ball, but finds

19:47 himself down 1-2.

19:51 Holsizer could steal first base, opts

19:54 not to.

20:07 Another 1-2 FROM DELANEY.

20:10 BOUNCES IT. HOLSIZER thought about it,

20:12 did not leave the box. It's 2-2 with two

20:14 down.

20:22 Make that 3-2. The count's now full.

20:27 Payoff pitch from Sevens.

20:29 Hits a ball for a ball four sprint, the

20:31 first of the evening.

20:33 Nico Holsizer

20:35 the first Indianapolis Clown since 1989

20:38 to reach base and does so

20:40 on a play that only exists in our sport,

20:42 the ball four sprint.

20:44 Could go as far as he wanted until the

20:46 entire defense touched the ball.

20:48 He'll settle for 90 and here comes

20:49 Malachi Flash the Kid Mitchell.

20:53 >> Got the Clowns opting to use their

20:55 designated runner in Flash the Kid,

20:57 Savannah Banana from 2021 to 2025.

21:00 And a guy who played at two HBCUs in

21:03 college as Lidle swings and smacks this

21:06 ONE INTO RIGHT FIELD. SCHOLL runs over

21:08 towards the line and makes the catch.

21:11 And the clowns scoreless in the top of

21:12 the first. Garrett Delano, a 3-minute

21:15 and 39 seconds

21:17 for the boys IN BLACK AND PINK.

21:20 >> DELANO DOES his job and the Party

21:22 Animals are out of the top of the first.

21:24 And they'll send arguably the most

21:26 >> You guys are bringing

21:27 >> dangerous

21:28 lineup to the plate to face this the

21:30 Indianapolis Clowns defense. Jackie

21:32 Bradley Jr., the center fielder for the

21:34 team. Josh is specialty throughout his

21:36 MLB career that as illustrious as it

21:38 was, defense.

21:39 >> Yeah, and you see still got a great arm

21:42 in the outfield. He's gotten pretty good

21:43 at those under the leg trick plays

21:45 throughout spring training. But look at

21:47 the guys up the middle for the

21:49 Indianapolis Clowns. Bobby Witt Jr. and

21:51 Jalen Vasquez both high round draft

21:54 picks. They've impressed with their

21:55 gloves. And Correlle Prime, the veteran,

21:58 had over 30 trick plays at first base a

22:00 season ago as a member of the Savannah

22:02 Bananas.

22:03 >> They are all backing up David Griffin,

22:05 the second round pick.

22:08 15th off the board in the Banana Ball

22:09 Championship League draft.

22:11 >> It's

22:12 >> Late last year. 6-ft tall, 210-lb righty

22:16 from Hanover, Massachusetts. Former Mets

22:18 minor leaguer toes the rubber.

22:19 >> Yeah, he is super talented. A guy who

22:21 pitched in AAA for the Mets every season

22:24 from 2022 to 2024. And he was the first

22:27 pitcher drafted by the Indianapolis

22:30 Clowns in that Banana Ball player draft.

22:32 He's got a six-pitch mix, but the

22:35 fastball, sweeper, and changeup are

22:37 those primary pitches for the righty.

22:39 >> He'll face Reese Hampton, Andy Cosgrove,

22:41 and Jake Scholl. But none of those three

22:43 are guaranteed, Josh. In our sport of

22:45 Banana Ball, every inning counts as a

22:47 point. If the Animals are able to score

22:49 just one singular run in the first, it

22:51 will be 1 point to 0. They'll take the

22:53 lead over the Clowns.

22:55 And boy, it starts brutal

22:58 for a rookie in David Griffin. Hampton,

23:00 Cosgrove, Scholl, Aycock, those guys as

23:02 good as it gets when it comes to plate

23:04 presence.

23:04 >> It's a murderer's row at the top of this

23:06 Animal's lineup. And what you don't want

23:08 to forget, Clown scoreless in the top of

23:10 the first. You've got Reese Hampton

23:11 leading off who set a new career high

23:14 with 11 home runs a season ago for the

23:16 Party Animals.

23:19 >> Yeah.

23:20 Mid-inning promo.

23:21 >> And we're bringing the party to you.

23:24 SO, PLEASE WELCOME

23:25 >> Fight's on for Jake Lileos and company

23:28 as they keep

23:30 the Florida State faithful

23:32 in this one.

23:33 And here comes Reese Hampton.

23:36 12th rounder the Detroit Tigers.

23:42 Has represented the Party Animals since

23:43 2023 after a cup of coffee with the

23:45 Savannah Bananas in 2022.

23:51 Hamp

23:53 takes a strike and quickly down 0-2.

23:55 David Griffin wants his first strikeout

23:58 in the Banana Ball Championship League.

24:03 He'll sit 90-92 on the evening.

24:07 HAMPTON

24:08 COULD BE THE FIRST TRICK PLAY IN CLOWN'S

24:10 HISTORY. BOBBY LADAY

24:13 IT BELONGS TO BOBBY LADAY.

24:16 ELI PAYTON WITH A DIVING GRAB. THE

24:18 INDIANAPOLIS CLOWNS

24:21 IN THEIR FIRST GAME SINCE 1989

24:24 GET THEIR FIRST OUT VIA TRICK PLAY.

24:28 AND THESE ARE THE KINDS OF PLAYS YOU

24:30 WERE SEEING FROM THE CLOWNS back in the

24:32 1950s and '60s as they were barnstorming

24:36 across the country. What day, a perfect

24:39 tip, and Payton, the athletic dive to

24:42 secure the first Clown's trick play in

24:44 team history.

24:46 Now, the Rookie of the Year, Andy

24:48 Cosgrove.

24:50 Cos played in 69 games, every contest

24:53 with the Party Animals in the regular

24:54 season in 2025.

24:57 Slashing 335, 437, 498 en route to that

25:02 Rookie of the Year award.

25:10 Hitters count to Cosgrove.

25:16 Cos

25:18 into foul territory right side.

25:21 Off the roof.

25:26 Count goes full 3-2 for Griffin.

25:30 In his 4-year minor league career

25:32 255 and 2/3 innings pitched.

25:37 It's Cos pops up left side foul

25:39 territory again.

25:41 This one within the range of Eli Payton.

25:43 He makes the grab.

25:48 >> We saw Bobby LaDay also scrambling over

25:50 thinking that maybe there was a

25:51 possibility for another trick play for

25:53 the Clowns.

25:54 >> That's a tough play for Eli Payton

25:56 having to make sure he's not too close

25:59 to that foul wall over there by third

26:02 base and making the play in foul

26:04 territory for the second out.

26:06 >> The MVP, Jake Scholl

26:09 from Roswell, Georgia.

26:10 Former number 15 overall draft pick in

26:12 2010 to the Texas Rangers. Led Banana

26:15 Ball in home runs last year. A big bomb

26:17 here would walk off the inning.

26:19 >> Of course led the tour 93 hits a season

26:22 ago and lifts this one in the shallow

26:25 center field. JACKIE BRADLEY JR.

26:27 >> JBJ!

26:29 BEHIND THE BACK OF TRICK PLAY FOR JACKIE

26:31 BRADLEY JR. IN HIS BANANA BALL DEBUT!

26:36 >> THAT'S WHAT HE'S CALLING THE NO ROOT TOE

26:38 THIS SEASON. YOU'RE GOING TO SEE HIM

26:40 CATCHING IT BEHIND THE BACK AND HITTING

26:43 THE RUN ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE DUGOUT

26:45 TO CELEBRATE WITH HIS CLOWNS TEAMMATES.

26:49 And now we send it down to Sam BALMAN

26:51 WITH ERIC FOX AND THE INDIANAPOLIS

26:54 CLOWNS.

26:54 >> Hey Josh Drake, yeah. I had this whole

26:57 thing planned to ask Fox, man, how do

26:59 you make sure the guys are loose ready

27:00 after all the weight that might be on

27:02 their shoulders but Fox, they're looking

27:04 loose out there. Some big trick plays in

27:07 the inning there.

27:08 >> Dude, I got some guys that just come out

27:10 always ready to play and just free

27:12 spirit and just play the game hard and

27:14 like to have fun. So, you saw that play

27:16 right there by Jackie. He was He was

27:17 just out there having fun, dude. That's

27:18 why he was able to make that play like

27:20 that. So, it's unbelievable.

27:21 >> How does a guy like Jackie and some of

27:23 these other vets set the tone for a team

27:25 that's got a lot of young fellas on it?

27:27 >> Dude, he comes out every day freaking he

27:29 works hard and he plays the game hard

27:31 and he just

27:32 with him being the older guy, he just

27:34 sets like you said, he sets the tone and

27:35 everybody just falls in line behind him.

27:37 So, it's unbelievable.

27:39 >> Coach Fox, more smiles, more laughs and

27:41 a a lot more good ball, guys. Uh that's

27:43 what the Fox says. Josh Drake.

27:46 >> The first trick play in Jackie Bradley

27:48 Jr.'s banana ball championship league

27:50 career, the world series champion,

27:53 Jackie Bradley Jr. behind the back.

27:56 Again, he's been taking banana ball

27:58 seriously since he agreed on a phone

28:00 call with Jesse Cole to come into this

28:03 sport and play full time.

28:05 I mean, he's a grinder and his mentality

28:08 is the exact same as it was in the major

28:10 leagues. An unbelievable moment for

28:12 Jackie Bradley Jr. and hopefully the

28:14 Clowns are able to ride that momentum

28:17 offensively here in the top of the

28:18 second.

28:19 >> Hey.

28:20 >> Karell Prime at the dish and looping

28:22 this over the head of Jason Swan. Broken

28:25 bat, Josh.

28:27 For Karell Prime.

28:29 And Josh, the the Indianapolis Clowns

28:31 have gathered on the left side of the

28:33 field. Hold on, they're calling for

28:35 time. Josh.

28:37 They're calling for time. This This bat

28:39 was not So, this was not scripted. This

28:41 was not supposed to happen on live

28:42 television.

28:44 Nick Wilson is incensed. Josh, you have

28:47 you have to feel for him in this moment.

28:51 >> We've gathered here today

28:54 to celebrate the short life

28:57 of Mr. Louisville Slugger.

29:01 I know you meant a lot to Correlle

29:02 Prime.

29:03 All the home runs,

29:06 all the batting practices,

29:08 even the slumps. You were there for it

29:10 all.

29:11 Today you just

29:14 Today you just cracked under pressure.

29:19 Gone but never forgotten.

29:22 You'll be forever missed,

29:24 Mr. Slugger.

29:36 >> You know, Drake, sometimes sacrifices

29:38 have to be made for the first hit in

29:41 Indianapolis Clowns history in Banana

29:43 Ball.

29:43 >> He was just A BAT.

29:46 HE DIDN'T DESERVE THAT. HE DIDN'T

29:47 DESERVE that here.

29:50 >> Oh, it's getting me emotional up here.

29:54 The moment of silence, a reprieve

29:58 from what was formerly formerly

30:00 jubilation.

30:03 Fisher Polidoroff

30:05 plays taps and even the party animals

30:06 mourn.

30:10 But when we CAME BACK,

30:13 ONE

30:14 ONE MAN ON and nobody down here in the

30:17 top of the second for the Indianapolis

30:18 Clowns.

30:20 >> You can correct me if I'm wrong. I

30:21 believe that's the first eulogy in

30:24 Banana Ball history.

30:26 >> Right.

30:27 The Clowns waited

30:29 since 1989 for that one. They've had

30:31 that in their back pocket.

30:32 >> We've been talking about resurrections

30:34 with this team and we memorialized the

30:36 bat.

30:38 >> Oh, foul ball is the call. Joe Gray Jr.

30:45 Now, they're going to give him first

30:46 base.

30:47 Look like it may have gotten the knob of

30:50 the bat.

30:52 But no dice for Garrett Delano and the

30:54 Animals defense. It's a hit by pitch.

31:00 With Joe Gray Jr. off of first, Chris

31:02 Burgess.

31:04 Orioles minor leaguer.

31:07 Spent time in double A with the

31:08 organization.

31:12 BURGESS! INTO LEFT! PRIME to third! He's

31:16 held UP AND THE CLOWNS HAVE THEM LOADED.

31:23 >> We're seeing a lot of aggressive swings

31:25 from the Indianapolis Clowns early in

31:27 this game. Both Prime and Burgess now

31:30 with first pitch singles against Garrett

31:32 Delano.

31:33 And the bags full for the dangerous

31:36 third baseman, Eli Payton, a Banana Ball

31:38 rookie.

31:39 >> Eli Payton started at UCLA, then to

31:41 Grand Canyon. Comes to us from the

31:43 Pioneer League.

31:46 He takes an off-speed for a strike outer

31:48 half of the plate.

31:53 Payton helped complete that first trick

31:55 play in Clowns history with a pop from

31:56 LaDay.

31:58 This time

32:00 Payton gives chase. They got an infield

32:02 fly. That is the call. The out's

32:04 collected and one down for the Animals.

32:11 Now to Brian Dancer

32:13 former Visitor, Josh, making his way

32:16 into Banana Ball

32:17 as a part of the developmental team of

32:19 the 2025 World Tour. Find himself in a

32:22 full-time role this year with the

32:23 Clowns.

32:24 >> Yeah, and he worked his way onto this

32:26 squad getting drafted by this team

32:28 because he was at Grayson Stadium each

32:30 and every day grinding before that draft

32:33 trying to prove to teams that he

32:34 belonged on a squad. And with the

32:37 Visitors last year not too shabby.

32:38 Dansereau 4 for 16 and had six runs

32:42 batted in in five games.

32:44 >> Yeah.

32:45 Dansereau also joins us from the Pioneer

32:47 League.

32:48 And is ahead 2-0

32:50 from Douglasville, Georgia.

32:56 Still has him juiced.

32:58 Party animals ready for the double play

32:59 if the opportunity presents itself.

33:05 Dansereau wants to drive in the Clowns

33:07 first run.

33:12 It could come via the ball force sprint.

33:18 Hitters count for Dansereau.

33:23 A RULE YOU WILL ONLY find in Banana BALL

33:25 AND IT PROVIDES THE INDIANAPOLIS CLOWNS

33:27 their first run of the game. BRIAN

33:29 DANSEREAU ON A BALL force sprint, two

33:32 men come home. It's two runs to zero in

33:34 the second.

33:38 Josh is celebrating home plate. Little

33:39 cool in the gang celebration.

33:42 Whoa.

33:43 Put it in reverse, Terry.

33:48 Slow it down for me one time.

34:02 Josh, does that count for a third run?

34:07 >> Straight

34:09 batter only scored

34:12 >> Now batting the second baseman, number

34:13 two,

34:14 Jaylen Baskerville.

34:15 >> scored the

34:17 >> I loved that movie. I held my breath

34:19 during the entire thing. It's a Dory,

34:21 right? Good Good impression right there.

34:23 You're right there.

34:24 >> I'm back.

34:26 >> Humpback whale, I didn't know you spoke

34:27 it fluently.

34:29 I got caught in the lag with that.

34:31 >> Josh, here's I feel better now.

34:33 >> We got a Spanish broadcast. It's a word

34:35 on humpback whale. Have we experimented?

34:38 Jaylen Vasquez

34:40 Three-year minor leaguer Vasquez, good

34:42 charge into it. SCULLY AND RIGHT, SCULLY

34:45 LOOKING BACK, JAYLEN VASQUEZ!

34:48 THE FIRST CLOWNS HOME RUN

34:51 IN the Banana BALL CHAMPIONSHIP LEAGUE

34:53 COMES OFF THE BAT OF THE 10-HOLE, JAYLEN

34:57 VASQUEZ!

34:58 IT'S A THREE-RUN MOON SHOT!

35:13 SAM BOWMAN

35:15 WILL JUMP INTO THE FRAY.

35:17 HE'S GOT THEM JAYLEN, JAYLEN REALLY

35:19 QUICK. IS THERE A MORE FUN TEAM IN

35:21 BANANA BALL RIGHT NOW?

35:22 >> NO, THE INNING NEVER ENDS. THE CLOWNS

35:23 ARE BACK AND WE'RE HERE TO STAY. Let's

35:25 freaking go!

35:26 >> The inning's not over, Drake. Josh, you

35:27 got more work to do.

35:31 And we go back to Bobby La Day.

35:35 The Clowns have tagged Delano for five

35:37 this half inning.

35:40 >> And it's awfully impressive considering

35:42 Delano coming off that elite performance

35:45 in the Tour Championship last year, just

35:47 one earned run across 15 innings

35:50 pitched.

35:51 But the Clowns touching him up here on

35:53 opening night and La Day jumping ahead

35:55 2-1.

35:58 >> That ball was touched.

36:03 La Day 0-for-1, popped out his first

36:05 time at the plate.

36:07 >> La Day played 89 games. Another guy

36:09 Pioneer League, 89 games in the Pioneer

36:11 League last year.

36:13 With a .370 OBP.

36:19 Was banged up at shortstop, Josh.

36:22 And his natural ability at the plate is

36:25 apparent.

36:26 >> Yeah, I mean, he was developing the

36:28 reputation as the best shortstop in the

36:30 Pioneer League. 17 home runs in 2024,

36:33 then had over 20 in 2025,

36:36 and now lines the 2-2 pitch into left

36:38 field for a one-out single. The Clowns

36:41 continue to knock around Delano. Here

36:43 comes Jackie Bradley Jr.

36:47 You're having a tough inning out there,

36:48 you know? Things aren't going quite your

36:50 way.

36:51 And now you have to face MLB veteran,

36:54 two-time World Series champion, the

36:55 All-Star Jackie Bradley Jr.

37:00 Brand new to Banana Ball.

37:02 35 years old. A Boston Red Sox legend.

37:08 Delano trying to work around him.

37:12 Patience from JBJ makes the count 2-0.

37:20 Foul ball out of the complex and

37:24 Oh, it just dinged. Looks like it caught

37:26 the bumper of a

37:27 white Nissan Maxima. Arkansas plates.

37:31 Get that checked out.

37:35 3-1.

37:43 Delano.

37:47 As Jackie Bradley Jr. tries to work his

37:50 first ball for a sprint

37:52 and touch first base safely for the

37:53 first time in this sport.

37:58 JBJ, HOT SHOT, SWAN TURNS IT INTO A

38:02 DOUBLE PLAY.

38:06 A WEB GEM FROM THE DEFENSE, BUT NOT

38:09 BEFORE the Indianapolis Clowns put up a

38:11 five-spot at the top of the second and

38:13 are well on their way to their first

38:14 point of the game.

38:16 A great play by Jason Swan to cap the

38:18 top of the second. Nonetheless, what a

38:21 momentum going in favor of these clowns.

38:24 Now we head down to the field.

38:25 >> here with Banana Ball. I am joined by

38:29 3-year-old Mia,

38:32 mom Cassie,

38:34 and dad Scott, and we are about to play

38:37 most valuable parent. Mia,

38:42 I'm going to ask you a few questions,

38:44 and all I need you to do is answer

38:46 honestly. But you do need to know that

38:49 whomever you don't choose is going to

38:52 catch a pie in the face. Are you ready?

38:58 All right.

39:00 Who makes yummier food?

39:04 >> Dad.

39:05 >> Dad makes yummier food.

39:09 Mia,

39:10 this pie is for mom. Tallahassee, let's

39:14 count it down. Three, oh

39:19 She just couldn't wait. Amazing. Here,

39:21 let me Let me get that out of your way.

39:24 I have So cute. I have another question

39:26 for you.

39:27 Who

39:29 gives better hugs?

39:31 >> DAD.

39:32 >> DAD AGAIN!

39:35 TWO TIMES IN A ROW. MIA, I'm not even

39:39 going to count it down. You know what to

39:40 do. Give your MOM'S FACE THAT PIE. There

39:42 you go.

39:45 All right.

39:46 I have a final question. Mia,

39:50 mom's a mess. Last question.

39:52 Who Mia,

39:54 who

39:56 is a bigger Banana Ball fan?

40:00 >> DAD.

40:00 >> DAD! Three out of three! And he's got

40:04 the shirt to prove it. Mia, GIVE YOUR

40:07 MOM THAT PIE.

40:11 DAD ON A PIE FOR MIA.

40:14 Dad wins!

40:16 Give it up for Mia, Tallahassee!

40:20 >> No mercy for mother.

40:22 No mercy for child. No mercy for Garrett

40:24 Delano.

40:26 >> The former Orioles minor leaguer Jaylen

40:28 Vasquez making history that first home

40:32 run in Indianapolis Clowns history in

40:34 Banana BALL HAD JUST SEVEN IN HIS MINOR

40:36 league career. But now he has put the

40:39 lefty Daniel Foster in a position to try

40:42 and earn the first point in the history

40:45 of this Clowns franchise.

40:46 >> Foster, 6'5" 210 lb lefty. Rockledge,

40:51 Florida playing in his home state. A cup

40:53 to the day. LA DAY BETWEEN the legs. He

40:55 is way too smooth. Trick play count it

40:59 for the shortstop.

41:04 >> And of course the equalizer point is

41:05 going to be in play in tonight's

41:08 contest.

41:08 >> Yes.

41:09 >> Clowns already up three trick plays to

41:11 the Party Animals one and if we head

41:14 into the final inning and the Clowns

41:16 have more than the Party Animals, they

41:18 will earn an extra point in this ball

41:20 game.

41:21 >> Jason Swan, Jacksonville, Florida's own.

41:26 Also in his home state.

41:29 A Party Animal since 2022.

41:38 Josh Swan talked about it on Banana Land

41:40 at Sea two weeks ago. Said, "I'm

41:42 underrated. I feel underrated, but

41:44 that's the chip on my shoulder." He's a

41:46 sneaky candidate.

41:48 Despite the lack of

41:50 trick play opportunities at first base

41:52 for a possible MVP here.

41:54 And now he's got two bases in the ball

41:56 four sprint.

41:56 >> And you see him testing a new Clown

41:59 squad that is still getting used to the

42:01 ball four sprint defense. Swanny led

42:04 last year's World Tour in ball four

42:06 sprints. He's always had one of the most

42:08 elite eyes in Banana Ball history. He's

42:11 just a model of consistency. A .324

42:14 batter in 2024. He batted .323 last

42:18 season on route to his first All-Star

42:19 selection. Tanner Thomas TO JACKIE

42:22 BRADLEY JR. CAN HE DO IT TWICE? WHERE'S

42:24 THE BALL?

42:26 NO, HE DROPPED IT.

42:29 THOMAS TAKES FIRST.

42:32 THEY'RE on the corners.

42:34 I'm not sure what Jackie Bradley Jr. was

42:36 going for in center field.

42:40 But in the meantime, Noah Fisher's in

42:42 right field and the lights are out at

42:44 Dick Hauser.

43:33 That's a man who puts on for his city.

43:36 Water, popcorn,

43:39 catch up, I assume.

43:42 And Noah Fisher

43:44 has done it again.

43:46 >> You bottle that up, put it on eBay. I

43:48 guarantee you somebody's paying top

43:50 dollar for that.

43:51 >> Fish.

43:54 Strong foul ball. That's just

43:57 >> a bid down. I mean, come on.

43:59 >> Banana ball out of context. That's a

44:01 fair

44:05 An interesting screenshot as Fisher

44:09 has come back to the dugout and says,

44:10 "Can I just get a towel, please?

44:12 Can I please just get a towel?"

44:15 That's what

44:16 That's what he's got.

44:17 Got a new piece of wood.

44:21 Less gory.

44:32 They're on the corners for Fish.

44:34 Might have added

44:35 >> I think you implied that we should put

44:36 his sweaty ketchup in a bottle.

44:38 >> That's exactly what I'm implying.

44:40 >> Okay.

44:43 But in Atlanta in C 2027

44:46 >> Yeah, you put it on the auction. You

44:47 know, people can put the bids on it.

44:50 >> Fisher

44:51 high on the infield. Peyton calls

44:53 everybody off. Peyton wants a trick

44:56 play. POPPED IT UP TO HIMSELF. ELI

44:58 PEYTON'S GOT A TRICK PLAY.

45:00 The Clown's defense has been electric.

45:02 >> Yeah, and they're inducing soft contact.

45:04 That's why you're seeing so many trick

45:06 plays so early in the contest. That was

45:08 a little risky from Eli Peyton, but he

45:11 made sure that he made the recovery on

45:13 his lonesome to get a fourth on the

45:15 board for the Clowns.

45:17 >> Between David Griffin and Daniel Foster

45:18 pitching for the Indianapolis Clowns

45:21 the first seven batters, Josh, three pop

45:24 outs.

45:26 A lot of easy infield contact that gives

45:28 you an opportunity for more trick plays

45:30 as well as Dustin Beaver steps in.

45:36 Foster, you'll see him change that arm

45:38 slot quite a bit as well.

45:40 Fastball 88 to 90.

45:47 Says, when he changes the arm slot, he's

45:49 still hitting 84 with the fastball.

45:53 >> And really when you're seeing him drop

45:55 lower, it's more in an effect to throw

45:57 his slider better, but Foster has a hard

46:00 time finding the zone against Dustin

46:02 Bloomer. Issues the ball for sprint and

46:05 that will bring in Jason Swan to score

46:07 for the Animals, but still a four-run

46:10 edge for the Clowns here in the bottom

46:11 of the second.

46:13 >> In Banana Ball, every inning counts as a

46:16 point. The Clowns, if they are to

46:18 successfully take the second,

46:21 will go up one point to zero.

46:23 Bryson Bloomer

46:27 He was pick number six

46:31 in the Banana Ball Championship League

46:32 draft.

46:34 Back with his Party Animals, the captain

46:37 of the team was not franchised.

46:39 Mike Vee Vegas is hoping he would still

46:41 be there in round number one and

46:42 thankfully he was.

46:46 >> Well, the feeling was very mutual. You

46:48 know, Bloomer wanted to be back in the

46:49 black and pink. Mike Vee Vegas, Anthony

46:52 Cormano, Thomas Seminole made it a big

46:54 goal to get Bryson Bloomer back with

46:56 that first pick of theirs in the first

46:58 round.

46:59 >> And coach Bloomer will strike OUT

47:03 LOOKING AGAINST DANIEL FOSTER, THROWING

47:06 AWAY THE CLUB. AMPED UP AS THE CLOWNS

47:09 EARN THE FIRST POINT OF THE BALLGAME AND

47:11 THEIR FIRST in franchise history.

47:19 Bryson Bloomer, let's put a mic on him.

47:20 >> more fans and I didn't make the coaches

47:23 franchise, which honestly really hurt,

47:25 but I like just sharing a story, telling

47:28 a story.

47:29 Um, that stuff like fires me up because

47:31 it's so real, you know?

47:33 We all live our lives, we all have our

47:35 lives, we're all living our story and we

47:38 struggle, we hurt, we, you know, it's

47:41 it's tough, but nobody really tells that

47:44 side of it and and I I plan on doing

47:46 that.

47:47 >> Well,

47:49 this is a new

47:50 >> Bryson Bloomer,

47:52 welcome to the broadcast. Great to have

47:54 you alongside Josh Tolevsky and everyday

47:56 Bloomer at the hot corner mic'd up with

47:58 us. Bloomer, we were just talking about

48:00 your journey through Banana Ball and how

48:03 it it didn't necessarily have to end up

48:05 with the Party Animals in 2026, but

48:07 you're back in the black and pink. The

48:08 captain has returned. Take us through

48:11 what the last 4 months have been like

48:12 for you.

48:13 >> Um

48:14 you know, a lot of reflection, I think.

48:17 I'm good, Swan. Um you know, obviously

48:19 not being franchised

48:21 it hurt. Um

48:24 but I think at the end of the day I I

48:26 want to be better and I I want to be

48:28 better for the team and that's that's

48:29 really what it comes down to

48:31 is this year I'm going all in for the

48:34 boys like I always have and we're just

48:35 going to see what happens at the end of

48:36 this year, man.

48:38 >> So, what are those big goals that you

48:39 would say you've set for yourself in

48:41 2026, Bloomer?

48:43 >> Uh raise the batting average for sure. I

48:45 want to be more consistent hitter. I

48:47 want to find that balance between

48:48 content, entertainment, and hitting.

48:51 And um

48:53 that's the goal, man. That's the goal.

48:56 >> Nico Hulkenberg at the dish for the

48:57 Indianapolis Clowns. He'll face off

48:59 against Brett Helton who's entered the

49:01 game for the Party Animals.

49:05 Bloomer,

49:06 I want you to go back to draft night for

49:08 a second.

49:10 When you heard your name called by Mike

49:12 Mavesis

49:13 as Nico Hulkenberg swings and misses,

49:15 strikeout number one for Brett Helton.

49:17 When you heard your name called, was it

49:18 a phone call or did you did you watch it

49:20 live as you remained a Party Animal?

49:22 >> I watched it live with my grandmother.

49:25 Shoutout Nikki. Um

49:27 she was there with me when I watched

49:28 that and uh

49:30 couldn't have been more perfect. I was

49:31 with my family and I was just

49:34 I was really hoping to be back in the

49:35 black and pink again. We got it done.

49:37 >> Bloomer, leading up to the draft, I've

49:39 got to imagine you were talking to some

49:40 of your franchise Party Animals

49:42 teammates. What did those conversations

49:45 look like between you guys as you were

49:47 kind of mulling over what the draft

49:49 might entail?

49:50 >> Um you know, I think a lot of them

49:52 reached out.

49:54 Shout out to them. I love my teammates.

49:55 They reached out and were like, man,

49:57 we feel for you, but we know we're going

49:59 to get you back. And

50:01 that's what happened.

50:04 Bloomer, in the middle of this mic'd up,

50:06 this is one of the loudest crowds I

50:07 think I've heard in Banana Ball. Yeah,

50:08 let me tell you what, for someone who

50:10 has a sinus infection, a respiratory

50:12 infection, being mic'd up in this crowd

50:14 right now, I am seeing things, I think.

50:17 I think I'm hallucinating.

50:21 Up the middle and it's a base hit for

50:23 Joe Lidle, who picks up where he left

50:26 off last weekend after hitting for the

50:27 cycle in his final spring training game.

50:29 Bloomer, if you need it, we have four

50:30 members of the Florida State University

50:32 Medical Response Unit in the press box

50:35 at the ready. Oh, no, we're good. I took

50:37 enough ibuprofen sinus infection

50:39 medicine and many mucus to to kill it

50:41 all. Yeah, I've got some Mucinex pills

50:43 if you need those, too. See, the

50:44 Mucinex, it makes the Hat Man visit my

50:47 home and I don't like that. I don't like

50:49 the Hat Man.

50:52 Corell Prime steps up. Bloomer, let's

50:54 turn it over a bit to the Indianapolis

50:56 Clowns. Is there any emotion playing

50:58 against this franchise revived? Man,

51:01 yeah, they're they're strong. They're

51:03 they're together. They're they're new,

51:04 they're fresh, they're hungry. And

51:07 they're they're impressive, man.

51:10 I think that's going to challenge us.

51:15 Prime to Baber at second base, no trick

51:18 play.

51:20 But an out nonetheless. Yeah, they're

51:22 they're going to challenge us. I think

51:23 all these new teams are going to

51:24 challenge the existing teams.

51:27 It's going to be fun. I think

51:29 I think we're going to have to get

51:30 better and we all know that. And

51:32 starting tonight is just the grind.

51:35 It's the grind, baby.

51:37 Joe Gray Jr., foul ball.

51:42 All right, here we go. We got two outs.

51:44 Runner on.

51:46 Get in, get out, get a run, win an

51:48 inning,

51:49 keep the game moving. That's the plan.

51:59 >> 1-1 runs low.

52:05 Bloomer, I just can't, man. I mean, even

52:06 me, I I'm like the lights are so bright

52:08 right now.

52:09 >> Yeah,

52:10 it's electric out here.

52:15 >> You had a long baseball career,

52:17 collegiate baseball career. You ever see

52:18 crowds like this? I mean,

52:20 >> This is insane.

52:22 I mean, for 6-700, like

52:24 everybody talks about the bigger

52:25 stadiums, but it's places like this that

52:27 you really feel the energy.

52:30 >> Ball four sprint.

52:33 Bloomer crashing in.

52:36 Go.

52:37 And it's two bases. Ball gets away

52:39 momentarily, but Prime will stay at

52:41 third base.

52:43 Helton can still work himself out of

52:45 this jam.

52:49 But he faces Chris Burgess, who's 1 for

52:50 1 tonight.

52:53 >> All right, here we go.

52:57 Got to make a play.

52:59 >> Now, Bloomer, you guys played a really

53:00 tight game with the clowns, final game

53:02 of spring training. Of course, they had

53:03 the five-point comeback in the ninth.

53:05 What was your biggest takeaway from

53:07 facing this squad that you guys are

53:09 trying to learn from in tonight's

53:11 contest?

53:12 >> Uh,

53:13 I think they got grit.

53:15 I think they're talented.

53:18 And I think they got a lot of play for

53:19 them. That's a good mix, so

53:21 I think we just got to do what we got to

53:23 do. We got to put our nose down, and we

53:25 got to play hard, take care of the

53:26 baseball, and we'll just see what

53:27 happens.

53:28 Uh, try to match their energy and their

53:29 excitement. Probably won't work.

53:32 >> Oh, heads up.

53:34 >> That was well hit.

53:35 Well fouled by Chris Burgess.

53:40 >> Got to weather the storm, find a way to

53:41 out of here right here.

53:43 >> One two with two down and two on.

53:49 Helton, big pitch.

53:57 He'll try it again.

54:00 Burgess

54:02 57 strikeout in his 178

54:05 minor league plate appearances.

54:10 No strikeout here. It's a base hit.

54:13 An RBI base hit. ANOTHER RUN TO THE

54:16 PLATE AND ANOTHER run scores for the

54:18 Indianapolis Clowns.

54:20 They put up a two-spot at least in the

54:23 top of the third.

54:26 They meet at home plate.

54:29 A little Michael Jackson.

54:37 Burgess now two for two today.

54:43 Bloomer, does it feel different? I mean,

54:45 my first year in Banana Ball 2024, there

54:48 was no tournament at the end of the

54:49 year. You just played in the regular

54:50 season going on tour. Last year they had

54:52 been in the tournament, this year a

54:54 league. Does it feel like the pitches,

54:56 the innings, the points matter a little

54:57 bit more?

54:58 >> Yeah, definitely. There's there's a

54:59 little bit more pressure.

55:01 Um but that's a good thing. I think

55:03 we're going to see some of the best

55:04 Banana Ball of course

55:05 that anyone's ever seen. And I think

55:07 we're going to see more energy with it.

55:09 It just means more, you know?

55:10 >> Oh, go get it.

55:12 >> Oh, come on, fam.

55:14 Come on, fam.

55:16 >> Now obviously things are a little more

55:18 competitive, Bryson, but does it change

55:20 anything from an entertainment

55:21 standpoint for you? I I know the players

55:23 can get competitive about the walk-ups,

55:26 who's the best entertainer on the

55:27 diamond as well.

55:29 >> Yeah. Oh, go, Mark.

55:32 >> Fans have an opportunity

55:33 >> Out out out oh oh Mark

55:36 >> At the wall what a

55:37 >> Oh Mark got it oh

55:38 >> How are you kidding me?

55:41 >> THE PARTY ANIMALS GET THE OUT AND IT'S

55:44 Mark Smith. WHAT IS HE DOING OUT THERE?

55:47 HE'S THE DESIGNATED fielder for the

55:50 Party Animals IN TONIGHT'S CONTEST.

55:53 >> MARK SMITH

55:54 >> ENTERED THEM IN TO PLAY A POSITION A

55:57 different position every inning and Mark

56:00 Smith makes the grab up against the WALL

56:04 AND ENDS THE GAME FOR THE ANIMALS.

56:06 >> BYE, BRYSON BLOOMER. I LOVE YOU.

56:09 AND DOWN TO THE FIELD FOR BANANAS

56:10 FOSTER.

56:15 >> Across the United States, there are over

56:17 400,000

56:19 children and teens in foster care

56:21 without a permanent home. To raise

56:23 awareness and support this community, we

56:25 created Bananas Foster, the official

56:28 nonprofit of Banana Ball. Our

56:30 organization is dedicated to celebrating

56:32 those in the foster care community while

56:34 educating and inspiring others to get

56:36 involved.

56:37 Tonight, we are celebrating the Fipps

56:40 family. Nicole and James became a

56:42 licensed foster family 10 years ago

56:46 and they have now adopted two children

56:48 into their home.

56:50 Over the last 10 years, this family has

56:53 welcomed over 50 children into their

56:56 home. Fans, please help us celebrate

56:59 this incredible family for making a

57:01 difference right here in your community.

57:24 >> Josh, a moment that transcends sport.

57:27 The Indianapolis Clowns back for the

57:29 first time since 1989 and an emotional

57:31 chance for them to give back hand in

57:34 hand with the Party Animals.

57:37 That's special right there.

57:40 And on the sideline just ahead of them,

57:42 Rex Castillo has Mike Vavasis.

57:44 >> Coach Vavas, this team is like a family.

57:46 You brought a lot of these guys back.

57:48 What's it like to have a family

57:49 basically reunited in your sideline?

57:51 >> Oh, it's unbelievable, you know. It's

57:52 It's great showing up every day to work,

57:55 be with be with guys you're familiar

57:57 with, be with guys that you're

57:58 comfortable with and man, it's been a

58:00 blast so far.

58:01 >> What's the fight of this family though?

58:02 You guys have a target on your back and

58:03 YOU'RE MAKING PLAYS LIKE THAT OUT IN THE

58:04 OUTFIELD. WHAT'S IT LIKE seeing this

58:06 team having get ready to fight back?

58:08 >> just like all good families do, you you

58:10 stay strong when you most need it. So,

58:11 this is one of the strongest group of

58:13 guys I've I've ever been around and I

58:14 know no matter what, we're always going

58:16 to fight.

58:16 >> Well, the guys got to fight a little bit

58:18 here. Guys, back up to you.

58:20 >> Thank you, Rex Castillo.

58:22 The head coach of the defending champion

58:24 Party Animals taking a ring home in

58:26 2025. Let's get another look at that

58:28 play in left field. That is Mark Smith,

58:31 the designated runner on TOP OF THE

58:33 TARP.

58:36 UNREAL ATHLETICISM scaling the tarp,

58:38 making the tumbling play and

58:40 traditionally you think the designated

58:42 fielder in Banana Ball's going to carry

58:44 the impact based on trick plays. Mark

58:47 Smith just made a tremendous play to

58:50 help out Brett Helton there in the top

58:52 of the third, but the inning is in the

58:54 hands of Kobe Robinson who was the first

58:57 pick of the final round of the Banana

58:59 Ball player draft. And a former San

59:02 Diego Padres minor leaguer who got

59:05 himself drafted after impressing in the

59:09 MLB Draft League by touching 97 to 99

59:13 miles an hour with his fastball. He will

59:15 face Mikey Ballard. Ballard

59:18 high in the night. Correll Prime trick

59:21 play opportunity.

59:22 Got too tough there at the end, but gets

59:23 the out.

59:26 Now batting the center

59:28 >> Josh, the Clowns were

59:30 excellent the first time through.

59:33 Two ball, four sprints, really all the

59:35 damage done for the Party Animals. No

59:36 runs on the board for that one, I should

59:38 say the second inning.

59:39 But, an inning they lost. Clowns up one

59:42 point to zero, leading two runs to zero

59:44 here in the third.

59:46 And the lineup flips over. Reese Hampton

59:48 and the

59:49 boys in black

59:51 need some sort of rhythm.

59:54 >> Well, the one time through the order

59:55 now, getting some kinks out. A lot of

59:58 big swings that you're seeing from these

1:00:00 Party Animals, but again, Clowns have

1:00:02 done a tremendous job of inducing soft

1:00:04 contact like you just saw there against

1:00:06 Mikey Ballard. And for Kobe Robinson,

1:00:09 control can sometimes be a problem for

1:00:11 the righty, but he's jumped ahead of

1:00:13 Hampton 0-2 before missing outside.

1:00:19 >> Robinson, out of Alcoa, Tennessee.

1:00:26 Hampton

1:00:28 high into the night.

1:00:30 Leday

1:00:33 Josh, I'm not really sure.

1:00:38 I I In fact, I am sure. Lack of

1:00:40 communication.

1:00:42 >> Well, you could see Jaylen Vasquez

1:00:43 immediately kind of showing his disdain

1:00:46 for Bobby Leday on that play,

1:00:49 communicating some raise that glove up

1:00:52 to the sky saying you've got to let us

1:00:53 know that we're getting the tip, and

1:00:56 nobody wound up making the call, even

1:00:59 though both Bradley Jr. and Vasquez were

1:01:02 anticipating Leday to take charge of

1:01:04 that play. That is his ball as well.

1:01:07 But, instead, it winds up the first hit

1:01:09 of the Party Animals season, albeit not

1:01:12 so routine.

1:01:13 >> Cosgrove

1:01:14 back-to-back base knocks for the Party

1:01:16 Animals.

1:01:21 Wow.

1:01:22 And echoing through Dickhowser Field,

1:01:26 Sergeant Johnson reporting for booty.

1:01:29 Hampton Cosgrove, a single. He's

1:01:31 replaced by Mark Smith,

1:01:33 you know, the prolific fielder.

1:01:37 Smith will run at first. Skull is a

1:01:39 swing away from walking off the second

1:01:40 inning, make it the third, and tying

1:01:42 this game.

1:01:47 No one

1:01:49 better in Banana Ball in 2025.

1:01:53 The MVP.

1:02:05 Skull takes a strike.

1:02:07 Mark Smith has second base.

1:02:17 Skull has two in scoring position. Great

1:02:20 plate presence. 3-1 count, he's ahead.

1:02:23 >> Yeah, this is certainly where Jake Skull

1:02:24 thrives for the Party Animals. Batted

1:02:27 .424 with runners in scoring position

1:02:30 last season. Also had nine sprints with

1:02:32 runners in scoring position. And this

1:02:34 one will not be inning at two runs

1:02:37 apiece and negate a second point for the

1:02:40 Clowns in this ball game.

1:02:42 >> Josh, we said it pregame. I'm going to

1:02:43 I'm going to go back to it here.

1:02:45 Hampton, Cosgrove, Skull, they're so

1:02:47 tough

1:02:48 to face off against as a pitcher. You

1:02:50 you try to work around them.

1:02:54 But they've each got

1:02:56 a pro approach to the plate.

1:02:58 Skull dances off of first and retreats.

1:03:02 >> They're very disciplined hitters, all of

1:03:03 them former minor leaguers, as well. And

1:03:06 that's why you see the patience as now

1:03:08 Chase Eiklor swings at the second pitch.

1:03:10 Pops this one right in front of the

1:03:12 mound. The Clown tries to call it off

1:03:16 and could not make the play.

1:03:17 Fortunately, Chris Burgess, the catcher,

1:03:20 picked it up and made the throw over to

1:03:22 Jaylen Vasquez for a force out at

1:03:24 second.

1:03:25 >> Two outs now for the Indianapolis Clowns

1:03:27 defense here in the third. The inning is

1:03:30 tied two points, make it two runs to two

1:03:31 runs.

1:03:35 If it remains tied,

1:03:37 the Clowns will remain with the one

1:03:38 point to zero lead.

1:03:40 Jason Swan.

1:03:50 Acoff will easily take second base.

1:03:57 Now with a man

1:03:59 in scoring position, a ball four sprint

1:04:01 wins the inning for the Animals.

1:04:06 Swanny

1:04:07 into the crowd.

1:04:09 They can make an out themselves,

1:04:11 and they do not.

1:04:15 Swan last year, in 234 plate

1:04:18 appearances,

1:04:19 42 sprints, Josh, but just 15

1:04:22 strikeouts.

1:04:26 Patience is the name of his game at the

1:04:28 plate.

1:04:29 >> He's played in three straight tours with

1:04:31 more ball four sprints than strikeouts

1:04:33 for the Party Animals,

1:04:35 and finds himself ahead in the count

1:04:37 once again in this ball game, 3-1

1:04:39 against Robinson,

1:04:41 and he catches the corner. The count

1:04:43 runs full.

1:04:46 >> Payoff pitch.

1:04:48 TWO DOWN AND A MAN AT SECOND. SWAN

1:04:50 THROUGH THE RIGHT SIDE. PLAY AT THE

1:04:52 PLATE ENSUING. HERE COMES ACOFF. COWBOY

1:04:54 JOE TO THE DISH, NOT IN TIME.

1:04:57 >> THE PARTY

1:04:57 >> THE PARTY ANIMALS WALK OFF THE THIRD

1:04:59 INNING. THIS GAME IS TIED A POINT A

1:05:01 PIECE.

1:05:02 RBI FOR JASON SWAN.

1:05:09 >> How long you

1:05:11 loving

1:05:14 me?

1:05:18 >> Josh,

1:05:20 have you ever been in a bad romance?

1:05:22 >> Plenty. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

1:05:24 >> I don't like to talk about them, man.

1:05:26 >> Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

1:05:27 >> Trying not to be reminded of that right

1:05:29 now, man. I'm just trying TO ENJOY SOME

1:05:31 BANANA BALL, MAN.

1:05:31 >> YEAH, you have. You have.

1:05:34 You see the replay

1:05:36 of Jason Swan going apple.

1:05:39 Animals notting things up. Let's go to

1:05:41 the field.

1:05:46 >> Fans, now it's time to meet the fielders

1:05:48 for your Party Animals.

1:05:53 Noah Fisher

1:05:55 I think I'm starting to like Florida

1:05:57 State.

1:06:01 Reese Hampton

1:06:02 Come on.

1:06:06 Jake Skull

1:06:07 I love them dogs. My daddy love them

1:06:09 dogs. My daddy daddy love them dogs. Go

1:06:11 dogs. Woo! Woo!

1:06:15 Bryson Bloomer

1:06:17 And I like turtles.

1:06:21 Chosen Chase, Ball So Hard University

1:06:26 The Leprechaun

1:06:28 You almost made me drop my croissant.

1:06:32 Jason Swan And I got a basketball game

1:06:35 tomorrow.

1:06:38 Andy Cosgrove, aka G.I. Johnson,

1:06:41 reporting for booty.

1:06:45 Bret Helton

1:06:47 It's great! But apparently, I've never

1:06:50 been on live television before.

1:06:56 Apparently,

1:06:59 Bret Helton leads his Party Animals back

1:07:02 out there.

1:07:05 Josh

1:07:09 Bret Helton's one of those guys who's

1:07:10 just never been in a bad romance. I want

1:07:12 to go back to you for a second to shine

1:07:13 that spotlight. It's just been a

1:07:15 tumultuous career.

1:07:17 >> It it It hasn't been, you know, ideal

1:07:19 for me.

1:07:20 You know, things will peak eventually. I

1:07:22 I I thought Biko Skala was the only one

1:07:24 who talked about my love life, but

1:07:27 that's clearly not the case anymore.

1:07:29 >> my notes. It's my third bullet point on

1:07:31 the game notes tonight. Party Animals in

1:07:33 Indianapolis Clowns a little Sunday

1:07:35 night football entrance

1:07:37 for the boys. GI Johnson

1:07:39 >> Who letting up for the Clowns?

1:07:40 >> Andy Cosgrove reporting for booty.

1:07:45 That's right where the line is. You find

1:07:46 the line. You find the line.

1:07:49 Brian Dancer will face Brett Helton.

1:07:52 >> Yeah, Helton getting a second inning of

1:07:53 work for the Party Animals. One of five

1:07:55 guys who

1:07:57 was a pitcher of the year finalist a

1:07:59 season ago, and he had 93 innings

1:08:02 pitched in 2025, which led all Party

1:08:04 Animals.

1:08:05 And of course had eight wins, six

1:08:07 losses. And now this one gets away from

1:08:09 Cosgrove and Dancer

1:08:12 will be the first man in Clowns history

1:08:14 to swipe first base.

1:08:17 >> Batting out of the second baseman,

1:08:18 number two, Jaylen Vasquez.

1:08:20 >> WELCOME TO BANANA BALL, the Indianapolis

1:08:22 Clowns.

1:08:24 Taking advantage of the rules of the

1:08:25 sport, Dancer steals first. A free 90.

1:08:30 Now Jaylen Vasquez

1:08:32 he homered his first time at the plate.

1:08:35 Bloomer giving chase. Tough play. CAN

1:08:38 THE FANS DO IT?

1:08:39 NO.

1:08:46 0-1 the count.

1:08:50 Josh, I want to go back to it just for a

1:08:51 second. Trick plays the equalizer point.

1:08:53 The Party Animals defense needs to catch

1:08:55 up a bit here.

1:08:56 >> Yeah, that's exactly right. You've seen

1:08:58 the Clowns getting some big knocks so

1:09:00 far, and Jaylen Vasquez is able to

1:09:02 squeak this one through the right side.

1:09:05 A steal at first and a single in the

1:09:09 right field and now two on with no outs

1:09:11 for the clowns.

1:09:13 >> Bobby LaDay will come to the plate but I

1:09:16 Where is our Bobby LaDay?

1:09:19 He has emerged.

1:09:24 I'm told the clowns

1:09:26 have a big surprise ready

1:09:28 their first night in Banana Ball

1:09:30 but not ready quite yet.

1:09:37 Instead we'll get LaDay who's one for

1:09:39 two tonight.

1:09:43 25 years old Bobby LaDay

1:09:47 spent time in the MLB Draft League then

1:09:48 the Pioneer League.

1:09:51 Josh, you said it was shaping up as one

1:09:52 of the best shortstops

1:09:54 in the Pioneer

1:09:56 and I think he'll be just that in Banana

1:09:58 Ball.

1:09:58 >> Yeah, he is certainly a rookie of the

1:10:00 year favorite in Banana Ball this

1:10:02 season. We've already seen him look

1:10:04 relatively smooth in the trick play

1:10:06 department in this game.

1:10:08 And when it came to players on my big

1:10:10 board entering that Banana Ball player

1:10:12 draft, LaDay the seventh highest ranked

1:10:15 player on my board but he will cut

1:10:17 through the heater from Brett Helton

1:10:20 and that's strikeout number two on the

1:10:22 night for the big righty.

1:10:25 >> Jackie Bradley Jr.

1:10:34 JBJ is 0 for 2 tonight ground out to

1:10:36 line out.

1:10:39 He's got men at first and second looking

1:10:41 for his first Banana Ball hit his first

1:10:43 Banana Ball RBI.

1:10:46 Helton working around him a bit knows

1:10:49 he's facing

1:10:50 an MLB veteran's bat.

1:10:53 THE RIGHTY JACKIE BRADLEY JR. HIS FIRST

1:10:56 HIT IN BANANA BALL.

1:10:58 COULD IT BE AN RBI BASE KNOCK? YES, IT

1:11:00 IS.

1:11:03 TWO RIBBIES FOR JBJ. YES, SIR. JACKIE

1:11:08 BRADLEY JR.

1:11:10 WELCOME TO THE BANANA BALL CHAMPIONSHIP

1:11:13 LEAGUE.

1:11:15 THAT WAS A MISSILE OFF THE BAT OF JACKIE

1:11:18 BRADLEY JR. and a little misplay as well

1:11:21 from Jake Skull in right field puts

1:11:24 Bradley in scoring position and now the

1:11:27 clowns have tallied multiple runs in

1:11:29 three straight frames against the boys

1:11:32 in black and pink.

1:11:34 Nico Hulshizer

1:11:40 Five-year minor leaguer follows up JBJ.

1:11:45 0 for 1 tonight worked the ball for a

1:11:47 sprint his first time up against Garrett

1:11:48 Delano back in the first.

1:11:55 Hulshizer eight cup trick play

1:11:56 opportunity between the legs. That one's

1:11:58 easy.

1:12:00 He retires a guy who had 440

1:12:02 minor league games under his belt.

1:12:04 >> Please welcome your flexibility coach.

1:12:07 >> Wait a second.

1:12:09 There is a brand new character for the

1:12:11 Indianapolis club that flexibility coach

1:12:13 WHAT IS THAT? OH.

1:12:17 JOSH

1:12:18 THE HUMAN BODY

1:12:21 is not supposed to twist to bend to

1:12:24 operate

1:12:26 IN SUCH A MANNER.

1:12:31 I've broken three vertebrae by nearly

1:12:34 watching.

1:12:40 AMADOU, HOW do you do?

1:12:49 WELCOME TO THE CIRCUS.

1:12:59 >> I'm going to see that in my dreams all

1:13:01 night tonight.

1:13:02 >> That's the happen.

1:13:03 >> TO SLEEP ALL WEEK.

1:13:04 >> THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I TAKE

1:13:05 BENADRYL. That's what happens.

1:13:08 >> I thought it was Mucinex. MAKE UP YOUR

1:13:11 MIND.

1:13:11 >> ALL of them.

1:13:14 I take one Tylenol and Mama Do is right

1:13:16 there.

1:13:23 Joe Lidle's one for two.

1:13:27 Hit for the cycle a week ago in his

1:13:29 final spring training game.

1:13:44 Lidle a foul ball.

1:13:46 TWO TWO, TWO DOWN AND JACKIE BRADLEY JR.

1:13:49 stands at second base.

1:13:55 Lidle foul.

1:13:59 Out of the reach the fans.

1:14:06 Another two two.

1:14:13 A ball four sprint would score JBJ from

1:14:15 second.

1:14:20 THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.

1:14:22 THE CLOWNS TACK ON ANOTHER. They've got

1:14:24 three runs in the inning. A game that is

1:14:26 one point to one point, but if the

1:14:27 clowns win this fourth inning

1:14:30 they will once again take a lead.

1:14:32 And it's an uncharacteristic two ball

1:14:34 four sprints in this game already for

1:14:37 Brett Helton.

1:14:39 Had just a 4.2%

1:14:41 ball four sprint rate a season ago. That

1:14:43 was the third lowest rate among all

1:14:45 pitchers on tour. But hasn't been as

1:14:48 dialed in with his command here on

1:14:50 opening night for the Animals.

1:14:52 >> Josh, I think the first question that

1:14:53 comes to mind from that as Carrel Prime

1:14:56 goes toward the stands.

1:14:59 Not caught by the fans. Would be are are

1:15:01 they close calls? Cuz I feel like

1:15:02 Helton's just not getting a favorable

1:15:03 zone, but no, he's missing and missing

1:15:05 by a good bit.

1:15:07 >> Well, again, you also saw him throw the

1:15:09 wild pitch to Brian Danbro that started

1:15:11 the steal of first, so again, the

1:15:13 command just hasn't been where I'm sure

1:15:15 he would have liked it to be tonight.

1:15:17 >> And now he faces his roommate, Carrel

1:15:19 Prime. These two live together back in

1:15:21 Savannah, GEORGIA.

1:15:24 AND HE STRIKES OUT HIS ROOMMATE.

1:15:26 BRETT HELTON, TIP OF THE CAP, CARREL

1:15:29 PRIME BACK TO THE DUGOUT, but not before

1:15:32 the Indianapolis Clowns strike for

1:15:34 three.

1:15:38 >> Fans, it's

1:15:39 time for a banana ball

1:15:41 audition, so I need everyone on their

1:15:43 feet.

1:15:45 This sold-out crowd here at Florida

1:15:47 State on your feet cuz we're going to

1:15:49 get the biggest hey baby we've seen in

1:15:52 Tallahassee. So, let's get those hands

1:15:54 in the air.

1:15:55 Everybody, hands all the way in the air.

1:15:59 Here we go. Queue it up.

1:16:01 Let's clap those hands.

1:16:08 Now, follow along and here we go.

1:16:12 Get those arms waving.

1:16:26 Keep it going.

1:16:28 GET THOSE ARMS UP.

1:16:40 NOW, now keep IT AS WE SHUFFLE.

1:16:51 Over 6,000 people have converged on Dick

1:16:54 Howser Stadium.

1:16:55 >> ME HEAR YOU SING IT.

1:16:56 >> TO WHAT DO WE OWE THE PLEASURE?

1:16:59 THE DECISIONS IN LIFE that lead to this,

1:17:02 Josh. You're 9 years old. You said

1:17:04 peanut butter and jelly or ham and

1:17:06 cheese. You chose ham and cheese. AND

1:17:09 WHEN YOU CHOSE ham and cheese, it put

1:17:11 into motion this.

1:17:13 Otherwise, you'd have been a hell of an

1:17:14 attorney. But, here you are. Here you

1:17:16 stand.

1:17:18 With some of our best friends in the

1:17:20 world.

1:17:21 And a Negro Leagues BASEBALL TEAM. NOW

1:17:23 TURN BANANA Ball team in a brand new

1:17:26 league.

1:17:27 >> I put on your fourth bullet point on

1:17:29 your notes for me. I'd pick the peanut

1:17:31 butter and jelly.

1:17:32 >> Wow.

1:17:33 >> Read your sheet, man.

1:17:34 >> Wow.

1:17:36 That sheet's crazy.

1:17:37 >> 9-year-old me, he was picking the PB&J.

1:17:42 >> Welcome

1:17:44 the former Savannah Banana turned

1:17:46 firefighter turned Indianapolis Clown.

1:17:49 WHO COULD BE IN THAT BARREL?

1:17:51 BUT, Mat Wool.

1:17:56 The backflip off the barrel at a brand

1:17:58 new team.

1:17:59 For a man who graces the logo of the

1:18:02 Banana Ball Championship League.

1:18:03 >> This is his fifth world tour in Banana

1:18:06 Ball. He joined the sport back in the

1:18:08 2022 world tour. The first trick pitcher

1:18:11 we ever saw in Banana Ball's history.

1:18:14 And a guy who commands over 20 different

1:18:17 types of trick pitches. Of course, rodeo

1:18:20 clown, that runs in the family for Mat

1:18:22 Wool. But, the really cool thing about

1:18:24 him joining the clowns, one of his

1:18:26 favorite all-time movies is the Bingo

1:18:29 Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor

1:18:31 Kings, which was a film loosely based on

1:18:34 the barnstorming of the Indianapolis

1:18:37 Clowns. This guy was born to be a member

1:18:40 of a sport like this.

1:18:42 A member of a team like this. But Josh,

1:18:45 as TJ Reeves steps in for the Animals

1:18:47 taking the place of Tanner Thomas, one

1:18:49 thing to note here, you see the ball

1:18:51 four sprints were a bit of an issue for

1:18:52 Wolf last year. HE DROPS HIS DRAWERS.

1:18:58 SUNS OUT, BUNS out for Wolf.

1:19:01 If we see a couple ball four sprints and

1:19:03 the Party Animals were crawl back and

1:19:05 win the inning or make it competitive,

1:19:06 that clock is going to become a factor.

1:19:09 >> Yeah, already less than an hour on the

1:19:12 clock in this ball game. A little slower

1:19:14 pace than we would like to see, but

1:19:17 again, it just really lies on some of

1:19:20 these Party Animals and also a lot of

1:19:22 the Rookie Clowns arms to work a heck of

1:19:24 a lot quicker in tonight's ball game.

1:19:27 >> Hard to look away from Matt Wolf.

1:19:30 As tricky as it gets. Reeves gets a

1:19:33 pitch from UNDER THE LEGS. BOBBY LA DAY

1:19:35 DEEP IN THE HOLE. Fires it nearly into

1:19:37 the Animals dugout.

1:19:42 TJ Reeves an infield single

1:19:45 for the Party Animals.

1:19:49 Any qualms?

1:19:51 No, not at all.

1:19:54 Plenty deep enough in the hole.

1:19:56 90 feet, Wolf checks him off and faces

1:19:58 Noah Fisher who has put a shirt back on.

1:20:03 Fisher slow chopper, the charge, the

1:20:06 throw, and the out.

1:20:09 One down now for the Clowns.

1:20:12 >> And into the game for Eli Peyton, it's

1:20:14 Kirkland Banks coming in to play third

1:20:17 base. A great play by guy who was

1:20:20 teammates with Bobby La Day in the

1:20:22 Pioneer League last season.

1:20:31 >> Dustin Bieber

1:20:33 No beer yet.

1:20:36 Wolf nearly hits him.

1:20:42 Bieber with the ball for a sprint.

1:20:45 His first time up.

1:20:47 Ginger Ninja from Babson Park, Florida.

1:20:50 Another guy

1:20:52 hanging out in his home state.

1:20:58 3-0

1:21:11 Bieber way underneath it. LaDay trick

1:21:15 play LaDay pop it up Banks is right

1:21:18 there.

1:21:19 Justin Bieber retired.

1:21:22 And although Banks and LaDay were former

1:21:24 teammates, they were never doing plays

1:21:26 like that in the Pioneer League. But

1:21:29 able to get the fifth trick play on the

1:21:31 board for the Indianapolis Clowns still

1:21:33 seeking that equalizer point in

1:21:35 tonight's contest. Bryson Bloomer

1:21:41 First pitch swinging.

1:21:44 Bloomer trick PLAY OPPORTUNITY AT

1:21:45 SECOND. TRICK PLAY SECURED FOR THE

1:21:48 INDIANAPOLIS CLOWNS.

1:21:50 And a second point in the ball game as

1:21:52 well. The Clowns jump back out in front

1:21:54 two points to one and Matt Wolf just

1:21:57 threw a 2-minute and 49-second inning

1:22:00 for the Clowns. Excellent work from

1:22:03 Banana Balls greatest trick pitcher in

1:22:05 history.

1:22:06 Absolutely.

1:22:10 So the replay Jaylen Vasquez gets it

1:22:13 done.

1:22:15 Jake Scholl and his Party Animals salute

1:22:16 the troops here at Dick Hauser Field.

1:22:23 Josh, this gives us a moment to breathe.

1:22:25 Maybe our first moment to breathe of the

1:22:27 night.

1:22:28 And and past the loud noises, the pomp,

1:22:31 the circumstance.

1:22:34 I mean

1:22:38 What we're seeing right now is not a

1:22:40 fad.

1:22:43 What we're seeing right now is not a

1:22:44 phenomenon.

1:22:47 This is the evolution of sports.

1:22:50 This is the future

1:22:54 of a sport that has taken the world by

1:22:56 storm.

1:22:57 And the thousands

1:22:59 of young baseball players, young

1:23:01 softball players

1:23:03 who watch this and as infectious as it

1:23:05 is, they dream of one day being Banana

1:23:07 Ball players.

1:23:08 >> Yeah, it's really cool to see and we've

1:23:10 gotten here thanks to a lot of the guys

1:23:11 who are still on this Party Animal

1:23:13 Squad. A lot of veterans who

1:23:16 won championships in 2023 and 2025, 13

1:23:20 of them to be exact and now they're

1:23:22 getting to witness the debut of this

1:23:24 Indianapolis Clowns team that has looked

1:23:26 awfully impressive. And speaking of

1:23:28 impressive, Dalton Ponts great last

1:23:31 season for the Animals, an All-Star in

1:23:33 each of his first two seasons and one of

1:23:36 just two Party Animals who eclipsed 50

1:23:39 strikeouts a season ago.

1:23:42 >> Joe Gray Jr. is the first man he will

1:23:43 face out of the six hole of the Clowns.

1:23:46 A team led by Eric Fox that leads the

1:23:48 game two points to one. They lead the

1:23:50 trick plays by count of six to two. That

1:23:52 equalizer point

1:23:54 would double the lead of Fox's squad.

1:24:02 Ponts

1:24:05 He very well could have been a Party

1:24:07 Animal via the coach franchise, but you

1:24:09 the fans loved him so much, your vote

1:24:12 allowed him to stay in the black and

1:24:13 pink.

1:24:16 You at home had a direct impact on that

1:24:19 man being in Banana Ball and being with

1:24:21 this this franchise.

1:24:23 2-2

1:24:25 Baber! WAY DEEP IN THE HOLE. DUSTIN

1:24:27 BABER FLASHED THE GLOVE. DEREK GINGER

1:24:31 DOES IT AGAIN.

1:24:33 >> I MEAN, THAT'S JUST AN unbelievable

1:24:35 baseball play for Dustin Baber who

1:24:38 hasn't gotten A LOT OF ACTION AT SECOND

1:24:40 base in 2026. He's been recovering from

1:24:43 an appendectomy that he had in early

1:24:46 January, but makes a tremendous play up

1:24:50 the middle robbing Joe Gray on an

1:24:52 infield single.

1:24:53 And now that brings up Chris Burgess to

1:24:56 the plate. 2-2 with two runs batted in.

1:25:01 >> Burgess

1:25:02 former two-year minor leaguer has

1:25:07 was great in his first two ABs, but

1:25:10 finds himself down 0-2.

1:25:16 >> The really unbelievable part of

1:25:18 Burgess's night. He got into the Orioles

1:25:21 organization because they were high on

1:25:22 his defense and his arm behind the

1:25:24 plate. But he has really carried some

1:25:27 weight offensively as this one is driven

1:25:29 out to deep left field into the seats,

1:25:32 but no catch made by the fans here in

1:25:35 Dickey-Stephens Stadium.

1:25:36 >> And due to the nets, Josh, if we see a

1:25:38 fan caught foul ball, it will have to be

1:25:40 in the grand stand in either left or

1:25:41 right field.

1:25:44 >> It's kind of very similar to playing at

1:25:46 Grayson Stadium in a way. I think you've

1:25:48 got little more room down that left

1:25:50 field line, but right field kind of

1:25:52 similar to what you see in those decks.

1:25:55 >> 2-2

1:25:57 GOT HIM LOOKING!

1:26:01 DALTON PONCE, DO YOUR DANCE.

1:26:08 High strike called there. Burgess didn't

1:26:11 love it, Josh, but he's back to the

1:26:12 dugout.

1:26:13 >> It was just good execution from Dalton

1:26:16 Ponce who, like Brett Helton, was one of

1:26:19 the best strike throwers in Banana Ball

1:26:21 a season ago.

1:26:22 But will miss high do with his first

1:26:24 pitch to Kirkland Banks getting his

1:26:27 first ever Banana Ball AB.

1:26:31 Banks.

1:26:34 Foul.

1:26:35 Could not be caught by the fans, but

1:26:37 another clean opportunity.

1:26:50 A cup OF GREAT STOP, BUT IT'S A BASE HIT

1:26:52 FOR KIRKLAND BANKS, his first in Banana

1:26:54 Ball.

1:26:59 Clowns have a man on with two down and

1:27:00 Brian Dansereau

1:27:02 who is yet to be retired.

1:27:04 Various free passes, Josh. A ball for a

1:27:07 sprint and a steal of first base.

1:27:10 Dansereau adds a base hit to it.

1:27:14 Almost the exact same spot as his

1:27:16 teammate Banks.

1:27:17 They're at first and second now for

1:27:19 Jaylen Vasquez who's two for two with a

1:27:22 home run and a single.

1:27:31 He likes it when they call him Big Papa.

1:27:53 Three year minor leaguer, Vasquez.

1:27:56 Played in 207 games.

1:27:59 750 plate appearances.

1:28:06 Yeah, batted only 210 across his minor

1:28:09 league career, but tore things up in

1:28:11 college, especially his last season at

1:28:13 North Greenville in 2023. A 331 average,

1:28:17 26 extra base hits.

1:28:19 >> Yep.

1:28:19 >> And you see he is already found that

1:28:21 confidence here in Banana Ball that he

1:28:23 had throughout his college career.

1:28:34 >> Vasquez, 2-2, two down.

1:28:37 TWO MEN ON BASE.

1:28:41 JUST GOT A PIECE OF the off-speed.

1:28:54 2-2 again.

1:28:57 The fight is on, Josh.

1:28:59 And again to note that that clock at 48

1:29:01 minutes, no new inning can start if it

1:29:03 hit if it hits zero.

1:29:06 >> And you know the Party Animals want this

1:29:07 out as quickly as possible, try and get

1:29:09 back in the dugout with the zero on the

1:29:12 board and get a quick walk-off.

1:29:14 Now Ponce delivers the 2-2 and the

1:29:16 breaking ball will miss inside

1:29:19 as Vasquez eludes the pitch.

1:29:28 >> A massive payoff.

1:29:30 It's down.

1:29:31 >> It's a ball four.

1:29:32 >> will put another run on the board,

1:29:34 possibly two.

1:29:37 And while it's just one,

1:29:39 Indianapolis on the board now for the

1:29:41 fourth consecutive inning.

1:29:43 >> Yeah, that's the fifth ball four sprint

1:29:45 of the night for the Party Animals. A

1:29:46 couple of those have brought in runs for

1:29:49 the Clowns team throughout the night.

1:29:51 And it's awfully surprising, Drake,

1:29:53 considering across the three games in

1:29:56 the Tour Championship, Party Animals

1:29:58 pitching allowed a zero ball four

1:30:00 sprints.

1:30:11 >> Base knock. Opposite field. Bobby LaDay.

1:30:16 Another RBI on his night.

1:30:19 Josh, he is going to be a serious

1:30:21 problem. As Jackie Bradley Jr. is set to

1:30:24 step to the plate. And he's got a

1:30:28 microphone in front of him.

1:30:32 Clowns,

1:30:34 what do you have for us?

1:31:49 >> Now, batting Jackie

1:31:50 >> THE MLB VETERAN, TWO-TIME WORLD SERIES

1:31:53 CHAMPION AND ALL-STAR, JACKIE BRADLEY

1:31:55 JR. HE GOT some moves in them loins.

1:31:58 >> He's trying to do it all tonight, Drake.

1:32:00 You saw the trick play. He's got the RBI

1:32:02 single as well. And now he does his

1:32:04 first ever banana ball signature

1:32:06 walk-up.

1:32:08 JACKIE BRADLEY JR. TURNS A WALK-UP INTO

1:32:11 A BASE KNOCK AND AN RBI.

1:32:14 JBJ, THE THESPIAN.

1:32:19 HE IS MIKED UP, TOO. JACKIE BRADLEY JR.

1:32:23 Another base hit in Banana Ball. Welcome

1:32:25 on to BTV.

1:32:32 Later.

1:32:34 You know, I've always found Jackie to be

1:32:35 more of a Tito guy, myself.

1:32:43 Nico Hulshizer swinging a miss.

1:32:47 Three spot

1:32:49 in the fifth for the Clowns. They can

1:32:50 continue to pile it on.

1:32:57 Back pick.

1:32:59 The inner will be back. It's safe at

1:33:01 first base.

1:33:11 Hulshizer foul.

1:33:18 Big Jermaine guy?

1:33:21 Somewhat. Yeah, somewhat big.

1:33:24 Swing and a miss at the off-speed.

1:33:27 There goes Nico Hulshizer. But here come

1:33:29 the Indianapolis Clowns.

1:33:31 Three runs in the inning and Josh a

1:33:35 major part of what's made the Clowns so

1:33:37 good tonight and will make them great

1:33:38 all season long. Professional experience

1:33:41 on the roster.

1:33:42 >> Yeah, and that obviously kind of equates

1:33:44 to some leadership. Guys getting to

1:33:46 learn underneath some really talented

1:33:48 players. They've got their primetime

1:33:50 coach Ryan Howard not with us tonight,

1:33:53 but they have gotten have conversations

1:33:54 with him, of course, a former MVP with

1:33:57 the Phillies and a World Series

1:33:59 champion, Jackie Bradley Jr. 14 years of

1:34:02 pro experience as well. And you can't

1:34:05 forget about Kahlil Prime, all that time

1:34:07 that he spent in the Rocky system. And

1:34:10 what Prime brings isn't exactly the

1:34:13 competition and the fire that Howard and

1:34:16 JBJ have, but a guy who just understands

1:34:19 the banana ball and what it takes to

1:34:20 entertain.

1:34:22 Jackie Bradley Jr.

1:34:23 >> What's up?

1:34:25 >> Say hello to the world.

1:34:26 >> Hello, world. How y'all doing?

1:34:28 >> Trick plays tonight, a couple of base

1:34:30 knocks. Does this thing just come that

1:34:33 naturally to you?

1:34:34 >> I'm just trying to get it going. I'm

1:34:35 trying to get this old body moving.

1:34:40 >> All right, you said it, 35 years old.

1:34:43 I mean, look, you played the highest

1:34:44 level of baseball and you said it to me

1:34:47 a couple days ago, this is this is this

1:34:49 is a different sport. These are two

1:34:50 different things, baseball and banana

1:34:52 ball. How do you put everything you've

1:34:54 seen these five innings into words?

1:34:56 >> Yeah, it is much different. It's it's

1:34:58 very unique, but I think it all comes

1:35:00 down to the love of the game.

1:35:03 If you having fun,

1:35:05 everyone else is going to kind of

1:35:06 radiate with it

1:35:07 and they're going to have fun with you,

1:35:08 so I'm enjoying the fans,

1:35:11 enjoying my teammates,

1:35:13 and uh we're getting after it.

1:35:15 >> Now, Jackie, give us the lowdown on how

1:35:17 you came to enter yourself into the

1:35:20 banana ball player draft and get taken

1:35:22 first overall to this Clown Show team.

1:35:25 >> It's a funny story, so

1:35:28 everybody thinks this is something that

1:35:29 was

1:35:30 in the works for a while. Well, it

1:35:32 wasn't.

1:35:34 Um

1:35:35 I think this all happened within

1:35:37 a week's time of the draft. Jesse gives

1:35:39 me a call.

1:35:41 He's like, "Hey, I I I have this crazy

1:35:43 idea and

1:35:45 I want to pitch it to you."

1:35:46 I was like, "All right, that sounds

1:35:48 good. Let's just go for it.

1:35:50 Let me hear it."

1:35:51 He said, "Well, I'm about to get on a

1:35:53 flight right now.

1:35:55 Um I'll call you back later." So, he

1:35:57 just leaves you on a cliffhanger.

1:35:58 And we end up getting in contact a

1:36:00 couple days later.

1:36:01 And he's explaining to me

1:36:04 asking me if I knew about the

1:36:05 Indianapolis Clowns, and I said,

1:36:06 "Absolutely.

1:36:08 I mean, I don't know

1:36:09 a whole lot about it, but I know what

1:36:11 they stood for, what they were about."

1:36:13 He said, "Well, we're thinking about

1:36:14 bringing them back.

1:36:15 And we want you to be a part of it."

1:36:17 And he starts labeling all of these

1:36:19 cities

1:36:20 that the team potentially goes to. He

1:36:23 starts off, you know, "I know your

1:36:25 your hometown's Richmond, Virginia, born

1:36:28 and raised.

1:36:29 He says, um you went to school at the

1:36:30 University of South Carolina.

1:36:32 Uh the Clowns played there three times

1:36:34 in the state of South Carolina three

1:36:35 different times. You live in Florida, we

1:36:37 played there twice.

1:36:38 And the last major league team you

1:36:40 played with was the Kansas City Royals.

1:36:42 So, and we play at Kauffman Stadium this

1:36:44 year." He said he said, "I'd be remiss

1:36:47 not to ask you. All these dots

1:36:48 connecting, if you wouldn't mind

1:36:50 joining."

1:36:51 >> Wow.

1:36:52 >> I said, "You know, that that sounds

1:36:53 amazing." And obviously Jesse can tell a

1:36:55 story with the best of them. So, he can

1:36:57 paint a picture.

1:36:59 And I said, "Hey, you know, that sounds

1:37:00 great, Jesse.

1:37:01 Um

1:37:02 now you going to have to explain that to

1:37:03 my wife, because we got four kids at

1:37:05 home.

1:37:07 And um we we're pretty busy at the

1:37:08 house, so other than that,

1:37:10 we got this thing going, and I'm glad it

1:37:12 all happened."

1:37:14 >> Trick pitch on the way. Oh, a juggle

1:37:16 pitch.

1:37:17 Josh Lewinsky from Clark Gilmore.

1:37:21 Gilmore with three banana balls in his

1:37:23 hand fires outside. It's actually Drew

1:37:26 Irvine.

1:37:26 >> Yes, yes, that's Drew from the

1:37:28 Indianapolis Clowns.

1:37:30 Former Pirates minor leaguer.

1:37:32 >> There you go.

1:37:36 He'll fire inside.

1:37:40 >> I got something for y'all. If I get

1:37:41 another little uh pop up, y'all got to

1:37:43 listen to my cadence. You You to listen

1:37:45 to the cadence.

1:37:47 >> All four sprint. JBJ will crash it.

1:37:50 >> Are we good? We good.

1:37:51 >> Who has entered the game, fifth rounder

1:37:54 to the clowns, 6'3" 180.

1:37:56 He'll sit 94 to 96

1:37:59 tonight, hard-throwing right-hander.

1:38:02 I don't Josh, again, I keep bringing up

1:38:04 timelines and the universe and decisions

1:38:06 in life. Jackie Bradley Jr. miked up

1:38:09 while Bronson Ball home

1:38:11 is dancing in the mirror and his

1:38:12 teammates singing in the shower.

1:38:15 And JBJ, you had a walk-up of your own.

1:38:16 How have you leaned into the

1:38:18 entertainment side of the sport?

1:38:19 >> You know, I think I

1:38:21 I came into this completely open-minded

1:38:22 and I didn't try to come here

1:38:25 close-minded

1:38:27 trying to think what it could possibly

1:38:28 be like.

1:38:30 I just kind of lean on the guys who were

1:38:31 already here.

1:38:33 I asked a lot of questions

1:38:35 across the

1:38:36 league, multiple teams.

1:38:38 And you had guys who were willing to

1:38:39 help.

1:38:40 I think that's what

1:38:42 makes this unique cuz everybody's

1:38:43 pulling in the same direction.

1:38:45 >> There's a base hit.

1:38:47 Right up the crotch for Reese Hampton.

1:38:50 Irvine's allowed two on here.

1:38:53 Jackie, you told me again a couple days

1:38:56 ago, you look up to guys like Bill LeRoy

1:38:59 or Carell Prime or Jonathan Sunshine

1:39:01 Lutz, guys who have taught you, helped

1:39:03 teach you the different pieces of this

1:39:05 sport. You're looking up to Bill LeRoy.

1:39:08 Is that crazy?

1:39:09 >> Yeah, it was it was it was great. It was

1:39:10 honestly

1:39:11 when I first got drafted

1:39:13 you you said it, those were the guys

1:39:14 that I reached out to.

1:39:15 You know, they're they're veterans,

1:39:16 they're pioneers of this game.

1:39:18 They've been doing it for a long time.

1:39:20 So, why would why wouldn't I want to get

1:39:22 their knowledge

1:39:23 to be able to help push this game

1:39:25 forward?

1:39:27 >> Rookie of the Year Andy Cosgrove to dish

1:39:29 to face Drew Irvine.

1:39:34 Jackie, you're also a man with a lot of

1:39:36 knowledge yourself. What do you think

1:39:38 you've been able to bring into this

1:39:40 clowns locker room so far in 2026.

1:39:43 >> Hopefully a uh

1:39:45 uh a a calm.

1:39:47 I just try to be

1:39:49 as even keel as possible.

1:39:51 Hold on.

1:39:55 >> Aaron Thrall

1:39:57 from Lidle

1:39:59 will bring home a run for the Party

1:40:01 Animals.

1:40:04 >> I'm just trying

1:40:04 >> via Bronson Ball home. The third goes

1:40:06 Reese Hampton.

1:40:10 >> I try to bring this team peace.

1:40:12 >> Yeah, what you got, Jackie?

1:40:13 >> I was just saying I just try to bring a

1:40:14 sense of peace. We have to share share

1:40:16 moments

1:40:17 that these guys are they're going to

1:40:19 they're going to go through.

1:40:21 Uh a lot of these guys hadn't hadn't

1:40:23 played

1:40:24 in certain environments. So, just

1:40:26 getting them to

1:40:28 to trust themselves

1:40:30 and just trust what they're doing is

1:40:32 good enough.

1:40:36 >> Foul ball from Castro out of the

1:40:38 complex.

1:40:40 Counter remains full.

1:40:46 Castro works the ball for Sprint. Irvine

1:40:48 wanted the strikeout.

1:40:53 Castro stops at first.

1:40:57 Jackie, you you mentioned the pressure

1:40:59 in coaching these guys up to face

1:41:01 pressure. How different is it playing

1:41:03 say a Tuesday night game at South

1:41:05 Carolina, a midweek versus Mercer, that

1:41:07 atmosphere versus something like this

1:41:10 and having to rise to the to the

1:41:12 occasion?

1:41:12 >> Yeah, I think

1:41:14 you know, pressure is something that

1:41:15 people put on themselves. As long as

1:41:17 you're prepared,

1:41:19 embrace the moment.

1:41:20 Not a lot of people get the chance to

1:41:22 experience these moments. Yeah. So, you

1:41:24 need to just live it up,

1:41:26 appreciate where you've come from,

1:41:28 and the people who came before you.

1:41:33 >> Irvine

1:41:36 ball up.

1:41:45 Scholl the foul ball as Mark Smith has

1:41:47 come in to run at first base for the

1:41:49 catcher Andy Cosgrove.

1:41:54 >> Hey, Scholl could run into some balls,

1:41:55 huh?

1:42:04 >> Scholl

1:42:05 >> Hey!

1:42:06 >> Got him looking backwards, hey!

1:42:12 >> One one one one one!

1:42:17 >> He'll give way to Chase Akuff, the

1:42:18 four-hole hitter.

1:42:21 Saw the replay.

1:42:23 Scholl didn't love it.

1:42:25 Strike three nonetheless.

1:42:28 Jackie, those guys like Jake Scholl who

1:42:30 played a long time in affiliated ball,

1:42:32 Correlle Prime, Reese Hampton,

1:42:34 what are those conversations like with

1:42:35 other guys who who built through the

1:42:37 ranks of minor league baseball who have

1:42:39 seen that road life?

1:42:40 >> It's It's

1:42:42 It's It's hard. It's hard. You're

1:42:44 playing every single day. Obviously,

1:42:46 we're playing on weekends here. So, the

1:42:49 bus rides are long.

1:42:50 >> Jackie Bradley Jr.

1:42:55 Over his head.

1:42:58 Mark Smith to the plate.

1:43:00 Smith

1:43:03 Scores the tying run of the fifth inning

1:43:05 for the Party Animals. Irvine has one

1:43:07 out here. That's double for Chase Akuff.

1:43:18 Between ball four sprints and that one,

1:43:20 Jackie, you catching your breath okay

1:43:21 out there?

1:43:22 >> Yeah. Good thing I'm conditioned for

1:43:24 this.

1:43:25 >> It's that Tallahassee altitude.

1:43:27 >> Yeah.

1:43:30 It's a good pitch.

1:43:31 >> Swanee

1:43:33 Now, Jackie, I'm I'm curious between a

1:43:35 signature walk up like the one you had

1:43:37 tonight and the trick play in the first

1:43:39 inning which one do you find to be more

1:43:41 challenging more of an adjustment for

1:43:43 you?

1:43:45 >> Um

1:43:47 I think it's the the entertainment side

1:43:49 as a whole. Um that's it's not something

1:43:51 that

1:43:52 I've had to

1:43:54 do or even think about.

1:43:56 So

1:43:57 in that aspect of

1:43:58 where there's dancing

1:44:00 singing choreograph

1:44:03 Um so it's just a whole

1:44:05 new element

1:44:07 I'm trying to open up.

1:44:09 It's out of my comfort zone but

1:44:11 like I said we're going to go for it.

1:44:16 >> Irvine

1:44:18 Swaney

1:44:19 OPPO IS IT FAIR? NO.

1:44:23 Uh I'm I'm hearing from our producer

1:44:25 Jackie something about Naruto. Can you

1:44:27 please explain what that means?

1:44:29 >> His head down right here at Hidden Leaf

1:44:30 Village.

1:44:31 That's what it is. It's an anime

1:44:33 character Naruto.

1:44:36 The ninja who's trying to become head

1:44:38 Hokage the leader of all ninjas of his

1:44:40 village.

1:44:41 And that that play that I made

1:44:44 was the way he runs.

1:44:48 >> SWANEY TO JBJ

1:44:54 AND THE BOTTOM OF TRICK PLAY FOR JACKIE

1:44:56 BRADLEY JR. JACKIE

1:44:59 WHAT SAY YOU?

1:45:03 >> CADENCE was a little bit off.

1:45:05 I got to motion somebody next time.

1:45:08 >> That's those are your thoughts?

1:45:11 >> Yeah I got to motion somebody got to

1:45:12 kiss somebody on the fly.

1:45:16 >> That guy's a gamer.

1:45:18 Tapped in locked in.

1:45:20 TJ Reeves to right

1:45:22 is it fair?

1:45:24 No.

1:45:30 >> We're putting that guy to work in center

1:45:31 field right now.

1:45:32 >> Yeah, I guess the ENTERTAINMENT IS

1:45:33 HARDER.

1:45:35 >> THAT WOULD THAT WOULD HAVE LOOKED LIKE A

1:45:37 BREEZE.

1:45:37 >> Oh my gosh.

1:45:39 >> Hey, that's why we practice those

1:45:40 things, right? So they make it look

1:45:41 easy.

1:45:42 >> And then he was frustrated with himself

1:45:44 right after it.

1:45:45 >> And we're just talking about the Naruto

1:45:46 trick play as well. By the way, the

1:45:48 headband, is that what we're going to

1:45:50 expect to see every game on tour this

1:45:52 season?

1:45:52 >> Believe it.

1:45:55 Believe it.

1:46:01 >> Inning winning run at third. SWING AND A

1:46:04 MISS. DREW Irvine meets the moment.

1:46:06 Keeps the inning tied. Clowns retain a

1:46:08 two-to-one lead. Jackie, your knowledge,

1:46:10 your presence in this game, it is an

1:46:12 honor to have you as a member of the

1:46:13 Banana Ball Championship League, an

1:46:15 honor to have you on the broadcast.

1:46:16 We're incredibly grateful for you.

1:46:18 >> Thank you. Appreciate y'all.

1:46:20 >> Thank you very much for joining us,

1:46:21 Jackie. Best of luck tonight.

1:46:24 Josh, that's a guy who

1:46:26 came out for the Savannah Bananas last

1:46:28 year

1:46:29 at Fenway Park and now is in the league

1:46:30 full-time.

1:46:34 The Party Starters

1:46:37 over on the first base side and

1:46:39 the defense quickly out. The Party

1:46:41 Animals Dalton Ponce, that right arm

1:46:43 toes the rubber again.

1:46:44 And we've got to move quickly, Josh.

1:46:46 Again, 30 minutes or so left in this

1:46:48 contest. No new inning can begin if that

1:46:50 timer runs out. Very conscious

1:46:54 of where that clock sits right now.

1:46:57 >> Again, we've seen five half innings that

1:46:59 have been over six minutes in tonight's

1:47:02 contest. The pitchers just haven't been

1:47:05 as effective or dialed in as they'd all

1:47:06 have liked. And where things really got

1:47:09 rocky for Dalton Ponce an inning ago was

1:47:12 surrendering a ball four sprint and four

1:47:15 singles all with two outs against the

1:47:17 Indianapolis Clowns. So, right now, I

1:47:20 know the Party Animals are down in that

1:47:22 trick play department and wanting the

1:47:24 gate the equalizer point, but they've

1:47:26 also got to make sure that they keep

1:47:28 this game moving and just make sure they

1:47:30 get outs for their guys who really don't

1:47:33 have their best stuff tonight.

1:47:34 >> Yeah.

1:47:39 A foul ball from Joe Lidle.

1:47:42 Josh, 13 runs from the Indianapolis

1:47:44 Clowns.

1:47:46 Seven for the Party Animals.

1:47:48 These two pitching staffs have

1:47:52 But like you mentioned, struggled to

1:47:53 throw strikes, I think is the most

1:47:55 glaring thing of this game. And And this

1:47:57 year's lead-in was long. Two spring

1:47:59 training for these guys has been about a

1:48:00 month.

1:48:06 Lidle, a hit by pitch.

1:48:09 These guys all reported in early January

1:48:11 and they've been in Savannah ever since

1:48:14 acclimating for the rookies, acclimating

1:48:16 to the game, and for the veterans

1:48:17 getting back in shape, making sure

1:48:19 they're ready to go for the season.

1:48:21 So, a bit uncharacteristic to see how

1:48:23 wild the arms have been tonight.

1:48:24 >> Yeah, and especially considering Mike

1:48:26 Vavasis wanted to use the guys that he

1:48:28 trusted the most from a season ago in

1:48:31 this contest to try and get the win. As

1:48:33 Prime swings at the first pitch, pops

1:48:35 this one up in center field and Reese

1:48:38 Hampton will secure the first out of the

1:48:40 inning the routine way.

1:48:43 >> And Josh, if the Party Animals are going

1:48:45 to protect the equalizer point and not

1:48:47 offer it to the Indianapolis Clowns, the

1:48:49 trick plays need to come in bunches and

1:48:51 pretty soon.

1:48:53 And again, I mentioned you you want to

1:48:55 make sure that you're getting the outs

1:48:56 here, moving this game along, but on

1:48:59 kind of a lazy fly ball like that one

1:49:00 from Hampton, just a little tip right to

1:49:02 yourself. It still gets a quick eight

1:49:05 quick out, also gets you another trick

1:49:07 play in the contest.

1:49:08 >> Devil's advocate here, if it's

1:49:10 unsuccessful, now you have runners at

1:49:12 first and second, maybe first and third,

1:49:13 and things can unravel with the time

1:49:15 even worse.

1:49:20 Very healthy hack.

1:49:28 Swing and a miss for Joe Gray Jr.

1:49:35 Malachi Mitchell in at first base to

1:49:37 run.

1:49:43 Joe Gray Jr.'s fourth plate appearance

1:49:46 tonight.

1:49:47 As we're only in the sixth inning.

1:49:50 And it's a two to one game.

1:49:59 >> We've mentioned how tough the Party

1:50:00 Animals bats have been over the year,

1:50:02 what a disciplined team that are. These

1:50:04 clowns, their two-strike hitting tonight

1:50:06 has just been really tremendous. Their

1:50:08 ability to foul off consecutive PITCHES

1:50:11 UNTIL THEY GET SOMETHING they like. And

1:50:13 that's the case FOR JOE GRAY. THIS ONE

1:50:15 GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT FIELD

1:50:17 WALL. FLASH STREAKING AROUND THIRD and

1:50:20 he WILL SCORE STANDING UP. The clowns,

1:50:24 IT'S ANOTHER RUN IN THE BALLGAME. FIVE

1:50:27 STRAIGHT FRAMES THAT THEY'VE TALLIED at

1:50:29 least one.

1:50:30 >> And that's what Joe Gray Jr.'s going to

1:50:32 do all year long. That was a pro swing.

1:50:34 Josh, he was a year away from making

1:50:36 that graphic that we showed earlier of

1:50:38 pro ball experience.

1:50:40 Too bad Jackie Bradley Jr. and Ryan

1:50:42 Howard were on there. Six years of minor

1:50:44 league ball

1:50:46 from JGJ.

1:50:48 >> I mean, he was drafted out of high

1:50:49 school, second rounder to the Milwaukee

1:50:52 Brewers. So, an unbelievable resume and

1:50:55 at one point, he was the number seven

1:50:57 ranked prospect in their system

1:50:59 according to MLB Pipeline.

1:51:02 >> And exactly what was mentioned just a

1:51:04 second ago, it's the the inverse.

1:51:08 Instead of the Party Animals gaining a

1:51:10 trick play

1:51:11 that extends the game further.

1:51:14 And the trick play missed from Reese

1:51:16 Hampton

1:51:17 allows Chris Burgess to first base.

1:51:24 Should note two trick play missed is

1:51:26 treated similar to an error in the stat

1:51:27 book. So,

1:51:29 Burgess will not get credit here

1:51:33 for a hit.

1:51:38 Dalton Ponce a little 6 2-2

1:51:43 creative filming here too from the third

1:51:46 from the third base side. Very creative

1:51:48 way to film it.

1:51:55 It's actually Ponce and the third

1:51:57 baseman Bryson Bloomer, first baseman

1:51:59 Jason Swan that are dancing.

1:52:04 Ponce deals home.

1:52:15 Inside of 25 minutes remaining in the

1:52:16 game.

1:52:19 Cosgrove

1:52:20 Does he have room? No.

1:52:29 Kirkland Banks

1:52:31 can make even more noise for the boys in

1:52:33 blue.

1:52:40 >> Now introducing your guest first base

1:52:42 coach for the inning. He's the

1:52:44 flexibility coach for the

1:52:46 >> Oh, Ponce loses his footing.

1:52:53 I believe he'll be charged with an

1:52:54 automatic ball for that.

1:52:56 >> Yep.

1:52:57 >> Or actually a balk.

1:52:58 >> Yep, a balk.

1:53:03 >> Now runners at second and third.

1:53:07 1-2

1:53:09 Swing and a miss. He got Kirkland Banks.

1:53:14 Banks now one for two.

1:53:17 Hello Brian Dancerow. He's yet to be

1:53:18 retired tonight. Ball four sprint.

1:53:21 Steal a first base and a single for the

1:53:23 former visitor.

1:53:29 Oof.

1:53:31 Ponds wanted it.

1:53:37 With two in scoring position,

1:53:41 Dancerow's hit.

1:53:46 Josh, is there any other kind of free

1:53:48 pass that Brian Dancerow can work

1:53:50 tonight?

1:53:51 Has he hit the free pass cycle?

1:53:53 >> It's one of the weirder stat lines that

1:53:55 you're going to see on

1:53:56 bananaball.com/stats

1:53:58 tonight.

1:53:59 A sprint, a hit by pitch, a steal of

1:54:01 first, and a single for Brian Dancerow.

1:54:04 Just an on-base machine.

1:54:07 And now the bases loaded for Jaylen

1:54:08 Vasquez. Already four runs batted in

1:54:11 tonight, which included a three-run

1:54:14 homer in the second inning.

1:54:18 >> Vasquez, home run, single, ball four,

1:54:21 sprint.

1:54:23 Josh, if you combine the nine, 10, one,

1:54:26 and two holes for the clowns, they've

1:54:28 been retired a combined four times in 16

1:54:31 plate appearances. That's 12 times on

1:54:34 base safely.

1:54:37 For the bottom two guys in your lineup

1:54:38 and the top two guys in your lineup,

1:54:41 it's a recipe for success as Amadou

1:54:45 does that.

1:54:50 SWING AND A MISS. PONDS HAD TO HAVE IT.

1:54:54 The clowns strand the bases loaded,

1:54:57 and here comes the world's fastest

1:54:58 inning, Josh. For those of you who are

1:54:59 watching Banana Ball for the first time,

1:55:02 How does a world's fastest work?

1:55:05 Got the guys on the Indianapolis Clowns

1:55:07 taking the field as quickly as possible.

1:55:10 Party Animals have guys already ready to

1:55:12 come up to bat. Noah Fisher already has

1:55:15 grabbed the bat right outside the

1:55:16 right-handed batter's box. So, once

1:55:18 those Clowns are set defensively, Clark

1:55:21 Gilmore, the new pitcher, is free to

1:55:23 start his delivery and begin the inning.

1:55:26 >> Play ball.

1:55:28 Clark Gilmore

1:55:30 You may know that name.

1:55:32 You may know that arm. Over 100 million

1:55:35 cumulative views

1:55:37 on a trick pitch during spring training.

1:55:38 LaDay deep in the hole. Tries to go

1:55:40 trick play. Cannot. It's out of the

1:55:42 glove of K'naan Prime.

1:55:47 Trick play missed. Let's see a replay of

1:55:48 this one. LaDay was really deep in the

1:55:50 hole, Josh. Still decided to go for the

1:55:52 trick play. Throw was on time.

1:55:56 Super deep here.

1:55:58 Behind the back, the throw would have

1:56:00 beat him, but it's just out of the reach

1:56:01 of Prime.

1:56:03 AND NOW, DUSTIN BEAVER.

1:56:05 THE BEER CHUG.

1:56:06 BEFORE HE BATS, HE DRINKS A BEER UNDER 4

1:56:09 SECONDS IS THE GOAL. HE NAILS IT, NO

1:56:12 FOAM.

1:56:15 THE GINGER NINJA.

1:56:20 WITH A MAN AT FIRST, Party Animals trail

1:56:22 the inning one run to zero.

1:56:28 No one out. Fisher off of first.

1:56:37 He faces Mr. Irrelevant, the final pick

1:56:40 in the 2026 Banana Ball Championship

1:56:42 League, Brett. Clark Gilmore. DOUBLE

1:56:44 PLAY OPPORTUNITY. THERE'S ONE. THERE'S

1:56:46 TWO. AND A TRICK PLAY FOR LADAY. BOBBY

1:56:49 LADAY PUT IT INTO MOTION.

1:56:52 NOT EXACTLY A PERFECT behind the back

1:56:54 feed from Bobby LaDay, but Vasquez does

1:56:57 a really good job holding the back,

1:56:59 fielding that banana ball off the

1:57:01 bounce, and then a really strong throw

1:57:04 over to Correlle Prime to double up

1:57:06 Dustin Baber. And this one is lined over

1:57:08 the head of Brian Dansereau in left, and

1:57:12 Bryson Bloomer will pull in the second

1:57:14 base with a two-out double.

1:57:17 >> That makes the double play that Baber

1:57:19 grounded into sting even more.

1:57:22 As Bloomer would have had an RBI to tie

1:57:24 the inning.

1:57:33 >> Michael Ballard

1:57:37 BACK TO THE TUNNEL, AND MICHAEL BALLARD

1:57:41 IN HIS ROOKIE DEBUT

1:57:45 WALKS OFF THE SIXTH INNING WITH A

1:57:47 BALLARD BOMB.

1:57:50 SAY HELLO TO THE PARKING LOT.

1:57:54 OH MY GOD.

1:57:59 >> THIS IS A GUY WHO'S BEEN DOUBTED for

1:58:01 most of his career. He wasn't a starter

1:58:04 until his senior year IN HIGH SCHOOL,

1:58:06 WALKED ON AT ECKERD COLLEGE, AND GOT

1:58:09 ONTO THE PARTY ANIMALS THANKS TO HIS PAL

1:58:11 CHASE SIKES. NOW HE'S THE WALK-OFF HERO

1:58:14 IN THE SIXTH INNING.

1:58:17 And the Animals got to feel good about

1:58:19 this one. Rex is with Mikey.

1:58:21 >> Mikey, what a way to I mean, look, a lot

1:58:24 of rookies are nervous in that position.

1:58:25 What went through your head there?

1:58:27 >> See ball, hit ball. That's about it.

1:58:29 >> And this party's not done just yet, is

1:58:30 it?

1:58:30 >> It ain't over. It ain't over till it's

1:58:32 over. Let's go.

1:58:33 >> That's a veteran mindset, baby. Good

1:58:35 luck on the rest of the way.

1:58:35 >> A veteran mindset from the rookie. Thank

1:58:38 you, Rex Castillo. Like Mike, I want to

1:58:41 be just like Mike. And whoa,

1:58:43 THE LIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT, AND IT'S THE

1:58:45 DEBUT OF THE PARTY ANIMAL WRISTBAND.

1:58:49 UNIQUE, one-of-a-kind in sports. Every

1:58:52 fan is given one on their way inside of

1:58:54 the complex.

1:58:56 And these wristbands HAVE LIT UP.

1:59:03 ACTION LANSDELL

1:59:05 GETS THEM GOING.

1:59:13 LIGHT UP THE NIGHT SKY AT DICK HOWSER

1:59:15 STADIUM.

1:59:20 Florida State has been a perfect host.

1:59:24 As Aschona Fluke comes into the game for

1:59:27 the Animals.

1:59:41 You see Fluke's numbers from season ago.

1:59:46 Earned himself a ring

1:59:48 with the Party Animals.

1:59:50 His second in his Banana Ball tenure.

1:59:55 Big swing

1:59:56 but not much pop from La Day.

2:00:01 Well, this might be the perfect guy to

2:00:03 have on the mound right now with you're

2:00:05 the Party Animals. Fluke has 20 career

2:00:08 innings tossed in less than 2 minutes.

2:00:10 Fourth all time in Banana Ball history.

2:00:14 And of course, this is a guy who had a

2:00:17 131 ERA plus last season. 21% better

2:00:21 than tour average.

2:00:22 But

2:00:23 Jason Swan's going to be charged with

2:00:25 the trick play missed. He was looking to

2:00:28 go between the legs.

2:00:30 I'm not sure, Josh. That's an error.

2:00:32 That's an error.

2:00:34 I think the intent was to try and get a

2:00:36 between the legs transition. Never got

2:00:39 there, so it'll just go down as an

2:00:40 error. Yep. No possession of the ball

2:00:42 right there.

2:00:44 So, Jackie Bradley Jr. will run at

2:00:46 first. Nico Hulkenberg bats.

2:00:49 JBJ's got his calisthenics in tonight.

2:00:52 Both in center field and on the base

2:00:53 paths.

2:00:55 His last three times at the plate he has

2:00:56 reached single, single, error.

2:01:02 Hulsizer five-year minor leaguer.

2:01:05 87 home runs in that span.

2:01:15 Josh, can these two teams squeeze in

2:01:20 a couple of innings in 16 minutes?

2:01:26 That's a big question here in the top of

2:01:28 the seventh.

2:01:29 >> It's going to be awfully tricky. You

2:01:30 really need Fluke to put a zero up on

2:01:32 the board and the Animals to grab

2:01:34 another quick walk-off as well.

2:01:37 We've seen the Animals

2:01:39 not this game at two points apiece, but

2:01:42 those walk-offs didn't exactly come as

2:01:44 quickly as they'd have liked,

2:01:47 especially against Kobe Robinson in the

2:01:49 third inning.

2:01:53 >> Hulsizer, ooh, just inside. Ball four.

2:01:55 Fluke did not like the call.

2:01:56 >> The Clowns can advance as far as they

2:01:58 want to go.

2:01:58 >> Josh,

2:02:00 to the advanced Banana Ball fan,

2:02:03 they see this game as a score of three

2:02:05 points to two right now, given the

2:02:07 equalizer point.

2:02:13 Going into the final inning, if the

2:02:14 visiting team in Banana Ball leads in

2:02:16 trick plays, they'll earn an extra

2:02:17 point.

2:02:19 And the Clowns are boat racing the Party

2:02:20 Animals in that statistic tonight.

2:02:23 >> And if we aren't able to reach the ninth

2:02:25 inning, hold that thought. Joe Lidle

2:02:27 sprays this one out to THE OPPOSITE

2:02:29 FIELD. FISHER, A TREMENDOUS TUMBLING

2:02:32 DIVE IN LEFT FIELD. Is able to make the

2:02:35 catch, but it is still a sacrifice fly

2:02:39 for the Clowns

2:02:41 extra hitter turned catcher tonight

2:02:45 as Bradley Jr. comes across to score.

2:02:49 >> That run will not be charged

2:02:53 to the ERA of Shawn Fluke. He remains

2:02:55 clean

2:02:56 as Jackie Bradley Jr. had reached via an

2:02:58 error.

2:03:00 Korel Prime.

2:03:04 Shawn Fluke was an exterminator, Josh.

2:03:06 He was killing cockroaches.

2:03:10 Now he's facing

2:03:11 Jackie Bradley Jr. and Korel Prime

2:03:14 in a professional banana ball game.

2:03:18 And he retires the latter.

2:03:21 Baber no trick play. The Party Animals

2:03:23 want to move quickly. They want this

2:03:25 game to get to the ninth.

2:03:30 >> Tallahassee tonight has already been

2:03:33 >> Cruise is on the field and I want you to

2:03:34 never stop believing.

2:03:36 >> And my goodness, do we have something

2:03:37 special for you? I need everyone who's

2:03:40 able to get up out of your seats, on

2:03:44 your feet. I need you to get your

2:03:48 wristbands in the air and wave them side

2:03:52 to side as we all join in together to

2:03:55 sing Don't Stop Believin'.

2:04:05 >> Living in a

2:04:06 lonely world.

2:04:09 Took the midnight

2:04:11 train going

2:04:12 anywhere.

2:04:18 Just a city boy

2:04:21 born and raised in

2:04:26 He took the midnight train going

2:04:29 anywhere.

2:04:49 >> A single ring of smoke hair.

2:04:53 >> Sing it.

2:04:57 >> Two old smiles they can share the night.

2:05:00 It goes on and on

2:05:03 and on

2:05:04 and on.

2:05:05 Stranger

2:05:07 who waited

2:05:09 >> Sing it.

2:05:10 >> up and down the

2:05:13 shadows

2:05:15 somewhere

2:05:17 in the night.

2:05:21 Don't stop.

2:05:23 >> What?

2:05:26 >> Hold on to that feeling.

2:05:29 Sweet life.

2:05:31 People

2:05:38 Don't stop.

2:05:39 >> Sing it.

2:05:42 >> Hold on

2:05:43 to that feeling.

2:05:46 Sweet life.

2:05:48 People

2:05:54 Don't stop.

2:06:01 >> This

2:06:06 This is is different, man. I have been

2:06:09 to

2:06:11 national championships.

2:06:14 I've been to World Series, Josh.

2:06:19 I've been to an SEC college football

2:06:20 game on a Saturday at night.

2:06:23 But this atmosphere

2:06:25 what Banana Ball breeds

2:06:27 is one of a kind.

2:06:31 Reece Hampton to the plate.

2:06:33 The clock does not stop for

2:06:35 entertainment, by the way, so we're down

2:06:36 to about 10 minutes left. 10 and 1/2.

2:06:40 And Hampton

2:06:42 goes down via the K.

2:06:44 That's going to help out Brett Maddock.

2:06:49 >> That's just what the Clowns need. Sean

2:06:51 Flukes coming off a 3-minute and

2:06:52 29-second inning, fastest of the night

2:06:55 for the Party Animals. You'd honestly

2:06:57 love to see a couple innings that are

2:06:59 shorter than that for the boys in black

2:07:01 and pink. But right now, Brett Maddock

2:07:04 is working at a pretty furious pace on

2:07:06 the pitcher's mound

2:07:08 and can't quite clip the zone. Now, two

2:07:10 and one the count on Andy Cosgrove.

2:07:14 >> Ooh, looked inside. Maddock gets the

2:07:17 call.

2:07:24 Maddock

2:07:26 gets the strikeout looking.

2:07:29 Cosgrove quick chirp.

2:07:33 Jake Skole steps in and that does it for

2:07:35 Maddock.

2:07:38 That pitch is there.

2:07:40 And Fisher Polidor off

2:07:42 comes into the game.

2:07:44 The rookie youngster was a visitor last

2:07:47 year.

2:07:49 And now old Knuckles finds his way with

2:07:51 the Indianapolis Clowns.

2:07:55 Quick night for Maddock.

2:07:57 Two batters faced, two strikeouts.

2:08:00 >> And he did it all in 57 seconds for the

2:08:03 Clowns, a very impressive banana ball

2:08:06 debut. Albeit, he faced just two

2:08:07 batters.

2:08:09 And now Polidor off, the man who

2:08:10 commands the knuckler for the Clowns,

2:08:13 is on the mound and

2:08:16 very interestingly, he's wearing the

2:08:17 number infinity this season because

2:08:20 back in the 1950s, he learned the

2:08:22 infinity pitch from famed knuckleballer

2:08:25 Hoyt Wilhelm.

2:08:28 Gave me all the lore. traveling down

2:08:30 yesterday. Rather impressive.

2:08:33 >> Soft ball pitched to Scholl.

2:08:38 All knuckles.

2:08:41 HAS THE STRIKE OUT OF THE MVP.

2:08:44 FISHER POLIDOR OFF.

2:08:48 WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?

2:08:52 >> NOW BATTING

2:08:52 >> THAT'S A BALL.

2:08:54 SCHOLL TAKES SCHOLL. ABSOLUTE BEAUTY

2:08:57 FROM POLIDOR OFF AND JAKE SCHOLL OFF

2:09:00 BALANCE AT THE PLATE TRYING TO TIME UP

2:09:03 THAT NASTY KNUCKLER.

2:09:05 And now another world's fastest inning

2:09:07 on our hands. And the Party Animals

2:09:10 turning to their go-to lefty from a

2:09:12 season ago, Pistol Pete, Peter Holden.

2:09:15 >> I can't I can't take the altitude. We're

2:09:16 moving so fast, Josh.

2:09:19 A lot happening.

2:09:21 Bloomer across the diamond.

2:09:23 There's an out. There's a trick play.

2:09:28 >> Now batting number 44, Dale Francis Jr.

2:09:34 >> Dale Francis Jr.

2:09:39 Now up.

2:09:45 Facing the big lefty Pistol Pete.

2:09:48 Holden, another Florida guy. 6'5", 215

2:09:51 lbs from Vero Beach.

2:09:54 His changeup, one of the more dangerous

2:09:56 pitches you'll see in this sport.

2:10:08 Garner soft contact foul. 7 minutes

2:10:10 remaining. No new inning can begin

2:10:13 if that timer runs out.

2:10:16 Welcome to the danger zone.

2:10:21 Foul territory, Swan.

2:10:23 Josh, what happens to the equalizer

2:10:25 point if the clock hits zero?

2:10:29 >> I mean, you're going to see it go based

2:10:30 off of the results from the last full

2:10:32 inning of play. So, you would be taking

2:10:34 the tallies through seven innings, and

2:10:37 would still get the clowns an extra

2:10:39 point on the board. And that gives them

2:10:42 a little breathing room since they just

2:10:44 earned the point in the bottom of the

2:10:46 seventh thanks to the hold from

2:10:48 Polidoroff and Madden.

2:10:49 >> Kirkland Banks.

2:10:54 >> Holden gets his first strikeout.

2:11:07 Kirkland Banks now.

2:11:09 He's one for two tonight.

2:11:27 Did he go? No.

2:11:31 Cosgrove will have to take his spot

2:11:33 behind the dish again.

2:11:36 >> Yeah, Party Animals just hoping they

2:11:37 could try and steal that call, get out

2:11:39 of the inning as quickly as possible,

2:11:41 and keep this game moving.

2:11:43 Instead, Holden goes to the change in

2:11:46 the dirt. Banks swings through it, and

2:11:49 Pistol Pete

2:11:50 >> Ladies and gentlemen,

2:11:51 >> a trick play induced, but the clowns

2:11:53 have earned the equalizer point in

2:11:56 tonight's contest, and now they are up

2:11:59 four to two.

2:12:08 They're rowdy

2:12:09 here in De Kalb County Stadium.

2:12:12 THE BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH.

2:12:15 JOSH, if the clock hits zero at any

2:12:16 point in time here in the eighth inning,

2:12:19 it's over.

2:12:23 in this inning and the Party Animals

2:12:24 will have to rally

2:12:26 for at least two points.

2:12:29 Aycock

2:12:30 base hit to left.

2:12:33 NOW JOSH, HERE'S WHERE gamesmanship

2:12:35 comes into play in a league format. In a

2:12:37 ballgame that's four to two right now is

2:12:39 the score.

2:12:43 If the Party Animals were to hit a home

2:12:45 run right here from Jason Swan

2:12:47 and then yet another home run and go up

2:12:49 five to four, it'd be advantageous if

2:12:52 the clock ran out in the eighth.

2:12:54 It would end the game with the Animals

2:12:55 winning it

2:12:58 by a point.

2:13:02 SWAN, DEEP CENTER FIELD. JACKIE BRADLEY

2:13:06 JR. BACK, HE'S underneath it.

2:13:09 Josh, that that's applicable if you hit

2:13:11 a home run here at all. You've now tied

2:13:13 the game at four points to four points.

2:13:15 You want the clock to run out rather

2:13:17 than just getting a run in the eighth

2:13:18 inning and going to the ninth down four

2:13:20 to three.

2:13:21 >> Yeah, that's a very interesting kind of

2:13:24 strategy. Course, you can just try and

2:13:27 get it to the ninth and guarantee that

2:13:29 you are going to bat in a situation

2:13:30 where you know every run is counting for

2:13:32 a point. So, kind of think about maybe

2:13:35 getting Chase Aycock aggressive on the

2:13:37 base paths or Mark Smith

2:13:39 who's in to run.

2:13:41 And although the Party Animals are

2:13:42 striking the ball incredibly well here

2:13:45 in the bottom of the eighth,

2:13:46 it is two loud outs off the bats of

2:13:50 Jason Swan and T.J. Reeves.

2:13:55 >> Trying to get to Gage Vorhees. No

2:13:57 official now.

2:14:01 Fish

2:14:03 takes.

2:14:11 Fisher over three tonight.

2:14:29 Fisher

2:14:31 payoff

2:14:34 Another foul.

2:14:36 Prime

2:14:37 and Lidle giving chase, but it's off the

2:14:39 net.

2:14:42 Two and a half minutes to play.

2:14:44 Three-two count. Two outs, runner at

2:14:46 first base for the Party Animals.

2:14:49 In the bottom of the eighth, the Clowns

2:14:50 could not score in the top half of the

2:14:52 inning.

2:14:53 They lead this game four points to two.

2:14:56 RUNNER GOES, SWING AND A MISS.

2:14:59 AND WE WILL SEE YOU IN THE ninth inning.

2:15:03 The equalizer point

2:15:05 goes to the Indianapolis Clowns as they,

2:15:08 THE VISITING TEAM, FINISH WITH MORE

2:15:11 trick plays than the home Party Animals.

2:15:16 And it is the ninth inning, Josh, where

2:15:18 all runs scored will count as points,

2:15:20 and the Animals need at least two of

2:15:22 them, but the Clowns

2:15:24 will have their first shot.

2:15:27 >> Strategy is clearly to keep the Clowns

2:15:29 off the board in the top of the ninth.

2:15:31 Don't give them any more insurance.

2:15:34 And the Animals, they're turning to one

2:15:36 of their best and most prolific pitchers

2:15:39 in Banana Ball history. It's the

2:15:41 right-hander, Drew Gullickson.

2:15:43 >> And And Josh, that clock matters not

2:15:45 now. It is turned off. We play as long

2:15:47 as they want.

2:15:51 No new inning can begin if the two hours

2:15:53 expired. They did not expire, and we'll

2:15:56 play AN UNTIMED NIGHT.

2:16:00 AND WHO WILL PITCH FOR THE ANIMALS? No

2:16:02 one has taken the mound yet.

2:16:16 >> Astro.

2:16:20 Yeah.

2:16:23 >> The sun is down.

2:16:25 Freezing cold.

2:16:26 >> Freezing cold.

2:16:27 >> That's how we already know.

2:16:29 When it's real, my dog will probably go

2:16:31 in for the kill.

2:16:33 That's just HOW WE ROLL.

2:16:37 I TRIED TO TELL

2:16:40 YOU CAN'T ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

2:16:43 SHUT DOWN.

2:16:49 >> YEAH.

2:16:50 What are YOU DOING?

2:16:51 >> THE DOOR WAS ALREADY CLOSED.

2:16:52 >> ON THE ROAD.

2:16:53 >> YOU WANT TO GIVE ME THE FIRST MONEY?

2:17:00 >> MADE THIS HERE with all the ice on in

2:17:02 the booth. At the gate outside when they

2:17:04 pull up. They give me loose. Yeah, jump

2:17:06 out boys. That's Nike boys. I put on

2:17:08 clothes. Way too big when we pull up.

2:17:11 Give me

2:17:11 >> The 2024

2:17:15 BANANA BALL World Tour picture of the

2:17:17 year.

2:17:19 A MAN WHO'S IN THE TOP three for that

2:17:21 same honor in 2025.

2:17:24 Maybe the most prolific arm in our

2:17:26 sport, the Albuquerque Kid, is on the

2:17:29 mound.

2:17:30 >> Averages three outs in 3 minutes and 38

2:17:32 seconds a season ago. It's the top mark

2:17:35 on the Party Animals. A guy known for

2:17:36 his speed. He broke his own record

2:17:39 tossing the fastest inning in Banana

2:17:41 Ball history in just 44 seconds in Baton

2:17:44 Rouge last August. And Gillespie pitched

2:17:48 in 51 different games for the Party

2:17:50 Animals and was also the man on the

2:17:53 mound to seal the tour championship for

2:17:56 them last season. He'll face Brian

2:17:58 Danseureau.

2:18:01 Josh, it a vague note because spring

2:18:03 training matters for not.

2:18:05 As Gillespie deals again, Dancero

2:18:08 to Akuff, trick play JUST FOR THE HECK

2:18:11 OF IT. BUT IT'S A TRICK PLAY MISSED.

2:18:14 JOSH, TRICK PLAYS DO NOT COUNT IN THE

2:18:16 NIGHT INNING TOWARDS SCORING.

2:18:20 Akuff

2:18:22 puts his team IN A TOUGH SPOT, and now

2:18:24 the Party Animals are calling for the

2:18:25 fan challenge.

2:18:27 >> The Party Animals have challenged.

2:18:30 >> And they'll get it as the umpires will

2:18:31 head to the dugout, and they'll review

2:18:33 this one to see if the tag from Swan

2:18:36 came down. But Josh, the aforementioned

2:18:38 final spring training game, Gillespie

2:18:40 gave up a five spot in the ninth last

2:18:42 week to these Indianapolis Clowns. You

2:18:44 know, they're at least thinking about

2:18:45 it. The game doesn't count, but they're

2:18:46 thinking about it. As you see a replay.

2:18:52 And I I that's that angle, Josh, is

2:18:54 going to be really tough

2:18:56 for our crew

2:18:57 to see if Swan

2:18:59 got a piece of Dancero.

2:19:02 I mean, if he did, he beat him. But you

2:19:04 can't I don't see it.

2:19:05 >> the call on the field

2:19:09 being safe, I'm having a hard time

2:19:11 seeing where this can be overturned.

2:19:13 >> And And Josh, does it hit his left arm

2:19:16 here?

2:19:17 Does it hit it?

2:19:19 Oh, I think it does, Josh. You see his

2:19:21 left hand.

2:19:26 That's tough. I think that's so hard to

2:19:28 see. The angle prior was I thought the

2:19:30 angle prior was the better angle.

2:19:35 >> Yeah, maybe the left arm here?

2:19:37 >> I think nothing is firm for me. If I was

2:19:40 on the field doing this as part of the

2:19:41 umpiring crew, I don't think I could

2:19:43 overturn it.

2:19:45 >> The runner was out that first play.

2:19:48 >> goodness, how is the call? Now, Josh,

2:19:49 let's be clear to those watching at

2:19:51 home. There is a change this year. No

2:19:53 longer will the broadcast booth decide

2:19:55 challenges. It will come from the

2:19:57 umpires who are down on the field with a

2:19:59 monitor in the dugout.

2:20:02 >> Successful.

2:20:03 >> Yep.

2:20:03 >> Successful.

2:20:05 >> Fan challenge.

2:20:10 We're getting down and dirty here.

2:20:11 >> And it was good work by the Party

2:20:13 Animals. They implored the fans to use

2:20:14 that challenge.

2:20:16 >> Yep.

2:20:16 >> So, not only do they keep guys off the

2:20:17 bases, they get a trick play for Chase

2:20:20 Ace Cup, who again is hunting the trick

2:20:22 play crown in 2026.

2:20:24 >> Pretty fans first rule there, too.

2:20:28 You buy a ticket, you have the

2:20:29 opportunity

2:20:30 to factor into how this game ends.

2:20:33 >> And the fans on challenges last season

2:20:36 successful 19% of the time. They're

2:20:38 batting a thousand so far this year.

2:20:40 >> Yep.

2:20:43 My dad is one of those 19% by the way.

2:20:46 >> Wow.

2:20:47 >> the first time I've announced that

2:20:48 publicly.

2:20:53 Vasquez.

2:20:55 I pride myself, consider myself a man of

2:20:57 faith.

2:20:57 >> that. I can't believe that.

2:20:58 >> know if I'll put this headset on again.

2:21:00 >> My boss is at Fox.

2:21:06 >> GILLESPIE

2:21:08 VASQUEZ GOES DOWN LOOKING.

2:21:12 BACK TO THE

2:21:12 >> THE SHORTSTOP, NUMBER 17.

2:21:13 >> FROM DREW GILLESPIE.

2:21:18 >> Great frame on the inside corner from

2:21:21 Andy Cosgrove. And Drew Gillespie looks

2:21:24 awfully confident

2:21:25 >> on the pitcher's mound. And I think he's

2:21:27 got that chip on his shoulder, Drake.

2:21:29 Allowing five runs, which became points

2:21:31 in the ninth inning last week, and

2:21:33 certainly not what he wanted. And so,

2:21:37 he's got a little extra something that

2:21:38 he's bringing with him to the mound as

2:21:41 they check the swing appeal down to

2:21:42 first, and Seth Markum will say that La

2:21:45 Day went around.

2:21:47 >> SWING AND A MISS. DEATH TAXES, DREW

2:21:50 GILLESPIE.

2:21:53 IF YOU WANT MOMENTUM GOING INTO THE

2:21:55 BOTTOM OF THE NINTH, THAT'S HOW YOU

2:21:56 GARNER IT.

2:21:58 THE ALBUQUERQUE kid is right back in the

2:22:01 saddle and the HIGH HEAT GETS BOBBY LA

2:22:03 DAY.

2:22:05 BUT THIS IS THE MOMENT.

2:22:07 THIS IS THE TIME.

2:22:10 Three outs remain.

2:22:13 IN FRONT OF OVER 6,000 AT DICK HOWSER

2:22:15 STADIUM ON THE CAMPUS OF FLORIDA STATE

2:22:18 UNIVERSITY.

2:22:19 A DEFICIT OF FOUR TO TWO. THE PARTY

2:22:23 ANIMALS MUST PLATE AT LEAST TWO TO KNOT

2:22:26 THIS GAME AND SEND IT TO SHOWDOWN. THREE

2:22:28 WOULD WALK it off.

2:22:30 BUT THE RIGHT ARM OF NICK WILSON stands

2:22:33 to prevent it.

2:22:35 >> Third round pick for the Indianapolis

2:22:37 Clowns, 24th overall, with the

2:22:41 right-hander. And this is a guy who

2:22:43 played collegiately at four different

2:22:46 colleges, Brevard College, Southern

2:22:48 University, Dallas Baptist and Angelo

2:22:50 State. He was the Friday night starter

2:22:53 last season at Angelo State and posted

2:22:57 over a five to one strikeout to walk

2:22:59 ratio. He's got excellent command of the

2:23:02 strike zone. And has just five saves in

2:23:05 91 career college games.

2:23:10 >> Invoking the golden batter rule.

2:23:14 Batting in place of Dustin Bieber.

2:23:18 He wears X

2:23:22 Jake

2:23:24 Skarl.

2:23:29 >> THE FORMER 15TH OVERALL PICK IN THE 2010

2:23:32 MLB draft.

2:23:34 The MVP of the Banana Ball World Tour in

2:23:36 2025.

2:23:38 Triple Crown winner.

2:23:41 Will face Nick Wilson right out of

2:23:43 college.

2:23:49 Skarl up the eight hole hitting in place

2:23:51 of Babor.

2:23:52 >> Went two for 10 with three ball four

2:23:55 sprints and a steal of first as the

2:23:57 golden batter last season.

2:24:00 Let all players in golden batter

2:24:02 appearances.

2:24:05 And now he's just trying to work himself

2:24:07 on base and set the table for Bloomer,

2:24:10 Ballard, and Hampton behind him.

2:24:12 >> Yep.

2:24:13 Great spot for the animals to be in

2:24:15 despite being

2:24:16 at the eight hole.

2:24:17 >> You're not asking for the biggest swing

2:24:19 from Skull. You just need him on base

2:24:20 right now.

2:24:25 >> Skull

2:24:27 His fiance Avery sitting in the stands.

2:24:31 Their son Jet watching from home.

2:24:39 SWING AND A MISS! NICK WILSON!

2:24:45 CAJONES!

2:24:50 >> AND IT COMES WITH A SWORD AS WELL. NASTY

2:24:54 BREAKING BALL OUT OF THE HAND of Nick

2:24:56 Wilson. AND YOU SEE HIM HITTING THE X

2:24:59 AFTER RECORDING the strike AFTER

2:25:01 CELEBRATE.

2:25:03 WOW!

2:25:06 >> BRYXTON BLOOMER

2:25:09 The righty from Lexington, Kentucky.

2:25:14 Can he spark late game magic?

2:25:23 BLOOMER!

2:25:26 DEEP LEFT FIELD!

2:25:28 OFF THE BASE OF THE WALL!

2:25:33 TWO BAGGERS STANDING UP FOR BRYXTON.

2:25:42 And now Mikey Ballard.

2:25:44 >> Wearing 405.

2:25:45 >> Like Mike, I WANT TO BE JUST LIKE MIKE.

2:25:49 A HOME RUN HIS LAST TIME TO THE PLATE.

2:25:54 Ballard takes high.

2:25:56 Feel the pressure mounting from Florida

2:25:59 State.

2:26:07 The crowd

2:26:09 into this one. LISTEN TO THE NOISE.

2:26:14 BALLARD'S AHEAD 3-1.

2:26:20 Ballard

2:26:23 fouled off the roof.

2:26:29 He's got Bloomer at second. The Animals

2:26:31 trailing 4-2.

2:26:33 Bottom of the ninth with one down.

2:26:37 Ballard underneath it.

2:26:40 Into center field. Jackie Bradley Jr.

2:26:46 And the Party Animals are down to their

2:26:48 final out.

2:26:50 It's Reese Hampton.

2:26:52 Reeser is 2 for 4 tonight.

2:26:58 FORMER DETROIT TIGERS MINOR LEAGUER.

2:27:00 A 12-rounder.

2:27:02 >> Reese Hampton

2:27:03 >> The switch HITTER RIGHTY ON LEFTY.

2:27:05 >> ON

2:27:06 >> HE IS THE TYING POINT.

2:27:11 THEY'RE ON THEIR FEET AT DICK HOWSER

2:27:13 STADIUM.

2:27:17 Hampton ahead.

2:27:25 2-1

2:27:27 THE COUNT.

2:27:30 NICK WILSON IS A STRIKE AWAY.

2:27:36 Hampton

2:27:37 off the glove OF PRIDE.

2:27:41 THE DESIGNATED RUNNER MARK SMITH stays

2:27:43 at third.

2:27:45 An error Josh Talefsky

2:27:47 >> Now batting number five, Andy

2:27:50 >> Andy Cosgrove, THE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR.

2:27:55 A SWING AWAY FROM WINNING IT. Wilson a

2:27:58 pitch away from DOING JUST THE SAME.

2:28:02 COS IS ONE FOR THREE.

2:28:06 Walked a ball four straight in his third

2:28:08 plate appearance, but struck out his

2:28:10 last time up.

2:28:14 Cosgrove

2:28:16 is down 0-2.

2:28:22 They're on their feet.

2:28:29 Ball in the dirt, the Animals

2:28:31 have the game's tying point standing at

2:28:33 second base.

2:28:36 Feel the moment.

2:28:39 >> It's the right time for Hampton to be

2:28:41 running, too. Cosgrove does find a way

2:28:43 to work the sprint. That ties this

2:28:45 ballgame for the boys in black and pink.

2:28:47 >> WILSON

2:28:49 DELIVERS HOME. COSGROVE UNDERNEATH IT.

2:28:52 COWBOY JOE GRAY

2:28:54 THE Indianapolis Clowns

2:28:56 are back,

2:28:57 AND THEY WIN THEIR FIRST GAME

2:28:59 IN THE BANANA Ball Championship League

2:29:02 by a final SCORE OF FOUR TO TWO.

2:29:07 FROM THE GREATEST SHOW ON DIRT IN THE

2:29:09 NEGRO LEAGUES

2:29:11 to a loud WELCOME IN BANANA BALL.

2:29:16 THE CLOWNS ARE HERE AGAIN.

2:29:34 >> It's just another piece of history for

2:29:37 one of the most unique franchises in the

2:29:40 history of baseball and now Banana Ball.

2:29:44 The Clowns, of course, known for a lot

2:29:46 of firsts and they are also known for

2:29:48 winning some championships in '51, '52,

2:29:52 and '54. And now as they grace Banana

2:29:55 Ball for the very first time, they find

2:29:58 themselves victorious AGAINST THE

2:30:01 DEFENDING WORLD tour champs.

2:30:09 You thought

2:30:11 You thought you knew Circus.

2:30:15 This

2:30:16 This is Circus.

2:30:19 THAT WHAT YOU'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW, that

2:30:21 is history.

2:30:26 Defunct in 1989,

2:30:29 the last Negro Leagues team standing.

2:30:33 The Indianapolis Clowns are back in a

2:30:35 loud, loud way.

2:30:42 >> LET'S HEAR IT

2:30:43 >> HISTORY, CONSIDER YOURSELF MADE.

2:30:48 JESSE COLE.

2:30:51 >> FANS, thank you so much for being a part

2:30:55 of this historic night.

2:30:57 The first time in 37

2:31:01 years, the Clowns are back in front of

2:31:03 you.

2:31:05 And to get the win tonight,

2:31:10 truly special.

2:31:13 And how about again the defending champs

2:31:16 from 2025 and tonight the first time

2:31:18 doing a light show with you guys.

2:31:22 Your party animals.

2:31:30 >> Fans, we're just getting started here.

2:31:33 We couldn't imagine a better place to

2:31:35 start. Historic opening with the clowns.

2:31:39 The party animals just getting started.

2:31:42 We love you so much. We'll see you

2:31:44 outside. Thank you guys.

2:31:48 Do not go anywhere.

2:31:50 Our showman of the night

2:31:52 an illustrious Major League Baseball

2:31:54 career.

2:31:56 Two World Series rings with the Boston

2:31:58 Red Sox. Sam Baughman, you talk to the

2:32:01 Major League Baseball Hall of Famer

2:32:03 about his first honor in our sport.

2:32:06 >> Drake told that would be my honor to

2:32:08 talk to our showman of the game, Jackie

2:32:10 Bradley Jr. Jackie, for starters,

2:32:13 your first ever win as a full-time

2:32:15 banana ball player, the first ever

2:32:16 banana ball win for the Indianapolis

2:32:18 Clowns. What does that say about this

2:32:20 team that we've got here in 2026?

2:32:23 >> They always say this is not a It's a a

2:32:25 quote that I heard on the

2:32:27 on the boat

2:32:29 uh when we went on the banana cruise.

2:32:30 You know, this is not a new team.

2:32:33 This is a fresh team. And we're glad to

2:32:34 be back. It's always good to start off

2:32:37 with a win.

2:32:38 >> Jackie, for yourself personally, we saw

2:32:40 the trick plays working for you. We saw

2:32:42 the bat working for you and we saw you

2:32:43 work it on that walk-up. But for you,

2:32:46 what's most memorable about your first

2:32:48 game?

2:32:49 >> I think just coming out here, seeing all

2:32:51 the fans, seeing their excitement, uh

2:32:54 seeing my teammates, how much they get

2:32:55 behind one another. Uh we're we're in

2:32:57 this together. We're going to be

2:32:58 competing all year, and we're excited to

2:33:01 to to get this thing rolling.

2:33:02 >> Jackie, we put you to work today. How's

2:33:04 the body feeling? You feeling like a

2:33:05 young 35?

2:33:07 >> Yeah, I feel great. I feel great. This

2:33:08 is it's just something I I've trained

2:33:10 for uh

2:33:11 quite some time, so it hasn't went away

2:33:14 yet.

2:33:14 >> Well, Jackie, do something I know you're

2:33:16 familiar with for me and go celebrate

2:33:17 with your team. Big win, Jackie.

2:33:19 Congrats on the win. Uh guys, 35 is

2:33:21 young. Jackie said so. Just a kid. Just

2:33:23 a kid. Great job. The future Banana Ball

2:33:26 Hall of Famer, Jackie Bradley Jr. with

2:33:28 our own Sam Baughman.

2:33:30 And you see his night. It's the trick

2:33:32 plays for me that just showcase how the

2:33:36 older dog, not old, learns literally new

2:33:40 tricks.

2:33:41 >> Yeah, it was an unbelievable night from

2:33:43 Jackie Bradley Jr. and he got it started

2:33:45 in the very first inning of play. You

2:33:48 saw him get the trick play against Jake

2:33:51 Skull with the Naruto run as well. The

2:33:54 trick play that he wants to become one

2:33:56 of his signature plays in the first

2:33:58 season of the BBCL. And then from there,

2:34:01 a good offensive performance. Two

2:34:03 singles, two runs batted in tonight. And

2:34:06 of course, we can't forget he was part

2:34:08 of the entertainment as well for the

2:34:10 Indianapolis Clowns. A signature walk up

2:34:13 to the Jackson 5. This is a very very

2:34:16 well-rounded night for the Banana Ball

2:34:19 rookie.

2:34:19 >> We said it pregame, Josh. Let's not say

2:34:21 the word unbelievable unless warranted.

2:34:23 That, what you just saw from Jackie

2:34:25 Bradley Jr. is warranted. In the

2:34:27 meantime,

2:34:29 if not for that man in the yellow

2:34:30 tuxedo, we are not here tonight. Sam

2:34:33 Baughman, I'm sure he's beaming.

2:34:35 >> Yeah, beaming's an understatement. In

2:34:37 fact, I was just thinking, Jesse, I see

2:34:39 you on the sideline today. From the

2:34:40 start, before the start, there's this

2:34:42 there's this look about you. There's

2:34:44 this sense of joy. Jesse, when you

2:34:47 have a game like this, have a moment

2:34:48 like this, where does that joy come

2:34:50 from?

2:34:53 >> It's a historic night, an emotional

2:34:54 night, a powerful night. The Clowns are

2:34:56 back.

2:34:58 And I can't imagine a better way to

2:34:59 start. You know, I felt it. When they

2:35:02 came out, 37 years, for all the players

2:35:06 that have worn the uniforms, and what it

2:35:08 represented, for them to come out

2:35:10 and then to see this whole stadium

2:35:11 standing, and watch them do shadow ball,

2:35:14 and watch them nail the choreography,

2:35:16 and just nail the moments.

2:35:19 Chills around the whole stadium. It was

2:35:21 so much bigger than the game tonight.

2:35:23 And then they just deliver.

2:35:26 You know, literally a first inning

2:35:27 Jackie Bradley Jr. who took a chance on

2:35:29 banana ball and said, "You know what?

2:35:31 I've won World Series. I've won

2:35:33 All-Stars. I'm coming to this because

2:35:34 it's so much bigger than the game." And

2:35:36 he goes for it in his first trick play

2:35:37 and the whole team follows suit with him

2:35:39 running in.

2:35:41 And then

2:35:42 to have the bat funeral, the first ever

2:35:43 bat funeral in sports. And it was

2:35:46 amazing. And

2:35:48 I just hope that we made every player

2:35:52 that wore this uniform, we made them

2:35:53 proud. Because these guys have worked so

2:35:55 hard on the shadow ball, the juggling,

2:35:58 the tricks, representing them for

2:36:00 something so much bigger than just a

2:36:01 game. I just hope we made so many people

2:36:03 proud tonight.

2:36:05 >> Jesse, when you see him go out there and

2:36:06 entertain, you talk about the work put

2:36:08 in there. They just faced off against

2:36:10 the Party Animals, by the way, last

2:36:12 year's champion. And they went out and

2:36:13 they proved, guess what you've said all

2:36:15 along, you can have fun. And man, you

2:36:17 can play well while you do it.

2:36:19 >> When you have fun, you play better. And

2:36:20 I've watched that since day one. These

2:36:22 guys are having the time of their life

2:36:24 out here. And that's what the Clowns

2:36:25 were all about for 60 years, bringing

2:36:27 joy. Whether it was in front of 12 fans

2:36:29 or 40,000 fans, they were obsessed with

2:36:32 bringing joy and doing things people

2:36:33 have never seen before on a baseball

2:36:34 field. And that's what we did tonight. I

2:36:36 mean, slow-motion scoring celebrations,

2:36:39 bringing in the Michael Jackson dances,

2:36:41 a bat funeral. I mean, and and they can

2:36:43 play and it's amazing. I mean, 20-plus

2:36:46 runs, win the trick plays. The Clowns

2:36:48 were known for doing tricks and their

2:36:50 first game, they win the trick plays.

2:36:52 Are you kidding me? This is so special.

2:36:55 And I look at these guys and I look at

2:36:56 all of them before, when they got

2:36:57 drafted and they joined this team, they

2:36:59 were on a mission. They were on a

2:37:00 mission to represent this team and

2:37:02 represent what it stood for. And the

2:37:05 work they've put in, the effort they've

2:37:06 put in to represent this way,

2:37:10 I just know these guys, I know everyone

2:37:11 here. They were part of something truly

2:37:13 remarkable, truly historic. And in 10,

2:37:15 20, 30, 40 years, they're going to look

2:37:17 back on this night that set the tone for

2:37:19 this team traveling all over the world

2:37:21 and putting on a show for millions of

2:37:23 fans. It started here tonight.

2:37:26 >> Jesse, from the beginning it's been all

2:37:28 about the fans. And there were fans here

2:37:30 tonight that got to witness

2:37:32 history and seeing the Indianapolis

2:37:34 Clowns return.

2:37:36 What do you hope they take home with

2:37:37 them? What do you hope they tell their

2:37:38 friends, their families about what they

2:37:40 saw here tonight?

2:37:41 >> You wouldn't believe what I saw here

2:37:43 tonight. That's what I want them all to

2:37:44 say. You wouldn't believe I saw the

2:37:46 night they came back. For 60 years, they

2:37:48 brought so much joy and I was back for

2:37:50 the revitalization of this. And uh I

2:37:53 think it's going to spread. What these

2:37:55 guys do, the players,

2:37:57 for 60 years, people were trying to

2:37:59 spread that joy and now it's going to

2:38:00 spread to not only the sold-out crowd

2:38:02 here, but everyone that goes home, the

2:38:04 next night they play, the next night

2:38:05 they play, they're going to be telling

2:38:06 people I saw the Clowns in their first

2:38:08 time back and it was unlike anything

2:38:10 I've ever seen before and no one will

2:38:11 ever see anything like that. But they

2:38:13 saw it tonight.

2:38:14 This is just the start, man. I can't

2:38:16 wait. This is one of the most special

2:38:17 brands we've ever been a part of,

2:38:18 special teams. And uh I just want to

2:38:21 celebrate with those guys right now.

2:38:23 >> I think that sounds like a great idea.

2:38:25 Jesse Cole, an emotional and excited

2:38:27 Jesse Cole and for all the right

2:38:29 reasons. Drake, Josh.

2:38:32 >> Josh,

2:38:34 guy slept on an air mattress,

2:38:36 got a call 11 years ago that the bank

2:38:39 account was overdrafted

2:38:40 cuz he had a dream. Not in banana ball.

2:38:43 Not even in banana ball. He had a dream

2:38:45 about making baseball fun, making it

2:38:46 fans first. That became this sport. And

2:38:50 at the advent of this sport, the

2:38:52 Indianapolis Clowns becoming a member

2:38:54 full-time of a league built out of this.

2:38:58 There's no way. That wasn't a thought.

2:39:00 And tonight, something that was so

2:39:02 unbelievable came to fruition. And what

2:39:05 What honor it is to be a part of it.

2:39:06 >> And the team dominated, mind you. 15

2:39:09 runs, 13 hits. The team earns the

2:39:12 equalizer point as well in the contest

2:39:14 to give themselves a little bit more of

2:39:17 an advantage and some breathing room

2:39:18 going into the final inning. And in

2:39:20 their inaugural game in Banana Ball,

2:39:22 they wind up victorious. And I've got to

2:39:24 imagine that Bob Kendrick, president of

2:39:27 the Negro Leagues Museum, and a lot of a

2:39:29 living former Negro League players have

2:39:32 got to be smiling seeing the accomplish

2:39:35 ment that was made on this field

2:39:37 tonight. And they are awfully proud of

2:39:39 what the Clowns were able to do. Again,

2:39:41 what an impressive performance from

2:39:44 them. And of course, let's not forget

2:39:47 another expansion team. We saw those

2:39:49 Coconuts win last night as well. So,

2:39:52 these two new teams are filled with a

2:39:54 lot of extremely, extremely talented

2:39:58 guys.

2:39:58 >> An emotional night, for sure. And And

2:40:01 Josh, to me, I think about the 70, 80,

2:40:03 90-year-olds who played for the Clowns,

2:40:05 who coached for the Clowns, who watched

2:40:07 tonight, who will watch this season in

2:40:09 person. And the emotion that has to come

2:40:11 with that. But, pulling away from that

2:40:13 for just a second,

2:40:14 15 runs? I mean, don't Those guys, NOT

2:40:17 ONLY PUT ON A SHOW, BUT they played

2:40:19 great baseball in the sport of Banana

2:40:21 Ball, too.

2:40:22 >> Well, that's what they've been focusing

2:40:24 on. Not only do they want to, you know,

2:40:26 uphold history, have some reverence

2:40:28 about them, and also entertain the fans.

2:40:30 They want people to know that they can

2:40:32 bash, and that they can play Banana Ball

2:40:34 at the highest level possible. And they

2:40:36 certainly proved that tonight against

2:40:39 what was Banana Ball's best a season

2:40:40 ago, in the Animals.

2:40:42 >> It's not over yet. Not for this weekend,

2:40:43 at least. Tomorrow night, the Savannah

2:40:45 Bananas will meet the Texas Tailgaters.

2:40:48 Oh, and as uh the Florida State Football

2:40:51 Stadium across the way, Josh Celestki

2:40:52 will be on the call on that one with

2:40:54 Biko Skala. Brett Loftis will join them.

2:40:57 Rex Castillo, Sam Bowman, as well.

2:41:01 There's no sleep tonight. I mean, this

2:41:03 this a story to tell for those who

2:41:05 witnessed it live in person and for you

2:41:07 at home, the over 10,000 who joined us

2:41:10 this evening at one time. You get to say

2:41:13 that you saw the Indianapolis Clowns

2:41:16 come back into sports for the first

2:41:19 time. You witnessed history tonight.

2:41:22 Being a fan of Banana Ball, a fan of

2:41:23 that brand, we can't thank you enough.

2:41:25 Josh, to close it out, special.

2:41:27 >> Yeah, it was unbelievable and you know,

2:41:29 to take something out of Jesse Cole's

2:41:31 book, we only plus the experience for

2:41:33 here. Tomorrow night, it only gets

2:41:35 bigger between the Texas Tailgaters and

2:41:38 the Savannah Bananas in the finale in

2:41:40 this Banana Ball Kickoff Series.

2:41:43 >> Josh, Jackie Bradley Jr., the

2:41:46 the showman of the night tonight, the

2:41:48 Party Animals fall by a final score of

2:41:50 four to two. The Indianapolis Clowns

2:41:52 take it on a historic evening at Florida

2:41:55 State where the Clowns came back and

2:41:59 they owned the night.

2:42:03 For Josh Tolewski, Drake Toll, Jesse

2:42:05 Cole, Emily Cole, Karrie Cole, Chad

2:42:08 Reese producing tonight and the myriad

2:42:10 of crew that we have here with BTV

2:42:11 alongside us and back home in Savannah.

2:42:14 To you the viewer, thank you for

2:42:15 watching. Josh, I've never said see you

2:42:17 later on a broadcast. So, good night.

2:42:19 Party on and for my first time, probably

2:42:21 the last time, we will

2:42:23 see you later!

2:42:34 He really did it.

2:43:31 >> Hey.