Loco Beach Coconuts @ Firefighters

0:00 Heat. Heat.

0:20 Heat. Heat.

0:45 Heat. Heat.

1:09 Heat.

1:30 Heat.

1:46 Heat. Heat.

1:55 Heat. Heat.

2:54 Heat. Heat.

3:04 Hey, hey, hey.

3:31 Heat. Heat.

4:08 fans. The newest banana ball team, the

4:12 firefighters.

4:15 With one sound of the sirens in Grayson

4:17 Stadium, the firefighters officially

4:19 arriving for duty and banana ball in

4:22 2024. The third team to join the game

4:25 along with the Savannah Bananas and

4:27 Party Animals. A group much different

4:29 than those two Titanic brands. One

4:31 representing grit, heroism, risk-taking

4:34 toughness.

4:35 >> Logan Lacy becomes the fifth player in

4:38 Banana Ball history to pull off a

4:40 backflip catch

4:42 >> and honoring the heroes who run into the

4:44 blaze. across all of our communities.

4:46 >> It means so much more than I could have

4:48 ever thought.

4:49 >> Everybody laying it all on the line.

4:51 Couldn't be more blessed.

4:52 >> Firefighters of the night are welcomed

4:54 alongside Parker Nolan. Val Perez by

4:57 Zack Watson.

4:58 >> It represents hard work. It represents

5:00 discipline. Honor those people by how

5:02 hard you play. Do not take that for

5:04 granted.

5:04 >> Led by Val Perez, a 10-year firefighter

5:06 in Corpus Christie, Texas, and longtime

5:09 bananas in Christian Dear and Dakota

5:11 McFaten. My dad's been a fireman for

5:14 over gosh probably 50 years now. My

5:17 uncle's been in the fire department for

5:19 a long time. Never give in. Doesn't

5:21 matter what the situation is. And you

5:23 know, these guys never back down.

5:25 They're coming to save everyone that

5:26 they can. Being the son of a

5:28 firefighter, being the nephew of a

5:30 firefighter, and being a friend of so

5:33 many different firefighters,

5:36 it feels like this was meant for me.

5:38 Fighting the Flames for 19 games in

5:40 2024. A year of history for the

5:43 firefighters.

5:44 >> Dakota McMahon, the first home run in

5:47 the history of the firefighters

5:48 franchise. Under the leg to the second,

5:52 a trick play and the first win in

5:54 firefighters history.

5:57 Him is tagged out and the firefighters

6:00 have won their final game of 2024.

6:07 And it's the perfect ending for the boys

6:09 in red and yellow.

6:13 >> In 2025, the schedule going to 33

6:16 missions across the country, including

6:18 the team's very first headlining tour. A

6:21 three- city journey across Virginia. A

6:23 barnstorming month that left fans with

6:26 plenty of fiery moments. Isaac Par

6:29 behind the back. Green through the legs.

6:31 Double play with the bare hand.

6:34 Backflip. and spring. Yes, sir. Into

6:38 center field. Is it gone? Oh my

6:41 goodness. No bridges. It's the hero in

6:45 Salem.

6:46 >> And a host of new characters like mascot

6:49 Bo the Beaver

6:53 >> and the first ever Dalmatian bat dog.

6:56 >> Chief.

6:58 Yeah.

6:59 >> The blaze spreading to major

7:00 proportions. The Firefighters playing in

7:03 10 major league ballparks with their

7:05 first ever win in an MLB stadium coming

7:07 in Denver last August.

7:09 >> The Firefighters stop the Ner's winning

7:12 streak at 14 games and they take game

7:15 two here in Korsfield in showdowns.

7:18 >> And they gave us one of the most

7:20 emotional nights in Banana Ball history.

7:22 We pause to honor and remember,

7:26 reflecting on the lives forever changed

7:29 on September 11th, 2001.

7:32 And tonight, we honor both the lives

7:35 that were lost and the lives that were

7:38 saved because of the selfless actions of

7:40 first responders.

7:42 Firefighter John Lella,

7:49 firefighter Chris Lro,

7:54 firefighter Fred Perez,

7:59 firefighter Mike Lowski,

8:06 and firefighter Chris Schickler.

8:13 and firefighter Malcolm Moore.

8:19 911 first responder port authority

8:22 Lieutenant David

8:30 and 911 first responder Lieutenant Eric

8:38 and 911 first responder Tom

8:46 First responder

8:54 first responder Brian

8:57 fire.

9:02 One more time for our New York City

9:05 firefighters.

9:08 first responders.

9:17 Going into the postseason, the

9:18 firefighters earning the fourth seed

9:20 after going six and 27, only winning

9:23 three times in 23 chances against the

9:26 Savannah Bananas. The odds stacked

9:28 against them going against the team in

9:30 yellow until Bradford Web and Ben Dum

9:33 stepped up. Bradford Web. Six innings,

9:36 six goose eggs, four Ks. He was

9:40 miraculous.

9:42 >> Ben Dun the third fired up as he

9:45 dribbles this one over to first. Steven

9:47 Coen will take it behind. He's back and

9:49 to the back and the fire win

9:54 a nine out save.

9:55 >> A one- nothing win in game one of the

9:57 semifinals, giving the firefighters just

9:59 as good a chance as anybody else. But

10:02 they dropped game two by one point,

10:04 leading to a winner take all showdowns

10:06 in Grayson Stadium. Dalton Cornette

10:08 getting his chance to shine and creating

10:11 a moment that will last in Banana Ball

10:13 history. That ball demolished.

10:16 Definitely

10:20 Cornette sends the firefighters to the

10:23 2025 Banana Ball Tour Championship

10:26 final.

10:29 >> I don't even have words right now. This

10:31 is like the greatest moment of baseball

10:33 history.

10:33 >> From four seed to the championship game,

10:36 the firefighters becoming the ultimate

10:38 Cinderella story in Banana Land.

10:43 The fire and flames picking right up

10:45 where they left off in 2026 with

10:47 longtime bananas Eric Jones Jr., Jared

10:50 Donaldson, and Zack Phillips officially

10:52 aboard. The team picked up its first

10:54 ever sweep in banana ball over the Loco

10:57 Beach Coconuts in Little Rock, Arkansas.

11:01 launched an historic offensive

11:03 performance in Montgomery, Alabama,

11:06 scoring 22 runs in one game to beat the

11:09 Indianapolis Clowns 4 to2. Then swept

11:12 the party animals for the first time

11:14 ever in Albuquerque, highlighted by an

11:16 incredible two rounds of showdowns in

11:18 game two. The firefighters are the two

11:22 seed and the banana ball open.

11:25 >> Honestly, I've kind of done it so much

11:26 now I'm pretty confident in myself on

11:28 that.

11:37 When you enter the fire service, you are

11:39 entering a brotherhood unlike any other.

11:42 And you're trying to be the one who is

11:45 going to save somebody's life every

11:46 single day. And you're in those high

11:47 stress situations. That is a bond unlike

11:49 any other. So remember, when you put

11:51 these jerseys on, who you represent,

11:53 take honor in that. Take pride in that.

11:55 When you enter this locker room, you've

11:57 officially entered the brotherhood of

11:59 the Banana Ball Fire Department. And

12:01 let's take pride in that.

12:05 >> On his first swing with the

12:06 firefighters, AJ pumps it. Jared

12:10 Donaldson strikes out the side. His

12:13 first frame against the Nanners.

12:15 >> Cornette has walked it off the

12:18 Greenville. We're hot. We're hot, baby.

12:26 Noah Bridges is timeless.

12:29 >> We have a good offense.

12:31 >> Tiny with the big shot.

12:36 >> Darien McDow.

12:37 >> There you go. Look at there.

12:41 >> We're the hardest team in sports, baby.

12:43 Let's go.

12:48 >> Dispatch to banana ball. All units

12:50 converge on Scranton where it is rainy.

12:54 A wet and wild affair will be had here

12:56 at PNC Field. Mother Nature though, no

13:00 match for the Coconuts and the

13:02 firefighters. Last night, the equalizer

13:04 point coming into play once again. Loco

13:06 Beach winners 5-3 thanks in part to the

13:08 trick play battle for that elusive

13:10 point. Tonight, under the open skies

13:12 here on Montage Mountain, can the nuts

13:14 sweep or do the firefighters defend

13:16 their firehouse? It's the fire in

13:18 flames. It is the beach live and in

13:20 living color. Let's roll. And with that,

13:25 welcome inside the Dispatch Center here

13:27 where somehow we are actually dry in

13:30 Scranton, Pennsylvania. It's AJ Sweet

13:32 Techch. I'm Zach Stton. AJ, this is

13:34 quite literally bringing the beach to

13:35 you in a completely different way. That

13:38 field might be wet. It might not be. The

13:41 tarp has been just been pulled. So, we

13:44 hope to get you some banana ball here

13:45 probably in the next 30 minutes. But AJ,

13:48 I have no idea what to expect. That's

13:49 what Banana Ball's all about.

13:51 >> Well, I'm going to spoil a little secret

13:53 for those at home. Uh, you wonder how

13:55 are we dry? Well, we have the fortune of

13:58 being right up here in the press box.

13:59 These guys don't have the same luck. It

14:01 has been raining all day long. When I

14:04 look in my heart, I see 110°. I see

14:06 sunny. I see a margarita. And I see my

14:09 feet up with my butt in the sand. The

14:11 reality is right now here in the

14:13 electric city, we haven't got any

14:15 electricity from this guys, but just

14:16 about everything else. It has been

14:18 dumping rain here in Scranton. So, a

14:21 major shout out goes to the entirety of

14:23 the grounds crew that has been working

14:25 their absolute tails off from Sunup

14:27 today to the moment that we're now

14:29 speaking to make sure that we can get

14:30 Banana Ball to you here from

14:32 Pennsylvania. They started working last

14:34 night. The tarp was already on the field

14:35 as soon as this game was done just one

14:37 night ago here in Scranton,

14:39 Pennsylvania. The beautiful fans here in

14:40 the Keystone State have been

14:42 unbelievable since we started this day

14:45 out at Fire Trail Live. They were loud.

14:47 They were passionate. And you have to be

14:49 to sit through rain and weather like

14:51 this. It's not just wet, it's also very

14:54 cold. As you take a peek at PNC Field

14:56 where it does look like the rain is

14:58 maybe ever slightly starting to slow

15:00 down, but you look at the dimensions of

15:02 this beautiful park lord. We saw it last

15:04 night. There were a couple balls that

15:05 were tattooed, but they just did not get

15:07 out of here because of that beautiful

15:09 mountain air. This stadium, first known

15:11 as Lacawana County Stadium, opened 1989,

15:16 got a nice facelift back in 2012 to the

15:18 tune of $43 million. It is the home of

15:21 the Scranton Wilsberry Rail Riders, of

15:23 course, the AAA affiliate of the New

15:25 York Yankees. This is an important park

15:28 here in Major League Baseball, Minor

15:30 League Baseball, but there's also an

15:32 important cause here that a lot of the

15:34 players are taking hold of here this

15:36 weekend, AJ, and you got a chance to

15:38 talk to one of the coconuts about that.

15:39 >> Yeah, not just this weekend, but really

15:41 throughout the entirety of this month.

15:42 It has been really special to sit down

15:45 and have meaningful conversations with

15:46 both players, staff members of the Loco

15:49 Beach Coconuts, but really from all five

15:52 other teams in Banana Ball as well. And

15:55 that is because May is mental health

15:57 awareness month and I was able to catch

15:59 up with Will Ethridge before the game.

16:04 May is mental health month and joining

16:06 me here in the booth is Will Ethridge.

16:08 Will, I know you've taken upon yourself

16:09 to wear green eye black to represent the

16:12 month of May and mental health

16:13 awareness. Can you tell the people at

16:15 home a little bit about your journey

16:17 with mental health and why it means so

16:18 much to you?

16:19 >> Yeah, it uh it started roughly about

16:21 four years ago. Um, and you know,

16:23 performance anxiety with baseball is is

16:26 no joke. You know, you're going into

16:27 every outing, you know, anticipating the

16:30 worst essentially. And it uh kind of

16:33 impacted me on and off the field. Um,

16:35 leading to a lot of different issues

16:37 from panic attacks to just feeling

16:40 outcasted and all sorts of things. So,

16:43 um, it wasn't fun to deal with, but I

16:44 knew that I had to, you know, find help

16:46 essentially, not just from myself, but

16:48 from my peers and other people and, you

16:50 know, learning from other journeys, um,

16:53 with our mental health specialists with

16:55 the Rockies to, um, getting some help

16:57 from some psychiatrists on the outside.

16:59 It's just what can I do to help my

17:02 specific journey because it's it's

17:03 different from everyone else. Everyone

17:04 has their own specific issues and like

17:07 they're real, you know, they're very

17:08 valid. They're very real. So, we can't

17:10 discount whose problems are worse

17:13 because everyone needs the same help,

17:14 but we got to figure out what pieces fit

17:17 their puzzles the best.

17:19 >> And everyone's going through their own

17:20 things, of course, so you can't fit it

17:21 all in one box. But what would your

17:23 message be to anyone out there

17:25 potentially dealing with performance

17:27 anxiety knowing there's a light at the

17:29 end of the tunnel and you were able to

17:30 find it?

17:31 >> Absolutely. Um, I just had to simplify

17:33 things. I eliminated a lot of the

17:35 triggers that would um cause some of

17:37 these issues. And um you know, luckily

17:39 this is all in the past for me. I don't

17:41 have any of these issues anymore. But

17:42 eliminating eliminating the triggers

17:44 that started um finding a good um base

17:47 to like live around. So that could be

17:50 family that could be really close to

17:51 you, friends that know your story, um

17:54 anything along those aspects of getting

17:56 a firm foundation to keep you in a good

18:00 structure. My schedule was one big thing

18:02 of like things that just kind of jumped

18:04 in and out. Didn't know what to

18:05 anticipate. If I built a strong schedule

18:08 and stuck to it, it made the day go by

18:10 so much easier. Didn't have to worry

18:12 about anticipating what was going to

18:13 happen from the dayto-day lifestyle that

18:16 we had with minor league baseball. So,

18:18 finding that firm foundation is a very,

18:20 very good starting point. And Will,

18:22 yesterday I know that you sent a pretty

18:24 heartfelt message to the team

18:25 essentially saying, you know, I have

18:27 gone through mental health and if you

18:29 guys are struggling with anything, you

18:30 could come to me. Was there anyone like

18:32 that in your life who you were able to

18:33 turn to when you needed it most?

18:35 >> Absolutely. Um, you know, my wife was a

18:38 a huge support system for me. You know,

18:40 she was able to help me get through a

18:42 lot of my issues cuz, you know, the

18:44 these these are problems that everyone

18:46 has essentially. I wouldn't say like

18:47 every single person in this world, but

18:49 it is a lot of people that you may not

18:51 know have been impacted by this. So, you

18:54 got to keep your your people close to

18:56 you and honestly keep everyone close to

18:58 you at the same time.

18:59 >> And then finally, I feel like Banana

19:01 Ball functions as a really good escape

19:02 for a few hours of your day, whether

19:04 you're watching at home, watching from

19:05 the ballpark, or anywhere in between.

19:07 It's an opportunity just to step away

19:09 and be a part of something bigger. So,

19:11 what has that family been like for you

19:12 and for everybody involved? just that

19:14 when it's a game day, whether it be in

19:16 Scranton, Pennsylvania, Orlando,

19:18 Florida, anywhere in between, what has

19:21 it been like to be able to provide that

19:23 escape for people and really have it for

19:25 yourself as well?

19:26 >> Absolutely. You know, I know everyone

19:28 here treats everyone like family. We

19:30 have gotten so close, even with the

19:32 fans. We know a lot of fans by name at

19:34 this point. And getting close, just

19:37 creating that system of welcomeness and

19:39 no matter what you're going through,

19:40 you're welcome here with us. And that's

19:42 what we want to create. you know, love

19:44 everyone, treat everyone equally, and

19:46 have fun with it.

19:48 >> Will, I really appreciate you taking a

19:49 second to get vulnerable and speak about

19:51 mental health. I know that it means a

19:53 lot to me. I'm sure it means a lot to

19:54 the people out there as well. Spread

19:57 love and do the your best this month and

19:59 always to just spread smiles and joy.

20:02 >> Do your part.

20:03 >> Absolutely. Love, everyone. There we go.

20:09 I mean, incredibly powerful stuff from

20:12 today's starting pitcher, Will Ethridge.

20:14 I cannot say enough how much I

20:16 appreciate his vulnerability and

20:18 willingness to open up to the world

20:20 about his battles with mental health and

20:22 where he currently stands. Again, May

20:24 mental health awareness month. And Zach,

20:27 I know that it runs extremely deep in

20:29 both clubouses. The meaning to this

20:32 month specifically and giving the

20:34 attention to mental health that it

20:35 deserves. Yeah, AJ, as the firefighters

20:37 run out onto the field here in Scranton,

20:39 Pennsylvania, this has been a tough

20:41 weekend for us as well, uh, the

20:43 firefighters are carrying heavy hearts.

20:45 We met a young man back in Scottsdale, a

20:47 Makea-Wish kid by the name of Brody

20:49 Rackom, who has been battling since last

20:52 summer, a very aggressive form of soft

20:54 tissue cancer. Um, and you could tell in

20:57 Scottsdale, Brody was battling, but he

20:59 was struggling. Uh, but his smile was so

21:01 beautiful. uh he passed away last Sunday

21:05 and

21:06 I cried during that time because that

21:09 young man was special to me. He was

21:11 special to so many guys on the

21:13 firefighters and we talked about that

21:15 openly about being vulnerable with each

21:17 other about understanding that yes, we

21:19 might be dealing with a lot of stuff

21:20 that's difficult right now on the field,

21:23 but man, what we do off the field is so

21:25 important. And these guys opened up.

21:26 They were tearful about Brody. They're

21:29 carrying him on their wrist tonight with

21:30 some bracelets. We'll touch on Brody a

21:32 little bit later and how important he

21:33 was, but it's the importance of being

21:35 able to show what you're feeling and who

21:38 you are. Um, and it's so important for

21:40 what Will did there. And that message of

21:42 men's mental health has spread to the

21:45 firefighters. You'll see a couple of

21:46 them wearing green face paint tonight in

21:48 honor of men's mental health. what will

21:50 spread there, the message that he just

21:52 sent there. Absolutely. Love him and

21:56 thank him for sharing that because the

21:58 only sign of weakness to me is to not

22:01 show that you're hurting. Absolutely. I

22:03 mean, regardless of age, regardless of

22:05 gender, it's so important knowing that

22:08 there's people out there who do

22:10 genuinely care for you, for your story,

22:13 and for your mental health. Regardless

22:15 of male, female, 5 years old, 95 years

22:19 old, there are resources out there. And

22:21 this world is a place for everybody. So,

22:23 I say it once, I'll say it again. Please

22:26 attack your day with a smile. Do your

22:27 best to spread joy because it makes the

22:30 world a better place when you greet it

22:31 with a smile. Tearing up in the booth up

22:34 here, man. We love everybody out there.

22:36 We love everybody who's going through

22:37 something and we certainly send our love

22:39 to the Rackom family. We keep praying

22:41 for you and thinking of you. And

22:42 tonight, Brody, I know you're watching.

22:45 This one is for you. Last night, we had

22:47 a record-breaking moment for the

22:49 firefighters as we transition to what we

22:51 do on the field. Javon Ray was

22:53 spectacular, and his defense was so much

22:56 better, too. In the sixth inning, Ashby

22:59 Vining up to bat.

23:02 The fastest inning ever pitched for the

23:04 Firefighters was a minute and 7 seconds.

23:06 That was shared between Marshall Schill

23:08 and old curly Neil Lang, who I hope is

23:11 doing well.

23:12 that has not been passed up. There have

23:14 been innings that have been close, but

23:15 nothing quite there. But the

23:17 firefighters and Javon Ray did something

23:19 last night. First of all, that's an

23:20 insane trick play going underneath the

23:22 seat to make sure you get that on the

23:25 trick play from Showtime Logan Lacy. So,

23:28 that gets you one out. 30 seconds. Right

23:30 after that, as we go to the replay,

23:32 there's an insane ball hit that goes off

23:34 the back of the mound. Somehow Kaden

23:36 Green comes back, races through the

23:38 diamond to catch up to this. This is

23:40 insane. makes the throw at first, just

23:42 barely getting JD Erso. Peanut actually

23:44 almost hurt himself there and was

23:45 walking with a limp last night. He's

23:47 better today, but he was chasing that

23:49 ball so hard that he almost hurt his

23:51 leg, but finds a way to make it as you

23:54 see the replay here. And then literally

23:56 one pitch later, look at this. Popped up

23:59 into foul territory. Mason Maxwell

24:01 sacrificing himself for the out. A

24:04 minute 5 seconds is now the fastest

24:07 inning ever in firefighters history.

24:09 Javon Ray's name gets entered into the

24:11 history books. But the firefighters

24:12 defense must be celebrated. Mason

24:14 Maxwell making the sacrifice. That's

24:16 what this is all about. Making the

24:19 sacrifice here for the firefighters. So

24:21 from one pitcher to now our starting

24:23 pitchers tonight. You just heard about

24:24 Will Ethridge. He's been a new starter

24:26 for the Coconuts, AJ, but boy, since

24:28 he's moved into that starting rotation,

24:30 he's been effective and mighty good. The

24:33 longtime Rocky's farmand is truly just

24:35 such a special individual. Every

24:37 conversation I have with Will Ethridge,

24:38 I leave learning something because he

24:41 just has so much meaning behind his

24:42 word. We got to hear from him earlier.

24:44 Now, let's talk about what he does on

24:46 the mound. This is a guy who throws a

24:47 two seamer, a four seamer, a change up,

24:49 a cutter, and a slider. It's a true five

24:51 pitch mix where he feels comfortable

24:53 going to any of those pitches to any

24:55 given batter. He's got 18 strikeouts

24:57 this season to 10 ball, four sprints. A

24:59 fairly comfortable ratio. And that

25:01 earned run average in minutes per inning

25:03 have continued to plummet since he's

25:05 moved from the bullpen to a starting

25:07 role. He's earned his ability as a

25:09 starter on the mound. But I know there's

25:11 a lot of people in Banana Land who are

25:13 focused on the right side of the screen

25:14 because they're celebrating what I guess

25:16 is known as Donnie Day here in these

25:17 parks.

25:18 >> It's always Donnie day in the firehouse,

25:19 but particularly when he goes out on the

25:21 mound and toes that rubber as the

25:23 starting pitcher. And look, I met him in

25:24 the elevator this morning. He told me

25:26 flat out, I am locked in. The last time

25:28 he started was in El Paso. It did not go

25:31 the way he wanted to. Gave up

25:32 backto-back home runs in the first

25:33 inning. Ultimately, no point was

25:35 surrendered, but he did give up two

25:36 points in that start. This is a guy who

25:38 has always bounced back well. He had

25:40 didn't have his best stuff in

25:41 Montgomery. The next time out, he goes

25:43 in relief against the Texas Tailgator.

25:45 Strikes out five, only surreners one run

25:48 and does the job for a win for the

25:50 firefighters. If there's anybody that

25:51 can bounce back off a tough performance,

25:53 it is the veteran. Three world tours

25:55 with the Savannah Bananas. his first

25:57 year with the firefighters, second round

25:59 pick in the banana ball player draft.

26:00 Jared Donaldelsson, when his back is

26:03 against the wall, can shove, and he's

26:06 the guy I would bet money on,

26:08 entertainment purposes only, I would bet

26:10 money on, would be able to bounce back

26:12 in ways that you wouldn't believe. Now,

26:14 the last time we saw Jared Donaldson

26:16 pitch against the Coconuts, it was in

26:18 Witchah, Kansas. When we were in Witchah

26:20 that morning, Donnie got to go on a

26:22 firehouse visit and thus created one of

26:24 the coolest moments ever with 8-year-old

26:25 Jake calling a strikeout against Grady

26:28 Morgan. This morning, we got a chance to

26:30 go back and visit another firehouse.

26:32 Maddie Warren was there and she got a

26:34 chance to catch up with a lot of great

26:36 people here in Scranton.

26:40 >> One of the greatest things that we get

26:41 to do here in Banana Ball, especially

26:43 with the firefighters, is get to talk to

26:44 people in service in all the cities that

26:46 we go to visit. and I am here with Rob

26:49 Hegodus today. Rob, it is so nice to

26:52 meet you. You showed us a little bit

26:53 around your station. I want to hear a

26:55 little bit about your role and how long

26:57 you've been in service in this area.

26:58 >> So, in the area, I've probably done it

27:00 since uh maybe 40 41 42 years. Um

27:05 started out as an emergency medical

27:07 technician. uh and then got into the

27:09 firefighting and I worked as a career

27:11 paramedic for 20 plus years and

27:15 transitioned over into law enforcement

27:16 right after that. You

27:18 >> now I was talking with your wife a

27:19 little bit and it's not just you but

27:20 it's kind of a family affair that's in

27:22 service. Tell me a little bit about

27:23 that.

27:24 >> So So my wife started here in the '9s as

27:26 a firefighter. So she's a registered

27:28 nurse now but she's more trained uh in

27:31 the fire service as well. Um like I said

27:34 dating back to the '9s. So you get 30

27:35 years of service from her as well. Now,

27:38 your son here, he's a volunteer here as

27:39 well.

27:40 >> He is. He started when uh he was 14. He

27:43 got involved with the fire company. He

27:44 is now 19 and he's a volunteer

27:47 firefighter here as well.

27:49 >> You guys were out at the game last

27:50 night.

27:51 >> What did you think about Banana Ball?

27:52 >> It was amazing. It was nothing like

27:54 we've ever seen before. And it was great

27:56 to see that uh the um how welcoming all

28:00 the team players were. Uh you know,

28:02 everybody came in, shook our hands, and

28:04 thanked us for what we do. And like you

28:06 know we're here for you guys just as

28:07 much as you guys were here for us.

28:09 >> Definitely. And that's you know the why

28:11 behind the team and we were kind of

28:12 talking about that a little bit earlier

28:13 and so I would love to hear from you

28:15 kind of how you would sum up what it is

28:17 like to be a part of the family in the

28:20 firehouse.

28:21 >> How I would sum it up. I mean it's that

28:25 companionship that family feeling that

28:27 you're always welcome and everybody

28:29 works as a team just like your your

28:30 baseball team. We work as a team.

28:33 Matty Warren, thank you very much. What

28:35 an awesome opportunity to go visit a

28:37 great firehouse here in Scranton. And

28:40 those stories are what makes the best.

28:41 And the stories of trick plays have been

28:43 so critical for the Coconuts and the

28:45 firefighters this year, just like it was

28:47 last night. AJ, the introduction of the

28:49 equalizer point has made trick plays so

28:52 much more valuable here in 2026. And

28:55 they could not have been more important

28:57 an evening ago. The Loco Beach Coconuts

28:59 were able to secure the equalizer point

29:01 as the road team and it came with fresh

29:03 faces in the middle of their infield.

29:05 The typical second baseman Salja Kovo

29:08 moved over to shortstop and looked very

29:09 comfortable after an early error. For

29:11 me, the big time story was JD Erso at

29:14 second base. Erso made his debut there.

29:16 Had more trick plays last night than the

29:18 rest of the season combined. He stepped

29:20 into a starting role after showing up

29:22 and showing out against the Bananas in

29:25 Savannah at Grayson Stadium. And with

29:27 the equalizer point being the newest

29:29 rule, let's take a look at all 11 here

29:31 in Banana Ball.

29:37 >> Banana Ball is the fastest and most

29:39 entertaining show in sports and the 11

29:41 rules guarantee the most fans first

29:43 experience every second.

29:45 >> Unbelievable.

29:46 >> Welcome to the Banana Bowl Championship

29:49 League.

29:49 >> Rule number one, win the inning, win the

29:52 point. The team that scores the most

29:54 runs in an inning wins the point. It's a

29:56 walkoff winner to the def.

30:00 Oh my goodness.

30:01 >> With the equalizer point, trick plays

30:03 provide the away team an opportunity to

30:05 earn a point going into the final

30:07 inning. And in the final inning, every

30:09 run counts as a point. Rule number two,

30:12 banana ball has a 2hour time limit,

30:15 guaranteeing that every game is

30:17 fast-paced and action-packed. Rule

30:20 number three, no stepping out of the

30:22 batter's box. If you do, it will result

30:24 in a strike. Max stepped out of the box

30:26 and because he stepped out of the box,

30:28 that's it.

30:28 >> Rule number four, no bunting. Cuz

30:31 bunting sucks. If you bunt, you'll be

30:34 thrown out of the game. Rule number

30:36 five, batters can steal first base.

30:38 >> Ball three. Can you take it off for

30:39 first throw from Loy in time?

30:42 >> Rule number six, there's no walks. Walks

30:46 are ball force sprints. The batter can

30:48 advance as far as they want until every

30:50 position player touches the ball. No

30:53 defenders have touched the banana ball.

30:55 It is a four base spread to open up the

30:58 ball game.

30:59 >> Rule number seven, no mound visits.

31:02 >> Nope. Rule number eight, foul balls

31:05 caught by a fan count as an out.

31:08 >> Oh my goodness. They did. They can't.

31:12 We're going to show.

31:14 >> Rule number nine, the showdowns. In

31:16 showdowns, the best of the best face off

31:19 in the biggest moment. One hitter verse

31:21 one pitcher with one fielder behind him

31:24 and the hitter has to score. Deep to

31:26 right center. See you later. Rule number

31:31 10. The banana ball challenge role gives

31:33 the coaches and you the fans a chance to

31:36 impact a call on the field. Rule number

31:39 11, the golden batter. Once a game, each

31:42 team can give any player in a bat,

31:44 regardless of the lineup. This offers

31:46 the biggest matchups on the biggest

31:48 stage. Big on big tamer. Let's go. Let's

31:53 go. Let's go. Get out of here. Ball.

31:57 Let's sing out a family.

32:00 And those are the rules of banana ball.

32:04 >> Well, thank you, virtual Jesse Cole.

32:06 That was tremendous. A lot of rules. 11

32:08 of them even. And there's keys to

32:11 success as well. Four of them even.

32:13 Look, I declare

32:16 drink plays.

32:18 Office reference number one of the

32:20 night. Actually, it's probably like

32:21 number four or five. I don't know. But

32:22 either way, the firefighters have not

32:24 either denied or secured the equalizer

32:27 point five times in their last six

32:29 games. They've got to win the equalizer

32:32 point battle. They've got to deny it

32:34 tonight for the Loco Beach Coconuts

32:35 because we saw it one night ago. It

32:38 played a huge part of it. And then free.

32:40 Nothing for free. We cannot give up a

32:43 bunch of ball four sprints. Eight of

32:44 them issued last night. Tonight, the

32:46 firefighters have to limit the free

32:49 passes. AJ, the coconuts, or just keep

32:51 playing like you have. Yeah, the

32:53 messaging at the beach has stayed

32:54 consistent. This is a family and playing

32:56 as a cohesive unit wins banana ball

32:59 games. Last night, it was defense and

33:01 offense that got it done for Loco Beach

33:03 in 5 to3 style. It also came with really

33:06 good plate discipline. We're calling

33:08 this wave selection, but it boils down

33:11 to this. In Banana Ball, the ball for

33:13 sprint is the most pivotal rule inning

33:15 to inning. It affects every single atbat

33:18 in every single game. And last night,

33:21 the Loco Beach Coconuts remained

33:23 disciplined at the plate. They worked

33:24 all four sprints that directly led to

33:26 points and directly led to a series

33:29 opening win.

33:33 I've been so entrenched on what's going

33:35 on in the field. Da Bonitez on her home

33:37 run heroes. You see our keys of the

33:39 game. She just kicked over the tea. This

33:40 is ridiculous Da as we now have a hit.

33:43 The kid is not running. Now he is. The

33:46 Coconuts have thrown a ball to the Lord.

33:49 Gideon Antel has thrown it to our right

33:52 field umpire as this child is now

33:54 running across first. Antel, where did

33:58 that ball go? Oh, into left field. I

34:01 think that's Grady Morgan chasing it.

34:04 Oh, he's lost it. The child is running

34:06 slowly, very slowly, taking his sweet

34:09 old time. I'd do the same thing on a wet

34:11 field. Don't chance it. Go child around

34:15 third. Greatness is yours in 40 ft. Keep

34:20 going. This is your moment. This is your

34:23 home run.

34:27 That kid just made magic and didn't even

34:32 have to call himself smoke to do it.

34:36 >> Firefighters should get a point.

34:39 >> I think that should be the rules. AJ, we

34:41 just hit a home run.

34:43 >> Sure.

34:43 >> Hey, AJ's plus out of his mind here

34:45 right now. Good for the firefighters and

34:48 good for that kid. And now Marshall

34:50 Schill's got a microphone in his hands.

34:51 It can only mean one thing. Another

34:53 young child is about to warm up the fans

34:56 in a very cold, Pennsylvania.

35:00 Now, with everybody getting on your

35:04 feet, please help me welcome 7-year-old

35:09 Ella as our fan warm up tonight.

35:15 Allighty, Ella. So, this is what's going

35:19 to happen. Whatever dance moves you do,

35:22 everybody in this sold out capacity

35:25 crowd will do as well. So, I need to

35:28 know, are you ready?

35:32 >> Yes.

35:32 >> Hit the music.

35:36 Oh, and get those hands clapped, spin.

35:45 >> And she's got them waving, y'all.

35:55 Wait, is that the Is that the scuba?

35:57 It's the scuba.

36:02 Scr Pennsylvania, please give it up one

36:06 more time for 7-year-old Ella.

36:26 Ladies, gentlemen, boys and girls, hot

36:30 shots and smoke shows from around the

36:32 world. Tonight, you and thousands of

36:35 your friends here live and millions more

36:38 watching at home have gathered to

36:40 witness something beyond your wildest

36:42 imagination.

36:44 From sparks to sirens, from the station

36:47 to the stadium, firefighters from across

36:50 the globe have come together to witness

36:53 this. This is not baseball. This is the

36:57 Crucible where the toughest, hottest,

37:00 and most entertaining players are

37:02 forged. This is a game of the fans, by

37:05 the fans, and for the fans. But this is

37:10 not your granddad's pastime. even know

37:12 this is not any other night at the

37:14 firehouse. This game is baseball by

37:16 birth, fruit by name, and an absolute

37:20 worldwide fanon by the grace of God. But

37:24 make no mistake, when the heat gets too

37:26 intense, we don't cool off. We run

37:29 towards the flames. This is a time for

37:32 all 10,000 people in attendance to get

37:35 on your feet and give me your voices.

37:43 Because this is the hottest show in

37:45 sports, ladies and gentlemen. This is

37:49 Banana Ball.

37:57 Time to play the game.

38:02 >> And now the starting lineup for your

38:05 firefighters.

38:06 Leading off at second base, number 55,

38:10 Tiner Tiny Hugh.

38:15 Betting second, the hot shot at

38:17 shortstop number two, Hayden Pe

38:26 in the three hole. Behind the plate,

38:28 DC3,

38:30 Dalton Cornet.

38:35 Batting clean up, the extra hitter

38:38 number four, Eric Jones Jr.

38:44 in the five hole, manning the hot

38:47 corner. Number 11, Logan Showtime Lacy.

38:56 Batting six, ranging left field number

38:59 zero, Lamar

39:02 Sparks

39:06 in the seventh slot at first base

39:08 wearing number seven, Mason Mad Maxwell.

39:17 In the eighth hole, the designated

39:19 hitter number 24, Dakota Diesel McFaten.

39:26 Batting ninth, ranging right field

39:29 number 10, Darien Premium Mcdow

39:36 and the Decki ranging center field

39:39 number 30, Armando Verera.

39:45 and the flamethrower on the mouth.

39:47 Tonight's starting pitcher number 21,

39:50 Jared Donaldson.

39:55 The firefighters are led by Battalion

39:57 Chief Al Perez, Captain Cory Pie, and

40:01 Lieutenant Drew Anesta.

40:09 Ladies and gentlemen, at this time we

40:11 ask all those who are able to please

40:13 rise. Uncover your heads and turn

40:15 towards the flag with your right hand

40:17 over your heart for this evening's

40:18 performance of our national anthem.

40:21 Performing this evening, please welcome

40:23 Christopher Bohinsky with his rendition

40:26 of the Star Spangled Banner.

40:35 Oh, say can you see

40:41 by the dawn's early

40:44 light,

40:46 what so proudly

40:48 we hailed

40:51 at the twilight last gleaming.

40:57 brought stripes and bright stars

41:02 through the perilous

41:05 fight.

41:07 Or the ramp parts we watched

41:13 were so galling

41:18 and the rockets

41:21 red glare.

41:26 Bombs bursting

41:28 in air

41:32 gave proof through the night

41:37 that our flag was still there.

41:43 Oh, say does that star spangled

41:49 Ber

41:51 yet

41:59 or the land

42:02 of the free

42:10 and the Home

42:14 of the

42:18 brave.

42:21 Thank you very much, Christopher

42:23 Bohinski.

42:28 >> Christopher Bohinsky with a tremendous

42:31 addition of the national anthem as we

42:35 light it up here in Scranton,

42:37 Pennsylvania. These great fans deserve a

42:40 great game, and they're about to get one

42:43 in the hottest and fastest growing

42:45 sports and show in all of sports and

42:48 entertainment in Banana Ball, live from

42:51 PNC Field in the beautiful mountains of

42:55 Scranton, Pennsylvania. AJ Swit to my

42:58 right in the booth. Mattie Warren is

43:00 down on the field. I'm Zack Stton.

43:03 Thrilled to take you along here in the

43:05 firehouse as we take a peek now at the

43:07 starting defense for the firefighters.

43:10 And once again, there will be changes

43:12 here in center field. We welcome back

43:14 Armando Betta, the third round pick for

43:17 the firefighters in the 2026 Banana Ball

43:20 player draft. He'll be back in center

43:22 field after a game off to start this

43:23 one. Lamar Sparks making another start

43:25 in left field for the Fire and Flames.

43:27 Tiner Hughes is back at second base.

43:29 Dalton Cornet will bat as the catcher

43:32 today, but Zachary Bridges is your

43:33 designated fielder. He'll line up behind

43:35 the dish to catch Jared Donaldson. You

43:38 look at this infield. That's a mighty

43:40 good infield for trick plays led by

43:43 Kaden Peanut Green at Shortstop last

43:45 night. It was tough for everybody to

43:47 field. You wonder how tonight the field

43:49 conditions are going to play.

43:50 >> Oh my goodness. I I mean, it's a

43:51 tropical storm right now at the beach.

43:53 The rain is coming down. You don't need

43:55 to look up in the lights to see it. It

43:56 has been raining since 700 a.m. this

43:59 morning non-stop. We have had 12

44:00 consecutive hours of rain. And then it

44:03 brings up the age-old question. Is that

44:05 an advantage for the pitcher in Jared

44:07 Donaldelsson or the batter in the one of

44:10 the top lineups in this league? Jared

44:11 Donaldson's hoping that he'll have the

44:13 advantage here. The righty 535 earned

44:15 run average. We talked about him in the

44:17 pregame show. Longtime Savannah Banana

44:19 turned firefighter, a fan favorite.

44:21 Works very quickly and he has eaten

44:23 innings at a premium this season. This

44:26 guy is as good as they get. Three years

44:29 with the Savannah Bananas on the World

44:30 Tour, then joining the firefighters this

44:32 year. Again, if you need someone who is

44:35 locked and loaded and needs to respond,

44:37 who else would you call upon but Donnie

44:40 Day? But he's going to have to do it

44:41 against a Coconuts lineup that man,

44:43 there's not a hole in it right now, AJ.

44:44 >> I mean, since the Banana Bowl open, this

44:46 group has looked borderline unstoppable.

44:48 If you don't believe me, look at the

44:49 numbers. I mean, there are two guys in

44:51 this lineup hitting below 295. 1 through

44:54 four. Ben Parker, Tanner Allen, Dane

44:57 Toofflin, Jordan Brewer. In that group

44:58 of four, you have over 10 years of

45:00 professional playing experience, an SEC

45:03 player of the year, a Big 10 player of

45:05 the year, and a Canadianb born player in

45:07 Dane Toofflin, who was last night's

45:08 showman of the night with four RBI.

45:11 That's just the top of the order. The

45:12 heart of it has Vining, Osberg, Anel,

45:15 all guys who rake, Malden, Erso, Carson,

45:17 everyone looking to make it a tough

45:19 Donnie day for Donaldson. Let's ring the

45:21 bell and get this thing underway.

45:23 >> Started. Here's C.

45:24 >> Ladies and gentlemen, I think you've

45:26 waited long enough. It's time to start

45:29 to start the 2hour banana ball clock,

45:32 but I need some help. Please help me

45:34 welcome 5-year-old Harper.

45:41 Hello, Harper. Here's what's going to

45:43 happen. On the count of three, myself

45:45 and 10,000 people are going to yell,

45:49 "Ring the bell." And when we do, you're

45:51 going to do just that. Okay.

45:54 >> One, two, three. Ring the bell.

46:02 Showtime.

46:04 >> Harper. That is one of the most unique

46:06 ways we've ever rung the bell in the

46:08 history of God and man. Let's play

46:10 Banana Ball in the rain.

46:12 >> Safe to say it's slippery down there for

46:14 sure. The most faithful Banana Ball fans

46:17 spill out PNC Field amidst a rainy day.

46:20 We're underway.

46:22 Donnie going to touch high on pitch one.

46:25 Again, you wonder for the pitchers how

46:28 the field conditions, how the ball feels

46:30 as you try to throw.

46:33 Hector Gonzalez behind the plate

46:34 tonight. The veteran of this crew. He'll

46:37 make it a two- count.

46:41 Donnie going with a turtleneck look by

46:42 the way. Again, it's rainy, but it's

46:44 awfully cold. And just like last night,

46:47 Ben Parker started out with a three-0

46:49 count. If he swings,

46:52 I'll say I have bigger muscles than him.

46:54 I won't have to lie to you. Ball four

46:56 sprint. So, it's a four pitch free base

46:59 situation as all seven fielders behind

47:02 the pitcher now have to touch the banana

47:04 ball before they can stop it. Ben Parker

47:06 will just ease off at first. How about

47:07 it? Pumps the sailor man starts off this

47:09 game the exact way he did last night.

47:11 He's hoping for that exact same success.

47:13 It was three ball four sprints for a

47:14 total of five bases and a steal of first

47:16 base from Pumps and the Coconuts win

47:18 last night. Coconuts had eight ball four

47:20 sprints last night as Hector does not

47:22 give Donnie the zone.

47:26 So it's five straight bad ones to start

47:28 here as TA

47:30 notch one into the sky. Armando Visera

47:33 in center field. Tip drill right to his

47:36 bare hand. And that's a good way to

47:37 start out for Mondo back at the eighth

47:40 spot. You can call that one in for the

47:42 first trick play of the night.

47:43 >> Just hovering above 50° right now in

47:46 Scranton, Pennsylvania. You are going to

47:48 have to get every bit of the banana ball

47:50 to leave the yard. It is not flying the

47:52 way it typically would up here in the

47:54 Northeast. So, with a wet playing field

47:57 and cold conditions, line drives, balls

48:00 on the ground, that's what's going to

48:01 feed the family.

48:02 >> I'm stunned you admitted that it was

48:03 50°.

48:05 >> I didn't say that. It's 110°.

48:07 >> There it is.

48:08 >> Sunny.

48:10 >> No, I mean, it has been. By the way,

48:13 yesterday at batting practice, TA said,

48:15 "If you get one out of here, you're a

48:17 grown man."

48:20 Muse even he saw that as Dane Toofflin,

48:22 who has taken Jared Donaldson yard

48:24 before, steps on in. Another guy who

48:27 drew a couple of ball force sprints last

48:28 time along with a single. He's no

48:31 stranger to this weather. The lone

48:33 Canadianborn banana ballers in a 3-1

48:35 spot. He's been working ball four

48:37 sprints with the best of them. really

48:38 since the banana ball open

48:39 pound-for-pound. Dame Toplin's on a

48:41 short list of the best bats in this

48:42 league and he just worked yet another

48:44 sprint.

48:45 >> So again, all seven fielders for the

48:47 firefighters much must touch the banana

48:49 ball before they can stop the runner.

48:54 So Ben Parker goes to third. Dane

48:56 Toofflin will step aside at first and

48:57 trade places with Armani Henderson. And

48:59 up to bat is Jordan Brewer. And first

49:01 thing you see too with a lot of these

49:03 coconuts, a lot of hoodie action going

49:05 on here today. Darien McDow for the

49:07 firefighters also wearing one. You're

49:08 not seeing a ton of guys with all the

49:10 cut off sleeves

49:13 >> at the beach. We're used to a lot better

49:14 weather than this. But we're bringing

49:16 the beach to Scranton, Pennsylvania this

49:17 weekend. Saw it last night with the 5-3

49:19 win. Here's the former Big 10 player of

49:21 the year, Jordan Brewer. A new father as

49:23 well. Designated runner Armani Henderson

49:26 gets checked on over at first.

49:27 >> Boy, that brought a couple of uh

49:29 flashbacks I don't want to talk about

49:30 from last night. Couple of pickoff

49:32 throws that went into the dirt that

49:33 scored runs for the Coconuts. Big swing

49:36 and miss from JB who is rewriting the

49:39 way that you can play first base in the

49:41 Banana Ball Championship League. 45

49:43 trick plays coming into the weekend.

49:45 That is by far the most in the BBCL. And

49:48 he did a little chin music there.

49:50 >> And he doesn't just do it defensively

49:52 either. And on base plus slugging just

49:54 south of a thousand. He gets it done

49:56 with the stick. He's really a five tool

49:58 guy.

49:58 >> Knocks one into left field. That is

50:02 gone.

50:05 Jordan Brewer put all five tools on

50:08 display.

50:13 League leader among first baseman in

50:15 trick plays. Three home runs now on the

50:18 season. This one a three-run blast. We

50:20 said you had to get every bit of the

50:22 banana ball to send it out of the yard

50:24 in this weather. Well, Jordan Brewer

50:26 left no doubt and just brought the beach

50:29 to you.

50:46 All right, I no longer have the most

50:48 obvious office reference in the history

50:50 of Banana Ball in Scranton, which is

50:53 only two games in, but there's been a

50:54 lot of office references. Boy, that one

50:56 boom, roasted

50:59 out to left field, of course, for a

51:00 three-run knock. And now the base is

51:02 clear, but not before the Coconuts, who

51:04 put up two innings last night of three

51:06 runs, already have a three spot in the

51:09 first frame. And right now, this is

51:11 where you find out what you're made of,

51:14 especially for a guy like Jared

51:15 Donaldson, who has been through all the

51:16 trials and tribulations you could ask

51:18 for in banana ball. Ashby fighting

51:21 ripper into right field. Darren McDow

51:23 underneath. He just tried the trick play

51:25 and he got it. How in the world did he

51:28 pull that one off? I do not know, but

51:30 Darien can call that one in for a trick

51:32 play. Goodness gracious. We talk about

51:35 premium plays. That's as premium as they

51:37 get. What in the world? Manscaped at the

51:39 half. We are really watching the two

51:41 premium right fielders defensively in

51:44 this league in this series. You look at

51:46 Gideon Antel for the coconuts, Darien

51:48 McDall for the firefighters. Between the

51:50 two, it's a couple of really special

51:51 arms and really creative trick players.

51:54 There's going to be another try here for

51:55 McDow out in right. He lunges up and

51:58 makes the catch in front of the wall.

51:59 Darien McDow, you're unbelievable.

52:03 AJ, I'm sorry on that one. You were

52:05 still going, but I got plused out of my

52:07 mind cuz Darien McDow is a plus fielder.

52:11 This is insane on that track. And if you

52:14 have our view, it's as muddy in some

52:17 where and some places puddle. But Darien

52:19 McDow jumping onto the track limits the

52:22 damage to three. And the firefighters

52:24 now have their work cut out for him

52:25 going into the bottom half against a

52:26 really tricky Coconut's defense.

52:28 >> It's the third time in two games now for

52:30 Eric Osber. He's had a hard hit ball

52:32 that somehow was stolen by a webjam. He

52:34 takes over behind the plate still in

52:36 search of his first trick play this

52:37 season. Saljacobo, the designated

52:39 fielder, was going to play shortstop all

52:41 day. Brett Carson just hitting in his

52:42 place. But the story last night and

52:44 today again is JD Erso. Four trick play

52:47 game last night led the Coconuts to an

52:49 eventual equalizer point and win. He's

52:52 looked really comfortable stepping in

52:54 and he's got a guy on the mound who

52:55 pitches to contact in Will Ethridge.

52:57 Will Ethridge is not afraid to let guys

53:00 put the ball in play and trust the

53:01 defense behind him to induce trick play

53:03 after trick play. The strikeout

53:05 celebration at signature. It's always

53:06 going to be the baby boo from Will

53:08 Ethics. But this is a guy who started

53:10 the season in the bullpen and admittedly

53:12 struggled. He's moved to a starting

53:14 position and settled in extremely

53:16 nicely. a longtime Colorado Rockies

53:18 farmand now in his first year of Banana

53:20 Bowl rookie campaign with the Coconuts

53:22 takes on a firefighters lineup that in

53:24 spite of this slow streak in the record

53:26 column has been swinging a hot stick.

53:29 Yes, the firefighters this year 307

53:32 average coming into the weekend which

53:33 was second best only to the Loco Beach

53:35 Coconuts who as you've seen in the first

53:36 inning hit just about everything that's

53:38 thrown their way. Even if it's hit for

53:41 an out, they hit really hard. But Tiner

53:43 Hughes is one of the most aggressive

53:44 leadoff guys you're going to find here

53:46 in the Banana Ball Championship League.

53:48 346 average. He's quite good at the top

53:51 of the order in his first year fulltime

53:53 in Banana Ball. Kaden Peanut Green after

53:56 a total of 24 hours without the lead in

54:00 batting average in the BBCL is back on

54:02 top with 424.

54:05 We see if he can be as productive as he

54:07 has been expected to be this year. in a

54:10 couple of changes. Again, you'll see

54:11 Daltton Cornett is in the lineup. Not

54:13 the fielding catcher, but he is the

54:16 batting catcher.

54:17 >> Also worth noting, Will Ethridge and

54:18 Eric Osberg a package deal at the school

54:21 ground. Whenever Ethridge starts,

54:22 Osberg's the one back there behind the

54:24 plate. They're most comfortable working

54:25 with one another.

54:26 >> You can see Donnie had a little trouble,

54:27 I think, with the the banana ball. Will

54:29 Ethric has fired three and they've all

54:31 gone really into the left low corner

54:34 way outside. Ball four sprint on the

54:36 table in a three- 0 count.

54:39 And he goes back inside. It is a ball

54:40 for sprint. Maybe a little late call

54:42 there from Hector. Tiny will just put

54:44 the brakes on and stay at first. He got

54:46 a little slow out of the box, but hey,

54:48 that'll do the job. Instead of the

54:49 leadoff guy for both teams, both get on.

54:53 He had the ball for Sprint. Tyler Hughes

54:56 brings really good versatility to the

54:57 box. He's a guy who can play the

54:59 outfield and the infield and then hit

55:00 for contact and power. Matched it with

55:03 good discipline there to work the ball

55:04 for a sprint.

55:06 >> Will Ethridge likely to respond. This

55:08 guy was valued talent in the Banana Ball

55:10 player draft. I've been told a couple of

55:12 stories from Joe Micolik. They really

55:13 wanted him and the Coconuts took him

55:15 right before they could grab him. Had to

55:18 wait for a moment then take Brett

55:19 Sanchez as he fires in his first strike

55:20 of the night. I think both teams worked

55:22 out fine. Brett Sanchez, one of the best

55:24 strikeout artist in the Banana Balls

55:26 Championship League.

55:30 Kaden Peanut Green, 424 average, OBP

55:33 well above 500. This dude is the most

55:35 improved player in the Banana Ball

55:37 Championship League and he's got the

55:40 coolest nickname to boot.

55:44 >> 3-1 count. Some chin music goes up on

55:46 Old Nut.

55:58 Check back over to first as Tiny has to

56:00 run back in. It's rare that I've seen a

56:03 banana ball player have to wear the uh

56:04 the snow cap, the beanie playing Jordan

56:07 Brewer is at first. He's used to this,

56:09 by the way. Guy grew up in Michigan.

56:12 Inside another ball for sprint, so

56:15 already both pitchers have thrown four

56:17 ball sprints, two a piece. Kaden will

56:21 stay at first. Tiny is all the way to

56:22 third. But there are runners on the

56:24 corners and not a soul is out as captain

56:26 clutch Dalton Cornet comes on in to take

56:29 his first swings of the night. Seven

56:31 walk-offs coming into the weekend. That

56:34 was good enough to be third in the

56:35 Banana Ball Championship League. This

56:37 guy, of course, has one of the greatest

56:39 home runs in the history of Banana Ball

56:41 last year against the Savannah Bananas.

56:43 A showdown walk-off winner. Won't

56:46 officially go down as a homer, but we

56:47 all know in our hearts and souls it was

56:49 a big fly.

56:51 Ethridge throws the first pitch strike.

56:54 Both pitchers, you see, they're having

56:55 just a little trouble with the command,

56:57 and you expect that with a wet ball.

56:58 Also, it's quite cold as that one is

57:00 fisted. Oh, it's a great play from JD

57:02 Erso. Bounce pass over a run to score.

57:05 It's a trick play for the Nuts. Dalton

57:07 Cornet does get a little productive

57:09 though.

57:09 >> Yeah, you can't take JD Erso out of this

57:11 lineup. Period. End of sentence. JD Erso

57:14 has carved out a role on this team with

57:16 grit and with will. Not only is he able

57:19 to go completely horizontal to get to

57:21 that banana ball, but he has the

57:22 wherewithal to remember we need a trick

57:24 play early in this contest. It's a

57:26 bounce pass that gets the Coconuts their

57:28 first out and their first trick play.

57:30 Bringing up Eric Jones Jr. I'll note on

57:32 Will Ethridge. Interesting in both three

57:34 0 counts. He went to his two seamer.

57:36 That must be the pitch he feels he has

57:37 the best feel for here in the rain

57:39 early.

57:41 >> It's a nice AB for Dalton Cornet. That

57:43 was a heck of a hit. Even better

57:46 defensive play. If JD Erser doesn't dive

57:48 out there, that's still rolling all the

57:49 way to Gideon Antel.

57:50 >> And if the ground isn't wet, that very

57:52 well gets through.

57:54 It's a one one count.

57:57 >> Bouncer. Toofflin has to really back up.

57:59 That was a slow bouncer over to first,

58:02 but in time for the out.

58:04 >> You can get used to that this evening.

58:06 The ball is going to move slow. This is

58:08 a very wet playing surface in spite of

58:10 being under the tarp for the majority of

58:13 today. I mean, when it rains for 12

58:14 hours straight, the ground's going to be

58:16 wet. It's just the way that the world

58:18 works, even on the beach. So, infielders

58:20 going to have to be ready to charge and

58:21 make plays. Dane Toofflin, good job

58:22 cutting that one off. and setting his

58:24 feet for an accurate throw across the

58:26 diamond.

58:27 >> Inning tying run is at the plate in the

58:29 form of Logan Lacy in the month of May

58:32 hitting 333. A two-time all-star looking

58:35 very much like his all-star self.

58:38 Ethridge low and outside.

58:44 This guy has the ability to tie this

58:46 game with one swing. So does the dude on

58:49 deck in Lamar Sparks. You can hear the

58:51 wind starting to blow.

58:56 That doesn't sound fun.

58:58 >> It's a 2-1 count. Sounds like a great

59:01 time.

59:02 >> The rain is picking back up again after

59:04 it died down for a couple of moments as

59:06 Lacy sends this one to the heavens

59:08 above. I don't believe a fan had a

59:10 chance to catch that one. Got to bring a

59:12 glove.

59:13 Oh god.

59:16 Was hit that high.

59:18 Two two.

59:21 Oh, it's a backwards K for Will

59:23 Ethridge. And the Coconuts for the

59:25 second straight night win a point in the

59:26 first. And she going to call me baby

59:29 poo. How about it? Look at Eric Osberg

59:32 frame this one up. That's what I call

59:34 stealing a strike. Pulls it right over

59:36 the plate. Will Ethridge knew it all the

59:38 way. These are two former professionals

59:40 who work in tandem as battery mates. The

59:42 Coconuts secure a point behind good

59:44 pitching and better defense. Will

59:46 Ethridge rolling on the hill. We send it

59:49 down to the field before we head to the

59:50 second inning.

59:52 >> Here's CJ

59:54 >> fans here in Banana Land. We all have

59:57 the same favorite movie. Say it with me

1:00:00 now on three in three 2 1. Shark NATO.

1:00:04 Yeah, Shark NATO. And right now we're

1:00:07 about to play a game based on that

1:00:10 movie. Here's how this is going to work.

1:00:12 We have four sharks. They're going to be

1:00:14 doing Dizzy Bat when the music plays.

1:00:16 When it stops, they are going to have to

1:00:18 grab an inner tube. We are going to go

1:00:20 until there's only one shark remaining.

1:00:23 Shark, put your foreheads on those bats.

1:00:26 Dispatch, hit that track. Start

1:00:29 spinning, sharks. Start spinning. Here

1:00:32 you go. Keep going. Keep spinning. Keep

1:00:35 spinning. Keep going. Keep it going. Oh,

1:00:39 find an inner tube. Where's that? Find

1:00:41 an inner tube. There's They're fighting

1:00:43 for it. Who's it going to be? Oh. All

1:00:45 right, we now are down to three. Get

1:00:48 back to your bats and keep spinning.

1:00:50 Find your bat. Get back to spinning. Get

1:00:53 back to spinning.

1:00:56 >> Three remain. Get that spinning going.

1:00:58 Keep spinning. Keep spinning. Keep

1:01:00 spinning.

1:01:02 >> These sharks are getting dizzy. They're

1:01:04 getting dizzy. Oh, the music stopped.

1:01:07 >> Where's the inner two? Oh, it's

1:01:10 >> There we go. Now we are down to two. Get

1:01:13 back to your bats.

1:01:16 and start spinning sharks. Start

1:01:18 spinning. There's only one tube left.

1:01:22 >> Keep spinning.

1:01:24 >> Keep spinning. Just keep spinning.

1:01:30 >> Keep going, Shark.

1:01:32 >> Keep spinning. Oh, where's the inner

1:01:34 tube? It's right here. It's by me

1:01:38 there. Oh, no.

1:01:41 Oh,

1:01:44 I think we have a winner right here

1:01:45 wearing the coconut jersey. Give it up

1:01:48 for your winning shark. Everybody

1:01:52 >> fans, it's time for the CPR in remember

1:01:55 when you're performing CPR.

1:01:57 >> AJ, you ever seen Shark NATO?

1:02:00 >> There's six movies.

1:02:02 >> I've not seen one of them either. Look

1:02:04 at this rain here. 47°

1:02:08 that would make anybody shake quite

1:02:12 literally cuz it's cold.

1:02:14 >> For the top of the second inning, Jared

1:02:16 Donaldson back out. Threerun first

1:02:19 again. You could see it with both these

1:02:21 pitchers. It it's got to be so

1:02:22 difficult. Not just because of the the

1:02:24 the moisture on the ball, but just the

1:02:27 sheer cold to try and grip is awfully

1:02:31 difficult. Gideon Antel is not an easy

1:02:34 not easy guy to face to say the least,

1:02:36 but he just took a big hacket strike

1:02:37 one.

1:02:38 >> I'm enjoying watching both teams, seven

1:02:40 fielders behind the pitcher, doing all

1:02:41 they can to stay warm. Armando Bera

1:02:43 jumping jacks in the outfield. Logan

1:02:46 Lacy just continuing to hop at third to

1:02:49 stay hot on the hot corner. And fans

1:02:53 smart not to bring a glove there. A lady

1:02:55 clad in a poncho and hoodie did not even

1:02:58 know the ball had come her way until it

1:02:59 landed right next to her. Head swivel.

1:03:01 Keep it.

1:03:03 Well, we try it again, young man.

1:03:06 That time he didn't even get close to

1:03:07 her.

1:03:09 Gideon Antel fouling off a couple. A man

1:03:11 who faked his way through a cyber

1:03:13 security major. Didn't fake his way

1:03:16 through. He does it again. Now we might

1:03:18 have a shot.

1:03:22 They do not catch it. Hey, let's get one

1:03:26 thing very clear about the Ant-Man.

1:03:27 There was nothing fake about that cyber

1:03:29 security major. I trust him with my

1:03:32 life. You know who has my Instagram

1:03:34 password? Me.

1:03:36 >> Grandma Swite Tech and Gideon Antel.

1:03:39 >> Why does Gideon Antel have your

1:03:40 Instagram?

1:03:41 >> He keeps me secure.

1:03:42 >> Oh, sure. Two two. And he's not secure

1:03:46 there. Backwards K from Hector Gonzalez

1:03:50 as Donnie gets himself his first strike

1:03:52 out of the night. That's how you

1:03:55 respond. And that's backto-back

1:03:56 backwards K's. By the way,

1:03:59 remember how you just said a strike got

1:04:01 stolen? I think that's a makeup call.

1:04:04 Hey, Dalton Malden's got a guitar in his

1:04:06 hands. That must mean something cool's

1:04:09 about to happen.

1:04:44 now batting the song bird of his

1:04:47 generation.

1:04:47 >> I don't know how well that came through

1:04:48 on YouTube in the stadium. I have an

1:04:52 update.

1:04:54 >> Daltton Malden, you're going to get my

1:04:56 Instagram password, too.

1:04:57 >> Wow.

1:04:58 >> That was quite the performance. The song

1:05:00 bird of our generation. Dalton Malden

1:05:04 with a bat themed after his own album,

1:05:06 his own single comes to the plate

1:05:08 looking to hit maybe even more than a

1:05:09 single. He's carved out a role in this

1:05:10 order. It's backto-back days as the

1:05:12 designated hitter after hitting in the

1:05:14 nine hole last night for Coach Crocco's

1:05:15 crew. He gets a signature walk up and is

1:05:17 all smiles here to hit eighth with the

1:05:19 glitter eye black on full display in the

1:05:21 rain.

1:05:21 >> Two things I want to say. Number one,

1:05:24 got a ticking timer here. Do let's put

1:05:26 these batting gloves on just a little

1:05:27 bit faster. Number two, if you was about

1:05:29 it, you'd be taking this AB with the

1:05:31 guitar around your waist

1:05:34 or you just played the guitar with the

1:05:36 batting gloves on.

1:05:39 So, I don't want him to put my Instagram

1:05:41 password in with the batting gloves on

1:05:42 because it's wet and I think the residue

1:05:44 you could pick up where it was on the

1:05:46 keyboard. Big swing and miss there. What

1:05:48 is your Instagram password?

1:05:51 >> Loco Beach 446.

1:05:55 Why 446, you ask? I don't know. I made

1:05:57 it up.

1:05:58 >> There you go.

1:06:00 >> It's 446° on the surface of the sun.

1:06:03 >> It's loco beach followed by three

1:06:05 different numbers. I'll leave it up to

1:06:06 your imagination.

1:06:07 >> Donnie trying for the trick pitch

1:06:08 strikeout. Won't get it. It's a heck of

1:06:10 a try though. We saw that with Ben D

1:06:12 last night on the mic. He was saying we

1:06:14 need trick plays. So why not try for the

1:06:16 trick pitch strikeout. Didn't work. But

1:06:18 hey, you reward the effort. That one

1:06:21 knocked over to Lacy, but

1:06:24 that is a guy who will try a trick play.

1:06:26 Last night we saw one where he was

1:06:27 seated and somehow found a way to get

1:06:30 one under his butt for a trick play. And

1:06:33 by the way, yes, this is banana ball. We

1:06:34 say butt here.

1:06:37 Two two

1:06:39 just fouled away. These two guys

1:06:40 teammates for a long time in that team

1:06:42 clad in yellow.

1:06:43 >> I'd like to make one thing abundantly

1:06:45 clear. Don't use the word we. I don't

1:06:47 use that kind of language.

1:06:48 >> Sure.

1:06:49 >> We'll do the two two again and we'll go

1:06:51 sit down again. Jared Donaldson backto

1:06:54 back strikeouts to start the second

1:06:56 inning. That's how we celebrate Donnie

1:06:58 day.

1:06:58 >> Donnie says put that butt in a chair.

1:07:01 >> Oh goodness. I

1:07:02 >> Well done age. I'm sorry. I cracked

1:07:04 myself up. Daltton Balden goes off.

1:07:06 >> You got me on that one, too. Good for

1:07:07 you.

1:07:08 >> Can't reel it in. And here comes JD Erso

1:07:10 after his phenomenal web gem last

1:07:13 inning. We're going to hear from him in

1:07:14 the bottom of the second with the mic

1:07:15 defensively.

1:07:16 >> Wait, what? I don't like keeping secrets

1:07:18 in anal. We're miking up JD Erso. He's

1:07:21 got a great personality. Another guy who

1:07:24 just seems to always be smiling. More

1:07:26 processoriented than the results. He has

1:07:28 the division 2 record, 93 game on base

1:07:30 streak. No one's touching that record

1:07:32 anytime soon. His dad, one of the great

1:07:34 Italian coaches in the history of the

1:07:36 world, well respected at the University

1:07:38 of Tampa, Italian national team.

1:07:42 >> Baseball banana ball runs in the Erso

1:07:45 bloodline.

1:07:45 >> Can he hear me right now?

1:07:49 >> Cuz the last time that happened,

1:07:51 >> he definitely can. You see that little

1:07:53 that little wire?

1:07:54 >> Oh yeah. Hi JD.

1:07:57 >> He's locked in. Ball four sprint.

1:07:59 >> Erso always is looking for two bases

1:08:00 with a ball for sprint. The defense

1:08:02 would have to be sharp to get him here.

1:08:04 He's not stopping at first. It is a two

1:08:05 baseball four sprint. JD Erso always

1:08:09 hustling on the bases. No different

1:08:10 here. He's not afraid to get the jersey

1:08:12 dirty on the wet playing surface. Erso

1:08:16 always has the team first and he gets a

1:08:19 runner in scoring position with two away

1:08:21 for dual threat. Brett Carson averaging

1:08:24 a hit in every third at bat this season.

1:08:28 He's got five ribbies and is another guy

1:08:29 who has just continued to work his way

1:08:31 into the order. This is why it's going

1:08:33 to be a tough play over at first.

1:08:35 Donaldson can't get his back foot to the

1:08:37 bag. JD Erso heads up base running. It's

1:08:39 in to score. Wow. Greg Carson just drove

1:08:42 in a run and we have a challenge.

1:08:44 >> Well, not only do we have a challenge,

1:08:45 Val Perez signaled like she was going to

1:08:47 challenge and then a fan popped the

1:08:49 cork.

1:08:50 >> We're going to need another look at this

1:08:52 one.

1:08:52 >> Roommate to roommate.

1:08:55 >> Is Donniey's foot on the bag? If it is,

1:08:57 I think he's out. The heel. Oh, it's so

1:09:01 tight. From that angle, it looks like

1:09:03 it's on there. You need to see it again

1:09:05 from someplace else. It looks like the

1:09:07 heel touches right there. But you can't

1:09:08 tell for absolute certainty. Boy, that

1:09:11 was fun though. Val did make the move

1:09:14 like she was going to challenge cuz

1:09:16 Donnie immediately got up and said,

1:09:17 "Yes." Heel there.

1:09:20 >> Ball and glove there. I just don't

1:09:23 definitively see that foot touch the

1:09:25 bag.

1:09:26 >> All the firefighters are running off the

1:09:28 field. Brett Carson has stayed at first.

1:09:30 Every firefighter clad in red has come

1:09:31 off the field.

1:09:33 >> Umpire crew is back out like they have

1:09:35 already made their decision.

1:09:37 >> Okay, man. And that is massive because

1:09:40 it just saved a run. It just saved a

1:09:43 run. That is a huge call. Crew chief

1:09:46 Jake Moore and home plate umpire Hector

1:09:48 Gonzalez going over to make a look at

1:09:50 that.

1:09:52 And man, that is a big time call because

1:09:55 the Coconuts scored a run off of that.

1:09:57 But Donnie was right there, locked in

1:09:59 for it. Told Val, let's challenge. Let's

1:10:02 go for this. And his instincts turned

1:10:04 out to be right. Rick Carson and Javon

1:10:07 Ray having some fun with each other.

1:10:11 That's the friendly banter here.

1:10:14 So, after all of that, we go to the

1:10:17 bottom of the second inning.

1:10:19 >> Uh, yeah. I mean, sure.

1:10:21 >> Hello.

1:10:21 >> Will Ethridge takes over on the mound.

1:10:23 We've got JD Erso miked up at second

1:10:25 base during this half inning. I mean,

1:10:27 what more could you ask for here at Loco

1:10:29 Beach?

1:10:31 >> We're getting the tech team working on

1:10:32 JD Erso's mic. We'll hear from him as

1:10:34 soon as humanly possible because in case

1:10:37 you can't tell, I can't get enough of JD

1:10:39 in my life.

1:10:40 >> I want to make sure everybody knows

1:10:41 this. There is nobody higher on JD Erso

1:10:43 than the guy sitting to my right. He has

1:10:45 battled for him as one of the premier

1:10:47 second baseman in our league. And you've

1:10:49 already seen why he potentially saved a

1:10:50 second run, potentially a point for the

1:10:53 firefighters in the top of the first.

1:10:54 >> I mean, I'll take it a step further.

1:10:55 It's not just second base. JD Erso is a

1:10:57 guy who at the University of Miami was

1:10:59 the team starting shortstop. Then at

1:11:01 Tampa, when his dad needed him, he

1:11:02 played both corners of the infield. He's

1:11:04 played catcher. He's played all three

1:11:05 positions in the outfield. JD Erso is a

1:11:07 true utility guy who pairs it with

1:11:10 unorthodox pop and great bat to ball

1:11:12 skills. Now we're going to be able to

1:11:14 check in with him because it sounds like

1:11:16 they've gotten that mic fixed amidst the

1:11:18 rain. JD, how you doing?

1:11:19 >> Good. Can you guys hear me?

1:11:21 >> Barely.

1:11:22 We've got you, JD. JD, could you hear me

1:11:25 when you were at bat?

1:11:26 >> No, sir.

1:11:27 >> Okay, good.

1:11:28 >> When I was in the dead circle, something

1:11:29 pulled out my back.

1:11:31 >> Okay, good. Last time that happened, uh,

1:11:34 Dane Toofflin hit a home run, so just

1:11:36 wanted to make sure you couldn't hear

1:11:37 me. No,

1:11:37 >> I couldn't. I got a little fed up. I

1:11:39 still have my elbow guard on, but you

1:11:41 know, something happened.

1:11:43 Oh, JD, it's always so good to talk to

1:11:45 you, man. I want to talk some balls.

1:11:46 You've been carving out more and more of

1:11:48 a regular role on this Coconuts team.

1:11:50 What's it been like being able to get

1:11:52 into more of a groove both defensively

1:11:54 and at the plate?

1:11:55 >> Yeah, it's been awesome, man. My

1:11:57 teammates, even in those early games

1:11:59 when I wasn't,

1:12:01 it made sure I understood how much they

1:12:03 believe in me. My chance, I was ready.

1:12:08 There you go, Dane.

1:12:10 Let's go.

1:12:13 >> The boys are rolling now. Nad two trip

1:12:16 plays a piece early in this contest.

1:12:18 Katie, you know, I've been fortunate

1:12:20 enough to be a fly on the wall postgame

1:12:23 conversations on the phone with your

1:12:24 dad, one of the great baseball minds out

1:12:26 there. What's it like having someone who

1:12:28 knows that much about the sport at home

1:12:30 to lean on whenever you need it?

1:12:32 >> Yeah, I mean it.

1:12:35 They just won again the super regionals.

1:12:38 They're going to Kerry, North Carolina.

1:12:40 He uh he started as coach Angel. I like

1:12:43 to believe he's the best coach in the

1:12:45 world. What uh what he instilled to me

1:12:48 is the ability to be consistent, work

1:12:50 hard, understand your game, understand

1:12:53 what this team needs of you, just the

1:12:56 part of this

1:12:58 little

1:13:00 >> JD, when you had that all four sprint

1:13:02 into was there ever a second thought or

1:13:04 did you know with my wheels I'm going

1:13:06 for second base?

1:13:07 >> No, never a thought. For me, I was going

1:13:09 for two all the way. We had a couple of

1:13:11 ball sprints earlier. I have a good eye

1:13:14 on my team. I'm going to keep going till

1:13:16 they get me consistently.

1:13:20 >> JD, it's Zach, by the way. Long time

1:13:22 listener, first time caller. There are a

1:13:24 lot of visitors on your team that you

1:13:26 played with last year for Coach Crocco.

1:13:27 There are a lot of visitors in this

1:13:29 league right now making some massive

1:13:30 impacts.

1:13:32 Is a tag over, not applied in time. How

1:13:35 much fun has it been to see the squad

1:13:37 that you were with last year get spread

1:13:38 out amongst the Banana Ball Championship

1:13:40 League and make such impacts like they

1:13:42 have this year?

1:13:43 >> Yeah, it's an absolute honor. You know,

1:13:45 as a visitor, we all share the common

1:13:47 goal of being here for the time. I I

1:13:50 definitely believe this place is life

1:13:51 changing to be able to see something

1:13:53 like this teammates out here, even the

1:13:56 ones wearing other uniforms. I'm so

1:13:58 happy for him, all of them. The ability

1:14:00 to stand so proud of all my guys, but I

1:14:04 trust you love my coach.

1:14:07 >> You should absolutely be proud of those

1:14:08 guys. By the way, Dakota McDow just had

1:14:10 to show flexibility. Hasn't in 10 years.

1:14:14 >> JD, I want to know what's the playing

1:14:15 surface like? How wet is it? How is that

1:14:18 adjusted how you're playing? And I mean,

1:14:19 you're wearing it on the front of your

1:14:21 jersey right now. I know you've got to

1:14:22 be wet.

1:14:23 >> Yeah, it's wet out here, but as a

1:14:25 midfielder, you know, the saturation

1:14:26 helps me. I'm going to get some more

1:14:28 balls today, and I don't need here

1:14:30 covering the mud. I'll be upset myself.

1:14:33 >> And JD, there was a long portion of this

1:14:35 season, I mean, nearly the first third

1:14:37 of it where, you know, you just had to

1:14:38 continue grinding away on the outside

1:14:41 looking in, keeping your head to the

1:14:43 grindstone and doing what you could to

1:14:45 carve out a role in this lineup. Now,

1:14:47 it's a fifth straight start for you, JD.

1:14:50 I'm wondering what maybe in your

1:14:52 upbringing or throughout life was able

1:14:54 to help you keep an even head and not

1:14:56 make it any bigger than it needed to be

1:14:58 when you were on the bench and how you

1:15:00 know you've been able to work out this

1:15:01 role now.

1:15:03 >> Yeah, absolutely. You know, the way I

1:15:05 approach this game is information based

1:15:07 the time sitting on the bench collect

1:15:09 information. I think a lot of people

1:15:11 don't give enough credit to how

1:15:13 difficult this game banana ball is. I

1:15:15 had a couple learning moments early on

1:15:18 when I was coming in the game. Some more

1:15:20 trick plays I thought I needed to make.

1:15:22 And now to be out here fifth straight

1:15:23 day, I'm starting to really feel like

1:15:25 I'm playing banana ball and uh hopefully

1:15:27 just keep taking my game to the next

1:15:29 level. JD, why is your team so against

1:15:31 full first names? You have AJ JD

1:15:36 >> South Rebels steals third. Not even a

1:15:38 throw over there. Why do you guys hate

1:15:40 full first names?

1:15:41 >> Yeah, you know, we'll play the game this

1:15:43 time. I don't need you guys up there

1:15:45 reading the alphabet.

1:15:46 >> I love that.

1:15:47 >> Just a couple letters and a number.

1:15:49 Let's go play JD. Well done. All good

1:15:51 names come with two letters. JD is on

1:15:54 the money with that. JD,

1:15:57 you know, you and I had the fortune of

1:15:59 checking out the Death Valley and Grand

1:16:01 Canyon with one another. I know that

1:16:03 you're a big Nature fan. So, on off

1:16:06 days, does that help you reenter? I know

1:16:08 the answer. I was fortunate enough to be

1:16:09 there with you. But maybe tell the fans

1:16:11 at home who weren't fortunate enough to

1:16:13 see the Grand Canyon in Death Valley how

1:16:15 breathtaking that was.

1:16:16 >> Yeah, absolutely. That was one of the

1:16:18 best days of my life to celebrate your

1:16:20 birthday too and special. But this game

1:16:22 is hard on that part of our mind. You

1:16:24 can just get out there and see and see

1:16:27 how pretty this course is. I think it's

1:16:29 very refreshing for the school. It helps

1:16:31 you come out here and just play good

1:16:33 worry a little bit less.

1:16:34 >> JD, you are truly just such a special

1:16:37 individual. It means a lot every time

1:16:39 that we get to talk. I've got to leave

1:16:41 you with one thing. Will Ethridge has

1:16:43 got a strike out to get out of the

1:16:44 inning. Can we get his signature baby

1:16:45 boo celebration for a sign off?

1:16:52 >> Oh man, don't do it to him. JD Urso, the

1:16:57 division 2 record holder with a 93 game

1:16:59 on Main Street. Just made his fifth

1:17:01 start here in a row with the Loco Beach

1:17:03 CO. Thank you so much for taking the

1:17:05 time to talk, my friend.

1:17:09 It's

1:17:09 >> always love with JD. Phenomenal stuff

1:17:12 from one of the great minds in this

1:17:13 league. Let's guess that chest.

1:17:21 Hey. Oh. Okay. Okay. Let's move on to

1:17:25 chess number two.

1:17:29 All right. Chess number two. Chess

1:17:31 number two. We got a game to play right

1:17:33 there. Right there.

1:17:37 All right, not bad. Chest number three.

1:17:42 Oh, she is smiling. Okay, Ashley, come

1:17:45 over here. Turn around.

1:17:49 Can you tell me which chest was your

1:17:52 husband's?

1:17:54 >> Obviously, number one.

1:18:00 Um, Ashley, take off your blindfold

1:18:04 and meet your new husband.

1:18:13 This is going to be a very awkward ride

1:18:15 home.

1:18:19 Ladies and gentlemen, that was guest

1:18:20 that chest.

1:18:28 Well,

1:18:29 >> that was certainly something.

1:18:32 >> I know this chest from a mile away.

1:18:34 >> It's the biggest one in Manal.

1:18:37 >> And it's Ben Pumps Parkers. Worked a

1:18:39 ball four sprint to start the day and

1:18:41 really it feels like this weekend

1:18:42 firefighters pitching. It doesn't feel

1:18:44 like it. It's true. They've pitched

1:18:45 around Ben Parker. He really hasn't seen

1:18:48 a ball to hit because it's just

1:18:49 continually been far away from the zone.

1:18:51 I'm not even sure you can blame that

1:18:53 today on it with the rain.

1:18:55 >> Very true.

1:18:55 >> But he's just earned a ton of ball four

1:18:57 sprints. It's just the way that it's

1:18:58 been. This is a guy with an OBP well

1:19:00 above 500. Certainly going to help this

1:19:02 week. And again, he starts with a three

1:19:04 0 count. And if he swings, I would be

1:19:07 floored.

1:19:10 >> He won't and he shouldn't. It's a ball

1:19:12 for sprint again.

1:19:16 Donnie yelling something back at home

1:19:18 plate. Wasn't sure if that was aimed at

1:19:20 Hector Gonzalez, maybe Zachary Bridges.

1:19:23 It looked like Hector told him to calm

1:19:25 down a little bit. Donnie does not get

1:19:27 animated like that very much. And when

1:19:28 he does, he means business. It

1:19:31 definitely looked like it was directed

1:19:32 at the homeplayed umpire, Hector

1:19:33 Gonzalez, who is one of, if not the most

1:19:36 respected official in this entire league

1:19:38 around the league at the Latin umpire on

1:19:40 all social media platforms. He makes an

1:19:42 effort to go to the postgame party plaza

1:19:44 in his umpire gear after every game and

1:19:46 be there for the fans. I think he

1:19:48 deserves that shout out because Hector

1:19:49 Gonzalez gets banana ball. He absolutely

1:19:53 is an individual in the right seat.

1:19:55 >> Not only that, he makes an effort to

1:19:57 talk to the players too after the game

1:19:58 if they have some sort of issue as that

1:20:00 one's fouled off by TA here in PA. By

1:20:02 the way, Mattie Ward has said that that

1:20:04 is her vocal stem is saying PA. I don't

1:20:07 know where Matty is right now, but I

1:20:08 know she's probably downstairs just

1:20:10 losing her brains that I mentioned that

1:20:12 DA. That's a single into right field.

1:20:13 Lord, that took a major bounce off the

1:20:15 lip of the infield. Daren McDow's going

1:20:17 to throw for third and oh, he did not

1:20:20 lay the tag down in time. The throw, I

1:20:23 think, beat Ben Parker there, but just a

1:20:26 little short like, where am I? Where am

1:20:28 I? What?

1:20:30 >> Should be forced to play the rest of the

1:20:32 time. And that, by the way, TA turned

1:20:34 that into a double. So, it's runners in

1:20:35 scoring position at both third and

1:20:37 second. Look at that. Yeah, throw is in

1:20:39 time. Oh, that might have got him. That

1:20:41 might have got him on the hand. I'm not

1:20:42 sure that Val Perez doesn't need to

1:20:44 challenge that. Well, I'm sure Ben

1:20:45 Parker didn't see it one way or another.

1:20:47 There's two in scoring position now.

1:20:49 Heads up base running from Tanner Allen.

1:20:50 That's not a double. It's going to be a

1:20:52 single. He advanced on

1:20:53 >> the guy just Logan Lacy holding the ball

1:20:55 at third and he doesn't have a chance to

1:20:57 clamp it here. Big Timber brings in a

1:21:00 pair. It's a two RBI single. And now a

1:21:03 six riby weekend for Dane Toofflin.

1:21:06 Remember the name amidst a monsoon. The

1:21:08 Coconuts have scored five runs and now

1:21:11 have a two nothing advantage here in the

1:21:13 top of the third. Let's celebrate it.

1:21:22 >> Wearing this nothing is harder than

1:21:25 nothing. The whole shack shimmy.

1:21:31 The whole shack.

1:21:32 >> Wow. Are they groovy? Payton shot. D

1:21:35 Bonitez

1:21:37 celebrating this two RBI single. Dane

1:21:40 Toofflin simply seeing watermelons

1:21:42 instead of banana balls at the plate and

1:21:44 he takes full advantage yet again to

1:21:46 plate both Ben Parker and Tanner Allen.

1:21:48 The top three in the order doing their

1:21:50 job and then some for Loco Beach. And it

1:21:52 brings up another lethal bat. Jordan

1:21:55 Brewer one for one today with a

1:21:56 three-run homer of his own. And the rain

1:21:58 has really picked up here in Scranton,

1:22:01 Pennsylvania again as Donnie throws that

1:22:03 one low into the dirt.

1:22:08 Zachary Bridges will elect to get a new

1:22:09 banana ball. I mean, you can see it on

1:22:11 the track. It's just it's tough times

1:22:13 here.

1:22:14 >> Worth noting in banana ball for a game

1:22:17 to count as official, you either need to

1:22:19 go five innings or 1 hour. It doesn't

1:22:22 have to be bold. It has to be either or.

1:22:24 Right now, two innings into this game,

1:22:26 23 minutes from it counting as a contest

1:22:28 regardless of where things go. If the

1:22:30 rain continues to pick up, that is

1:22:32 something to monitor.

1:22:33 >> And not only that, the wind is starting

1:22:34 to pick up now. You can see it

1:22:36 throughout the stadium. The ponchos are

1:22:37 blowing. The wind is picking up the flag

1:22:40 out in center field. It is a tough day

1:22:43 here weatherwise in Pennsylvania as that

1:22:45 one's fouled off by Jordan Brewer to

1:22:47 work the count full. I mean, everybody

1:22:49 is layered up and that's good to see.

1:22:51 But this is the the weather does not

1:22:53 seem to be getting much better. No. And

1:22:54 I'd be remissed if I didn't shout out

1:22:56 the over 8,000 in attendance right now.

1:22:58 I mean, that is love for the game in

1:23:00 your poncho, in your sweatshirt, doing

1:23:03 everything you can to be at this banana

1:23:04 ball game. I mean, massive shout out to

1:23:07 both the fans at home and the fans in

1:23:09 the grand stand opting to spend their

1:23:10 evening here with us.

1:23:12 >> Jordan Brewer snakes one into left

1:23:14 field. It's another base knock. And

1:23:15 right now, everything is going against

1:23:17 the firefighters. And for the Loco Beach

1:23:19 Coconuts, the top four have just been

1:23:22 absolutely unstoppable tonight. Jordan

1:23:25 Brewer continues to do Jordan Brewer

1:23:27 things with that single. He's right back

1:23:28 above 300 in the batting average

1:23:30 category. It moves Armani Henderson to

1:23:32 scoring position and brings up Ashby

1:23:34 Vining. He's 0 for one with a well

1:23:36 struck ball to right that was gloved by

1:23:38 Darien McDow back in the first.

1:23:39 >> I want to make mention of one thing

1:23:41 here. Val Perez has now run over to Mark

1:23:42 Croccoaching third. You got to know that

1:23:46 those two have been having a lot of

1:23:47 conversations. That one is absolutely

1:23:49 drilled into right center field. Darien

1:23:50 McD Oh my goodness. That dude is

1:23:54 absolutely unbelievable. And he's going

1:23:56 to make the throw over to third, but not

1:23:58 in time. Armani Henderson with a great

1:24:00 tag. Jordan Brewer going from first to

1:24:02 second. But man, Darren McDow, what can

1:24:04 you say about that guy in right field?

1:24:06 Premium doesn't even begin to do the

1:24:08 job.

1:24:09 >> I mean, I have said it once. I'll

1:24:11 continue to beat the dead horse. We are

1:24:13 watching the two premium right fielders

1:24:15 in this sport in this series. That is

1:24:17 the fourth hit by my count that McDow

1:24:19 has stolen now across a game and some

1:24:21 change this weekend. Two of them have

1:24:23 come here against Eric Osber. Eric and I

1:24:25 spent some time talking last night. He's

1:24:27 like, "Man, right now it feels like I

1:24:29 can't buy a hit, but the swing, it looks

1:24:30 so smooth. That looks so pretty with a

1:24:32 guy like McDallan. Right. Sometimes you

1:24:34 just have to tip your helmet.

1:24:36 >> He is the Dunkin Donut batter tonight.

1:24:38 He strikes out. A bunch of people are

1:24:39 getting some free sweet treats. VR

1:24:41 friends at Dunkin Donuts.

1:24:43 If there's anybody that might take that

1:24:44 a little bit personally, I think it is

1:24:47 the longtime pro, former minor leaguer

1:24:49 for the Tampa Bay Rays.

1:24:52 At one, he does break out the sword and

1:24:54 the check swing. Not in time.

1:24:58 It's a two-run frame for the Loco Beach

1:25:00 Coconuts. here as Donnie tries to go

1:25:01 quickly and he will do the job. It skips

1:25:04 into the dirt and everybody here grab

1:25:06 yourself a handful of donuts. The Dunkin

1:25:11 Donut Banner is real and it is

1:25:13 spectacular here in Scranton. Now my

1:25:17 question is uh how do you eat donuts in

1:25:19 the rain?

1:25:21 >> If it gets soggy, man, like I don't want

1:25:23 a soggy donut.

1:25:24 >> Wasn't that the name of that movie? Was

1:25:25 it donuts in the rain?

1:25:28 >> What? Oh no. No. Snakes on a plane.

1:25:30 >> Oh yeah. Yeah. Same thing. Exact same

1:25:33 thing.

1:25:35 >> I think I'd rather be on a plane with

1:25:37 snakes.

1:25:38 >> I have had it with these in the rain.

1:25:40 >> Donuts on this. You know what? Rain.

1:25:44 >> Romani faked like he was trying to steal

1:25:46 home. And if he had done that, I'd have

1:25:48 been floored. Was that an office thing?

1:25:50 >> No, that was a line from Stakes on a

1:25:52 plane. Stakes on a plane.

1:25:53 >> I've never seen it. I've only seen

1:25:55 donuts in the rain.

1:25:56 >> Sometimes I can't stand you.

1:25:58 >> That's okay. You can sit.

1:26:01 >> It's a 3-1 count and Donnie really

1:26:02 wanting that one. Hector Gonzalez is not

1:26:04 giving it to him. And Donniey's

1:26:06 frustrated and I think he should have

1:26:07 been on that one. That one looked like

1:26:08 it touched the corners. Hector though

1:26:10 again a wellrespected umpire and it's a

1:26:12 ball for Sprint's going to walk into

1:26:14 Gideon Angel gets a pair of RBI of his

1:26:16 own. It doubles the Coconuts lead here

1:26:18 in the third. Make it a fourrun frame.

1:26:20 Already a sevenun day for the Loco Beach

1:26:23 Coconuts. The league leaders in RBI

1:26:26 runs, hits, and total bases. just

1:26:28 continue to add to the tally. This one

1:26:31 comes on ball force sprint worked by

1:26:32 Diddy and Antel. That brings up Daltton

1:26:34 Malding in a third inning. The Coconuts

1:26:36 have already torn wide open here amidst

1:26:38 the monsoon. And like AJ said, as that

1:26:41 one is sent into the stands. Nobody

1:26:43 catches it. As AJ said already, you only

1:26:47 have to play an hour for the game to be

1:26:49 made official or

1:26:50 >> you're going to say donuts in the rain

1:26:51 snakes on.

1:26:52 >> No, I there's no shot on giving that one

1:26:53 any more love. Um, but you can you can

1:26:56 see the frustration on Donnie, and I

1:26:57 think it's more than just the strike

1:26:59 zone. This is not fun to pitch in for

1:27:02 anybody, if you're a veteran or not.

1:27:04 This is

1:27:07 just not great.

1:27:10 But we are trying to give our fans the

1:27:11 best show that we possibly can. And our

1:27:15 great team here at Fans First

1:27:16 Entertainment has done that here in

1:27:17 Scranton. As a backwards K goes against

1:27:19 Dalton Molden. It's another one for

1:27:21 Donnie. Second straight against

1:27:24 the song bird of our generation, but not

1:27:26 before. Four runs come across for the

1:27:29 Loco Beach Coconuts. They've scored

1:27:30 seven tonight and the firefighters need

1:27:34 everything to go their way here in the

1:27:35 bottom half of the third. On the topic

1:27:37 of all the officials, I want to make it

1:27:38 clear their job is very hard in the rain

1:27:40 as well. I I'm going to give the benefit

1:27:42 of the doubt to Hector Gonzalez, the

1:27:44 crew chief Jake Moore, Kelly Dine, James

1:27:46 Morgan, not to be mistaken with the FIU

1:27:49 legend, and we are now entering yet

1:27:52 another rain delay. As I mentioned, the

1:27:54 impact that it has on this umpiring

1:27:56 crew, it is now officially going to have

1:27:58 a further impact on this game. You look

1:28:00 up at the lights, the rain has picked up

1:28:02 and it is coming down hard. So, with

1:28:03 Loco Beach on top, one- nothing in the

1:28:05 point column, 4 nothing here in the

1:28:07 third inning. We enter a delay in

1:28:10 Scranton, Pennsylvania. And again, it's

1:28:13 important to point out that we have not

1:28:15 gone either five innings or an hour. So,

1:28:17 this game is not official.

1:28:20 We are trying at some point tonight you

1:28:23 hope to pick this back up as the rain

1:28:26 has just really intensified. The weather

1:28:28 the wind has been really tough to deal

1:28:29 with as well and you can see it I think

1:28:31 for Jared Donaldson there it you

1:28:34 couldn't grip the ball. It's so tough to

1:28:36 do that for everybody in the field. It's

1:28:38 tough and it's tough for both sides.

1:28:39 It's not just the firefighters. Coconuts

1:28:41 have taken advantage of it but the

1:28:42 firefighters have had their

1:28:43 opportunities as well. But it's tough

1:28:45 for everyone. Like you said, the umpires

1:28:47 are doing everything they can to judge

1:28:49 this one right down the middle. Again,

1:28:51 the the rain delay is made by uh a call

1:28:54 for the rain delay is made by a team of

1:28:56 people here with Fans First

1:28:57 Entertainment. The Browns crew, our

1:28:59 umpires, the coaches, athletic trainers

1:29:01 are a part of that decision and

1:29:02 ultimately they've decided a rain delay

1:29:04 is the best here. So again, with an hour

1:29:06 and 18 minutes and 20 seconds on the

1:29:08 clock, the Coconuts lead this game one

1:29:10 point to none. They've just put four

1:29:12 points up in the top of the third. You

1:29:14 saw midway through that third inning,

1:29:15 Val Perez run over to Mark Crocco, had a

1:29:17 conversation. I bet you anything it was

1:29:19 about, hey, maybe this is the right

1:29:21 thing to do.

1:29:22 >> I've got my eyes on that third base side

1:29:24 because right now that's the brain

1:29:26 trust. It's the umpires, it's the

1:29:28 managers, and it's the show callers

1:29:29 talking about the future of this

1:29:31 contest. We'll keep you updated as far

1:29:33 as we learn things and keep you

1:29:34 entertained to the best of our abilities

1:29:36 because rain delays here in Manaball are

1:29:38 different than anywhere else. We're

1:29:40 going to have a lot of fun and I can

1:29:41 promise you that. and Zach loves

1:29:43 something going on.

1:29:43 >> I would love to get a camera shot of

1:29:45 this because Val Perez is really

1:29:47 animated in this conversation and I

1:29:50 don't know what what about would love to

1:29:52 know exactly what her and coach Crocco

1:29:54 are talking about as now that

1:29:56 conversation of the brain trust does

1:29:58 break apart. She goes back to her old

1:30:00 show caller Joel Zimmerman has a

1:30:02 conversation. She does not look

1:30:04 thrilled. I don't think coach Croco is

1:30:05 either. And boy, it takes a lot to make

1:30:07 him not happy about anything. If you

1:30:09 have been around Mark Rockco, that dude

1:30:11 is you think AJ's positive. Have a

1:30:15 conversation with Mark Roco. Every time

1:30:16 I talk to that guy, he he tells us how

1:30:19 great of a job he does and that's so

1:30:21 awesome to hear. It's relieving to hear.

1:30:23 But that guy, if if you get him

1:30:25 animated,

1:30:27 you're the problem at this point. We're

1:30:28 looking at the radar right now, and it

1:30:30 does appear like the range should be

1:30:33 subsiding at this point. Uh but I guess

1:30:36 radars play tricks on me. I don't know.

1:30:38 Uh the the rain has really picked up as

1:30:40 you can see here. So we are going to

1:30:42 have the world's best rain delay here.

1:30:43 We're doing the YMCA. The calendar crew

1:30:45 is doing their thing. Hector Gonzalez is

1:30:48 having a conversation I believe with

1:30:49 Kaden Green down here on the first base

1:30:52 side. All the Loco Beach Coconuts are

1:30:54 having fun. Ben Parker is lifting

1:30:56 weights because why wouldn't he be? Of

1:30:58 course, he's the largest man in the

1:30:59 world. That's what she said. Uh no time

1:31:01 for that anymore. AJ, we're in a rain

1:31:02 delay. By the way, if we can cut up here

1:31:04 to uh up to the booth, our friend Yoshi.

1:31:08 AJ, stand up with that guy. He's in a

1:31:11 poncho. We We We don't want to um We

1:31:14 don't want to hurt young Yoshi. I don't

1:31:15 know where my hat went. There it is. I

1:31:18 found my hat.

1:31:19 It is all but over here. The It's the

1:31:23 saga of the lost hat.

1:31:24 >> Yeah, be careful saying it's all but

1:31:26 over. This game is just delayed.

1:31:27 >> I said the saga of my hat. The game

1:31:29 itself is still very much going on as I

1:31:31 am wrapped up in cords and all things.

1:31:33 We welcome you back up here inside the

1:31:34 dispatch center. We're dry. It's AJ

1:31:36 Switech. I'm Zach State. Matty Warren is

1:31:38 somewhere down on the field. I can only

1:31:39 hope

1:31:40 >> goodness. I wore this beach towel shirt.

1:31:41 >> Yes, Matty Warren is not in a torrential

1:31:43 downpour. She is giving me a thumbs up,

1:31:45 which means something very fun is about

1:31:47 to happen on the sidelines. So, we're

1:31:48 going to try to get you through this

1:31:49 rain delay as entertained as humanly

1:31:52 possible. Again, a bunch of games going

1:31:53 on right now. Might take a live look in

1:31:55 at Neland Stadium. We got another game

1:31:56 in Tacoma, Washington happening here at

1:31:58 10 p.m. Eastern time. But AJ, you wonder

1:32:00 how this resets things for both teams,

1:32:03 especially for the Firefighters after

1:32:04 another slow start.

1:32:05 >> I mean, right off the bat, Loco Beach

1:32:07 clearly rode the momentum wave into

1:32:09 tonight's game. I mean, there's no

1:32:10 denying it. I look at the bottom of our

1:32:12 screen right now. Four hits to the

1:32:13 firefighters, one. They've been working

1:32:15 ball four sprints and already have seven

1:32:17 runs in this game. Three came back in

1:32:19 the first, four in the third inning. So,

1:32:20 barring a phenomenal third inning, you

1:32:22 really already view this as a two-point

1:32:24 advantage for the Coconuts, who now get

1:32:25 to go take the field and add to their

1:32:27 trick play total as well. This is giving

1:32:29 me shades of the 2016 World Series. The

1:32:33 Chicago Cubs, the Cleveland at the time,

1:32:37 Indians playing head-to-head, everything

1:32:39 going Cleveland's way, but there's a

1:32:41 rain delay and both teams take the

1:32:42 dugouts and the Cubs come out in game

1:32:45 seven and get things done. This is a

1:32:46 chance for a mental reset for Val

1:32:48 Perez's group now that she's done

1:32:49 talking to the officials down on the

1:32:50 field. I think she's got to get to the

1:32:52 dugout and get everyone in the right

1:32:53 mindset because there is a lot of banana

1:32:55 ball to be played. We're not even a

1:32:56 third of the way through this contest

1:32:58 yet if it goes the full nine.

1:32:59 >> Yoshi's in a poncho.

1:33:01 >> Yes, he is.

1:33:02 >> I hope Chief is in a poncho or rain coat

1:33:04 somewhere down there. I believe Mattie

1:33:06 Warren is about ready for some fun stuff

1:33:08 here down there, but we'll we'll keep it

1:33:10 aside. Yoshi. I I want to throw it at

1:33:12 this point given what has happened to

1:33:13 the firefighters, but I will not throw

1:33:15 Yoshi just yet. Again, tonight we've

1:33:17 already seen it starting in Knoxville,

1:33:19 Tennessee, Neland Stadium. It's the

1:33:22 Texas Tailgator in the Savannah Bananas.

1:33:24 We have in Tacoma, Washington here at

1:33:26 1000 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. That

1:33:28 would be 7:00 out in the Pacific. We

1:33:31 have the Party Animals in the

1:33:32 Indianapolis Clowns. It finished in a

1:33:34 3-2 win for the Animals last night. We

1:33:36 haven't seen the Banana Ball

1:33:37 Championship League standings tonight,

1:33:39 but that means with the win from the

1:33:41 Party Animals and the loss by the

1:33:42 Firefighters that they flip positions.

1:33:44 And so now the Party Animals are in the

1:33:46 four seed. The Firefighters now on the

1:33:48 outside looking in on the Banana Ball

1:33:50 Championship League playoff standings.

1:33:51 Again, far early here in this one.

1:33:54 There's no need to panic in the world of

1:33:55 the Firefighters. But given the slow

1:33:57 start tonight, they have not had their

1:33:59 best stuff here in the month of May. You

1:34:01 do want to see some urgency and some

1:34:03 sort of flipping the script here in a

1:34:05 little bit. And for the Loco Beach

1:34:06 Coconuts right now, they're playing in

1:34:08 the top third, the top half of the best

1:34:11 of the best here in the Banana Ball

1:34:12 Championship League. Right up there with

1:34:13 the Savannah Bananas and the Texas

1:34:15 Tailgators. Yeah, the Loco Beach

1:34:17 Coconuts have relied on good vibes and

1:34:19 positive energy to carry this momentum

1:34:21 wave all the way across the country. I

1:34:23 mean, I'm looking at Zack Stton with a

1:34:25 smile on my face because I know

1:34:27 regardless of what happens in this game,

1:34:29 regardless of if we get out of this rain

1:34:31 delay. If we don't, if Loco Beach wins,

1:34:33 if they lose, all that I know is that

1:34:35 when you have positive karma and a good

1:34:37 attitude on your side, most things are

1:34:38 going to go your way.

1:34:40 >> As we now all of a sudden have a fashion

1:34:43 show being broken out here because guess

1:34:45 what? Player jerseys are up for sale.

1:34:49 And to do that, Matty Warren in the

1:34:52 rain. Let's do this.

1:34:53 >> All right. 2017 had Tom Holland's

1:34:56 umbrella. We have the firefighters

1:34:58 modeling some jerseys in the rain here

1:35:00 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. So, I'm going

1:35:02 to let him take it away. We got these

1:35:03 jerseys on sale. Starting with Kaden

1:35:06 Peanut Green. He's going to strut it

1:35:08 out. Look at the back of that jersey. Oh

1:35:10 my gosh. This is the guy that's going to

1:35:12 show face every single time. He's going

1:35:15 to mog and outmog everybody. Look at

1:35:18 that pose. I mean, come on. Kayen Peanut

1:35:20 Green, everybody. That jersey is

1:35:21 available. Bradford Web right over here.

1:35:24 He's going to model it out. He's going

1:35:26 to strut it out. He's got the bunker

1:35:28 gear to compliment all of it. I promise

1:35:31 if you get this jersey, you will look as

1:35:33 good as Bradford Web does. Strutting it

1:35:36 out, posing it out.

1:35:37 >> Does it come with a toothpick, Maddie?

1:35:39 >> It does not come with a toothpick, but

1:35:41 you can sub that in yourself. Now, BK,

1:35:45 let's see it. Strut it out. You want to

1:35:49 talk about a guy that can strut, serve

1:35:51 face, Brian Trapania right here.

1:35:53 >> Maddie, you're making me feel really

1:35:55 old. You're using a lot of language I

1:35:56 don't understand. What is serving face?

1:35:58 What is mogging? Is the rain getting to

1:36:00 it?

1:36:00 >> You want to know what serving face and

1:36:01 mogging is? Look at these three right

1:36:02 here. That's serving face. That's

1:36:04 mogging right there. You could get your

1:36:06 player jerseys on sale right now. This

1:36:08 is three of many, but these are the best

1:36:10 three models that we had down here.

1:36:12 Guys, it's a fashion show in the rain.

1:36:14 >> It is a fashion show in the rain. Kaden

1:36:17 Green just blew me a kiss. Brian Trapani

1:36:19 just blew me a kiss. I all of a sudden

1:36:21 feel a little lightaded uh and getting

1:36:23 flushed. Uh goosebumps are popping up

1:36:26 and down as you take a look at a very

1:36:29 wet

1:36:30 home camera angle. That is what it looks

1:36:33 like right here in Scranton,

1:36:35 Pennsylvania here on Montage Mountain.

1:36:37 We have a one nothing lead for the Loco

1:36:39 Beach Coconuts.

1:36:41 Four runs on the board in the top half

1:36:43 of the third. And I wonder if Val Perez

1:36:45 was none too thrilled by that. Oh my

1:36:49 lord.

1:36:51 You can't be serious. You can't be

1:36:53 serious. Mohawk Mike, I need to make a

1:36:55 production call. We We have a situation

1:36:57 that's developed here in the broadcast

1:36:59 booth. Ladies and gentlemen,

1:37:01 >> we are

1:37:02 >> This is the first time this has ever

1:37:04 happened. Does he need a chair? Does he

1:37:06 need a chair? We're going to do this.

1:37:08 Look who's here.

1:37:10 >> It's Chief.

1:37:11 >> Oh my gosh. Hold on. right here, bud. Oh

1:37:14 my goodness. Do you see this, Chief? Oh

1:37:16 my goodness. Yes, boy. Look at him,

1:37:19 folks. For the first time ever, Chief is

1:37:22 here. Hold on. We have a spare headset.

1:37:24 Can we put a spare headset on him? Oh my

1:37:26 goodness. The man the man handling him

1:37:29 is the absolute man. Is JT lost. Oh, he

1:37:31 doesn't like it. He does not like it.

1:37:34 Good boy, Chief. Do you have anything to

1:37:35 say to these beautiful people who are

1:37:37 watching through the rain?

1:37:39 >> Good.

1:37:41 >> Good boy. This might be my new favorite

1:37:43 moment in the

1:37:44 >> This is the best moment of my life

1:37:45 outside of my marriage. And even that

1:37:47 might be getting a little bit of a test

1:37:49 here. Chief, by the way, has an

1:37:51 absolutely adorable rain jacket on,

1:37:53 folks.

1:37:54 >> Oh, it has rubber ducks on it.

1:37:55 >> Yes, it has rubber ducks. This young man

1:37:58 has not lost any sort of luster here

1:38:01 from having the rain delay. This guy

1:38:04 right here, if you need a pickme up,

1:38:05 this is the guy. JT is feeding him

1:38:07 treats. This might be the best day of

1:38:09 Chief's life, all things considered,

1:38:11 because he gets to come up. Look at

1:38:12 this. Look how locked in he is, folks. I

1:38:16 would pay to be this locked in in

1:38:18 anything in my life.

1:38:20 Chief, you this this is unbelievable.

1:38:23 So, in the in the pregame show, I talked

1:38:26 about it uh in the comment section if

1:38:27 someone asked what's the best moment

1:38:28 I've had with Chief. Every pregame, JT,

1:38:31 myself, and Chief get to go in the

1:38:33 stands and do something called treats

1:38:34 for Chief where we find a bunch of kids.

1:38:38 We find maybe a parent or two and they

1:38:39 have to say treats for Chief five times

1:38:41 fast. Now, you might be saying to

1:38:43 yourself, "That's easy. You just talk.

1:38:45 You just say words." Well, you try it at

1:38:47 home. Here, I'll try it for you. Here.

1:38:49 Treats for Chief. Treats for Chief.

1:38:50 Treats for Chief. Treats for Chief.

1:38:51 Treats for Chief. See, I've lost feeling

1:38:53 in my cheeks trying to do that. That's

1:38:56 how hard it is. But you know what? Chief

1:38:58 always gets the last laugh because he

1:39:00 always gets a bunch of treats because

1:39:01 every now and then he gets a couple of

1:39:03 good people who have his plushy, which

1:39:05 by the way, you can buy at every

1:39:06 firefighter game that you see. If you

1:39:08 have a plushie, ooh, JT, good plug right

1:39:10 here. This thing right here is the

1:39:12 golden ticket. You show that to Chief,

1:39:13 you automatically get to give this good

1:39:15 boy a treat. Now, you have a lot of

1:39:18 tricks up your sleeve. I know that. Can

1:39:20 you speak on command?

1:39:22 I don't think so. I don't think JT

1:39:24 really wants to go down that. That's a

1:39:26 That's a a What is it? A rabbit hole.

1:39:29 >> Oh, I guess

1:39:30 >> I don't know. We'll figure that out.

1:39:32 >> You want to talk about not being able to

1:39:33 lock in? That's me. Anytime there's a

1:39:35 dog in the room, my brain is just

1:39:37 immediately going, "Oh, cute black and

1:39:39 white fluffy thing I want to talk

1:39:40 about."

1:39:41 >> Particularly with the first ever

1:39:42 Dalmatian bat dog here. Now, I want to

1:39:44 put the headset back on him because this

1:39:46 is a guy with a lot of questions

1:39:49 for him. So, Chief, I have to ask you,

1:39:51 first of all, what is your favorite

1:39:52 snack?

1:39:54 >> Good. Good. Yes,

1:39:56 >> me too.

1:39:57 >> Raw hides,

1:39:58 >> maybe a steak. Yeah,

1:40:00 >> I love uh deer antlers, too, Chief.

1:40:02 >> Deer antlers. Oo, pigs ears. Bigs one,

1:40:04 I'm sure. What is your favorite

1:40:06 firefighter moment?

1:40:12 >> Yes, that's right. Yep. Yep. When we

1:40:14 rode in on a fire truck together in New

1:40:16 York and at Yankee Stadium, we did our

1:40:17 thing. That was a lot of fun. Uh Chief,

1:40:20 where has been your favorite city to go

1:40:22 to?

1:40:25 Oh, that's right. Not just any city, but

1:40:27 in Psylvania.

1:40:28 >> Oh, you must not

1:40:29 >> Scranton. Psylvania. That's

1:40:31 >> You speak Dalmatian as well as me. I

1:40:34 heard his favorite city's Loco Beach.

1:40:35 JT, do you want to talk about training

1:40:37 Chief on the broadcast right now?

1:40:39 >> Yeah, we can do that.

1:40:40 >> Like, why not?

1:40:40 >> Come on in. Chief has uh licked the

1:40:42 living daylights out of this headset.

1:40:44 But Chief JT, you go ahead and come on

1:40:45 in.

1:40:46 >> I'm used to dealing with Chief Slober

1:40:47 all the time.

1:40:48 >> Oh, hello. There you go. This is JT, by

1:40:51 the way. He is the handler, the manager,

1:40:53 and the dog dad for Young Chief. How

1:40:55 long have you had this beautiful this

1:40:57 beautiful beach?

1:40:57 >> About a year and a half now.

1:40:58 >> Wow.

1:40:59 >> When you first got him, could you have

1:41:00 ever imagined that this would be your

1:41:02 lives?

1:41:04 >> No. Never. Never. And a funny story that

1:41:07 you'll love is when I first got him, you

1:41:08 know what the first thing he did when he

1:41:10 got in my house was?

1:41:11 >> Pee. Walked right into my bedroom,

1:41:13 lifted his leg, peed on my bed.

1:41:15 >> Okay. First thing he ever starting out

1:41:18 well. Starting out well. Like when I

1:41:20 look for a partner, I say, "All right,

1:41:22 >> did you come in and pee on my bed? If

1:41:24 not, it's probably not going to work

1:41:26 out." So,

1:41:27 >> what kind of partner?

1:41:28 >> A partner in life, a partner in crime, a

1:41:30 dog. If you're not peeing on the bed,

1:41:32 you probably don't love me the way Chief

1:41:34 loves JT.

1:41:35 >> Correct. So, how long does it take him?

1:41:37 So, we've seen him get up on your back

1:41:39 and stand there. You've trained him on

1:41:41 command to go to his place. We've seen

1:41:43 him jump on fire hydrants. Obviously, uh

1:41:45 when fans are interacting with him, he's

1:41:47 very calm. How long does it train Chief

1:41:48 to be the way that he is to do the

1:41:50 things that he can do?

1:41:51 >> Well, the thing about Chief is what's

1:41:53 cool about a Dalmatian is that they have

1:41:56 high endurance and once they're trained,

1:41:57 it's awesome. Yep.

1:41:58 >> But getting there takes a little longer

1:42:01 than it does with normal, not normal,

1:42:04 other breeds.

1:42:04 >> Hey, cover your ears.

1:42:05 >> Yeah, other

1:42:07 um but he's he's doing great. Like

1:42:09 there's some stuff like we can't do any

1:42:11 catching thing. Chief

1:42:14 >> can't can't do any catching tricks, but

1:42:16 there's things that he does great. Uh

1:42:18 like he blocks out the noise really

1:42:20 well, which comes in handy. I like

1:42:21 >> that was the first thing I noticed.

1:42:23 Unbelievable.

1:42:24 >> He doesn't seem to get over stimulated a

1:42:25 ton, and that is crazy considering the

1:42:27 line the line that he has at postparty

1:42:31 plaza is absurd.

1:42:33 >> It's so funny. As long as these are

1:42:36 there, as long as he has treats, he'll

1:42:38 do whatever.

1:42:38 >> By the way, loves it. So, I've sat down

1:42:40 to him next to him a couple different

1:42:41 times in the dugout. If you sit down

1:42:43 next to Chief, he will literally stand

1:42:45 on your lap and never leave your side.

1:42:47 This guy loves himself some cuddles. How

1:42:50 does he do with other dogs? He actually

1:42:51 has some dog siblings, doesn't he?

1:42:53 >> Yeah, we have uh I have three other

1:42:54 dogs. He does great. Uh not bad. Likes

1:42:57 them all. He plays I'll say one thing

1:42:59 you love is he's kind of like the teen

1:43:01 emotional support dog.

1:43:02 >> Yep. where there's been multiple times

1:43:04 where players strike out and then they

1:43:07 take their helmet off and they go to the

1:43:08 dugout and they're mad at it. They set

1:43:10 the set the helmet down.

1:43:12 >> They see his face.

1:43:13 >> Yeah. I specifically remember this last

1:43:15 year. Norfolk, uh, Noah Bridges. I see

1:43:20 him go down there and I don't look, but

1:43:22 then I go down there about 2 minutes

1:43:23 later and you just sitting right next to

1:43:24 Chief just petting. Chief is already in

1:43:26 his lap like you said.

1:43:27 >> If you sit down next to Chief, he's

1:43:29 climbing in your lap. That's where he

1:43:30 wants to be. He loves He loves getting

1:43:33 close to people as much as humanly

1:43:34 possible. And by the way, he's about to

1:43:36 have a human sibling here not too long

1:43:38 in the future.

1:43:39 >> Oh yeah. Oh yeah. We got me and my wife.

1:43:42 My wife does merchandise at these games.

1:43:43 So if you see her yell Chief's mom.

1:43:45 Chief's mom. She loves it.

1:43:46 >> Also say Amelia, by the way, that is her

1:43:48 actual name.

1:43:49 >> That's fair.

1:43:50 >> And Chief's mom. Chief's mom. I prefer

1:43:52 that.

1:43:53 >> Uh but she's 21 weeks pregnant right

1:43:55 now. So we got a baby girl on the way.

1:43:56 >> By the way, Amelia is still on the road.

1:43:58 21 weeks pregnant helping us with

1:44:00 merchandise. That shows you the

1:44:01 commitment to fans first entertainment.

1:44:03 So, how do you think Chief's going to

1:44:05 deal with the human sibling? He's going

1:44:06 to have to give away some attention.

1:44:07 >> Yeah. You know, I actually think he's

1:44:09 going to do great. I mean, he's so

1:44:11 tolerant. He's going to do great with

1:44:12 with the baby. He's going to love her.

1:44:15 >> Oh my goodness.

1:44:16 >> He will love her.

1:44:16 >> How could he not? I mean,

1:44:18 >> like my dog cannot do this. I love my

1:44:20 dog, by the way. Go seven years old

1:44:21 retriever Daisy. She's unbelievable. She

1:44:23 does not react like this if I try to put

1:44:25 her in a chair. She needs a couch.

1:44:27 Like this is just how wellrained that

1:44:30 chief is. JT, for you, I mean I know a

1:44:32 lot of people focus on Chief and Right.

1:44:34 Felicia big guy. Yes. Yeah. You can

1:44:36 smell it. You can smell that. But for

1:44:38 you, how much fun has this been to see

1:44:40 the kind of star he has become and know

1:44:42 that you're a part of that? It's been

1:44:44 awesome. I mean, it's genuinely like

1:44:45 mindblowing every time I see his line.

1:44:47 >> Yes.

1:44:48 >> I mean, it's actually it's absolutely

1:44:49 nuts. Or in Savannah, we had uh a whole

1:44:53 family of six people dress up as full

1:44:55 Dalmatians. Yes.

1:44:56 >> And it blows my mind that people love

1:44:58 him that much. I mean, he's awesome, but

1:45:00 to have your whole family dress up as

1:45:02 Dmatian is awesome. Just beyond. I never

1:45:05 would have like guessed it that would

1:45:06 happen.

1:45:06 >> Zack JT, if I may, I think that I just

1:45:10 got news in my headset. I'm going to

1:45:12 spoil the reality of TV for everyone at

1:45:14 home. There is no way to explain this

1:45:17 other than that Chief is the world's

1:45:19 luckiest bat dog, the world's first

1:45:21 Dalmatian bat dog. And since coming to

1:45:23 the booth, we are resuming play in under

1:45:26 2 minutes down on the field. Chief,

1:45:28 you're more than welcome to stay up here

1:45:30 as long as you want.

1:45:31 >> He also has a day job as a bat dog, so

1:45:33 he might He just broke out of his rain

1:45:35 coat. I promise you. He might have just

1:45:37 known it. JT, what a pleasure. Thank you

1:45:39 for sneaking up here.

1:45:40 >> Chief, can you shake hands?

1:45:42 >> Uh, I actually don't teach him shake.

1:45:44 I've never taught him shake.

1:45:45 >> That's one of the few tricks. I know my

1:45:46 parents and my sister have dogs. They

1:45:48 have taught their their dogs how to

1:45:50 shake. You just do this and apparently

1:45:51 it happens.

1:45:51 >> The reason I don't do it is cuz little

1:45:53 kids come up to him all the time and I

1:45:54 don't want him doing this to get

1:45:56 attention. So,

1:45:57 >> see

1:45:59 people big brained over here. Chief, you

1:46:01 are wonderful. Thank you for coming up

1:46:03 here. This is the best booth segment in

1:46:05 the history of man. JT, you're the man.

1:46:07 I'll take that heads up from it. You're

1:46:08 the boss. Love you, man. JT JT Chief,

1:46:12 those guys are awesome. And just like

1:46:14 that, we're back. Wow. We just went, I

1:46:17 think, 10 minutes with Chief.

1:46:20 Greatest in booth segment in history.

1:46:23 But now, here's a problem. I can't get

1:46:25 untwisted from that spare headset. There

1:46:27 we go. Now we're good. So, the rain has

1:46:30 died down a little bit. It's not nearly

1:46:32 as heavy as it just was. However,

1:46:36 it is still raining.

1:46:38 So, I don't think we're out of the woods

1:46:39 just yet. Clearly, we're not out of the

1:46:42 rain yet. as I go back to sit back down

1:46:44 in my chair hoping that Chief did not

1:46:46 pee and he didn't. What a revelation. By

1:46:49 the way, the first day that JT had

1:46:53 Chief, Chief Pete on his bed.

1:46:56 >> Is that incredible?

1:46:57 >> That's what all good things do.

1:46:59 >> All good things.

1:47:02 Ball four sprint earned by Arman Bisera

1:47:04 in his first at bat of the weekend. And

1:47:07 he raced around first like he wanted

1:47:08 second, but clearly thought better. You

1:47:10 can see over at first base there's some

1:47:13 what looks like dry

1:47:16 what is it product dry compound that

1:47:18 they're putting down to try and make it

1:47:20 a little bit easier for runners who are

1:47:21 trying to round first because that dirt

1:47:23 gets so wet and it can get real slippy.

1:47:25 >> Zack, I'm sorry. You talk about an

1:47:27 entertaining rain delay. I have been

1:47:29 through countless rain delays in my life

1:47:31 around baseball. This my first in Banana

1:47:33 Ball. If Chief could have been a part of

1:47:35 every one of them, I think I would have

1:47:37 had a lot more to smile about. I mean,

1:47:39 >> I wish Chief could read the comment

1:47:41 section. I really do because they are

1:47:42 absolutely fawning right now as Tiner

1:47:44 Hughes just stared at ball two.

1:47:47 >> I mean, that guy's incredible.

1:47:48 Unfortunately, today was the first time

1:47:50 I have seen a firefighter pre-show. We

1:47:51 didn't get to play fetch and rescue with

1:47:53 Chief only because he really is not

1:47:55 supposed to get into the rain and get

1:47:57 all wet.

1:48:00 >> The arms up and take strike one.

1:48:02 >> There's not much that impresses me as

1:48:03 much as Chief and his talents. Will

1:48:05 Ethridge going back to the mound after a

1:48:07 rain delay is very close. That is such a

1:48:10 tall task for any pitcher. And the fact

1:48:12 that he's now settling in, getting swing

1:48:14 and miss, finding the strike zone. Uh

1:48:16 that's that professional baseball

1:48:17 playing experience on full display.

1:48:22 Diner bouncer over to Dane. Might not be

1:48:24 in time for the double play. That one

1:48:26 almost pulled JD Erso off the bag. Mondo

1:48:29 trying to say that it did. Arguing with

1:48:31 Kelly Dyne. He wants a challenge. I

1:48:34 don't know that it's right to all. Val

1:48:35 Perez is going to challenge it.

1:48:38 >> So, I said it might not be in time for

1:48:40 the double play. It wasn't. JD Erso

1:48:43 >> for now has the out at second base.

1:48:45 Mondo was pretty

1:48:48 clear right off the rip. He thought he

1:48:49 was off the bag.

1:48:51 I don't know there. I mean, you clearly

1:48:53 see the foot moving. Where does the foot

1:48:57 come off the bag? Cuz I don't know it.

1:48:59 Armando is going to make the argument

1:49:00 that the foot was never on the back. I

1:49:02 can't see it there if it's officially on

1:49:04 there. It sure looks like it is. Glove

1:49:06 in. Foot comes away.

1:49:09 >> Zach, this is my standpoint on it. If

1:49:10 you're going to go the other one out,

1:49:13 this is so similar that Oh, but the

1:49:15 ball's out.

1:49:17 >> That's what I'm seeing.

1:49:19 >> Okay. Yeah. If the if he doesn't have

1:49:20 control of the banana ball, he's safe.

1:49:22 >> Yep. The ball is out and the foot's off

1:49:24 the bag. I think this call is going to

1:49:26 stand. It might even be confirmed.

1:49:28 Umpires are already out. Guys, Egan is

1:49:31 trying to leave a safe call and it is

1:49:33 safe.

1:49:33 >> You have been overturned.

1:49:36 >> Wow. I said he was standing by the way.

1:49:38 [ __ ] He called him. I am busted out of

1:49:40 my mind right now. So Tiny technically I

1:49:44 believe has just hit.

1:49:46 Go that fieldielder's choice or it goes

1:49:48 a single because technically he never

1:49:51 was out. It's an error from Dan Cofflin.

1:49:54 That is a tough one to call an error.

1:49:56 Not because it wasn't an error, but

1:49:58 because man, that's a tough throw to

1:49:59 make when you're trying to speed it over

1:50:00 there. But the first two batters of the

1:50:02 frame have gotten on for the

1:50:03 firefighters with nobody away. And the

1:50:05 guy with the best batting average in the

1:50:06 sport, Kaden Green, is up to bat and

1:50:08 he's been plunked. Ouch.

1:50:12 He's been hit by a pitch. Oh goodness. A

1:50:16 chili pot has been run out to him, but

1:50:18 Peanut is halfway down the line. He's

1:50:20 not happy about that either.

1:50:22 >> Yeah. I mean, that can't feel good. It's

1:50:24 very cold outside. wearing that one on

1:50:26 the number. I

1:50:28 >> talked to uh Eric Jones Jr. about this

1:50:30 in spring training in Savannah.

1:50:31 Shockingly enough, it does get cold in

1:50:33 Savannah.

1:50:35 He said he got hit by a pitch during

1:50:37 spring training and he reacted in a way

1:50:39 I'm not used to seeing EJ react. And I

1:50:41 went to him. I was like, "So, what

1:50:42 happened, man?" Like, I know it hurts,

1:50:43 but he was like, "It hurt worse than I

1:50:44 thought cuz it's cold, man. You take 90

1:50:48 mph to the shoulder." And I said,

1:50:49 "That'll be all for this conversation."

1:50:51 So, Peanut has reached the ball for

1:50:53 sprint and then a hit by pitch. Stalton

1:50:54 Cornet chopper. Jordan Brewer got

1:50:56 through. That'll score two.

1:51:00 That one into the dirt as JB stops it.

1:51:02 No, it only score one. Tiner juice put

1:51:04 on the brakes. I thought for a second it

1:51:06 was slow rolling enough where Tiny could

1:51:07 get home, but instead it scores one.

1:51:10 That's one back for the firefighters,

1:51:11 but nobody away. And the guy with home

1:51:14 run hitting power that could end this

1:51:15 frame is up to the dish in EJ. It's the

1:51:18 right decision from Val Perez because

1:51:19 with an arm like Gideon Antel out in

1:51:21 right field, there is no reason to make

1:51:23 an out on the bases. You want to make

1:51:24 Will Aric earn each of these outs with

1:51:26 the bases loaded. I like putting on the

1:51:28 stop sign there, especially with Gideon

1:51:30 and right. 16 RBI as EJ fights that one

1:51:33 off and foul.

1:51:36 This guy in the month of April was as

1:51:38 hot as a firecracker

1:51:40 tonight. 0 for one.

1:51:43 Grounded out to Dane Toofflin in his

1:51:46 first plate appearance.

1:51:48 But the base is loaded. Nobody away. EJ

1:51:51 needs a powerful shot. That is a

1:51:52 bouncer. Over to Salakovo. Bounce pass.

1:51:55 Oh, it got by him.

1:51:57 >> It's a trick play miss. Kaden Green is

1:51:59 in to score. And the firefighters are

1:52:02 one away from tying this inning up. And

1:52:04 nobody is away.

1:52:06 Remember what I told you, Zach, at the

1:52:08 very start of the rain delay. It can

1:52:10 change a game lickety split. Saw it in

1:52:13 the World Series in 2016. Now you're

1:52:15 seeing it immediately here. The

1:52:17 firefighters get the advantage of coming

1:52:18 out on offense and with the wet

1:52:20 conditions, this Coconuts defense is now

1:52:23 piled up mistakes behind Will Ethridge

1:52:25 and they're starting to add up.

1:52:26 >> And that goes down as a trick play

1:52:27 missed as Logan Lacy fouls that one down

1:52:30 the right field line.

1:52:33 So Peanut is home to score. Tiner home

1:52:36 to score. Mondo home to score. And how

1:52:38 big was that overturn by the way? Huge.

1:52:41 cuz now the firefighters runners on the

1:52:43 corners and still nobody out.

1:52:48 One one well inside Logan Lacy dipping

1:52:50 down takes ball one.

1:52:53 Guy at third is Dalton Cornet just 90 ft

1:52:56 away from a whole new inning.

1:52:59 Chopper over to our head coach. Oh, Val

1:53:02 Perez snagged it with the bare hand.

1:53:04 That's why they renamed the defensive

1:53:06 award with the Corpus Christie softball

1:53:08 program after the fire chief. But it is

1:53:11 a one-two count.

1:53:14 They just got to get DC3 home from third

1:53:17 to make this an even inning.

1:53:21 Right back up the middle. Erso applies

1:53:24 the tag. It's a double play, but it does

1:53:26 not the inning up as Dalton Cornet comes

1:53:29 home. That's a heady play from Erso.

1:53:31 Make sure you lay the tag down. Get the

1:53:34 double play at first. So, the bases are

1:53:36 clear, but the inning is now officially

1:53:39 tied.

1:53:41 Yeah, I mean, if you said coming into

1:53:43 this half inning that the firefighters

1:53:44 would score four runs, I think they'd

1:53:46 sign up for it 10 out of 10 times, all

1:53:48 of a sudden the thirds kned up and Lamar

1:53:52 Sparks can tie this ball game with a

1:53:54 single swing. Talk about a momentum

1:53:56 shift.

1:53:56 >> Yes, he sure can. This dude, five home

1:53:58 runs on the air. It's the most ever in

1:54:00 firefighter history. That one bounced

1:54:02 well back from the back stop. Otherwise,

1:54:04 Lamar could have taken off for first,

1:54:05 but he absolutely wants to swing the

1:54:07 bat. You talk about anybody who's got

1:54:10 just natural hitting power. Go watch his

1:54:13 tryyous for Banana Ball. I mean, he

1:54:16 swung the bat easy, calm, cool, and

1:54:18 collected. And you see that with the way

1:54:21 that he swings for power with the fire

1:54:22 and flames.

1:54:25 Ethridge. It's a three-0 count. Again,

1:54:27 ball force sprint in these conditions

1:54:29 can get awfully treacherous. Mason

1:54:31 Maxwell in the on deck circles. He's got

1:54:33 a single down the left field line and

1:54:35 that is a strike. Lamar was out of the

1:54:38 box going to first. Safe harbor rule

1:54:41 won't count as a strike against him for

1:54:42 stepping out of the box.

1:54:46 Lamar right down the left field line.

1:54:47 Should be extra bases as TA gets over to

1:54:50 the corner. That'll be an easy standup

1:54:53 double. Oh my goodness. He thought for a

1:54:55 triple for a moment and then halts it at

1:54:57 second base. It's a standup double for

1:54:59 Lamar Sparks. Might have just been the

1:55:02 Spark that we needed. and chief from the

1:55:04 booth to the bat.

1:55:07 What a night it's been for the first

1:55:09 ever Dalmatian bat dog. Don't quit on

1:55:13 it. The firefighters didn't quit on the

1:55:15 inning and you see the results.

1:55:20 What a good boy,

1:55:22 man. Alive. I can't believe he got down

1:55:25 there that quick.

1:55:27 What can't he do? Don't answer it cuz

1:55:29 the answer is nothing.

1:55:31 Mason Maxwell can represent the inning

1:55:34 winning RBI here.

1:55:37 And a late call there as South Trimble,

1:55:39 our designated runner, comes on in and

1:55:41 takes the place of Lamar Sparks. You

1:55:44 wonder if there are going to be

1:55:45 defensive changes for the firefighters

1:55:49 in the top half of the next inning.

1:55:50 That's a bouncer right through on Jordan

1:55:52 Brewer. Here comes Smoke. Gideon Antel's

1:55:55 got a hose. It won't matter. sliding

1:55:58 into South Tremble and somehow the

1:56:00 firefighters have gritted out a point in

1:56:03 the bottom of the third.

1:56:07 Man, that is a massive way to start back

1:56:10 after the rain delay. And it's as tough

1:56:13 of an inning as you could ask for for

1:56:15 Will Ethridge. We slapped a slipper in

1:56:18 Javon Ray's hands and the firefighters

1:56:21 gets the job done. But you can see now

1:56:26 the weather is really playing an impact

1:56:28 on this field. Couple balls that you

1:56:30 think Jordan Brewer would easily get,

1:56:33 just sneak right by him. He's such a

1:56:34 sure-handed fielder, but the

1:56:36 firefighters will take it. And we'll

1:56:37 take it down to the field with Jolie

1:56:39 Chabala with Bananas Foster.

1:56:41 >> Bananas Foster. Jolie Chabala.

1:56:44 Across the United States, there are over

1:56:47 400,000 children and teens in foster

1:56:50 care without a permanent home. To raise

1:56:53 awareness and support this community, we

1:56:55 created Bananas Foster, the official

1:56:58 nonprofit of Banana Ball. Our

1:57:00 organization is dedicated to celebrating

1:57:03 the foster care community while

1:57:05 educating and inspiring others to get

1:57:08 involved. Tonight, we are celebrating

1:57:10 the Pande family. Caitlyn and Mike have

1:57:14 been licensed foster parents for the

1:57:16 last eight years. Caitlyn is a social

1:57:19 worker and she inspired her parents to

1:57:22 be licensed foster parents as well. In

1:57:25 total, they have welcomed 27 children

1:57:29 and teens into their home.

1:57:33 Fans, please welcome to the field the

1:57:35 Pandise family for making a difference

1:57:37 right here in your community.

1:57:41 you. Even if we're going to get down, we

1:57:45 can find a way to break through. Even if

1:57:48 we can't find heaven, I walk through

1:57:50 hell with you. Love, you're not alone.

1:57:55 Cuz I'm going to stand by.

1:58:00 >> AJ, even in the middle of the pouring

1:58:02 rain and cold temperatures, this will

1:58:04 warm your heart in ways you still can't

1:58:06 describe. Bananas Foster, text punch to

1:58:09 50155

1:58:11 to help out these superstar families

1:58:13 throughout our community. Bananas Foster

1:58:15 doing such an amazing job as we do again

1:58:18 here tonight. And again, tough

1:58:21 conditions for everybody, for the

1:58:22 umpires, for the players, for the

1:58:24 coaches, for the fans, and yet there's

1:58:26 so much here to celebrate. This is what

1:58:30 Banana Ball and life is truly all about.

1:58:32 AJ talks about it. Spread love, spread

1:58:34 joy, spread smiles. Did I say that

1:58:36 right?

1:58:36 >> Yeah. I mean, it's all about the

1:58:38 message, you also can text Bunch to

1:58:40 50155 to support Bananas Foster amidst

1:58:43 the rain.

1:58:45 >> It really does warm things up.

1:58:47 >> Speaking of getting hot, that's a new

1:58:49 man on the mount. It looks like it's BK

1:58:51 taking over here for the firefighter.

1:58:53 Zack, we can talk about the stat line.

1:58:55 It's going to come up on the screen. I'm

1:58:57 interested and I'm going to let you take

1:58:59 it here. Why is he called BK? BK is

1:59:02 called that because his father is a

1:59:05 regional district manager uh of about

1:59:08 six BKs, Burger Kings, near his hometown

1:59:11 of Columbus. And so favorite,

1:59:12 >> by the way, he was never called BK

1:59:14 before he got to Banana Ball. At his try

1:59:16 out, the head coach of the Savannah

1:59:18 Bananas, Tyler Gillum, I didn't forget

1:59:21 his name. I just misspoke there. Tyler

1:59:22 Gillum, uh started calling him BK. And

1:59:25 so, uh it stuck. So, Brian Trapaniier is

1:59:29 called BK. And that dude's on a

1:59:31 surfboard.

1:59:32 >> That's not any surfboard. That's a

1:59:34 bowler board. The guy who helped write

1:59:37 the Book of Mormon in Vietnamese.

1:59:38 Full-time medical sales device,

1:59:40 part-time bowler border.

1:59:43 Celebrated his birthday already this

1:59:46 weekend in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Now

1:59:47 with his dad in attendance,

1:59:50 just to pick up a knock here on the

1:59:51 bowler board with that signature sky

1:59:53 yellow bat.

1:59:55 >> Kayen Mohler left field diving effort.

1:59:58 What a catch. Oh my goodness.

2:00:01 >> The magic man just made magic. How? And

2:00:06 you see the defense playing up because

2:00:08 if Kaden Bowler got that one any farther

2:00:10 than that, it take an absolute torque of

2:00:13 a swing. But that's why you put South

2:00:16 Trimble in the game for reasons like

2:00:18 that. That is an insane catch. And it is

2:00:21 not the first diving catch we've seen

2:00:23 from him this year. But boy, that is a

2:00:26 massive play cuz if Kaden Bowler sneaks

2:00:29 that one down underneath the dive, that

2:00:31 one's rolling to the wall. And at that

2:00:33 point, Kaden might abandon the board and

2:00:35 just start running.

2:00:37 Man, what a huge one.

2:00:39 >> I'll let you make your jokes on that one

2:00:41 at your expense at home. It's a one-1

2:00:44 count to Old, what' you call him? Duo

2:00:46 threat Brett. Dual threat Brett. Last

2:00:48 year Brett Loftess called him be

2:00:50 everywhere Brett.

2:00:53 Dual threat. He's the lone two-way

2:00:55 player here at the beach. Comfortable on

2:00:57 the hill, comfortable on the lefties

2:00:59 box.

2:01:00 >> He's worked himself a 3-1 count.

2:01:04 >> Top of the order with Ben Parker is in

2:01:06 the on deck circle. So, if Carson can

2:01:08 get the line moving, could get the

2:01:09 momentum back on Loco Beach's side.

2:01:12 >> Big strike call there as BC was trying

2:01:14 to get down the line.

2:01:20 Full count.

2:01:22 Big backwards K for BK. Show me them

2:01:26 hips, big man. Bryant Trapani.

2:01:30 One of the best hearts in the sport. One

2:01:32 of the best stories of the firefighters.

2:01:35 And he sneaks one in on the back door.

2:01:38 BK big time. He and I were talking about

2:01:41 it this week at Grayson Stadium. It had

2:01:43 been a while since he had gotten himself

2:01:45 a strikeout. Well, he just got one there

2:01:47 finally. He said it had been since

2:01:48 Scottsdale. It had actually been since

2:01:50 Greenville. But that kind of shows you

2:01:52 who the guy is. And already we are back

2:01:55 to the top of the order for the third

2:01:57 time in four innings for these Loco

2:01:59 Beach Nuts. And that is the first strike

2:02:00 that has been delivered tonight to one

2:02:03 Ben Parker from California. Boy, that is

2:02:06 a good looking pitch.

2:02:10 Hector Gonzalez. Again, we've talked

2:02:11 about him already. So admired by these

2:02:13 players. A lot of the guys really

2:02:14 respect him. First forwardness is Ben

2:02:17 Parker has fought one into right field,

2:02:19 but Darren McDall is there for the out.

2:02:21 And for the first time in what feels

2:02:23 like forever, the firefighters go in

2:02:25 order. One, two, three. And it's a big

2:02:27 one as the firefighters have a chance to

2:02:29 take a lead in the bottom half of the

2:02:31 fourth

2:02:32 >> at BK. Have it your way. Brian Trapure

2:02:36 makes it look easy with good defense

2:02:38 behind him. Both corners of the outfield

2:02:40 get involved. And now we're gonna head

2:02:42 down to the field for my favorite part

2:02:45 of every night. Let's get Hey baby. I

2:02:49 wish Chief was up here.

2:02:51 >> Could you imagine Chief doing Hey Baby?

2:02:56 >> Oh my goodness. I wish that young man

2:02:58 was here.

2:02:59 >> He's two years old, by the way. I can't

2:03:01 call him a young man. Oh, the camera's

2:03:02 still out.

2:03:04 >> There we're back. Hey baby.

2:03:11 >> You know what? You stuck around with us

2:03:14 >> here through a rain delay.

2:03:16 >> You deserve a little booable. Hey, baby.

2:03:20 >> So, we'll be right here with you.

2:03:23 >> I forgot the lyrics for a moment. Yeah,

2:03:25 there we are. Yoshi's here. Oh my god.

2:03:27 >> Oh my lord. I'm being pressed up against

2:03:29 the wall. This is not fun. When I saw

2:03:32 you walking down the street,

2:03:35 That's the kind of girl I like.

2:03:39 >> Austin Chrisinsky

2:03:42 >> has ski mask on.

2:03:45 >> AJ is taking off his jacket and dropping

2:03:48 it like it's hot.

2:03:58 >> I got them singing pipes.

2:04:02 Hey, baby. You

2:04:06 >> want to know

2:04:07 >> what are you doing down there?

2:04:12 >> Well, that was fun.

2:04:15 >> AJ is still on the floor.

2:04:20 >> Really want to say something right now.

2:04:21 I'll keep it to myself.

2:04:23 >> There's a Pikachu out there and a

2:04:26 Charmander.

2:04:27 >> I think floor time is underrated. Floor

2:04:29 time can be very fun, especially when

2:04:30 you're asleep. Boy, it's fun.

2:04:33 >> Ooh, pictures.

2:04:37 I want to be the very best

2:04:40 one ever.

2:04:50 I will travel across the land searching

2:04:54 far and wide

2:04:57 Pokemon to understand the power that's

2:05:01 inside

2:05:03 shar.

2:05:06 >> I tried. Hey, that's a great call. Dex

2:05:08 Smith, the first man out of the bullpen

2:05:10 for the Loco Beach Coconuts. Big time

2:05:13 Pokemon fan. He plays Pokémon Go during

2:05:15 the games. That's his commitment. Told

2:05:18 me he's caught a shiny each of the last

2:05:19 three days. as he's looking for a

2:05:21 dazzling outing here for the Coconuts.

2:05:23 Doesn't have any room to work with after

2:05:25 his guys were put down in order in the

2:05:27 top of the inning. Smith comes out with

2:05:29 no wiggle room looking to keep the

2:05:31 firefighters at bay. Don't let the earn

2:05:33 run average fool you. Zack Smith has

2:05:35 been a strikethrower. There's just been

2:05:37 a lot of barrels, but this is a guy with

2:05:39 professional playing experience who you

2:05:41 know is going to figure it out as the

2:05:43 season rolls on. Also such an important

2:05:45 voice that many look to in this locker

2:05:47 room. He's stepped into a leadership

2:05:49 role and now he's stepped in as Ash

2:05:51 Ketchum on the hill.

2:05:53 >> Good. Good. Two things I want to point

2:05:56 out. Number one, good initials there for

2:05:58 Zach Smith. Zs. Take those. Trudes. I

2:06:03 love that. And the man from Keystone

2:06:05 College. We were on the mic with JD Erso

2:06:07 a little bit earlier, so failed to

2:06:08 mention much about Dakota McFaden, but

2:06:11 this guy, I've said this many times,

2:06:13 especially a fire drill live would have

2:06:16 had him up there. When they make a fans

2:06:18 first Hall of Fame, there should

2:06:19 absolutely be some sort of wing or award

2:06:22 or section of that Hall of Fame named

2:06:23 after Dakota McFaden. Was the first

2:06:25 Banana Ball player signed to a deal when

2:06:27 the sport was made official. One of the

2:06:29 first ever firefighters, one of the OGs

2:06:31 from that 2024 team. And he's wearing

2:06:33 his Keystone College jersey. played

2:06:35 college ball just about 30 minutes up

2:06:37 the road here from Scranton as he looks

2:06:39 at another one inside a three-0 count

2:06:40 last night. Got himself a point on a

2:06:43 tough hopper by Salacobo at shortstop.

2:06:47 You could argue if it was a hit or an

2:06:48 error, but he just drove a ball four

2:06:50 sprint. That's a tough throw from Ashby

2:06:52 Vining. And again, just because we're

2:06:54 back playing and the rain does look like

2:06:56 finally it's either subsided or really

2:06:58 substantially calmed down. It's still

2:07:00 tough to make these plays, especially in

2:07:02 the dirt, but DMAC has earned himself a

2:07:04 ball for a sprint for the first time

2:07:05 tonight. And they've already used the

2:07:07 designated runner. He's going to have to

2:07:08 stay on the base pads.

2:07:09 >> You touched on it very briefly there,

2:07:10 but Ashby Vining's taken over for Eric

2:07:12 Osber behind the plate. So, they'll

2:07:13 switch. Eric Osberg is now the extra

2:07:15 hitter. Ashby Vining going to catch the

2:07:17 rest of this game with Will Arage taking

2:07:18 a seat after a three-inninging day.

2:07:21 >> That's a good point out there, AJ.

2:07:22 Again, we talked about would there be

2:07:24 some defensive switchups for both these

2:07:25 teams? We've now seen one with a new

2:07:27 pitcher. And here is Darren McDow who

2:07:28 struck out his first time. Sends one

2:07:30 over Cory Pi at first making an 02

2:07:33 count. Pi by the way not in his usual

2:07:35 attire with a jersey and short shorts.

2:07:38 He's got a sweatshirt in short shorts as

2:07:40 Darren McDow has himself a base knock.

2:07:42 DMAC will move from fire station to fire

2:07:44 station. Very quietly since the banana

2:07:47 ball open. Darren McDow is hitting like

2:07:49 360. He's been incredible. And something

2:07:52 else incredible is about to occur cuz

2:07:54 Johnny Hmel and Brian Trapaniier are

2:07:57 both in dresses.

2:08:12 Yes.

2:08:14 Oh, God. Yes.

2:08:27 >> I'm a big fan of that duo on the right.

2:08:29 Wait till you see what's about to happen

2:08:31 here. BK and Beimo really getting it.

2:08:43 Myself and Shay Tyler, our social media

2:08:45 coordinator in the booth just pumping

2:08:47 our fist cuz boy I was Caliente

2:08:51 Mucho Gallor Armando.

2:08:55 I'm on like day 86 of Duolingo. I'm

2:08:58 learning words right back up the middle.

2:08:59 Zack Smith just threw it to nobody and

2:09:02 Dakota McFaten can score with ease.

2:09:06 It'll go down as an E1. Armando brings

2:09:09 in another point. And for the first time

2:09:11 this weekend, the firefighters have

2:09:14 themselves a lead. 2-1 here as there are

2:09:18 dogs out in full force.

2:09:22 It's Blake Morgan, Christian Dearman,

2:09:24 and I cannot see who the third dog is,

2:09:25 but boy, they're having fun down there

2:09:26 in full-on costumes. Chief is down

2:09:28 there. We're having fun, except for on

2:09:31 the beach. Zach, it's a lot of fun, but

2:09:33 I want to take a second to really

2:09:35 analyze what we've Never mind. Cool.

2:09:38 We'll go down to the field. There's some

2:09:39 auditions going on.

2:09:42 >> On the first base side, here's Cass.

2:09:44 Ladies and gentlemen, Chief the Bat Dog

2:09:47 is looking to go on vacation. So, we're

2:09:49 going to hold some auditions for a new

2:09:52 bat dog. They are going to go pick up a

2:09:54 bat, and then you are going to determine

2:09:57 who will be our next bat dog. Buddy,

2:10:00 you're up first. Take it away.

2:10:02 >> You ain't nothing but a dog. Cry.

2:10:07 You ain't nothing but a

2:10:12 >> Okay. Not great. Not great.

2:10:19 >> Lucky. Take it away.

2:10:27 >> Okay. Good job.

2:10:29 Shake that tail. Shake that tail. Now,

2:10:32 Max, it all comes down to you. Let's see

2:10:34 what you got, Max.

2:10:38 >> Lucky, get out of the way.

2:10:43 >> Lucky go.

2:10:53 >> Will it be Max? Oh.

2:11:00 Max has some good tricks. Okay. Bringing

2:11:03 the bat home

2:11:05 and peeing on the fire hydrant. Great.

2:11:08 Okay. Great job. That one wins.

2:11:09 >> Now, ladies and gentlemen, do you think

2:11:11 does that one wins?

2:11:13 >> That one wins.

2:11:14 >> That one wins.

2:11:15 >> That one wins. I love it. AJ, before uh

2:11:18 the Chief things happen, and we have to

2:11:20 interrupt you for Chief. We have to

2:11:21 interrupt me for Chief. You were saying,

2:11:23 "Oh, of course. I have no problem with

2:11:25 that, by the way. I'm finally being

2:11:26 interrupted for Chief. Guys dressed in

2:11:29 onesies on the other hand, eh, I'll let

2:11:32 it slide. Let's talk about the errors

2:11:34 and the playing conditions because the

2:11:36 wet banana ball has clearly had an

2:11:38 impact on this game. And to this point,

2:11:40 it feels like Loco Beach has been

2:11:42 beating themselves. I I mean, both

2:11:44 firefighters points came from innings

2:11:46 where the Coconuts ended things on an

2:11:48 error. It was Jordan Brewer at first.

2:11:50 Now, most recently, Zack Smith trying to

2:11:52 have a heads up play to get the lead

2:11:54 runner at third. Zach, it is very clear

2:11:56 that the rain is having an impact on

2:11:58 this game.

2:11:59 >> And you want to I commend Zack Smith.

2:12:01 That is the right ball play just in

2:12:03 general. Whether it was banana ball,

2:12:04 baseball, or t-ball, it's the right play

2:12:07 cuz it's a force out of third. But you

2:12:09 got to be accurate with it. And again,

2:12:11 some of these are unforced errors like

2:12:13 the one on Jordan Brewer. That that's

2:12:14 tough. But that one is is harder to

2:12:18 swallow. That one is not backwards K for

2:12:21 BK. so fired up he's not even going to

2:12:24 shuffle the hips cuz that man is all

2:12:27 plused out of his mind.

2:12:29 >> That's a rarity. You almost never see

2:12:32 Tanner Allen stare at strike three. Just

2:12:34 a deceptive pitch that paints the outer

2:12:36 black and BK has come into this game and

2:12:39 wheeled and deal that's four straight

2:12:40 up, four straight down for him. BA for

2:12:43 life by the way. You wanted some salsa

2:12:45 to go with your salsa watching. You

2:12:46 can't see it here in the booth. I

2:12:47 actually have a bowl of salsa up here.

2:12:49 No chips. This is salsa from last night.

2:12:52 You just went drinking it through a

2:12:53 twisty straw.

2:12:54 >> Yep. I forgot to refrigerate it last

2:12:55 night, so it's a little warm.

2:12:56 >> Zach brought the salsa. I brought the

2:12:58 twisty straw.

2:12:59 >> You also just tackled me into a a

2:13:01 >> Oh, ouch. I was about to say tackled me

2:13:04 shoulder first into a a window. Dane

2:13:07 Toofflin just took a shoulder first hit

2:13:10 by pitch. And now CPR.

2:13:16 >> Stay alive.

2:13:20 by the way.

2:13:28 It's all right. It's okay. You can look

2:13:31 the other way.

2:13:37 Eminem

2:13:40 >> somewhere

2:13:42 >> in the good Commonwealth of Virginia.

2:13:46 >> Steven Rollins Stton is pumping his fist

2:13:50 with a silent confidence that he's just

2:13:52 seen one of his favorite office bits

2:13:54 replayed here in Banana Ball.

2:13:57 That was stupendous. Now, why the

2:14:00 Coconuts are doing CPR, not the

2:14:01 firefighters.

2:14:03 You you be the judge. Lifeguards, I

2:14:04 know, have to have it,

2:14:06 >> but firefighters, come on, man.

2:14:07 >> Well, the Coconuts have to be prepared

2:14:08 because this team has been hit by more

2:14:10 pitches than anyone in the Banana Ball

2:14:12 Championship League. And Dane Toofflin

2:14:13 has been hit by more pitches than anyone

2:14:15 on the Coconuts team.

2:14:17 >> It's a one-0 count to a guy who has

2:14:19 absolutely tattooed a banana ball

2:14:21 tonight. Runner goes, throw down. Oh my

2:14:24 goodness. Stilts couldn't have caught

2:14:26 that.

2:14:27 >> That's a good ch.

2:14:28 >> Armani on his way to third. He will get

2:14:30 there in time. and Logan Lacy saving it

2:14:31 from going into the Coconuts dugout. But

2:14:35 is

2:14:35 >> everybody hit a winner to the sea lion?

2:14:41 >> You got any more in you?

2:14:43 >> Oh man, you don't want to tempt me with

2:14:45 >> I know if Joe Filamino was here, I might

2:14:47 have had to like take my mouth shut for

2:14:49 a minute.

2:14:50 >> Oh man. I mean, I've said it once, I'll

2:14:52 say it again. It's not to be a broken

2:14:54 record. These are sloppy playing

2:14:55 conditions, and you're seeing it really

2:14:57 in every half inning defensively. It's

2:14:59 going to be whatever team makes less

2:15:00 mistakes, that's the team that's going

2:15:01 to win this game.

2:15:02 >> It's a tough one for Zachary Bridges. I

2:15:04 make the joke that Stilts couldn't have

2:15:05 caught it, but it's a tough throw to

2:15:06 make. I mean, it was on line. Just a

2:15:09 little tall.

2:15:11 Brewer skies it into right field. Might

2:15:13 this be deep enough to score Armani

2:15:15 Henderson? Darien McDow underneath. He

2:15:17 is going to test it. McDow a heck of a

2:15:19 cannon. It stopped him, but it got away.

2:15:21 But BK right there to save the day. And

2:15:24 boy, that is a massive backup there from

2:15:27 Brian Trapaniier cuz Armani has speed to

2:15:29 burn. And if nobody's back there, he's

2:15:31 scoring with ease. Where I'm from, we

2:15:33 call that teach tape. That's what you're

2:15:36 going to show pitchers to learn from

2:15:38 because that is exactly why you cover.

2:15:41 The lazy play is just to sit on the

2:15:43 mound and wait and assume your guys are

2:15:44 going to be there to make the play. The

2:15:45 smart play is what BK just did. That

2:15:48 coverage saves a run.

2:15:51 Pass ball stuck. Here comes Armani. It

2:15:54 won't be in time. And so another one

2:15:57 that gets by Zachary Bridges is going to

2:15:59 cost the firefighters a run as the Loco

2:16:01 Beach Coconuts score again.

2:16:04 And just like last night, the Coconuts

2:16:06 have scored in all of the odd innings,

2:16:08 the first, the third, and the fifth. The

2:16:11 firefighters have scored in the first,

2:16:13 the fifth, and the fourth. So not

2:16:15 exactly following the same trend for one

2:16:16 team, but the other. The script written

2:16:19 right as usual as Ashby Vining sends one

2:16:22 to the heavens. Not a lot of trick plays

2:16:24 tonight. Kaitton Green peanuts and he

2:16:27 just brings it in the oldfashioned way.

2:16:28 And again, you can't blame him for it

2:16:30 given the conditions. Probably really

2:16:32 swirling up there with the winds. So, he

2:16:34 just brings it in and the firefighters

2:16:36 limit the damage to one.

2:16:37 >> It's a wise decision from Kaden Peanut

2:16:39 Green with how sloppy the game has been,

2:16:41 with how sping what that banana ball is.

2:16:43 Just secure it and send us to the fire

2:16:45 line, baby.

2:16:47 and get moving with the fire line.

2:17:15 37.

2:17:35 Yeah, my head.

2:18:00 Those

2:18:09 guys can bang the drums. Doesn't matter

2:18:13 which kind. Snare, bass, whatever those

2:18:17 four ones are, the quads. That's real

2:18:19 good. Here's Andy Archer, right-handed

2:18:22 pitcher. Another former Savannah banana

2:18:24 taking the hill in this game. He's

2:18:26 turned Loco Beach Coconut. And there is

2:18:28 no better brand for Andy Archer. He

2:18:30 spends his off seasons living in Hawaii.

2:18:32 Surf 6 days a week. He's been surfing

2:18:34 more and more with the home plate, the

2:18:36 man behind home plate, I should say,

2:18:38 Ashby Vining. And he's just constantly

2:18:40 catching a vibe on the mountain. But

2:18:41 here there's a group ready to set fire

2:18:44 to that vibe because the top of this

2:18:46 firefighters order is due up to face off

2:18:48 against the big arch. It's Tiner Hughes,

2:18:50 Kaden Green, and Dalton Cornette

2:18:52 >> ready to go toe-to-toe with Arch.

2:18:54 >> This is about as four corners of banana

2:18:56 ball as you can get. We'll touch on it

2:18:57 here in just a moment as some chin music

2:18:59 goes up on Tiner Hughes. Right now they

2:19:01 are just about to finish up here. There

2:19:02 we're in the final innings in Knoxville.

2:19:05 Tiner Hughes. That is a screamer right

2:19:06 by Dane Toofflin. Tanner Allen will race

2:19:09 down the left field line. Tiner wants

2:19:11 two. Tanner's got a heck of an arm and

2:19:14 he's safe.

2:19:18 It'll be a sliding double. I do not see

2:19:20 a challenge. Shine laid down.

2:19:22 Diner Hughes axes up. Chop hard. That is

2:19:25 a tough play for Dane Toofflin to make.

2:19:27 It's why they call it the hot corner.

2:19:29 And so the firefighters have the inning

2:19:30 tying run already in scoring position.

2:19:33 Tailgators and bananas in the final

2:19:35 inning in Knoxville at 1000 p.m. Eastern

2:19:38 time. We're going to go to Tacoma,

2:19:40 Washington as well to see the party

2:19:42 animals and the clowns. And we got you

2:19:43 covered for the next 44 minutes. We are

2:19:46 just banana balled.

2:19:48 >> Do you see inside that donut?

2:19:50 >> D. Look at that.

2:19:52 >> Okay. good today. Good.

2:19:56 >> Just always a constant vibe with her.

2:19:58 >> I mean, that's Loco Beach.

2:20:00 >> She just saw herself on the video board,

2:20:01 too. So, she is absolutely feeling it.

2:20:02 Kaden did not like that, but a nice

2:20:04 mover on the inside.

2:20:08 Peanut has reached on a ball for sprint

2:20:10 and been hit by a pitch. And by the way,

2:20:12 reason why he reacted that way on the

2:20:14 hit by pitch earlier, he actually

2:20:15 fractured that shoulder back at Auburn.

2:20:17 And so anytime he gets hit by a pitch

2:20:18 there, it's going to hurt and scare a

2:20:21 lot of people. Tiner Hughes very quickly

2:20:23 races over to give his guard over to Val

2:20:26 Perez. Tiner not only aggressive with

2:20:28 the bat in his hands, he's aggressive on

2:20:30 the base pads. We just saw it. One goes

2:20:32 through and that's a big one. Tiner

2:20:34 thought about stealing it. That's a

2:20:35 great block from Ashby Vining.

2:20:36 >> Yeah, that's what we've grown used to

2:20:38 seeing from the face of the franchise.

2:20:39 Ashp Vining the hair always shining is

2:20:43 always comfortable behind the plate.

2:20:44 >> Good like the rhyming. Wa wa

2:20:50 ha coup. Big swinging miss. Arch K's

2:20:53 peanuts. Not a high Q. It's some high

2:20:56 cheese from the big arch. Get those hips

2:20:59 a twirling. Andy Archer still has it in

2:21:02 his bag. We were joking before the game

2:21:04 today. He said, "Man, I don't really

2:21:05 have the strikeout stuff I used to. I've

2:21:07 been feeling older." I said, "Arch, you

2:21:09 know you've still got it in you. Pump

2:21:10 that fist, lose the hat, twirl the hips.

2:21:13 It's a big time punch out for the fan

2:21:15 favorite." The guy up next had an RBI

2:21:17 single in his last plate appearance.

2:21:18 It's Dalton Cornet again. Captain clutch

2:21:22 here for the firefighters. Has a chance

2:21:23 to add to that walk-off total here in

2:21:26 2026 as he sends one screaming onto the

2:21:28 roof. Don't say bring a glove. Nobody

2:21:30 could have caught it

2:21:32 >> other than the redeemer. And

2:21:37 >> 1-1 Tiner Hughes leaning.

2:21:41 >> Oh, that's a big swing and miss there

2:21:43 for DC3. A nice curveball there from

2:21:46 Archer.

2:21:48 >> And Archer, by the way,

2:21:51 >> leads both these teams in Bible study

2:21:54 here on the road. He's another guy who a

2:21:57 lot of people in clubous around the

2:21:59 league admire and look up to because of

2:22:01 all of his playing experience here in

2:22:03 Banana Ball. There's not many guys with

2:22:05 more starts and appearances under their

2:22:07 mouth on the hill than Archer. That

2:22:09 might score the game, the inning tying

2:22:11 run. Gideon Angel. Oh, he slipped.

2:22:14 DC3 will put on the brakes. Tiner Hughes

2:22:16 did not score. He stayed at third.

2:22:20 Oh my goodness. That could be crucial

2:22:22 here with runners on the corners as uh

2:22:25 we have Chief the Bat Dog.

2:22:31 What kind of sick twisted joke is this?

2:22:35 Where is my chief?

2:22:41 >> A

2:22:43 I really like that.

2:22:44 >> Who's perverse mind thought of that?

2:22:48 >> EJ deep to center field. Ben Parker

2:22:52 >> scaling back makes the catch. Tiner

2:22:54 Hughes coasting from third to home and

2:22:57 the inning is tied. Dalton Cornet will

2:23:00 stay at first off the single. EJ has

2:23:03 himself a sack fly. It's a character

2:23:05 played appearance from Eric Jones Jr.

2:23:06 and a team one at that. Not going to

2:23:08 show up as a hit in the stat sheet, but

2:23:10 it ties the inning in a big way. Just

2:23:12 drove it to a deep enough part in the

2:23:14 park that now even if Logan Lacy can't

2:23:16 get something through here. The Coconuts

2:23:18 can't take a point in the fifth.

2:23:21 Lacy to the heavens. Not a clown in

2:23:24 sight. Fans racing back. Do they have a

2:23:27 catch?

2:23:28 Oh my goodness. They did on the

2:23:30 concourse. Yuck. He says, "Widen, bring

2:23:34 a glove." He didn't need it. It's a

2:23:37 bare-handed grab in the rain to end the

2:23:40 fifth inning. Rule number 11 comes into

2:23:43 play in the biggest of ways. Amidst the

2:23:46 rain with hardly anyone in the grand

2:23:49 stand. Oh man, there was never a bobble,

2:23:52 never a second doubt. A wet banana ball,

2:23:55 wet hands, it doesn't matter. What a

2:23:58 catch by that man. And we're bringing

2:24:00 him down on the field today. Bonitz.

2:24:02 Give him the donut crowd.

2:24:05 And we go from that to the firefighter

2:24:07 of the night.

2:24:09 >> Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to

2:24:12 the field the family of our firefighter

2:24:15 of the night, Robert James Walsh. Robert

2:24:19 passed away peacefully at the age of 49

2:24:22 last April. A graduate of Sullivan

2:24:25 County High School, Robert rose to be

2:24:27 the rank of captain at the Dour Fire

2:24:30 Company where he served for 34 years as

2:24:33 an EMT and a state certified fire

2:24:36 instructor. He was a loving son,

2:24:39 brother, uncle, friend, husband, father,

2:24:43 and grandfather. And his greatest joy

2:24:45 was spending time with his family. fans,

2:24:49 please join us in celebrating our

2:24:51 firefighter of the night, Captain Robert

2:24:54 Walsh.

2:24:58 >> My

2:25:00 watch him as he goes.

2:25:10 >> A salute to the family of Captain Robert

2:25:14 Walsh. 34 years active and dedicated in

2:25:17 the Dhour Fire Company was serving as

2:25:20 the captain and EMT along as a state

2:25:23 certified fire instructor. His family

2:25:24 getting hugs from every firefighter here

2:25:27 tonight. A salute to Captain Walsh and

2:25:30 to all of our great firefighters who

2:25:31 have served our communities all across

2:25:34 this great country.

2:25:36 Serving is what Captain Walsh just did

2:25:39 as Ben Dum is the new pitcher on the

2:25:41 mound. But we got to go down to Maddie

2:25:44 Warren because some dude just decided to

2:25:47 ruin everything for the firefighters.

2:25:49 >> All right, guys. I know that it's not

2:25:51 the firefighter catch of the night, but

2:25:53 it is a catch for the local beach

2:25:54 coconuts. Jamie right here. Now, Jamie,

2:25:55 you just told me that you called this

2:25:58 catch.

2:25:59 >> I did. I told him I'd catch a ball

2:26:00 tonight.

2:26:01 >> All right. Now, how did you stay locked

2:26:02 in during the rain delay to know that

2:26:04 maybe something was coming your way?

2:26:06 >> Rain's no big deal.

2:26:08 >> Are you from the area? Is that why

2:26:10 rain's no big deal? We're local now.

2:26:12 Been here like three years.

2:26:13 >> All right. Well, awesome. I think you

2:26:15 have a place at Loco Beach kind of

2:26:16 forever. So, hey, uh, nice catch. We're

2:26:18 going to keep you on this side. We're

2:26:19 not going to show you to the

2:26:20 firefighters. Okay.

2:26:21 >> Okay.

2:26:22 >> Jamie, you are welcome at the beach

2:26:25 whenever you like. I know you said

2:26:27 you're a local of Scranton, Pennsylvania

2:26:29 as of 3 years. Well, from this point

2:26:31 moving forward, Loco Beach is your home.

2:26:33 Welcome to the family.

2:26:34 >> Oh, Jamie. Brain's no big deal. Yeah,

2:26:37 we're locals here. Hey, man. You ruined

2:26:40 everything.

2:26:42 He's just called that guy from this

2:26:44 point forward. Ben dumb to Eric Osberg.

2:26:48 He thought that one was well outside.

2:26:52 Ben dumb by the way, you know, no small

2:26:54 thing as Osber goes down to a knee

2:26:56 trying to swing at that one. Strike two.

2:26:57 No small thing. He's the pitcher of the

2:26:59 year in Banana Ball. Just thought I'd

2:27:00 mention that. And by the way, he's from

2:27:01 Elliotsburg, Pennsylvania.

2:27:04 No big deal. And he's got a K. break out

2:27:07 the sprinkler system. Big one for number

2:27:11 18 in red and fire. And Eric Osberg has

2:27:14 to go back with his second straight

2:27:16 strike out. And that is just nasty

2:27:19 stuff. That is why he's the pitcher of

2:27:21 the year. Look at the tongue sticking

2:27:22 out like MJ. Gideon Antel has gone down

2:27:25 to a knee as well. It's such a unique

2:27:27 arm slot. It has these Loco Beach

2:27:28 coconuts swinging out of their shoes

2:27:30 right now. He hides that banana ball

2:27:32 until the last possible moment. That is

2:27:34 it. Right to smoke, but he dropped it.

2:27:36 Almost a great play again from South

2:27:38 Tremble. You reward him for making the

2:27:41 effort, but Gideon Antalyze himself a

2:27:42 single. But boy, the last couple of

2:27:44 times we've seen the Ant-Man go up

2:27:46 against Bendum. Home run at FSU to tie

2:27:48 the game. Home run in Witchah to make it

2:27:50 a 10-3 lead. I mean, Gideon Antel loves

2:27:53 facing Bendum. There's no hiding it

2:27:54 because he is three for four now in his

2:27:56 young banana ball career against him

2:27:58 with two ninth inning home runs and that

2:27:59 line drive screaming single. There's not

2:28:02 many people, if anyone, in the league

2:28:04 that see the reigning pitcher of the

2:28:05 year better than Dumb. And here's Grady

2:28:07 Morgan with a chance to do just that.

2:28:09 He's pinch hitting for Daltton Malden in

2:28:11 this spot. So, Daltton Malden, we'll see

2:28:14 you later. Seen the last of him tonight.

2:28:16 He had a heck of a guitar solo start the

2:28:18 game. I'm not sure if I could understand

2:28:19 what he said, but he had a heck of a

2:28:21 guitar solo. He's the songird of our

2:28:22 generation. Somewhere Sam Balman has

2:28:25 tears in his eyes.

2:28:29 Check over to first.

2:28:30 Okay. Every time we throw it to first,

2:28:32 I'm just just concerned. It's all

2:28:36 >> Morgan gets out of the way.

2:28:39 >> I can't say I blame you for that.

2:28:42 >> Just

2:28:43 I'm like that gif of the uh the soldier

2:28:46 thinking back to something as that's

2:28:47 another one for Ben Dung. Second strike

2:28:50 out of the inning. And the pitcher of

2:28:52 the year looks like he's in pitcher of

2:28:54 the year form back in his home state.

2:28:57 And this is a really early appearance

2:28:59 for him. last year was basically the

2:29:01 closer for the firefighters. He's all

2:29:02 the way in here in the sixth inning.

2:29:05 Tiner Hughes, what you got, big man? Tip

2:29:07 drill. Mason trying to go from behind

2:29:09 the back.

2:29:11 And again, we have not seen many trick

2:29:13 plays tonight. Very few tip drills as

2:29:16 well. Got to imagine it's tough with the

2:29:17 wind swirling up there. 100%. Worth

2:29:20 noting now for Ben Dum. No runs that

2:29:23 potentially score this hitting will be

2:29:24 earned against his line because that's a

2:29:26 trick play missed in the defense behind

2:29:28 him. So, he will post a zero in the

2:29:29 earned runs here and it's really good to

2:29:31 see him steadying the ship. Ben Dum is

2:29:33 one of the great personalities in this

2:29:34 sport. I always enjoy sitting down and

2:29:36 talking ball with him because he's

2:29:38 another one where I feel like every time

2:29:39 I talk with him, I learn something new

2:29:41 about the game. Not just one of the

2:29:43 great personalities, you just talked

2:29:44 about steadying presence. Very rarely do

2:29:46 you see him get frazzled or rocked.

2:29:50 >> It's part of why he earned himself the

2:29:52 pitcher of the year is Brett Carson

2:29:53 swinging at the first two pitches and

2:29:54 makes it a no two count.

2:29:58 I hope you've got multiscreen actions

2:30:00 wherever you're viewing us from.

2:30:01 Tailgators and bananas in a thrilling

2:30:04 conclusion in the ninth inning right now

2:30:05 as we speak. Ben Dum outside trying to

2:30:07 get BC to chase. We're here in the sixth

2:30:10 inning. Rain delay on a couple different

2:30:12 occasions to start the game. We have a

2:30:13 delayed start then about a 30-minute

2:30:16 wait in the middle of this one as Ben

2:30:17 goes high.

2:30:19 This one has had about every roller

2:30:21 coaster turn you could imagine. We have

2:30:23 only played six innings. And again, I

2:30:25 don't like to remind you too much of the

2:30:26 clock cuz we usually go pretty quickly

2:30:29 here. Break out the sword. Ben dumb.

2:30:32 Three strikeouts in the inning. They

2:30:34 strand two on the base pads and the

2:30:36 firefighters got a little momentum. The

2:30:38 trick play missed will not hurt the

2:30:40 reigning Banana Ball pitcher of the

2:30:42 year. Zack. Trick plays are going to

2:30:44 become premium as this game rolls

2:30:47 forward. With the wind and the rain, it

2:30:49 is harder and harder to find trick

2:30:51 plays. This has been the lowest total

2:30:54 for the Coconuts at this pace it would

2:30:56 be all season long.

2:30:58 With them now taking over in the field,

2:31:00 trailing by one, the equalizer point

2:31:02 proving so pivotal last night, you have

2:31:04 to imagine the message from Coach Croco

2:31:06 down on the field is if there's a trick

2:31:08 play to be had, you got to go for it.

2:31:10 There's only two per team right now.

2:31:12 >> One or two if you might start to see

2:31:13 some trick pitches thrown because we're

2:31:15 getting to the late stages and if you're

2:31:16 the firefighters, you you want an extra

2:31:18 point here coming soon. you you'd like

2:31:20 one in the seventh, sixth, maybe the

2:31:24 eighth cuz it's so tight right now. You

2:31:26 do not want to play with danger. Now,

2:31:27 again, we've seen the Coconuts. I I

2:31:30 don't want to call these two teams

2:31:31 sloppy right now cuz Lord knows it is a

2:31:33 tough field to play on at this point,

2:31:36 but we have seen some defensive miscues

2:31:38 from both teams. A little bit more from

2:31:40 the Coconuts since the rain delay

2:31:42 firefighters before it.

2:31:43 >> Yeah, Zach, in my eyes, it's not

2:31:44 sloppiness from the two teams. It's not

2:31:47 sloppiness on the part of the grounds

2:31:48 crew who's done an amazing job to get

2:31:50 this game possible. It's just the

2:31:51 reality of the situation is we've had 14

2:31:53 hours of rain in Scranton, Pennsylvania

2:31:55 today. When playing a game on this

2:31:57 field, you are destined to have some

2:31:59 conditions that are going to test you.

2:32:01 It's about who wants it more. Andy

2:32:03 Archer is a guy who has certainly

2:32:04 pitched in wet conditions before. Let's

2:32:06 see how he can attack Lamar Sparks here.

2:32:09 Oh no, that's not Lamar Sparks. That's

2:32:12 right. South Trimble entered into left

2:32:13 field.

2:32:14 >> Correct. now because again designated

2:32:16 fielder if you enter him in that batter

2:32:18 is not burned but

2:32:21 South Treble's not the designated

2:32:23 fielder. Oh, Saljacobo trying for it and

2:32:25 it goes through the glove and again you

2:32:28 got to reward these guys or honor their

2:32:30 commitment for trying to get these trick

2:32:32 plays but it is so tough right now.

2:32:34 Sjakobo is one of the better defensive

2:32:37 infielders, one of the top half

2:32:39 defensive infielders that we see in this

2:32:42 sport. You do not see him make mistakes

2:32:44 like that when it's in the glove.

2:32:45 >> No. Again, a wet ball will do that. And

2:32:48 now you really have to start towing a

2:32:50 line of we need trick plays for both

2:32:52 sides, but you have to pick and choose

2:32:54 your spots very wisely. So smoke reaches

2:32:56 on his first AB on a trick play missed.

2:32:59 And that's no small thing. This is one

2:33:01 of the better base runners in the sport.

2:33:03 Yes, Armani Henderson leads the league

2:33:05 in runs, 38 to be exact, coming into

2:33:07 tonight. South Trimble's got 29 and I

2:33:09 believe he has already scored one

2:33:11 tonight and he's off for second and he

2:33:13 got a great I mean great jump there. He

2:33:15 is easily there sliding into second. A

2:33:18 runner in scoring position without an

2:33:19 out recorded never a chance to throw him

2:33:21 out there. Ashby Vining great pop time.

2:33:23 The throw is on the money. It's just

2:33:25 good versus better. I I mean Trimble

2:33:27 runs the bases with the best of them.

2:33:29 Mason Maxwell very rare I haven't seen

2:33:32 him by the way start with about two

2:33:33 counts. He's been so good in that

2:33:35 though. I I would love to see the

2:33:36 numbers on what he what his average is

2:33:38 with an 02 count. He's been effective as

2:33:40 that one pops into the dirt. South fakes

2:33:42 it now. The throw down and that's a

2:33:44 really good throw from Ashby. Mason

2:33:46 Maxwell really reminds me of Ashby

2:33:48 Vining in the sense that at the plate

2:33:50 both guys are up there swinging. If it's

2:33:52 close to the zone, the bats leave in the

2:33:54 shoulder. They want to get on with the

2:33:55 hit. They're both cute by the way as

2:33:57 well.

2:33:58 >> Mason, that's a screamer into left

2:34:00 field. Really high up there. TA tracking

2:34:02 it over. Boy, he had to run a mile to

2:34:04 get that. But South is tagging. South is

2:34:06 down. South is at third with just one

2:34:09 away. That's a heck of a play from TA.

2:34:11 You could see it from our vantage point

2:34:13 in the press box. Really wiggled its way

2:34:16 into the corner. So, it's a heck of a

2:34:17 play there. TA throw not in time. And

2:34:20 South is 90 ft from giving that F the

2:34:22 firefighters that insurance point they

2:34:24 desperately need. And the Keystone guy,

2:34:26 Dakota McFaten is at the plate.

2:34:28 >> Tanner Allen covers ground so well in

2:34:30 left field. That ball tailed off at

2:34:31 least 40 ft to the corner, but he stuck

2:34:34 with it all the way through and made the

2:34:35 play to help out his man on the mound.

2:34:37 Now Andy Archer can't allow more contact

2:34:39 like that. It would give the

2:34:40 firefighters a 3-1 lead. You wonder how

2:34:42 many times we've seen this match up here

2:34:44 in Banana Ball between Dmac and Andy

2:34:46 Archer. Archer right now got the best of

2:34:49 him an O2 count. DMAC tonight has a ball

2:34:51 for Sprint and a K. Opposite ends of the

2:34:53 spectrum. And he gets another strike

2:34:55 out.

2:34:57 >> Andy Archer does it again.

2:34:59 The battery mates banging the chest.

2:35:02 Archer hitting the Reese Alexi on the

2:35:04 mound. Just blew it right by him. Heater

2:35:08 down the oven. Cooked him like a pizza.

2:35:10 And now he's an out away from getting

2:35:12 out of this inning scoreless and

2:35:13 remaining a one-point firefighter lead.

2:35:17 >> Darren McDow had a rocket of a single in

2:35:18 his last plate appearance deep to right

2:35:21 field. Gideon Antel chasing back way

2:35:24 back and it falls down and that will

2:35:26 score the inning winning point. Big time

2:35:31 pit from Premium goes down as a walk-off

2:35:35 winner and the firefighters lead it 3-1.

2:35:37 Gideon Antel is okay. Crash into the

2:35:40 wall and we're celebrating with some

2:35:42 push-ups. was a ship that put to sea and

2:35:45 the name of the ship was a billyote. The

2:35:47 winds blew harder, bowed it down below.

2:35:50 My bully boys blow. Soon may the well

2:35:53 men come to bring us sugar and tea and

2:35:56 rum. One day when the tonging is done,

2:35:59 we'll take our leave and go.

2:36:07 So, back in Grand Rapids, Michigan last

2:36:09 year, Christian Dearman hit that C

2:36:11 shanty as a run. Tonight, we plus it up

2:36:15 with some push-ups. And Darren McDow has

2:36:19 plused me everywhere with a hit like

2:36:21 that. I thought he had just hit his

2:36:23 second homer of the year. I wonder who

2:36:25 that was. That was really high up there.

2:36:29 Well, I'll take another look at the

2:36:30 replay here in a little bit. Gideon

2:36:32 Antel, you wonder he's so good at that.

2:36:34 Hold on. Hold on. Stop everything. Seat

2:36:37 race is happening. We must go now. Hi,

2:36:39 Mikey. Spandex out down in front of us

2:36:40 and we're off. Red sheet, pink sheet,

2:36:43 blue sheet, brown sheet. Did not even

2:36:45 get out of the gate. What is happening?

2:36:47 Why are they Red sheet stopped? Oh my

2:36:51 goodness. It is down to blue sheet and

2:36:53 pink sheet on the weekend of the

2:36:54 Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600.

2:36:57 Two of the best races in the history of

2:37:00 auto sports. We'll get Red Sheet having

2:37:02 a comeback of a lifetime. Red Sheet

2:37:06 into the stretch.

2:37:08 Red Sheet, keep your eyes focused.

2:37:11 Immortality is in reach. Pink sheet at

2:37:16 the line. Who won?

2:37:21 Who do we say won?

2:37:25 CJ says it's pink sheet.

2:37:28 AJ, one of the closest sheet races I've

2:37:31 ever seen. Maddie, how do you follow

2:37:34 that up?

2:37:38 Oh, she's got AJ. Oh my goodness. A

2:37:41 Coconut jersey and she's waving.

2:37:46 That's right. Right now until midnight,

2:37:51 player jerseys are available unlike

2:37:54 you've ever seen them before.

2:37:56 >> Let's hit a double screen here. I need a

2:37:57 double screen.

2:37:59 >> Floral jerseys that you see on our very

2:38:02 own Matty the Sideline reporter Warren

2:38:05 are available for a limited time. And

2:38:07 when you dawn a Loco Beach Coconuts

2:38:09 jersey, you walk into any room with a

2:38:11 little bit more confidence, a little bit

2:38:13 more moxy, and a little bit more

2:38:15 swagger. And here's the best part of the

2:38:17 whole ordeal. We've got stock of every

2:38:20 player on the roster. Every coach on the

2:38:22 staff, even Peter Colada has himself a

2:38:25 jersey. So, if you want to put something

2:38:27 on on the morning that just makes you

2:38:29 take a deep breath and say, "Wow, I feel

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2:38:33 attack today with a smile." There's very

2:38:35 little better than a loco Beach Coconuts

2:38:38 jersey. They're available right now. You

2:38:40 can go back, scan that QR code,

2:38:45 Big trick play from Mason Maxwell. And

2:38:47 that is a big one there cuz it's

2:38:50 three-2.

2:38:51 32 trick play lead for the firefighters.

2:38:54 And from Matty Warren to my guy at

2:38:56 second base, Tiner Hughes, the big man,

2:39:01 is on the mic. What's up, my guy?

2:39:03 >> What up, fellas? How we doing?

2:39:04 >> How you feeling right now? You got a

2:39:05 ball force sprint, a single, and double

2:39:07 on your name.

2:39:08 >> Yeah.

2:39:09 >> Uh, I feel good. I'm wet and uh Whoa.

2:39:12 >> Well, I didn't mean it like that.

2:39:15 It's just rainbow.

2:39:16 >> You're supposed to be the oldest of us.

2:39:18 >> You You know the show that took place

2:39:19 here. Oh, that's over my head. Tanner

2:39:21 out. Yeah, but over your head.

2:39:24 >> Oh, Mondo Mu Galante

2:39:31 >> Tiner. That was sick, wasn't it?

2:39:33 >> Yeah, that was crazy. I saw it coming

2:39:34 like, you know, like like you know, like

2:39:37 like with my eyes.

2:39:39 >> That is unbelievable. Now, a couple of

2:39:42 nights ago, you, me, and Jared Donaldson

2:39:44 all watched Banana Ball together. You

2:39:46 talked for about two hours about

2:39:48 ordering food.

2:39:50 >> Did you ever order food?

2:39:51 >> You know, I saw you get Chipotle and I

2:39:53 was like, "Man, that looks good." And uh

2:39:55 yeah, I hit up Uber Eats, got me a

2:39:56 little Chipotle bowl.

2:39:57 >> Good.

2:39:58 >> And uh it was great. I'm glad I did it.

2:40:00 >> What did you get?

2:40:01 >> Yep. Money. What's your Chipotle?

2:40:03 >> All right. We got we got white rice, no

2:40:05 beans, double chicken, uh a little hot

2:40:08 sauce, and then we get a little cheese

2:40:10 on there. And that's it.

2:40:11 >> We rocking with that new honey chipotle

2:40:13 chicken or just the OG.

2:40:14 >> Listen, the uh the best way to do it is

2:40:16 go half and half

2:40:18 >> cuz I think I think it's a little bit

2:40:20 too strong.

2:40:22 >> Uh so you got to you got to kind of mix

2:40:23 it in a little bit.

2:40:23 >> Tiner, when is this darn back flip going

2:40:25 to be broken out, man?

2:40:26 >> Yo, I just had a chance to do one.

2:40:28 >> Yes, you did. Doughlin, that's foul.

2:40:31 >> I just popped it. I don't know why. I

2:40:33 don't know why I didn't flip. You know,

2:40:34 >> that would have been awfully tough in

2:40:36 these winds. I can't imag How tough is

2:40:38 it to try and make trick plays tonight

2:40:39 knowing what the weather conditions are?

2:40:41 >> Uh the wind is crazy down here. It's

2:40:43 blowing a different direction every

2:40:44 inning. So, you just kind of got to wait

2:40:46 and see what happens and then like

2:40:48 adjust. I don't know. It's It's weird

2:40:49 for sure.

2:40:50 >> Mason Maxwell's trick play, by the way,

2:40:52 was the first for the firefighters since

2:40:54 the first inning.

2:40:55 >> And it was the first in the game since

2:40:57 the second inning with Dane Toofflin.

2:40:59 >> Ben, it's a foul ball. Hey Tiner, I've

2:41:02 got a question for you. Player jerseys

2:41:04 are for sale.

2:41:05 >> Other than your own, who would you like

2:41:07 people to go online and buy a jersey?

2:41:08 >> I think I know the answer.

2:41:09 >> Uh, you know, my buddy uh Jared

2:41:12 Donaldson

2:41:13 >> knew it.

2:41:14 >> And uh he's over there on the sideline.

2:41:16 I think he's looking at me right now,

2:41:17 but uh

2:41:18 >> I'd be looking at him, too.

2:41:19 >> You know what a good guy. Why wouldn't

2:41:21 you want his jersey? You know what I

2:41:23 mean?

2:41:23 >> He is a warrior for what he put up with

2:41:25 tonight.

2:41:26 >> Yeah. Uh

2:41:27 >> that's a single for Dane Toofflin.

2:41:32 Personally,

2:41:34 if I needed a jersey, I would buy Jared

2:41:36 Donaldson's.

2:41:37 >> There you go.

2:41:38 >> If we could customize it to say Donnie

2:41:40 Day on the bottom, that would just plus

2:41:42 it up. By the way, it's got to feel good

2:41:43 to meet your longlost twin here after

2:41:45 all these years apart, right?

2:41:46 >> I know y'all want to hear something

2:41:47 insane. I just Okay, so I walk off the

2:41:50 field a second ago and the fans like

2:41:51 time. Oh,

2:41:54 >> Mason.

2:41:55 >> Popping Mason.

2:42:00 Tiner. Oh, go back to second. Go back to

2:42:02 second. Hold up.

2:42:05 You're good. A good try.

2:42:07 >> Am I playing interference by saying

2:42:09 that? I don't know if

2:42:10 >> one out for you here.

2:42:11 >> Dang.

2:42:12 >> Hey, I love that from Ben Dumb, though.

2:42:14 Hey, that's got to be encouraging in the

2:42:16 field when you have a pitcher who's able

2:42:17 to just smile that off.

2:42:18 >> The good news of a trick play miss is we

2:42:20 can go back to story time with Tiny.

2:42:22 >> Hey fellas, everybody at home watching,

2:42:25 >> I'm sorry. I

2:42:26 >> You know what? That's okay. Can you

2:42:27 finish this story about you guys coming

2:42:29 off the field with you and Donnie?

2:42:30 >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. All right. So, this

2:42:31 actually had nothing to do with Donnie,

2:42:32 but uh how many outs we got? Hang on.

2:42:33 All right.

2:42:33 >> You got two.

2:42:34 >> All right. We got two outs. We're

2:42:35 chilling. Uh yeah. So, come off the

2:42:37 field and I got a fan yelling at me. Yo,

2:42:39 five. Five. Yo, Tiner. Hey, I got a

2:42:42 question. Like, all right, what's up?

2:42:44 And they said, "Are you Noah's brother?"

2:42:48 >> I said, "No, but thank you though.

2:42:51 >> I appreciate that."

2:42:52 >> That's crazy. So, they thought you were

2:42:54 hot is what we were saying.

2:42:55 >> That's what I'm gathering. Let me tell

2:42:57 you, you are number one. Number two, you

2:43:00 look so much different. So, at the

2:43:01 beginning of the year, if you saw Tiner

2:43:03 Hughes in our roster photos, he's got a

2:43:05 mustache on. He shaved it off and he

2:43:07 told me the reason why is because if

2:43:09 you're babyfaced, you can be the face of

2:43:10 the league.

2:43:11 >> Yo, everybody that shaved their face

2:43:13 blows up. And I'm not kidding. I shaved

2:43:16 my mustache. A week later, I do double

2:43:19 Dutch bus. 10 million views on TikTok.

2:43:21 And now I have 50,000 followers. So,

2:43:23 >> you're also hitting like above 350 after

2:43:25 a night like tonight. So,

2:43:26 >> I say job well done on that one.

2:43:28 >> I don't feel like that's why I, you

2:43:30 know.

2:43:30 >> Well, it helped, I'm sure.

2:43:32 >> Oh, I got to make a play.

2:43:34 >> Oh, that's a trick play.

2:43:36 >> That's a trick play.

2:43:38 >> It might be a trick play. You know what

2:43:39 though? It's an out. You guys still have

2:43:40 the trick play lead. Tiner Hughes,

2:43:42 before I let you go, we're in the

2:43:44 college town of DMAC, can you give me

2:43:46 your best Dakota McFaten impression?

2:43:48 >> Yeah. Hold up. Here we go. Y'all ready

2:43:49 for this?

2:43:49 >> Yes.

2:43:54 >> Yeah. A

2:44:01 >> did Dmac know you're on the mic?

2:44:02 >> He knew I was doing it. He knew I was

2:44:04 making fun of him.

2:44:05 >> You're not making fun of him. You're

2:44:07 paying homage.

2:44:08 >> I know. That guy gets me hype every

2:44:09 time.

2:44:09 >> Tiner, you get me hype every time. Love.

2:44:12 >> Hey, I'm fixing to hit. Can I just stay

2:44:13 miked up?

2:44:14 >> Oh, Mohawk Mike, can he stay miked up

2:44:16 while he's at the plates?

2:44:19 >> He's going with it. Tiny. Let's go.

2:44:23 Man, what a transition we're about to

2:44:25 have. We're going to go from a

2:44:26 fieldielder's miked up into a hitter

2:44:28 miked up. AJ,

2:44:29 >> yeah, I won't complain about that. Let's

2:44:31 take a look at the guy on the mound.

2:44:32 Southpaw, one of one. Kyle Perry made

2:44:36 arguably the play of the year in terms

2:44:38 of from a pitching perspective.

2:44:40 Certainly to this point last week in

2:44:41 Savannah with a ball that went over the

2:44:43 hill. He made a shorts stop ask play

2:44:45 over to first. And this guy works

2:44:47 quicker than anyone on the Coconut

2:44:49 staff. 3 minutes 29 seconds. The earn

2:44:51 run average sits at 386. This is a

2:44:55 comfortable arm. Another former Savannah

2:44:57 Banana who comes into the game and has

2:45:00 to keep the firefighters off the board

2:45:02 to keep the coconuts within arms reach.

2:45:07 >> Yo, I lost y'all up there. My mic my

2:45:09 head my headpiece came out, but uh

2:45:13 >> Well, it should it should still be

2:45:14 connected to you.

2:45:16 >> Tiner Hugh says those are wet.

2:45:20 He says his earpiece is out. So, uh, I

2:45:22 think the miked up probably is on at

2:45:24 this point. Tiner Hughes, you can't hear

2:45:25 me right now, but I love you.

2:45:28 >> Armando Betta is up to the plate. If he

2:45:30 can get his headphones back in, let's

2:45:32 keep him miked up as Mondo looks at

2:45:35 strike one again. Kyle Perry, veteran

2:45:37 for this team.

2:45:39 Mondo has made some absolutely

2:45:42 spectacular plays tonight.

2:45:45 The spectacular AJ Switech with me in

2:45:48 the booth, Matty Warren. That is a

2:45:50 backwards K for Kyle Perry.

2:45:54 >> Get a little groovy with it. Kyle Perry,

2:45:57 one batter faced, one punch out. Let's

2:45:59 take another look. Oh man, bring out the

2:46:02 paintbrush. Just stroked it right in

2:46:04 there. One of one. Three pitches, one

2:46:07 down.

2:46:10 Tiner Hughes at the plate. He still has

2:46:12 the mic on, but his earpiece is out.

2:46:15 Broken bat special up to JD Erso. Tip

2:46:19 drill. Oh, and the barehanded catch.

2:46:23 >> Bro, that's a wasted at bat, bro.

2:46:26 >> Trick play battle tied at Trios.

2:46:30 >> JD Erso with the tip. Saljacobo closes

2:46:34 it out with the bare hand. He just shook

2:46:36 that one off right away. Can't feel

2:46:38 good, but it certainly feels better

2:46:40 knowing there's a trick play attached to

2:46:41 it because the battle's even.

2:46:43 >> And now it's to the coconuts because

2:46:45 Gideon just had himself a tip drill to

2:46:48 Ben Parker. Missed it on the screen, but

2:46:50 I can promise you it happened. I would

2:46:52 never lie ever. Gideon Antel tipped to

2:46:55 Ben Parker and the Coconuts are now

2:46:58 leading the trick play category 4 to3

2:47:01 with one inning remaining for trick

2:47:03 plays. Two remaining in the contest.

2:47:05 That would be big in pulling this one a

2:47:07 step closer. Loco Beach led one- nothing

2:47:09 during the rain delay with a four-run

2:47:11 advantage in the third, but since it's

2:47:13 been nothing but the firefighters.

2:47:15 >> So again, this is the same sort of

2:47:17 situation as last night. The

2:47:19 firefighters going into the eighth

2:47:21 inning must have a trick play. You must

2:47:27 It is It is in It is inarguable. You

2:47:30 have to have at least one, probably two

2:47:33 trick plays to make yourself feel

2:47:35 comfortable. The offense has been there

2:47:36 for the firefighters. The sloppiness has

2:47:39 gone by the wayside that they started

2:47:41 the game with, but you have to take

2:47:43 advantage now, AJ, as we take a peek at

2:47:46 this replay. Gideon Antel is a monster.

2:47:49 >> And good coverage from Ben Parker as

2:47:51 well.

2:47:53 Rehashing what you just said though, I

2:47:55 think this is a great opportunity for

2:47:56 the firefighters to show they've learned

2:47:58 overnight. This is a growth opportunity

2:48:00 immediately because last night the

2:48:02 equalizer point made the ninth inning an

2:48:04 entirely different ballgame. But now it

2:48:06 is an identical situation. The

2:48:08 firefighters have one less trick play

2:48:10 than the Coconuts and they've got to

2:48:11 find a way to get at least one, but

2:48:13 really ideally for them a couple to a

2:48:15 few here in the eighth to make the

2:48:17 equalizer a fight for Loco Beach. Ben

2:48:20 Dum's been out there fighting. I like to

2:48:21 see him out for a third straight inning.

2:48:23 The pitcher of the year has looked every

2:48:24 bit of the part. He's had some trouble

2:48:27 whether it's been by a hit or by a

2:48:29 mistriick play and he's got out of it

2:48:31 both times in both the sixth and the

2:48:34 seventh innings.

2:48:38 If you're just joining us from the

2:48:40 Savannah Bananas, welcome

2:48:43 to Scranton, Pennsylvania. You might be

2:48:45 asking, why are we just now going into

2:48:47 the eighth inning at 9:30? What's

2:48:48 happening? Well, it's because mother

2:48:50 nature decided to be a you know what and

2:48:53 delay us for a couple minutes at the

2:48:55 start of the game and then about 30

2:48:56 minutes in the middle. But then we had

2:48:58 Chief, so everything worked out. This

2:49:00 has been a top turvy game all over the

2:49:02 place. Firefighters

2:49:05 lead it by a score of 3 to one. The

2:49:07 trick play battle is 4-3 in favor of the

2:49:10 Coconuts as Eric Osberg goes up. He

2:49:13 struck out the first time he faced Ben

2:49:14 Dum tonight and he's got a two-2 count

2:49:18 again. And the Coconuts can win the

2:49:19 equalizer point if they get through this

2:49:21 inning with the trick play lead. And

2:49:23 that is a single for the veteran

2:49:26 catcher. Osberg's shot takes a plunge

2:49:29 down into center. And just like that,

2:49:32 there's a runner on. Armani Henderson

2:49:34 takes over on the bases and Eio's got a

2:49:36 hit in the ball game now. One for four

2:49:38 on the night. Coach Mark's immediately

2:49:40 coaching up Armani, making sure he's

2:49:42 aware of the situation here because the

2:49:44 Coconuts have a chance to double up the

2:49:46 firefighters. If they can win the eighth

2:49:48 inning and the equalizer point, we'd

2:49:49 head to the ninth inning tie. Gideon

2:49:51 Antel has a single against Dumb. Armani

2:49:54 Henderson can steal with the best of

2:49:56 them. This has popped into the sky. Do

2:49:58 the fans have a shot?

2:50:01 They don't. It was up into the sweets.

2:50:03 We cannot see that at our vantage point

2:50:06 other than the monitor, but nobody

2:50:07 caught it.

2:50:09 Antel thought about it. Nice take. It's

2:50:11 a professional take.

2:50:15 >> Coconuts in the first three innings

2:50:16 played at seven runs, but the

2:50:18 firefighters got back into it as that is

2:50:19 an excuse me swing and a half. Down the

2:50:21 line foul. Armani will have to return to

2:50:23 first. Firefighters got it back in the

2:50:26 bottom half of the third with five runs

2:50:28 after a 30-minute rain delay to tie the

2:50:31 game up. They took the lead then in the

2:50:33 fourth inning with a point and then made

2:50:35 it a 3-1 count in the sixth inning. It's

2:50:38 the Coconuts really trying to battle.

2:50:39 Pick off over to Armani just to keep him

2:50:41 wise

2:50:44 and we stay at a one-two again. Gideon

2:50:46 Antel has been so good against Ben Dump.

2:50:48 That is popped up. Chance for a big

2:50:50 trick play. Tiny underneath it. Tip

2:50:52 drill. Mason under the legs. It's a

2:50:55 double trick play. A massive one cuz it

2:50:58 gives the Fire and Flames a 5-4 lead.

2:51:00 Count them both in.

2:51:02 >> That answers the question immediately.

2:51:04 They have learned their lesson and in a

2:51:05 big way. Last night, the firefighters

2:51:08 made three outs the conventional way in

2:51:10 the eighth inning, and it came back to

2:51:11 bite them. Here, Tiner Hughes, who we

2:51:13 just heard from, and Mason Maxwell, have

2:51:15 the biggest double trick play of the

2:51:16 evening. The firefighters now have a one

2:51:18 trick play advantage in the top of the

2:51:20 eighth. And it's smart of Tiny, too. You

2:51:22 just heard him say, "I really want to

2:51:24 get a backflip here at some point." You

2:51:26 worry maybe at some points he would

2:51:27 overthink it. Good on him. Just tip

2:51:29 drill it. Give Mason an opportunity. And

2:51:31 that time Mason goes with one of the

2:51:33 trick plays he's really mastered and

2:51:34 that's right underneath the Hamhock.

2:51:36 Grey Morgan big swing and miss.

2:51:39 He comes in to pinch it for Dalton

2:51:43 Malden.

2:51:46 Looks at one high. It's a one-tw count

2:51:48 again. For those of you just joining us

2:51:49 from Knoxville, hi, my name's Zach.

2:51:52 That's AJ. Matty Warren's down on the

2:51:53 field. It's wet. It's rainy. Armani is

2:51:55 taking off. Grady Morgan swing. Kayen

2:51:58 Green. He just tagged him belts. Oh my

2:52:01 goodness.

2:52:03 They just doubled him up. Strike out and

2:52:06 throw out. That's what Firefighter Ball

2:52:09 is all about. And they go into the

2:52:12 bottom half with a 5-4 lead in the trick

2:52:14 play column. Big three innings for Ben

2:52:18 Dum III. Good lord, man. I'm fired up.

2:52:21 What a play from Peanut. And what a

2:52:23 throw from ZB behind the dish.

2:52:26 >> Strike him out, throw him out. Tail as

2:52:28 old as time. But it never gets old.

2:52:30 That's a catcher's absolute dream.

2:52:32 Zachary Bridges actually threw that ball

2:52:34 way off the back. But Kaden Green is a

2:52:36 really special talent up the middle. His

2:52:38 ability to get to that ball and lay a

2:52:40 tag in a split second. I mean, that's

2:52:42 otherworldly. It has ZB fired up. It has

2:52:45 the firefighters fired up. And it makes

2:52:47 this a very, very crucial bottom of the

2:52:50 eighth day.

2:52:51 >> AJ, who's coming in? AJ, who's coming in

2:52:53 from the outfield? Look who it is.

2:52:56 Look who's at shortstop and walking to

2:52:58 the mound right now. Do your song. Slap

2:53:01 your stomach.

2:53:06 Meatball

2:53:11 Joe Filamino backto back outings.

2:53:17 Meatball one in 0 on the season. Sub 5.

2:53:22 That's real good. Minutes per inning

2:53:25 under five and a half. Joe Filamino, how

2:53:29 do you do? It is a crucial bottom of the

2:53:32 eighth inning for this Loco Beach team

2:53:34 because two trick plays would earn a

2:53:37 point and pull it within one going to

2:53:39 the ninth. Joe Filamino has been nails

2:53:41 in the coffin this season. The leader in

2:53:43 this clubhouse with a song so nice

2:53:46 you're going to hear it a lot more than

2:53:47 twice. takes over on the hill and looks

2:53:49 for the exact same success he found a

2:53:51 night ago where he punched out a couple

2:53:53 and kept the firefighters off the board.

2:53:56 Welcome one, welcome all. Whether you're

2:53:58 joining us from Knoxville, you're

2:53:59 staying with us until Tacoma, Washington

2:54:01 starts, or you've been with us for the

2:54:03 entirety of this one. Thank you so much

2:54:05 for joining us. This is one of our

2:54:07 largest live audiences in the history of

2:54:10 firefighter Banana Ball and we could not

2:54:12 be here without you. Thank you so much

2:54:14 for joining us. We are absolutely locked

2:54:16 and loaded here in Scranton,

2:54:18 Pennsylvania for the eighth inning. Joe

2:54:20 Filamino on the mound. Dalton Corette

2:54:22 rolls a slow one to Jordan Brewer. He's

2:54:24 got one all between the legs. It'll go

2:54:26 down as just one trick play. But now if

2:54:28 you're the firefighters in a tie trick

2:54:30 play column, do you risk just swinging

2:54:33 and striking out twice in a row to limit

2:54:36 this? Went between the legs twice.

2:54:38 That's for the love of the game. And who

2:54:39 else but meatball would be there to

2:54:41 cover that bag in marinara and

2:54:43 parmesana. The Cicero Illinois kid

2:54:47 repping a talia all the way. EJ into the

2:54:50 stands. He's been caught out a couple

2:54:51 times by the fans. He will not be caught

2:54:53 out a third time here.

2:54:56 >> Clack was maybe a factor a little bit

2:54:58 earlier in this one, but now with nine

2:54:59 minutes unless we have one of the most

2:55:01 unexpected long innings in the history

2:55:02 of man, we won't get that here. This is

2:55:05 for the equalizer point. Erso between

2:55:07 the legs and the Coconuts have the extra

2:55:10 points. It is within one. Joe Filamino.

2:55:13 How do you do? Meatball induces two slow

2:55:17 rollers to the right side. His defense

2:55:19 has got his back. It's another equalizer

2:55:22 point. Backto back nights with it for

2:55:23 Loco Beach. And it's a 3-2 ball game

2:55:25 with two down in the eighth. Logan Lacy

2:55:27 high into left field. Tanner Allen

2:55:29 underneath

2:55:31 and in a quick one. Joe Filamino says,

2:55:34 "Let's go to the ninth in a one-point

2:55:36 game."

2:55:40 Meatball.

2:55:42 Da da da. Gotcha. Slap the stomach.

2:55:45 Three up, three down. It's a scoreless

2:55:47 eighth inning for Joe Bilamino. How

2:55:50 about it? 3-2 ball game. Ninth inning.

2:55:52 Let's hear about the rules.

2:56:02 all be long

2:56:05 till I'm going to need

2:56:08 somebody to lean

2:56:11 on. Lean on me

2:56:15 when you're not strong

2:56:18 and I'll be your friend.

2:56:21 I'll help you carry

2:56:24 on

2:56:26 for.

2:56:28 It won't be long

2:56:31 till I'm going to need

2:56:34 somebody to lean

2:56:37 on. You just call lonely brother when

2:56:42 you need a hand. We all need somebody to

2:56:48 lean

2:56:50 on. I just might have a problem that you

2:56:55 understand.

2:56:57 We all need somebody to lean

2:57:02 on.

2:57:03 >> Lean on me

2:57:06 when you're not strong.

2:57:09 And I'll be your friend.

2:57:12 I'll help you carry

2:57:15 it on

2:57:17 for.

2:57:19 It won't belong

2:57:22 till I'm going to need

2:57:25 somebody to lead me on

2:57:31 >> Scr. You guys have been incredible,

2:57:33 y'all. And you guys have amazing energy.

2:57:36 Let's go firefighters.

2:57:39 >> So, it is the ninth inning. For those of

2:57:42 you just joining us in, this is an

2:57:45 unbelievable banana ball game. Equalizer

2:57:47 point has been won by the Coconuts to

2:57:49 make it a 3-2 game. And on the mound

2:57:51 over the last two months is one of the,

2:57:54 if not the premier closer in the sport.

2:57:58 Johnny Hmel. When the spotlight turns

2:58:00 up, the pressure gets a little bit

2:58:03 tighter and the stage gets bigger. He

2:58:06 gets better. before banana ball at

2:58:09 Kentucky. Closed out their first ever

2:58:11 trip to the College World Series. Then

2:58:13 closed out their first ever win in

2:58:16 Omaha. Now in Banana Ball, was convinced

2:58:19 to come here by his now teammate and

2:58:21 former squadmate at Erskin College,

2:58:24 Armando Betetta. He comes in with a huge

2:58:27 opportunity to close out maybe not a

2:58:30 must-win for the firefighters, but what

2:58:31 could be a massive turnaround W for the

2:58:35 Fire and Flames. He wears the number 95

2:58:37 for his hero Lightning McQueen.

2:58:40 As we go down to the field with Sam

2:58:42 Tenez,

2:58:51 I've got that lightning inside me. Son

2:58:54 of a God.

2:58:57 I'm like a Titan that's rising on just

2:59:00 one.

2:59:02 I'm stepping to fight. There is no time

2:59:06 to waste. I've got that lightning inside

2:59:09 me. This is how legends are made. Oh.

2:59:16 Oh.

2:59:19 Oh.

2:59:21 This is how legends are made. Oh.

2:59:27 Oh.

2:59:32 This is how legends are made.

2:59:35 >> Coming into pit moments like these are

2:59:38 where legends are made. Lightning Johnny

2:59:42 Hmel on the hill for the firefighters is

2:59:45 immediately going to be tested with

2:59:48 gasoline because there's a tunnel

2:59:50 forming outside of the coconuts tugout

2:59:52 and that can only mean one thing. Sam

2:59:55 Tenez just introduced Johnny Hmel, but

2:59:57 that's not the only player that he's

2:59:59 introducing because coach Croco has used

3:00:01 the golden batter more than anyone this

3:00:04 season. And we're going to learn who

3:00:05 Loco Beach is going to in the biggest

3:00:07 moment of the series.

3:00:14 Ladies and gentlemen, the Loco Beach

3:00:18 Coconuts are now invoking the golden

3:00:21 batter rule. Hitting in place of JD Erso

3:00:26 is your golden batter, Tanner Allen.

3:00:32 >> In the biggest of moments, you want guys

3:00:35 with moxy. You want guys with swagger.

3:00:38 You want guys who look you in the eyes

3:00:40 and say, "Coach, I want the lumber. I

3:00:42 want the moment. This is my league." And

3:00:45 Tanner Allen's been taking it by storm.

3:00:47 The 2021 national champion, SEC player

3:00:50 of the year, gets a second straight

3:00:52 golden bat opportunity against Johnny

3:00:55 Hmel.

3:00:57 SEC on SEC. And it's broken bat special.

3:01:02 Tiner Hughes throwing across his body.

3:01:04 Not in time. It's a tough play to make,

3:01:06 but TA is aboard. Infield single for

3:01:09 Tanner Allen. How do you do?

3:01:12 >> It's a golden plate appearance for TA.

3:01:15 Big one. Tiner Hughes. It's a heck of a

3:01:18 fielding job going right back up the

3:01:20 middle. And now Brett Carson, who has

3:01:23 grounded out and struck out back-to-back

3:01:25 times, has an opportunity

3:01:28 to get the Coconuts a little bit closer

3:01:31 against one of the guys that you want in

3:01:33 pressure moments. Johnny Hmel is as good

3:01:35 as they get in these conditions

3:01:39 right there for strike one. Coming into

3:01:42 the weekend over the last two months,

3:01:44 he'd given up a grand total of two hits,

3:01:46 one ball for sprint, and one run.

3:01:51 Big curve ball right in there painting

3:01:53 the outside corner. And this is the

3:01:54 beauty too of using that golden AB right

3:01:57 there. You're going to the top of the

3:01:58 order right back here. But an 02 count

3:02:01 to BC. Swings right up the middle. Base

3:02:04 knock. TA will move from station to

3:02:07 station. And now with nobody away, the

3:02:11 Coconuts have a huge opportunity on

3:02:14 their hands. And that's a huge decision

3:02:16 from Mark Graco. He wanted to keep the

3:02:18 bat in dual threat Brett's hands. That's

3:02:20 exactly why. With two strikes, Fearless

3:02:23 at the plate, it moves Tanner Allen to

3:02:25 second. He's now being replaced on the

3:02:27 bases by the designated runner, Armani

3:02:29 Henderson. Game tying runs in second. Go

3:02:31 ahead runs on first. Who else would you

3:02:33 want at the plate? It's Ben Parker with

3:02:36 Tanner Allen on deck. Johnny Hmel is

3:02:38 going to get the biggest test of the

3:02:40 year right here. We saw him get in some

3:02:42 trouble last night. He got out of it

3:02:44 without surrendering a run. This might

3:02:47 be the bigger test.

3:02:49 Parker into the stands and he

3:02:51 immediately faces an O2 hole. That does

3:02:54 not face him very much. Remember, the

3:02:56 Coconuts were down to their last strike

3:02:59 on a Friday night in Savannah and Ben

3:03:02 Parker hugged the foul pole to give them

3:03:04 a lead they never relinquish.

3:03:07 Johnny on the outside. He thought he had

3:03:09 it. It's a great pitch to try and make

3:03:11 him chase.

3:03:14 pumps is an OBP machine just as much as

3:03:17 he lifts weights. One, two

3:03:20 into the dirt. That's going to move

3:03:22 Armani and it's going to move Brett. And

3:03:24 the biggest thing there is the force out

3:03:26 is no longer in play anywhere but first.

3:03:28 So a ball in play here should very well

3:03:31 score Armani Henderson. You cannot

3:03:34 afford to walk Ben Parker the way the

3:03:36 firefighters have in this series because

3:03:37 now a walk of all four sprint I should

3:03:40 say gives the Coconuts the lead with two

3:03:42 in scoring position and the firefighters

3:03:44 are past the heart of their order.

3:03:47 Johnny Hmel

3:03:50 again into the dirt trying to get Ben to

3:03:52 chase and it's a 3-2 count. Ball four

3:03:54 sprinting this game is going back to the

3:03:56 nuts.

3:04:00 3-2.

3:04:03 Parker has not struck out much this

3:04:05 year.

3:04:07 >> And he won't here. Here comes Henderson.

3:04:10 Brett Carson cruises in with ease. For

3:04:12 the first time since the third inning,

3:04:15 the Loco Beach Coconuts have the lead.

3:04:18 Ben Parker ran down on his way to third,

3:04:21 but he will die a hero with that plate

3:04:24 appearance. Parker makes the first out

3:04:27 on the bases, but not before Johnny Hmel

3:04:29 sacrifices a couple. It's a wild pitch

3:04:32 that scores Henderson. It scores Carson

3:04:35 and the Coconuts have the lead. The

3:04:38 comeback coconuts remind you why they do

3:04:41 it as good as anybody.

3:04:44 The firefighters since the rain delay in

3:04:46 the third have clearly been the team

3:04:49 that has been better. But in the last

3:04:52 couple of innings, the equalizer point

3:04:54 bites him as Tanner Allen goes right by

3:04:57 Tiny. That looks just like what he did

3:04:59 in the golden bat opportunity and he

3:05:01 flashes the two right by the firefighter

3:05:03 dugout. It's now two games in one week

3:05:06 where Tanner Allen has two hits in the

3:05:08 ninth inning. That's what a golden

3:05:09 batter will do for you. In the biggest

3:05:11 moments, big players elevate their play

3:05:13 to match the moment. Tanner Allen's done

3:05:15 just that and more this weekend and

3:05:17 last.

3:05:18 >> Dane Toofflin is now at the plate.

3:05:22 and he puts this one right over us. If

3:05:25 you're just joining us, the equalizer

3:05:26 point yet again has changed the game. If

3:05:30 that wasn't earned, this game is tied,

3:05:32 but instead it was. And the firefighters

3:05:34 are now trailing 4-3 in a game where you

3:05:36 can argue for the better part of this

3:05:38 one. They have been the better team. To

3:05:40 right field, Darien McDow giving chase.

3:05:44 That hangs in the air forever and a day,

3:05:47 but Darien McDow brings it in. and

3:05:49 Tanner Allen will stay at first. Brings

3:05:52 up Jordan Brewer, who we've already seen

3:05:54 hit a homer in this game. One here would

3:05:57 tear things open. The Coconuts have CJ

3:06:00 Williams getting warm in the bullpen for

3:06:02 a second straight night. Can Brewer

3:06:04 provide him any insurance?

3:06:07 That one into the dirt. We've seen that

3:06:09 a couple times. And TA's on his way to

3:06:10 second

3:06:14 right now. If you're the firefighters,

3:06:16 you've got to keep your head.

3:06:18 There is a lot more time left in this

3:06:20 one. You've got to find your way out of

3:06:23 these mistakes.

3:06:25 And this is the guy you trust in this

3:06:26 situation.

3:06:30 Johnny Hmel has been so effective. This

3:06:33 is the first time in about two months

3:06:35 we've seen a save go against him.

3:06:38 Can the firefighters back him up here

3:06:40 and get to the bottom half? Trailing by

3:06:44 just one.

3:06:45 Attacks inside. It's a three-0 count.

3:06:48 Ball four sprint would make it a 53

3:06:50 game.

3:06:56 Brewer into left field. Smoke dives out,

3:06:59 but it's a hit. Throwing home at the

3:07:03 dish. Bridges laid the tag, but the ball

3:07:06 is out. Ta scores and it's a two-point

3:07:09 lead for the Coconuts. Brew just gave it

3:07:12 to you.

3:07:14 A single, a three-run homer, and now the

3:07:18 biggest knock of them all, an RBI

3:07:21 double. It's a multi-run frame again for

3:07:25 Loco Beach. Third run that scores in the

3:07:28 ninth. Every run counts as a point. That

3:07:32 combined with the equalizer gives the

3:07:35 Coconuts a multi-run advantage and gives

3:07:37 Da Bonitz a chance to take over on the

3:07:40 bases. Bonitez in the pinch run for

3:07:42 Jordan Brewer in a big moment with Ashby

3:07:45 Viding taking over at the plate. Boy oh

3:07:47 boy, these Coconuts have ice running

3:07:49 through their veins 24/7 365.

3:07:53 Ashby into the seats. Can the

3:07:55 firefighter fans help them? They cannot.

3:08:02 >> I mean, you just can never count this

3:08:03 team out of any game ever.

3:08:07 >> Eight of the 12 wins have been come from

3:08:09 behind.

3:08:10 Vining down the line. Foulctor Gonzalez

3:08:14 to make it nine of 13.

3:08:16 >> Hector Gonzalez is the one that makes

3:08:17 the call behind the dish. And what's

3:08:19 been so impressive about the Coconuts,

3:08:21 they've done this now against both Ben

3:08:23 Dum and Johnny Hmel. They've done it

3:08:25 against the reigning pitcher of the year

3:08:26 and a guy who has clearly in my

3:08:28 estimation put himself in the

3:08:30 conversation for that award this year.

3:08:33 Tonight though, the Coconuts in this

3:08:35 ninth inning have looked special.

3:08:38 I mean, I'll reiterate it. This is not a

3:08:40 tonight thing. The Coconuts have scored

3:08:42 15 more runs in the ninth inning than

3:08:44 any other team in the Banana Ball

3:08:46 Championship League. That was entering

3:08:48 tonight. Now, with four more, 19 more

3:08:50 than any other team in the BBCL, there

3:08:52 is no team more clutch than the

3:08:54 Coconuts. Vining beats that into the

3:08:56 dirt. Throw over the first and the

3:08:58 firefighters will have to come from

3:09:00 behind.

3:09:03 We go to the bottom half of the ninth

3:09:05 inning.

3:09:07 You can see the look on Mason Maxwell.

3:09:10 Is it a look of frustration or is it a

3:09:13 look of knowing what you now have to do?

3:09:16 The Coconuts have done it again on a 5-3

3:09:19 game.

3:09:21 This is a massive, massive bottom half.

3:09:25 The Firefighters have lost three

3:09:27 straight as you take a look at Ben

3:09:29 Parker on a twerun ball four sprint.

3:09:32 Gets thrown out. It doesn't matter. They

3:09:36 got what they needed there. And the man

3:09:38 on the mound is the guy that shut him

3:09:40 down last night.

3:09:43 The villain takes over on the hill

3:09:46 again. CJ Williams.

3:09:50 Perfect a night ago. The ERA continues

3:09:53 to fall beneath the floor. There is no

3:09:55 pitcher in the Banana Ball Championship

3:09:57 League who has more appearances this

3:10:00 season than CJ Williams. Whenever the

3:10:03 moment's the biggest, the lights are the

3:10:05 brightest. Coach Croco, pitching coach

3:10:08 Andy Morales, they never have a second

3:10:10 thought. You turn to number zero because

3:10:14 that's how much he cares about you.

3:10:17 That's how much he cares about these

3:10:19 firefighters. There is one thing on CJ

3:10:22 Williams mind and it is getting out of

3:10:24 the bottom of this ninth inning. Making

3:10:25 it a sixth consecutive save and securing

3:10:30 a Loco Beach Coconuts win that would

3:10:33 sweep the firefighters, bring out the

3:10:35 brooms and get the Coconuts back over

3:10:38 the 500 mark for the first time since

3:10:40 before the Banana Ball open. This is a

3:10:43 team that is 8 and5 since the open.

3:10:47 They won three straight series before

3:10:48 the Bananas got the better of them 2-1.

3:10:51 They've already secured a piece of this

3:10:53 series, a twoame stint here in the

3:10:54 electric city at PNC Field. Now they

3:10:57 want it all. CJ Williams, the man you

3:11:00 want in the mound in the biggest of

3:11:02 moments is ready to talk trash. He's

3:11:05 ready to Ka and he is ready for war

3:11:08 against smoke.

3:11:11 >> Firefighters still have their golden AB

3:11:13 to use.

3:11:17 As far as I can tell, I do not see

3:11:19 anybody in that golden robe.

3:11:24 >> Tiner Hughes has a helmet on. He is not

3:11:26 anywhere close to coming up right now.

3:11:29 Smoke is the six hole. Mason Maxwell is

3:11:31 your seven hole. You wonder if Tiner

3:11:34 might be used as Hector Gonzalez call

3:11:37 strike one.

3:11:42 Firefighters have got to get two across

3:11:44 to send us to showdowns. Three to win.

3:11:50 >> Big swinging miss.

3:12:07 Smoke

3:12:08 down the right field line. Only the fans

3:12:10 can help the Coconuts out. They won't.

3:12:18 If you're just joining us, the

3:12:20 Firefighters led 3-1 going into the

3:12:22 eighth inning.

3:12:24 A couple of trick plays in that frame

3:12:26 gave them an equalizer point that made

3:12:28 it three to two. They then scored three

3:12:30 in the top of the ninth to make it a 5-3

3:12:33 game as Smoke Stays Alive. Javon Ray

3:12:36 trying everything he can from his side

3:12:38 of the field to pump up his guy. South

3:12:41 Treble in the lineup for the seventh

3:12:43 time tonight. In five of those

3:12:44 appearances, he has a hit. He did not

3:12:47 get one last night. Can he get one

3:12:49 tonight?

3:12:52 CJ is as tough as they come.

3:12:57 South just fighting. This is an

3:13:00 impressive battle he's forging. He's yet

3:13:03 to take a pitch. Trimble's up there with

3:13:05 no strikes to play with. Just battling

3:13:07 pitches off, trying to find a way to get

3:13:09 something in play against a guy whose

3:13:11 blood runs cold.

3:13:13 South lazy fly into right center field.

3:13:16 Gideon Antel coming in and grabs it for

3:13:19 out one.

3:13:21 >> CJ Williams continuing to do CJ Williams

3:13:24 things. Fans, I can only say it so many

3:13:26 times.

3:13:29 >> This is the mindset you want from your

3:13:31 closer. You want a guy who says, "Coach,

3:13:34 give me the ball. I will get three

3:13:36 straight outs." And with his custom

3:13:38 cleats from Shane Victorino and a jersey

3:13:40 that dawn zero, Williams is two outs

3:13:43 away from just that. Mason looks at one

3:13:46 outside. Double him tonight. He's got a

3:13:48 single, a walk-off in a second plate

3:13:51 appearance on an error,

3:13:53 then a fly out. Couple of trick plays

3:13:56 against his ledger as well.

3:13:58 >> A hit here would be massive. able to

3:14:02 swing at strike one. Fouls it back.

3:14:10 >> Can the firefighters help out their

3:14:12 closer who had a rare bit of trouble

3:14:14 tonight?

3:14:16 Mason slow dribbler. I don't think

3:14:18 they're going to get to it. And the

3:14:19 firefighters got a runner on board. It's

3:14:21 a lazy single down the left field line.

3:14:24 Dane Toofflin couldn't catch up to it.

3:14:27 And Mason Maxwell has done it. And now

3:14:30 we might be getting golden. A tunnel is

3:14:34 forming.

3:14:35 Lights out. Let's get golden.

3:14:40 >> The firefighters are invoking the golden

3:14:43 banner rule. Hitting in the place of

3:14:46 Dakota McFaden.

3:14:49 Here is DC3

3:14:53 Dalton Cornet.

3:14:57 So, here is the situation. It's righty

3:15:00 on lefty. It is a bad man and CJ

3:15:03 Williams against the firefighters

3:15:06 clutchman out of Pipa pass at Kentucky.

3:15:08 Dalton Cornet has himself seven

3:15:11 walk-offs. He cannot do that here. But

3:15:15 one swing of the bat can change the

3:15:17 trajectory of this one.

3:15:21 And he sends one off into the opposite

3:15:24 side. And it's a backside base knock.

3:15:27 And the firefighters have two aboard.

3:15:29 The golden at bat works to perfection.

3:15:31 And here comes Darien McDow. It's the

3:15:34 third single on the night for DC3. And

3:15:38 now Darien who's got a single and

3:15:40 another walk-off single has a chance

3:15:43 with one swing to make some magic here

3:15:46 in the electric city.

3:15:50 The firefighters are doing everything

3:15:52 they can to get the good juju inside.

3:15:55 Darien didn't like it. Doesn't matter.

3:15:57 You better bet CJ Williams won't let

3:15:59 those two hits affect his confidence.

3:16:01 Probably a combined exit velocity of 50

3:16:03 mph. Both weak nub shots. He's doing

3:16:06 exactly what he's looking to on the

3:16:08 hill.

3:16:10 >> McDow outside.

3:16:20 It's a 1-1 count. You can feel the

3:16:23 tension everywhere you stand, wherever

3:16:26 you may be watching. Heart's racing a

3:16:28 little faster. Darien big swing and

3:16:31 miss. Wanted that one and wanted it bad.

3:16:39 CJ collects. You wonder how tough it is

3:16:42 still for the pitchers to grip this

3:16:43 banana ball.

3:16:47 One, two, fought. Oh, JD Erso flips it.

3:16:51 Gets the out at second. Darion dove down

3:16:55 and stay stro.

3:16:59 Are you kidding? Otherworldly play from

3:17:03 the loco beach coconut second baseman.

3:17:06 Coach Krakco wants to take another look.

3:17:09 My goodness, Jane Erso, you're an alien.

3:17:15 That is a massive defensive play that

3:17:17 gets through. It's a onepoint game.

3:17:20 >> Kelly Dyne will sneak on over along with

3:17:23 our crew chief Jake Moore and Hector

3:17:25 Gonzalez.

3:17:27 It looks like Darien safe at least from

3:17:30 that vantage point. I need to see it

3:17:32 again. I think the hands on the bag

3:17:34 there. I think they've made the right

3:17:35 call.

3:17:37 >> And boy, they are right back out of the

3:17:38 dugout. That might be one of the

3:17:40 quickest replays we've seen.

3:17:43 It took 10 seconds

3:17:46 >> and they call it safe. So here's the

3:17:49 situation. Runners on the corners, two

3:17:50 away and it's Armando Bisera at the

3:17:52 dish. Can we take a moment to appreciate

3:17:54 that play from JD Erso? I mean that is

3:17:57 the definition of a web gem in a got to

3:17:59 have it moment. If that gets through,

3:18:01 there's only one down and it's a

3:18:02 one-point game. Instead, it's still a

3:18:04 two-point advantage and the Coconuts are

3:18:06 an out away from winning. That's how you

3:18:08 help your pitcher on the mound.

3:18:11 I wonder if the Coconuts just tried the

3:18:13 hidden ball trick.

3:18:14 >> They did.

3:18:15 >> Boy.

3:18:18 >> All right.

3:18:20 They shut that down real fast. Armando

3:18:22 Betta, lefty on righty tonight. A ball

3:18:26 for sprint, a walk-off on a Zack Smith

3:18:30 error, and a strikeout.

3:18:35 Popped it up. Salacobo underneath and

3:18:38 the Coconuts have come back again to win

3:18:41 it and sweep the firefighters in

3:18:43 Scranton.

3:18:45 Scranton, Pennsylvania, I hope you

3:18:47 brought your brooms to the ballpark cuz

3:18:49 the Loco Beach Coconuts have come in and

3:18:52 painted the town teal. CJ Williams with

3:18:56 ice in his veins closes out yet another

3:18:59 save and the comeback coconuts have done

3:19:01 it again. Loco Beach is above 500 on

3:19:05 their inaugural campaign

3:19:08 and are riding the wave to yet another

3:19:11 series win. This one comes in sweeping

3:19:13 fashion.

3:19:21 The door was never even open a crack.

3:19:26 When CJ Williams takes the mound, it is

3:19:29 already slammed shut.

3:19:32 He's a piece of the comeback puzzle, a

3:19:34 piece of the pie here at Loco Beach that

3:19:38 spreads positivity, exudes joy,

3:19:42 and starts with loving one another. The

3:19:45 Coconuts have done it again. Now 9 and

3:19:48 five since the banana ball open.

3:19:51 Nine of the team's 13 wins have been

3:19:54 come from behind.

3:19:56 Tonight's impressive as ever. The

3:19:59 equalizer point makes a difference.

3:20:02 The grit makes a difference. And the

3:20:05 processoriented

3:20:07 Loco Beach Coconuts have yet again

3:20:10 pulled off a ninth inning comeback.

3:20:13 There is no team more clutch in the

3:20:15 Banana Ball Championship League. I've

3:20:17 got the stats to prove it. If you don't

3:20:19 believe me at home, how about 19 more

3:20:22 ninth inning runs from Loco Beach than

3:20:24 any other team in this league. The

3:20:27 Coconuts are simply on another level

3:20:29 when the lights are the brightest and

3:20:31 they remind you why yet again. Sweeping

3:20:34 the firefighters out of Scranton,

3:20:36 Pennsylvania with the win and moving to

3:20:38 13 and 12. Jordan Brewer had a big time

3:20:41 game. He's with our very own

3:20:43 >> uh you hit a ball really far today in

3:20:46 air that has felt really heavy this

3:20:48 weekend. How good did it feel to see

3:20:49 that ball leave the yard?

3:20:50 >> You know, I went to college in Michigan.

3:20:52 You got to know the cold when you get

3:20:54 hot. So, this is a normal day.

3:20:56 >> We had a chance to talk a little bit

3:20:58 before the game yesterday, and I got to

3:20:59 hear a bit about your journey to Banana

3:21:01 Ball. Would you mind talking a little

3:21:03 bit about just how your mentality and

3:21:05 your approach to the game and your love

3:21:06 for the game has changed in your time

3:21:08 here?

3:21:10 >> It's truly amazing, you know, like when

3:21:12 when do I get to do this? You know, I

3:21:14 get to be with the boys and chill out

3:21:15 and actually enjoy the game again and be

3:21:17 the 12-year-old kid I am again. Now, you

3:21:20 guys have played the Firefighters the

3:21:21 most out of any other pairing of teams

3:21:23 in the league so far, so early on in the

3:21:26 season to play the same team so many

3:21:29 times. Does that get harder? Do things

3:21:31 get a little bit more personal? What

3:21:33 does that kind of look like? Yes, it's a

3:21:35 it's a brotherly love, but you know,

3:21:37 between when we get between those white

3:21:38 lines, it's it's on um especially seeing

3:21:42 them so many times, we get to know each

3:21:43 other a lot more and see pitchers and

3:21:46 hitters tendencies and Oh my gosh,

3:21:49 Carson, you are blind, brother. Um but

3:21:51 yeah.

3:21:53 >> All right, got one more question for

3:21:56 you. It's from 11-year-old Dylan. He

3:21:58 would like to know who your favorite MLB

3:21:59 player is. My favorite MLB player

3:22:02 probably Mookie Bats. You know why?

3:22:04 Because he's an athlete. He plays

3:22:06 multiple sports. Don't play one sport,

3:22:10 kids. Play multiple.

3:22:12 >> All right. Now, we're going to send it

3:22:13 off to the people at home and the

3:22:15 lovely, beautiful people of Scrant

3:22:16 Pennsylvania that have stuck around so

3:22:18 long. Boys, can we get Hey, can we get a

3:22:20 beach to you? Everybody

3:22:22 >> everybody.

3:22:24 >> Beach.

3:22:25 >> Peace to you.

3:22:28 beach to you everybody.

3:22:32 To the thousands in attendance this

3:22:34 weekend in Scranton, Pennsylvania who

3:22:36 braved the elements.

3:22:38 Welcome to the beach. It's the most

3:22:41 infectious vibe in all of sports. It's

3:22:44 love and it's sweeping the country by

3:22:46 storm. Tropical storm at that. In spite

3:22:49 of a monsoon, 14 hours of rain in the

3:22:52 electric city, the Loco Beach Coconuts

3:22:54 did what they do better than anybody in

3:22:58 the sport. In the ninth inning, backs

3:23:00 against the wall. Loco Beach pulls off

3:23:03 yet another comeback and Jordan Brewer

3:23:06 owned the showman of the night. It's a

3:23:08 four riby ball game. The Coconuts outdid

3:23:11 the firefighters across the board. 5 to3

3:23:14 your final score, 11 to9 the runs, 10 to

3:23:16 nine in the hits. And the big story,

3:23:18 Zach, in this sport right now is the

3:23:20 trick plays 6 to5 back-to-back equalizer

3:23:24 points led to back-to-back Coconuts

3:23:25 wins. Feels very much like the story

3:23:27 from Florida State for the Loco Beach

3:23:29 Coconuts. They found a way to get the

3:23:30 equalizer point going into the ninth

3:23:32 inning. It was a one-point game and then

3:23:34 they got three runs there in the top of

3:23:37 the ninth to take a lead. They

3:23:38 ultimately never gave back six to four.

3:23:41 The Loco Beach Coconuts do it again.

3:23:42 They now take a 5-3 lead head-to-head

3:23:45 against the firefighters. as we welcome

3:23:47 you back here inside the dispatch center

3:23:48 at PNC Field. AJ Sweitech. I'm Zach

3:23:51 Stton. What a night this has been here

3:23:53 in Scranton that's seen just about

3:23:55 everything you could. Weather delays,

3:23:57 few trick plays, but important trick

3:23:59 plays, a lot of runs, a lot of offense,

3:24:01 and another ninth inning comeback for a

3:24:04 team who is becoming known as the

3:24:05 comeback coconuts.

3:24:06 >> Yeah, they have earned that coinage by

3:24:08 every definition. This is a team that

3:24:11 now has won 13 games this season. Over

3:24:14 half of them have been come from behind

3:24:16 wins. And again, when the lights are the

3:24:18 brightest, you want that lineup at the

3:24:21 plate. Coach Croco has instilled it from

3:24:23 the very start. If you trust the process

3:24:25 and keep the main thing the main thing,

3:24:27 the results are going to work themselves

3:24:29 out. That process is knowing that from

3:24:31 the first pitch to the very last with a

3:24:34 lineup like Loco Beaches, you're never

3:24:36 out of the game. That process is knowing

3:24:38 that when you greet the world with a

3:24:40 smile and you spread love, the good

3:24:42 karma is going to come right back your

3:24:44 way. And for Loco Beach, since the

3:24:46 Banana Ball Open, it has rung so very

3:24:49 true. 9 and five since missing that

3:24:51 dance. Now comfortably above that red

3:24:53 equator line that marks the top four

3:24:55 teams in the Banana Ball Championship

3:24:57 League. And their inaugural season, the

3:24:59 Coconuts look anything but the newest

3:25:01 team to the beach.

3:25:01 >> And you talk about those standings. The

3:25:03 firefighters are going to have to find

3:25:04 their way quick, fast, and in a hurry

3:25:06 because they have six straight games

3:25:07 against the Texas Tailgator. Then they

3:25:09 go up against the Savannah Bananas.

3:25:11 They've got to find their mojo fast. And

3:25:13 we've learned about this team that

3:25:14 they're gritty. They've got a lot of

3:25:16 moxy. Tonight has to light a spark

3:25:18 underneath them. And I believe it will.

3:25:20 Let's take a look at what's coming up

3:25:21 here tonight here. We just started, I

3:25:23 believe, in Tacoma, Washington. It's the

3:25:25 tail, excuse me, it's the party animals

3:25:26 and the Indianapolis Clowns. Then next

3:25:28 week, just referred to you there a

3:25:30 little bit, firefighters and the Texas

3:25:32 tailgator. As we go back to the hometown

3:25:34 of Val Perez, our head coach, Corpus

3:25:36 Christie, Texas for a three-game set

3:25:38 Thursday night. We'll start it at 8:00

3:25:40 Eastern Standard Time at Waterburger

3:25:42 Field. That will be an emotional weekend

3:25:44 for Val Perez and company going back to

3:25:46 where she was a firefighter for 10

3:25:47 years. And then it's off to Orlando,

3:25:49 Florida for the party animals and the

3:25:50 Loco Beach Coconuts at the Wide World of

3:25:53 Sports at ESPN at Disney World. That's

3:25:55 going to be fun, AJ.

3:25:56 >> Oh, that's going to be lots of fun

3:25:57 emotions. It's only the second headliner

3:25:59 in the history of the Loco Beach

3:26:01 Coconuts. They have had the party

3:26:02 animals number this year. Only dropped

3:26:04 one game to the second oldest franchise

3:26:06 in the sport. That'll be available on

3:26:08 the ESPN app on Disney Plus and the

3:26:11 Coconuts YouTube. Me personally, I know

3:26:12 I'm looking forward to riding some rides

3:26:15 and catching a wave at Typhoon Lagoon.

3:26:17 And how else would you round out the

3:26:18 weekend without the Bananas and the

3:26:20 Clowns next weekend at a major league

3:26:23 ballpark? Kaufman Stadium on True TV and

3:26:26 the Clowns YouTube. It's going to be

3:26:28 Indianapolis against Savannah for a

3:26:30 big-time stint. This sports continuing

3:26:32 to grow and you see exactly why. Because

3:26:34 in Texas, in Florida, and in Missouri,

3:26:38 the greatest show in sports is

3:26:40 continuing to sweep this nation. And by

3:26:42 the way, Kansas City, Missouri, the home

3:26:43 of the Negro Leagues baseball museum.

3:26:45 That will be another emotional weekend

3:26:47 for the Indianapolis Clowns. Just two

3:26:49 weeks after going back home to

3:26:51 Indianapolis, they go to their first

3:26:53 ever home games in a major league park.

3:26:56 AJ, we won't see each other for a month.

3:26:57 I feel like I've seen you more than

3:26:59 anybody here throughout the first two

3:27:00 months. Now, Manchester, New Hampshire,

3:27:02 it'll be for the first time ever that

3:27:04 the Coconuts are the home team against

3:27:06 the Fire and Flames. We'll see you

3:27:08 there. And then we won't see you again

3:27:09 until the end of the season in Buxy,

3:27:11 Mississippi. So, we've gotten to know

3:27:12 them quite well. We might be apart for a

3:27:15 little bit of time. for our great team

3:27:16 here led by the legendary Mohawk Mike.

3:27:18 The great Alex Gross out in the truck.

3:27:21 Our tremendous Matty Warren down on the

3:27:22 sidelines, the great Blake O'Hare is our

3:27:24 statistician and the person calling the

3:27:26 shots down on the field. The wonderful

3:27:29 Maggie Jones. We've had an awesome time

3:27:31 here in the electric city. Goodbye from

3:27:34 Scranton, Pennsylvania. For the

3:27:35 firefighters, we'll see you next week in

3:27:37 the Lone Star State. The Coconuts will

3:27:38 see you in Orlando, Florida. Until next

3:27:40 time, these are words to live by. If

3:27:42 you're going through something tough, if

3:27:43 you're going through adverse situations,

3:27:45 remember ax is up, chomp hard. We'll see

3:27:48 you next week. Share your smile with the

3:27:50 world and go loco, baby. The brooms are

3:27:53 out, the coconuts are above 500, and the

3:27:55 vibes are immaculate at the beach. I

3:27:58 love you all. Thank you for spending

3:27:59 your weekend here with us in Scranton,

3:28:02 Pennsylvania. Ax is up. Chopar. Goodbye.

3:28:36 Take

3:28:38 to

3:29:04 heat.