Savannah Bananas @ Firefighters

0:00 ong with the Savannah Bananas and Party

0:01 Animals. A group much different than

0:03 those two Titanic brands. One

0:05 representing grit, heroism, risk-taking

0:08 toughness

0:10 becomes the fifth player in Banana Ball

0:13 history to pull off a backflip catch

0:16 >> and honoring the heroes who run into the

0:18 blaze across all of our communities.

0:20 >> It means so much more than I could have

0:22 ever thought.

0:23 >> Everybody laying it all on the line.

0:25 Couldn't be more blessed.

0:26 >> Firefighters of the night are welcomed

0:28 along Parker Val Perez by Zack Watson.

0:32 >> It represents hard work. It represents

0:34 discipline. Honor those people by how

0:36 hard you play. Do not take that for

0:38 granted.

0:38 >> Led by Val Perez, a 10-year firefighter

0:40 in Corpus Christie, Texas, and longtime

0:43 bananas in Christian Dear and Dakota

0:45 McFaten.

0:47 >> My dad's been a fireman for over gosh,

0:50 probably 50 years now. My uncle's been

0:52 in the fire department for a long time.

0:54 Never give in. Doesn't matter what the

0:55 situation is. And you know, these guys

0:58 never back down. They're coming to save

1:00 everyone that they can. Being the son of

1:02 a firefighter, being the nephew of a

1:04 firefighter, and being a friend of so

1:07 many different firefighters,

1:10 it feels like this was meant for me.

1:12 >> Fighting the flames for 19 games in

1:14 2024, a year of history for the

1:17 firefighters.

1:18 >> Dakota McMun

1:20 in the history of the firefighters

1:22 franchise. The leg second. trick play

1:27 and the first win in firefighters

1:29 history.

1:32 Is tied now and the firefighters have

1:35 won their final game of 2024

1:41 and it's the perfect ending for the boys

1:43 in red and yellow.

1:47 In 2025, the schedule going to 33

1:50 missions across the country, including

1:52 the team's very first headlining tour. A

1:55 three- city journey across Virginia. A

1:57 barnstorming month that left fans with

2:00 plenty of fiery moments. Isaac Par

2:03 behind the back. Green through the legs.

2:05 Double play with the bare hand. Back

2:08 flip. Handspring. Yes, sir. Into center

2:12 field. Is it gone? Oh my goodness. No

2:16 one breaches. It's the hero in Salem.

2:20 >> And a host of new characters like mascot

2:23 Bo the Beaver

2:27 >> and the first ever Dalmatian bat dog.

2:30 >> Chief.

2:32 >> YEAH.

2:33 >> THE blaze spreading to major

2:35 proportions. The firefighters playing in

2:37 10 major league ballparks with their

2:39 first ever win in an MLB stadium coming

2:42 in Denver last August. The firefighters

2:45 stop Banners winning streak at 14 games

2:48 and they take game two here at Korsfield

2:51 in showdowns.

2:52 >> And they gave us one of the most

2:54 emotional nights in banana ball history.

2:56 >> We pause to honor and remember

3:00 reflecting on the lives forever changed

3:03 on September 11th, 2001.

3:06 And tonight we honor both the lives that

3:09 were lost and the lives that were saved

3:12 because of the simple actions of first

3:15 responders.

3:16 Firefighter John Lella,

3:23 firefighter Chris Lro,

3:28 firefighter Fred Perez,

3:33 firefighter Mike Lowski,

3:40 and firefighter Chris Schiffler.

3:47 and firefighter Malcolm Moore.

3:53 911 first responder port authority

3:57 Lieutenant David BROWN

4:04 and 911 first responder Lieutenant Paul

4:12 and 911 first responder Tom

4:19 91 first responder Robbie Mitch

4:28 the first responder.

4:37 One more time for our New York City

4:40 firefighters.

4:51 Going into the postseason, the

4:52 firefighters earning the fourth seed

4:54 after going six and 27, only winning

4:57 three times in 23 chances against the

5:00 Savannah Bananas. the odds stacked

5:02 against them going against the team in

5:04 yellow until Bradford Webb and Ben Dum

5:07 stepped up.

5:08 >> Bradford Webb, six innings, six goose

5:11 eggs, four Ks. He was miraculous.

5:16 >> Ben Dum the third fired up as he

5:19 dribbles this one over the first. Steven

5:21 Coen will take it by the Firefly

5:26 game and dumb a nine out save. a one-

5:29 nothing win in game one of the

5:31 semifinals, giving the Firefighters just

5:34 as good a chance as anybody else. But

5:36 they dropped game two by one point,

5:38 leading to a winner take all showdowns

5:40 in Grayson Stadium. Dalton Cornet

5:42 getting his chance to shine and creating

5:45 a moment that will last in Banana Ball

5:47 history. That ball demolished, deep to

5:50 RIGHT

5:55 sends the firefighters to the 2025

5:59 Tour championship final.

6:03 >> I don't even have words right now. This

6:05 is like the greatest moment of baseball

6:07 history. From four seed to the

6:09 championship game. The firefighters

6:11 becoming the ultimate Cinderella story

6:13 in Banana Land.

6:17 The fire and flames picking right up

6:19 where they left off in 2026. With

6:21 longtime bananas Eric Jones Jr., Jared

6:24 Donaldson and Zack Phillips officially

6:26 aboard. The team picked up its first

6:29 ever sweep in banana ball over the Loco

6:31 Beach Coconuts in Little Rock, Arkansas.

6:35 Launched an historic offensive

6:37 performance in Montgomery, Alabama,

6:40 scoring 22 runs in one game to beat the

6:43 Indianapolis Clowns 4 to2. then swept

6:46 the party animals for the first time

6:48 ever in Albuquerque, highlighted by an

6:50 incredible two rounds of showdowns in

6:52 game two. In May, the firefighters going

6:55 to Corpus Christie, Texas, bringing Val

6:58 Perez back to her hometown and giving us

7:00 one of the most emotional weekends in

7:02 firefighter history.

7:04 >> And a firefighter from right here in

7:07 Corpus Christie.

7:10 Please welcome Val

7:17 What a cool moment.

7:19 >> That moment, I mean, it's special. Um,

7:21 hearing hearing everything from the

7:23 crowd, of course, and then seeing every

7:24 one of my guys just pumping their chests

7:26 and screaming for me. I mean, that means

7:28 everything. It's it's a testament to the

7:29 culture we have in our locker room.

7:32 >> Lamar Sparks,

7:35 welcome back to the Lone Star State,

7:37 LAMAR.

7:38 >> That is his little sister, Jensy.

7:42 And she's about to give Lamar the ride

7:45 back home, recreating a moment from

7:48 their childhood.

8:04 >> I don't really have words for it. It's

8:05 something I've been wanting to recreate

8:07 for a long time now. And finally, I'm in

8:09 a league. I'm in a place where I can

8:10 recreate that and uh have some great

8:11 people around me, have some great staff,

8:13 some great teammates. Vow stuck her neck

8:14 out as well and said, "We're going to

8:16 make this happen. We want to make this

8:17 happen, you know, cuz this is bigger

8:18 than banana ball."

8:22 >> When you enter the fire service, you are

8:24 entering a brotherhood unlike any other.

8:27 And you're trying to be the one who is

8:29 going to save somebody's life every

8:31 single day. And you're in those high

8:32 stress situations. That is a bond unlike

8:34 any other. So remember when you put

8:36 these jerseys on who you represent. Take

8:38 honor in that. Take pride in that. When

8:40 you enter this locker room, you've

8:42 officially entered the brotherhood of

8:44 the Banana Ball Fire Department. Let's

8:46 take pride in that.

8:50 >> On his first swing with the

8:51 firefighters, EJ pumps it. Jared

8:55 Donaldson strikes out the side. His

8:58 first frame against the Nanners.

9:00 >> Bobby Cornette has locked it up IN

9:02 GREENVILLE. WE'RE HOT. We're hot, baby.

9:10 Noah Bridges is timeless.

9:14 >> We have a good offense.

9:16 >> Tidying with a big shot.

9:21 >> Darion McDow.

9:22 >> There you go. Look up there

9:26 for the team sports. Let's go.

9:54 la.

9:57 La.

10:05 right now.

10:10 We came to win

10:15 that strike out

10:19 for the firefighters.

10:25 >> That is a double pick. No, it's not.

10:38 that is going to hurt black screen head

10:49 with a walk free

10:59 Watch out for the rain.

11:01 Better watch out for the rain.

11:07 Welcome in to Memorial Stadium in

11:10 Lincoln, Nebraska. We've got over 85,000

11:13 fans on hand, making this the third

11:16 largest crowd in Banana Ball history.

11:19 And they have gathered to see the

11:20 Savannah Bananas take on the

11:22 Firefighters, who are playing in their

11:24 first ever football stadium. It's the

11:27 conclusion to a twoame set that opened

11:30 with a 4-2 firefighters win two nights

11:32 ago right down the road in K Market.

11:38 And we will welcome you inside with the

11:41 statistical savant of Banana Ball, Josh

11:43 Tipsky, and the voice of the

11:44 firefighter, Zack Stton. I am Bo Scalla.

11:47 Thank you so much for spending your

11:48 Saturday night with us here in virtual

11:50 Banana Land. What a ball game we have

11:52 ahead of us. And what a huge win for the

11:54 firefighters two nights ago after it was

11:56 a rough five or so weeks since the start

11:58 of May.

11:59 >> Bo is a massive confidence booster.

12:01 Three-game losing streak coming into the

12:03 weekend. It's huge to get that win

12:05 coming into tonight. Folks, this is

12:07 real. This is 3 years in the making for

12:10 the firefighter brand. 85,000 people.

12:13 The literal largest game they have ever

12:15 played. And tonight, it's no longer a

12:17 fantasy. It's no longer a dream,

12:19 gentlemen. This is as real as it gets to

12:20 the guys in black and neon.

12:22 >> And for the Nanners, they're still just

12:23 a game and a half out of first place. No

12:25 reason to panic, but as of late, it had

12:27 been the offense that had been letting

12:29 them down. That was not the case

12:30 Thursday night. The pitching and the

12:32 defense, though, could not hold up their

12:33 end of the bargain. Yeah, there was a

12:35 lot of faulty defense on the Bananas end

12:36 on Thursday night. Certainly not what

12:38 they have come to expect from this team.

12:40 But here's where they can have their

12:42 confidence. It lies in the fact that

12:44 this is the 10th football stadium that

12:46 they have ever played in. So, they are

12:48 very comfortable with these unique

12:50 dimensions. They know how to handle the

12:52 big crowds, the big moments, and that

12:54 should have them feeling pretty good as

12:56 they enter play tonight against a really

12:58 talented firefighter squad. We have a

13:01 lot to chop up across the next half hour

13:03 of our pregame show. But for now, let's

13:05 get a look back at how it went down two

13:07 nights ago because it was a roller

13:09 coaster ride to begin with. How about

13:11 two batters into the ball game, great

13:13 piece of opposite field hitting, Dan

13:15 Overs, the double out to right center,

13:16 Dr. Meadows chugging it all the way to

13:18 third and the vote of confidence to put

13:20 Max Young Goldberg up into the three

13:22 hole again rewarding the coaches

13:24 immediately. A two-run RBI sprint could

13:26 have been a lot worse if not for this

13:28 great trick play by Darien McDow.

13:30 >> That's why they call him premium right

13:31 there. A huge trick play and that leads

13:33 to this. Down two runs, Lamar Sparks

13:35 from one rookie to another. He's knew it

13:38 for his power, but that'll do the job

13:39 just nicely there. And some aggressive

13:41 base running to make it a double. And

13:43 then Eric Jones Jr. from the rookies to

13:45 the veteran. The former Savannah Banana

13:48 does the damage against his former team.

13:50 That pushes the inning. We go to the

13:52 bottom of the third. Firefighters now

13:54 leading one- nothing. Make it two

13:56 nothing. That's why they call Logan

13:58 Lacy. Showtime two-run blast. Get a

14:00 little air under that flip right there,

14:02 Logan Lacy. And then Jaba Chamberlain

14:04 gets the call to come in for the

14:05 Nanners. The former Cornhusker and World

14:07 Series champion with the Yankees. Only

14:09 needed three pitches to earn the point.

14:11 EFFECTIVE WORK FROM JAVA CHAMBERLAIN.

14:13 And a very special moment is for him

14:15 getting to be with his old home crowd.

14:17 Got to honor his father as well. And so

14:20 he earned the first point of the night

14:21 for the Bananas. An inning later, it's

14:24 Max Young Goldberg, the Bananas rookie,

14:26 first baseman, leaving the yard for the

14:28 third time this season for the Savannah

14:30 Bananas. And evening the score that

14:33 would make it a two-all contest. But

14:35 bottom of the sixth, really nice rack

14:38 flip here. First trick play of the ball

14:40 game for the Bananas. Odd night

14:42 defensively as we've talked about, but

14:43 Dr. Meadows on the mic with us in the

14:46 booth trying to make it backto-back back

14:47 flip catches. It's a rare miss on the

14:49 trick play he invented. And two pitches

14:51 later, EJ punishes the nanners for the

14:53 trick play. Missed. Firefighters back in

14:55 front. And really, they have been the

14:56 team over the last couple weeks damaged

14:58 by missed trick plays, including that

14:59 guy right there, Zack Phillips. But

15:01 guess what? Another former banana seeing

15:03 the yellow and all of a sudden he's got

15:05 food in his belly AND FIRE IN HIS EYES

15:07 as he goes and STRIKES OUT BILLY

15:09 BARRELS. COUNT THEM. ONE, TWO, THREE FOR

15:13 the miss product with this college team

15:15 here in Omaha. And look at this, EJ. One

15:19 more play. Eteran first showman of the

15:22 night and earns the firefighters a 42

15:24 win with an electric snag at first base.

15:27 >> The firefighters reward for the victory.

15:29 Of course, they get to dance in front of

15:31 the full capacity crowd in Hey Market

15:34 Park. When we come back, so much more to

15:37 chop up, including seeing how two guys,

15:40 one from each team, have been running

15:42 wild as of late. Don't move a muscle.

16:01 LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT IS TIME TO MEET

16:04 YOUR SAVANNAH BADER.

16:13 STARTING BEHIND THE PLATE, WING NUMBER

16:16 17, EAST BARRETT.

16:23 GOING OUT TO LEFT FIELD, WE CALL HIM

16:26 POOKY. WEARING NUMBER SEVEN, TIED TO FLY

16:31 JACKSON.

16:36 WHERE'S COACH RACK? WHERE'S COACH REX?

16:39 HE'S IN LEFT CENTER FIELD. ROBERT

16:42 ANTHONY CRUZ.

16:49 IN CENTER FIELD, THE DOCTOR WEARING

16:52 NUMBER FIVE, DR. THE DOC MEADOWS.

17:00 BEHIND SECOND BASE, THE DESIGNATED

17:02 HITTER, WEARING NUMBER 19, DANNY OVER.

17:11 IN RIGHT CENTER FIELD, THE FUTURE KING

17:13 OF THE PIRATES WEARING NUMBER TWO, REESE

17:17 ALEXIS.

17:22 IN RIGHT FIELD, THE SPARK PLUG WEARING

17:25 NUMBER 22, JT SAKULA

17:33 AT THE THIRD BASE POSITION. HE DOES IT

17:37 ALL. Danny Huzley.

17:48 Banana Ball is the fastest and most

17:50 entertaining show in sports. And the 11

17:52 rules guarantee the most fans first

17:55 experience every second. Unbelievable.

17:58 >> Welcome to the Banana Bowl championship

18:00 lead.

18:00 >> Rule number one, win the inning win the

18:03 point. The team that scores the most

18:05 runs in an inning wins the point.

18:07 >> It's a walkoff winner.

18:11 Oh my goodness. With the equalizer

18:13 point, trick plays provide the away team

18:15 an opportunity to earn a point going

18:17 into the final inning. And in the final

18:19 inning, every run counts as a point.

18:22 Rule number two, Banana Ball has a 2hour

18:25 time limit, guaranteeing that every game

18:28 is fast-paced and action-packed. Rule

18:31 number three, no stepping out of the

18:33 batter's box. If you do, it will result

18:35 in a strike.

18:36 >> I stepped out of the box and because he

18:38 stepped out of the box, that's it. Rule

18:40 number four, no bunting, cuz bunting

18:43 sucks. If you bunt, you'll be thrown out

18:46 of the game. Rule number five, batters

18:48 can steal first base.

18:49 >> Three getting taken up for first throw

18:51 from Leroy in time.

18:54 >> Rule number six, there's no walks. Walks

18:57 are ball force sprints. The batter can

18:59 advance as far as they want until every

19:02 position player touches the ball.

19:04 >> No defenders have touched the banana

19:06 ball. It is a full face sprint to open

19:09 up the ball game.

19:10 >> Rule number seven, no mound visits.

19:14 >> Nope.

19:15 >> Rule number eight, foul balls caught by

19:17 a fan count as an out.

19:21 They can't

19:24 show.

19:25 >> Rule number nine, the showdowns. In

19:28 showdowns, the best of the best face off

19:30 in the biggest moment. One hitter verse

19:33 one pitcher with one fielder behind him.

19:35 And the hitter has to score deep center.

19:39 Cuadra.

19:41 >> Rule number 10, the banana ball

19:43 challenge rule gives the coaches and you

19:46 the fans a chance to impact the call on

19:48 the field. Rule number 11, the golden

19:51 batter. Once a game, each team can give

19:54 any player in it back, regardless of the

19:56 lineup. This offers the biggest matchups

19:58 on the biggest stage.

20:00 >> Big on.

20:03 Let's go. Let's go. Let's go.

20:06 >> Get out of here.

20:08 Let's sing a family.

20:11 >> And those are the rules of Banana Ball.

20:18 >> The rules for Banana Ball brought to you

20:20 by DQ. And let's zoom in on rule number

20:23 five. Batters can steal first base. It

20:25 can only happen on a wild pitch or a

20:27 pass ball. And you really do not want to

20:30 be giving up while pitches are pass

20:32 balls, even when there aren't runners on

20:33 base, because 35% of them we've seen

20:36 guys taking off on, and they have an 89%

20:39 success rate when they do attempt to

20:40 steal first base. And you're looking at

20:42 the two best teams in the sport. The

20:44 Bananas and Firefighters, each have 14

20:46 steals of first. The next closest team,

20:48 the Coconuts, only have 10. Well, they

20:50 have a lot of experienced veteran

20:51 players who are very used to and

20:53 intelligent about the game of an animal.

20:55 They know the right spots to try and

20:57 swipe first base. And you saw that on

21:00 full display a weekend ago from an 8year

21:03 Savannah Banana at that. The Bananas

21:06 designated hitter tonight, Dan Oburst,

21:08 who had himself a very interesting

21:10 weekend against the Indianapolis Clowns.

21:13 Oburst in game one of the series as the

21:15 golden batter in the ninth inning was

21:17 able to swipe first base against Nick

21:19 Wilson. That was his 13th career steal

21:22 of first, by the way. Then you saw him

21:24 the very next night, his first plate

21:27 appearance. He does the same thing again

21:29 for the Savannah Bananas on this pass

21:32 ball from Eli Payton. But you are not

21:34 seeing double, folks. This is in the

21:37 fourth inning of play and it's Dan

21:39 Over's three straight played appearances

21:41 with the steal of first. That has never

21:43 happened before in Banana Ball history.

21:46 And believe it or not, on the very same

21:48 day in Charlotte, Mason Maxwell of the

21:51 Firefighters joined Rare Company as he

21:54 swiped first twice in the same game.

21:57 This is why Mason is one of the most

21:59 improved players in the league. He does

22:01 this with no hesitation, sees his

22:04 opportunity, jumps right into it. He

22:06 leads the team now with four steals of

22:08 first base. And that's the reason why

22:09 Mason Maxwell is so difficult to get

22:11 out. Yeah, a heck of a sophomore

22:13 campaign for Mad Max. We'll see if Bo

22:16 Burster Maxwell can pick up another here

22:18 tonight. When we come back, we'll be

22:20 hearing from Eric Jones Jr. and Jared

22:22 Donaldson as they take on their former

22:24 team.

22:34 >> The pitch.

22:35 >> Oh, a big swinging a miss.

22:40 HE'S JUST SEVEN YEARS OLD. HE'S GOING TO

22:42 NEED YOUR HELP to cheer him on. Get loud

22:45 for Owen.

22:47 >> Oh my gosh. He ripped it.

22:51 >> He's moving down the first baseline.

22:55 The play at FIRST IS WAY TOO LATE. OWEN

22:58 IS SIMPLY WAY TOO FAST.

23:02 The Bananas can't get hold of the ball.

23:04 Owens round in second. He's steaming for

23:07 third.

23:09 The play at third. NOWHERE CLOSE. IT'S

23:12 GOING TO BE CLOSE TO HOME. He's juking.

23:15 He's weaving. He's on his way. The play

23:18 at the plate, Steve.

23:25 And Owen hits the firefighters

23:27 signature. Chop chop chop.

23:32 AND GIVE IT UP ONE MORE TIME FOR

23:34 SEVENYEAR-OLD OWEN, tonight's hero

23:38 hitter.

23:46 It is now time to learn the rules of our

23:49 game. The name of our game is banana

23:52 ball. And in Banana Ball, we have 11

23:55 rules. Rule number one, every inning

24:00 counts. Now, how do you win an inning?

24:02 You score more runs than the opposing

24:05 team. Yet, if the away team accomplishes

24:10 more trick plays than the home team,

24:13 they will be granted one additional

24:15 point known as the banana ball

24:18 equalizer. Yet, the final count of the

24:22 month.

24:30 Welcome back to our 2026 Banana Ball

24:32 World Tour pre-show presented by DQ. DQ,

24:36 happy tastes good. Tough to find a

24:40 better venue for our young sport here on

24:42 planet Earth than Memorial Stadium. It

24:45 holds over 85,000 fans. And as you can

24:48 see, it is jam-packed here tonight. It

24:50 was built in 1923, over 100 years old,

24:53 and 410 consecutive soldout football

24:56 games. That's an NCAA record going all

24:58 the way back to 1962. And not just for

25:01 football. The largest ever attendance

25:04 for a women's sporting event back in

25:06 2023. Over 92,000 fans for the women's

25:09 volleyball team here at Nebraska. These

25:11 fans are tremendous. The Corn Husker

25:12 fans are very loyal to their teams. Not

25:15 only volleyball, but this football

25:16 program as well. Five national

25:19 championships have come in this stadium.

25:22 Take a look at where it lines up in the

25:25 history of Banana Ball. It's the third

25:27 largest stadium we have ever had the

25:29 pleasure of playing our young sport in.

25:31 And they have all been the top three

25:33 that is across the last two months.

25:35 College Station at the start of May.

25:38 Knoxville, Nean Stadium. That was back

25:40 on May 23rd. And here, Memorial Stadium

25:42 tonight, of course, April 26th, 2025.

25:46 That's when we got to Clemson, uh,

25:48 Memorial Stadium, Clemson, South

25:49 Carolina's version. That was the largest

25:52 game in Banana Ball history coming into

25:53 this season. And then Charlotte, North

25:55 Carolina last year, that was

25:56 back-to-back games in the home of the

25:58 Panthers. Firefighters have played in

26:00 front of about 270,000 fans this year.

26:02 30% of that total is represented in this

26:05 stadium tonight that can carry a lot of

26:07 pressure for a team that has not played

26:09 in a football stadium before. But there

26:10 are four guys who have felt this with

26:13 the party animals and namely the

26:14 Savannah Bananas. Armano Betta, Zack

26:17 Phillips, and these two gentlemen, Eric

26:19 Jones Jr., The firefighters first

26:22 selection in the 2026 Banana Ball player

26:24 draft in two or excuse me, four stadiums

26:27 last year, two home runs and five runs

26:30 batted and he was tremendous when the

26:33 pressure and the spotlight both rose.

26:35 But what about Jared Donaldelsson as

26:37 well? Small sample size, but that young

26:39 man has yet to allow an earned run in a

26:41 football stadium. Has not allowed a home

26:43 run with fields that could very easily

26:46 lean pitcher haters. You know who else

26:49 might be a pitcher hater? Sam Bowman.

26:51 See, he interviewed Jared Donaldson a

26:54 little bit ago. And um I don't think

26:56 they got off to the uh the best start

26:58 here in Nebraska. Let's find out why.

27:04 >> I'll tell you what, guys. Most people

27:05 would see 197 on left field and be

27:08 pretty nervous, especially if you're a

27:10 pitcher. But I got a guy here who uh

27:12 hasn't seem to have any issues when it

27:14 comes to a short porch in football

27:15 stadiums. And Jared Donaldelsson.

27:17 Donnie, you feeling the magic of not

27:19 even worrying about what's out here?

27:22 >> I can't believe you just said that.

27:25 I'm gonna say this so y'all hear here

27:26 first. If I give up a home run in the

27:28 first inning, it might be because of Sam

27:29 Bowman. Um, yeah. I don't really believe

27:32 in baseball jinx, but Scott just did it.

27:35 >> Well, Donnie, it's just you haven't

27:36 given home run. People are It's hard to

27:38 hit off you in a football stadium even,

27:40 right? I mean, you've got it all figured

27:42 out. What could go wrong?

27:47 Guys, maybe I should let Donna get

27:49 ready. Let me talk to a guy who actually

27:50 loves seeing this short number here,

27:52 though. He's around here.

27:54 >> Yeah, it's Eric Jones Jr. He's familiar

27:56 with hitting the ball over this porch.

27:58 EJ, you come to a football stadium. Do

28:00 you just get a little extra skip in your

28:02 step?

28:03 >> Yeah, it's pretty exciting. It's not

28:05 that far to go to left field. It's not

28:06 that far to go to center field. It's

28:08 still a little bit far to go to right

28:09 field, but it's a good day for hitters.

28:11 But I'm excited to work with my man

28:12 Donnie. We're going to keep the bananas

28:13 in the park.

28:15 EJ, any advice for some of your

28:17 firefighter teammates who haven't done

28:18 the football field yet?

28:20 >> You got to watch the ball closely and

28:22 then try to hit it in the air. It's not

28:25 a good day to hit ground balls as a

28:27 hitter, Sam.

28:28 >> Eric Jones with great advice. Uh, we'll

28:31 probably be finding maybe a ball or two

28:32 of his out here later on today. These

28:34 firefighters have got to figure

28:35 hopefully not off of me,

28:38 >> guys. I'm trying to figure it out.

28:44 I'm I'm with you there, SP. I mean,

28:46 these guys have fantastic stats. They

28:48 don't want us to talk about it because

28:49 of the broadcast jinx. It puts us

28:51 between a rock and a hard place. And

28:53 what a pitching matchup we have here

28:55 tonight, though. Jared Donaldson spent

28:56 the last four years with the Bananas.

28:58 He's opposed by the Naner's first round

29:01 draft pick in Austin Drury, who is tied

29:03 for the tour lead with those 48

29:05 strikeouts. A fantastic 3.55 RA. I mean,

29:08 this is a really heck of a pitching

29:10 match up. And there's nobody who pounds

29:12 the strike zone better as a starting

29:13 pitcher than Austin Jury either. You see

29:15 just nine ball four sprints for him in

29:17 45 and two/3 innings pitched. Meanwhile

29:20 for Jared Donaldelsson, started the

29:22 season incredibly strong for the

29:23 firefighters. Has been affected by the

29:26 long ball across his last four starts

29:28 especially. But if he's got that

29:30 splitter in control tonight, he's also

29:33 going to rack up quite a few punch outs

29:35 just like our guy AD for the bananas. I

29:37 would argue too that when Jared

29:38 Donaldson has some emotion built up in

29:40 him, he can rise to the occasion as

29:42 well. Maybe no better emotional pitcher.

29:44 Remember March 8th against the Savannah

29:46 Bananas in Grayson Stadium, first time

29:48 he played his former team, struck out

29:50 the side in the very first inning.

29:52 Tonight is one he's got circled on his

29:55 calendar and it's for a reason he's

29:57 locked in tonight. And if he is, those

29:59 39 strikeouts is nothing to sneeze at

30:01 either.

30:02 the former Dodgers minor leaguer. The

30:04 Southpaw going for the Nanners and the

30:06 legendary Savannah Banana gets his

30:08 second career start against his former

30:11 team. Drury verse Donaldelsson couldn't

30:13 dream of a better pitching matchup here

30:15 tonight. When we come back, we're going

30:18 to get the starting lineups for both of

30:20 these teams. First pitch is oh so close.

30:38 IF YOU WANT SOME GOLD BEADS, I need to

30:42 hear you scream.

31:03 Oh yeah, it's tradition time once again.

31:06 It's time to meet the cast of the

31:09 Savannah Bananas right here on the

31:11 pitcher mound. First, I am your chief

31:14 potassium enthusiast. My name is the

31:16 young professor. Let's meet the rest of

31:18 the crew. They have been carrying our

31:21 tune from coast to coast. Ladies and

31:23 gentlemen, give it up for the world

31:25 famous banana band.

31:28 She is her royal majesty up in the

31:31 Netherland, Princess Patia.

31:36 They are the greatest dad by cheer squad

31:38 to ever grace God's green earth. The

31:41 manas

31:45 standing 10 ft 9 in tall. He towers

31:50 above them all. Dakota

31:53 Stokes All Britain.

31:57 And the world's greatest dancing first

31:59 and third base coach. It's Macio.

32:04 Ladies and gentlemen, the cast of your

32:07 Savannah Banana.

32:14 Now

32:15 the cast is ready. The players are

32:20 ready. It's now time for you, the fans,

32:23 to get ready.

32:31 Welcome back to our 2026 Banana Ball

32:33 World Tour pre-show presented by DQ. DQ

32:37 Happy Tastes good.

32:40 Over 85,000 fans have converged on

32:44 Memorial Stadium here in Lincoln,

32:46 Nebraska. It's the first ever football

32:48 stadium for the firefighters here in

32:51 their third year of existence in the

32:52 sport of banana ball. It is the 10th

32:54 football stadium that the flagship team,

32:57 the Savannah Bananas, has ever played

32:59 in. And it is an absolutely absurd scene

33:03 here in Memorial Stadium, the historic

33:06 venue. It will celebrate its 103rd

33:09 birthday this October. Everybody moving

33:11 it and grooving it thanks to Jesse Cole

33:13 out on the field. Let's check in.

33:17 >> Keep it going.

33:18 >> Oh, the sprinkler. All right.

33:22 Do you learn that from dad? Okay. Oh.

33:25 All right. We're touching our toes.

33:27 Okay. We're touching our toes.

33:30 >> We're touching our toes. Jumping jack.

33:38 Jumping jack.

33:40 All right.

33:42 We're clapping.

33:45 Tinsley. Look around. 85,000

33:48 fans going crazy for you. LET'S HEAR IT

33:52 for 5-year-old Tim.

34:37 Fire.

34:43 Fire.

34:48 Heat. Heat.

35:20 Ladies and gentlemen,

35:24 IT'S TIME TO meet the 2026

35:29 Fire fighter.

35:40 AND NOW THE STARTING lineup of your

35:43 firefighters

35:45 leading up the hot top number two

35:53 green.

35:59 And look to hall the designated header

36:03 DC3

36:05 the

36:07 partying

36:14 third maning the hot corner number

36:19 Logan go.

36:28 Your cleanup hitter tonight, the extra

36:31 hitter number zero, Lamar

36:35 Spart

36:42 number four, Eric Jones.

36:49 Batting six, ranging center field number

36:54 30, Ronaldo

37:01 in the tennis slot. Pain gain left kill

37:04 number 55

37:07 Hey

37:14 in the hall the first baseman number

37:17 seven Mason

37:20 MAXWELL

37:25 batting ninth ranging in right field

37:28 number 10 Darian

37:30 Premium McDow Oh,

37:36 and the nextie at second base, number

37:39 24, DAKOTA Diesel McFaten.

37:47 And the flamethrower on THE MOUND,

37:50 TONIGHT'S STARTING PITCHER, number 21,

37:53 Jared Donaldson.

37:59 The firefighters are led by Captain Cory

38:02 Pi and Lieutenant Drew Yanessa.

38:26 Ladies, gentlemen, boys and girls, and

38:30 potassium enthusiasts from around the

38:32 world tonight. You and thousands of your

38:35 friends here live and millions more

38:37 watching at home have gathered here to

38:40 witness something beyond your wildest

38:42 imagination. From Montana to Savannah,

38:47 from the aisle of man to Tokyo, Japan,

38:50 the Banana Maniacs comes from across the

38:52 globe to witness this. This is not

38:56 baseball. This is the crucible where the

39:00 fastest, hungriest, and most

39:02 entertaining players are forged. This is

39:04 a game of the fans by the fans and for

39:08 the fans. But this is not your

39:11 granddad's past. This is not just

39:14 another night at the ballpark. This game

39:17 is baseball by birth, fruit by name, and

39:20 an absolute worldwide phenomenon by the

39:23 grace of God. This is the time for all

39:27 85,000

39:29 people here in Lincoln, Nebraska to get

39:33 on your feet and give me your voices

39:40 because this is the greatest show in

39:44 sports. Ladies and gentlemen, this is

39:48 the ball.

39:52 Lincoln, Nebraska. It's time to meet the

39:56 starting lineup for YOUR SAVANNAH

39:59 BANANA.

40:02 Leading off the center fielder, number

40:06 five, Dr. the dot medal.

40:13 Batting second at the eight, number 19,

40:17 Dan Ours.

40:24 Starting third at first base, wearing

40:26 number nine, Max Young Goldber

40:35 at third base number four, Kyle KJ.

40:46 The catcher, NUMERO UNO. He's the

40:49 captain, BILLY.

40:58 In left field number 15, we call him

41:00 Rack Robert Anthony Cruz.

41:09 The right fielder number two, Reese

41:12 Superman

41:14 Alexis

41:20 at shortstop. is our glove magician

41:23 number six, Ryan Cox.

41:31 The extra hitter number seven, Ty Twofly

41:35 Jackson.

41:42 Second baseman number eight, our

41:43 greatest showman, JACKSON OLSEN.

41:50 On the mound, number 11, Austin Drew.

41:56 The Bananas are led by Tyler Gillum,

41:59 assisted by Adam Broy,

42:02 Ryan Kellogg, Bryce Tober, and Reggie

42:06 the legend for

42:14 We've got the lineups for both teams.

42:17 The stage is set. Over 85,000 fans have

42:21 gathered for the greatest show in

42:23 sports. When we come back, we'll have

42:26 first pitch from Lincoln, Nebraska.

42:41 By the dawn,

42:46 what so proudly

42:49 we held

42:52 at the twilight

42:54 last gleaming,

42:57 whose broad stripes

42:59 and bright stars

43:03 through the

43:05 us fight

43:09 or the ramp parts we watched

43:14 were so gallently

43:18 streaming

43:20 and the rockets

43:23 red glare.

43:25 The bombs bursting

43:28 in air

43:31 gave proof through the night

43:36 that our flag

43:38 was still there.

43:43 Oh, say does that star spangled

43:49 ber

43:51 yet wave

43:56 or the land

43:59 of the free

44:04 and the home

44:07 of the

44:09 brave.

44:21 LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, COLIN WILER.

44:40 Welcome back to Lincoln, Nebraska, where

44:42 over 85,000 fans have packed Memorial

44:46 Stadium for the third largest game in

44:49 Banana Ball history. Normally a sea of

44:52 red. Tonight, it's a sea of red and

44:54 yellow as the Savannah Bananas are the

44:57 visiting team against the firefighters

44:59 who play host in their first ever

45:01 football stadium game. The former Banana

45:04 Jared Donaldson gets the start against

45:06 the team he spent the last four years

45:08 with. While the Nanners counter with

45:10 their firstrounder, Austin Drury, as

45:12 they try to split this two game set in

45:15 Lincoln. The energy inside Memorial

45:18 Stadium is tough to describe as we

45:20 welcome you inside the booth with the

45:22 statistical savant of Banana Ball, Josh

45:24 Tleski, and the voice of the

45:26 firefighter, Zach State and I am Boico

45:28 Scala. What a historic ball game we have

45:30 on our hands here. This is an

45:32 unbelievable scene for the firefighters.

45:34 Their first time ever in this kind of

45:36 environment in 3 years in the making.

45:38 This is incredible. But Josh, the

45:40 Savannah Bananas know all too well what

45:42 this is like.

45:42 >> Yeah. Again, this is a lot of experience

45:44 for the Savannah Bananas. The 10th

45:46 football stadium that they have ever

45:47 gotten to play in. And they've been

45:49 pretty good since the start of 2025 in

45:52 playing in these venues. So, the Bananas

45:55 a lot of confidence as they are trying

45:57 to get back in the win column tonight

45:58 against the firefighters. The

46:00 firefighters, as we've said, the home

46:02 squad here in Memorial Stadium. So,

46:04 we'll get a look at their defense as we

46:07 are just moments away from first pitch

46:09 here in the top of the first inning.

46:10 Left to right in the firefighters

46:12 outfield, it's Tiner Hughes, Armando

46:14 Vetta, and Darien McDow. Third to first.

46:16 In the infield, you see Logan Lacy,

46:18 Kaden Green, South Trimble, who's the

46:20 designated fielder, Dakota McFaten

46:22 written in at second base. South will

46:24 start and most likely play the entire

46:25 game there. And then Mason Maxwell over

46:27 at first. Well, it's Eric Jones Jr.

46:29 behind the plate.

46:29 >> The biggest change, Tiner Hughes, who's

46:31 usually the starting second baseman,

46:33 moving over to left field with that

46:34 short porch. They're going to use him as

46:36 a Rover, try to use his speed as much as

46:38 they can back tonight after missing

46:40 Thursday with a small little knee

46:42 injury. But he's back ready to go

46:43 tonight here to back up Jared Donaldson

46:47 on Donnie Day. For the first time ever

46:50 in front of this kind of capacity crowd,

46:53 they go up with a guy who has pitched in

46:55 it before. one of the four guys for the

46:57 firefighters who has pitched in a

46:58 football stadium. Jared Donaldelsson the

47:00 last couple of weekends as Josh Delesky

47:02 pointed out the long ball has hurt him.

47:04 But last weekend I thought was

47:05 important. Six strikeouts in Charlotte.

47:07 If he can build on confidence like that,

47:08 he is locked in and tapped in with a ton

47:10 of emotion. Yeah. And we saw him in his

47:11 first career start against his former

47:13 squad on March the 8th. Three innings

47:15 pitched, only two hits allowed, one

47:17 earned run, and six strikeouts for Jared

47:20 Donaldson, including an inning in which

47:22 he struck out the side against his

47:24 former team. Donnie feeling pretty

47:26 confident and has an opponent's batting

47:28 average this season of 283.

47:32 And it's familiar foes on the other side

47:36 of the diamond for Jared Donaldson. This

47:38 is the banana starting lineup brought to

47:39 you by PNC Bank. It's his former center

47:42 fielder at the top, Dr. Meadows, then

47:44 Dan Oers, Max Young Goldberg, Kyle

47:46 Jackson cleaning it up, followed by Bill

47:48 Loy, Robert Anthony Cruz, Reese Select,

47:51 Ryan Cox, Ty Jackson, and Jackson Olsen

47:54 to round it out. And it wouldn't be an

47:56 alltime banana ball game if we didn't

47:58 have some shenanigans to get it going.

48:00 Let's get down to the field.

48:06 Let's play it.

48:10 Making it fun. Not making excuses out in

48:14 the ready. Put your hands

48:19 going.

48:23 Are you ready? Are you ready?

48:30 Are you ready? Are you ready?

48:35 Play

48:37 around

48:39 the game.

49:02 that I'm going to change your life. Are

49:05 you ready? Are you ready? Leave the

49:09 world behind. Going to blow your mind.

49:12 Are you ready? Are you ready

49:17 to play

49:19 around

49:20 the game? All about

49:24 it. Really show it out.

49:29 Now

49:36 start now.

49:59 And now

50:01 >> to throw out tonight's first pitch,

50:04 please welcome

50:06 FORMER NATIONAL CHAMPION AND HEISMAN

50:10 TROPHY WINNER FROM YOUR Nebraska Corn

50:14 Huskers. PLEASE WELCOME ERIC CROUCH.

50:27 and their first ever football stadium

50:29 game. The firefighters get their first

50:32 ever special guest, former Heisman

50:36 Trophy winner, Eric Grouch, one of three

50:39 quarterbacks in division one history to

50:42 rush for 3,000 yards and pass for 4,000

50:45 in a career. COMES BACK HOME, FORMER

50:48 THIRD ROUND PICK in the NFL draft. Gives

50:51 us the first round pitch. One real

50:54 scenes to start out here in Memorial

50:56 Stadium.

50:57 >> Now, start the clock. 1 2 3.

51:04 >> Showtime.

51:08 >> And at long last, we have started the

51:11 clock. The two-hour timer is ticking. It

51:13 will only matter if it runs out before

51:15 we get to the ninth inning. Jared

51:18 Donaldelsson here in his fourth world

51:21 tour, his fifth year in the great world

51:24 of Banana Land. And he's got a foul ball

51:27 from his 2022 Collegiate Bananas

51:29 teammate Dr. Meadows.

51:32 And that's a grounder fielded between

51:33 the legs. LOGAN LACY. OH, Mason Maxwell

51:37 BEHIND THE BACK. WILD DOUBLE TRICK PLAY

51:40 TO GET US GOING. THE GUYS ON THE CORNERS

51:43 OF THE INFIELD FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS

51:45 CERTAINLY built different. Logan Lacy

51:48 has always been one of the most elite

51:50 trick play guys in this firefighters

51:52 team and Mason Maxwell made that one

51:55 look ROUTINE AS SOUTH TRIPLE and Mason

51:58 Maxwell NOW TEAM UP FOR ANOTHER DOUBLE

52:01 TRICK PLAY. JARED DONALDELSSON'S GOT THE

52:04 GROUND BALL MACHINE GOING TO START THIS

52:07 CONTEST. What a start in their first

52:10 ever football stadium game. Backto back

52:12 double trick plays. If you think they're

52:15 nervous, they aren't showing it right

52:17 now.

52:19 >> This is coming on the heels of a game on

52:21 Thursday night in which the firefighters

52:23 easily out trick played the bananas 8 to

52:25 five as Max Young Goldberg has two balls

52:29 and a strike on him. Two batters into

52:31 this. Four trick plays already for the

52:34 firefighters as MJG cannot connect on

52:38 the fast ball. Jared Donaldelsson's best

52:40 pitch, the legendary splitter.

52:44 shows it right there as the count is

52:45 full on the Ner's number three hitter.

52:47 Their second round draft pick.

52:51 >> Young Goldberg takes it just a bit

52:53 outside.

52:54 He will earn his banana ball tour

52:56 leading 26th Ball force sprint after he

53:01 had another pair of them two nights ago.

53:04 >> Yeah, Max Young Goldberg just has such a

53:06 disciplined approach in this Banana's

53:08 batting order. for a key reason. He's

53:10 moved back up into that three hole. And

53:12 now the Bananas a base runner with two

53:15 outs and they take MJG off the bases in

53:17 favor of their designated runner JT

53:20 Sakalov.

53:24 Three hit night with a double

53:27 down the road at Hey Market Park

53:28 Thursday for Kyle Jackson who's quickly

53:31 behind O2

53:34 having a fantastic second full tour in

53:36 the sport. This is his third year as a

53:38 Savannah Banana overall after he debuted

53:41 with the Visitors in 2024. Banana Ball's

53:43 developmental team. Great scoop there by

53:45 EJ to make sure Young Goldberg does not

53:47 leave first base.

53:51 And a good spoil there by KJ who's

53:53 hitting 359 and has a team high 1.077

53:57 OPS. That's on base percentage plus

53:59 slugging. That currently ranks seventh

54:02 among all qualified players in Banana

54:04 Ball. He will swing through that pitch

54:06 from Jared Donaldson. A great first

54:09 inning of work for the former Savannah

54:11 Banana. Gets the punch out and induces

54:14 four trick plays as he posts a zero. I

54:18 told you this is the kind of guy that

54:20 will anchor your emotions. And after two

54:22 double trick plays in a row, a ball four

54:24 sprint, Donnie comes right back. A huge

54:26 strike out on his former teammate.

54:28 Couple of massive first innings against

54:30 his former team in his first two starts

54:32 against him. Yeah, he struck out the

54:33 side back on March 8th. This is much

54:35 better for the team. Starts with the

54:37 double trick play Lacy to Maxwell

54:40 between the legs to behind the back and

54:42 then dueling between the legs with

54:44 Trimble to Mad Max and South as the

54:46 designated fielder after he was in the

54:48 10 hole on Thursday night. Already

54:50 paying dividends at second base. Here's

54:52 the Nanners defensive alignment. It's

54:54 the usual suspects out in the outfield.

54:55 Rack DR and Super Reese. And then in the

54:58 infield, same goes there. KJ Cox, Olsen,

55:01 and Ziegler, who is the bananas

55:03 designated fielder in there at first

55:05 base for Maxon Goldberg. Loy the

55:07 nine-year nanner behind the dish with

55:08 Drury in the middle of it all. Yeah, the

55:10 bananas certainly trying to clean things

55:11 up in tonight's contest. We saw a couple

55:14 trick plays missed, an error as well on

55:16 Thursday night in Hey Market Park. And

55:18 this team is a little different

55:20 defensively. Just eight and a half trick

55:22 plays per game in away games this season

55:24 compared to 11.3 when they play as that

55:28 home squad. then trying to hunt that

55:30 equalizer point here tonight. Tell you

55:32 what, Josh, we are a long way from Lando

55:35 Lakes, Florida, the hometown of Austin

55:37 Drury, who is the number four overall

55:40 draft pick last November in the

55:41 inaugural Banana Ball player draft. Five

55:45 pitch mix, five years in the Dodgers

55:47 organization, has pitched professionally

55:49 for eight years, and has been fantastic

55:51 in his young banana ball career. And

55:53 he's posted good numbers in the football

55:55 stadiums. 14 and the third innings

55:56 pitched, 20 strikeouts in that span and

55:59 only one home run allowed. He's done a

56:02 great job with these interesting

56:03 dimensions keeping the ball in the yard.

56:06 And now let's take a look at the

56:07 firefighter starting lineup brought to

56:09 you by PNC Bank.

56:10 >> Want to point out to you Kaden Green 402

56:12 average has already put himself in an

56:13 MVP category this year. But again,

56:16 Armando Betta the last three weekends he

56:19 has been excellent right there in the

56:21 six hole is huge. And Eric Jones Jr. guy

56:23 with football stadium experience. With a

56:26 short fortune left, his power could be

56:28 used massively tonight.

56:31 Peanut takes the fast ball for a strike.

56:34 The heater sits about 92 to 94 from

56:36 Austin Drury.

56:38 Got to look out for the two scene cut

56:40 fastball change up and slider as well.

56:42 And for Kaden Green, a 2022 collegiate

56:45 Savannah Banana, this is his second year

56:47 as the shorts stop for the firefighters.

56:49 One of the best players in the sport as

56:51 we are now at the halfway mark. I talked

56:52 to him yesterday. If I had told you back

56:54 in 2022 you'd be playing in this

56:56 environment with a team that didn't

56:57 exist, what would you say?

57:00 >> I think he thought I was crazy.

57:04 How about a foul out to the fans in

57:06 Peanut's first career played appearance

57:09 in a football stadium.

57:14 That was a DQ shake snag. The fan who

57:17 caught the foul ball won three DQ for

57:19 their row. And you can win at home by

57:21 scanning this QR code to download the DQ

57:24 app and earn your own rewards. What a

57:26 wild start for the firefighters. You

57:28 know, their season last year started

57:30 with a foul out to a fan. Now their

57:32 debut in a football stadium starts with

57:35 a foul out to a fan. And that was the

57:37 60th catch of 2026 by the fans. Once

57:42 again, it's the fans in the Midwest who

57:44 get the firefighters. It was Logan Lacy

57:46 in Kaufman Stadium, Kansas City last

57:48 year to open up the tour. In fact, he

57:50 did it to start their second game of the

57:52 season last year as well. Lacy lurks in

57:54 the on deck circle here. And now he'll

57:56 come to the dish as Daltton Cornet is

57:58 down swinging on the high heat from

58:00 Austin Drury. And that now puts him

58:03 outright first place in banana ball in

58:05 strikeouts this season. And you see AD

58:09 so often early in ball games. He is not

58:11 afraid to challenge batters with that

58:14 heater. And he goes with the fast ball

58:16 to Logan Lacy and that one fell back to

58:18 the screen.

58:21 Showtime as legendary a firefighter as

58:24 exists in banana ball. He has played now

58:28 in all 87 firefighters games that have

58:31 ever happened. The only player who can

58:33 say it.

58:36 A two-run homer on Thursday night in

58:38 walk-off fashion. This time it's not

58:39 going to leave the infield. Alex Ziggler

58:42 battling a very serious win here in

58:45 Lincoln, Nebraska puts it away as Drury

58:47 faces the minimum.

58:48 >> And it's very quick work for AD as well.

58:51 The rookie tossing a 2minut and 10sec

58:54 inning for the Savannah Bananas and

58:56 keeping the firefighters scoreless.

58:59 Zero is on the board. One inning in the

59:02 books. Let's get it on down to Sam B.

59:06 Hey. Yeah, thanks. Got Eric Crut just

59:08 out there for the first throw. We're

59:10 starting. How do we How do we feel about

59:12 Huh?

59:12 >> Uh, you know, I got a little advice

59:14 before it said don't throw it in the

59:16 dirt. It's exactly what I did, man. I'm

59:19 a little nervous. It was fun. It's great

59:21 to be out here.

59:21 >> Well, they put it on your mind. Now,

59:23 talk about this. I I said you are

59:24 actually probably used to this. You

59:26 looking around Memorial Stadium, seeing

59:27 it sold out. What's it like though to be

59:29 back here in the middle of it?

59:30 >> Well, it feels great. I mean, uh what an

59:32 exciting evening. Uh we're playing

59:34 sports. You got uh entertainment. You

59:36 got athletes out here having a good

59:38 time. family, friends. Can't ask for

59:40 more than that. Plus, the weather turned

59:42 out beautiful.

59:43 >> Yeah. Talk about Corn Husker Nation. I

59:45 mean, we have seen it already. They are

59:47 a different breed of fan. Yes.

59:49 >> Oh, absolutely. I mean, the Nebraska fan

59:52 base is um the best in the world and uh

59:55 it's great that you're here to get to

59:57 witness this and uh along with many

59:59 other people tonight. I mean, this is

1:00:00 this is something that happens day in

1:00:02 and day out around here.

1:00:03 >> Well, I'll tell you what, you still look

1:00:04 really good in red. Appreciate you being

1:00:06 out here, guys. We'll get it back to

1:00:07 you. Thank you very much, SB. Just an

1:00:10 hour down the road from his hometown of

1:00:12 Omaha, Nebraska. And there you see his

1:00:14 number seven retired here at Memorial

1:00:17 Stadium. Legendary Corn Husker. A much

1:00:19 beloved player here at the University of

1:00:22 Nebraska. Had some history on his side

1:00:24 as well. A player who in the same game

1:00:26 had a passing touchdown, a rushing

1:00:28 touchdown, and a receiving touchdown for

1:00:31 the Corn Huskers. Dude was 33 and5 as a

1:00:35 quarterback in college. I mean, he's

1:00:36 just a winner. straight up a winner.

1:00:39 >> The Eric Crouch resume is pretty wild.

1:00:42 Great athletes of truly the past couple

1:00:45 generations, especially when you look at

1:00:47 what he did in high school. I mean,

1:00:49 second and fourth in Nebraska,

1:00:51 respectively, in the 100 meter and 200

1:00:54 meter dashes. His 100 meter time still

1:00:57 the fifth fastest for high schoolers in

1:00:59 the state of Nebraska history. All

1:01:00 right, we'll end the crouch talk for now

1:01:03 as that's a liner on a hop. Kaden Green

1:01:06 over to Mad Max behind THE BACK AGAIN.

1:01:09 MASON MAXWELL OUT OF HIS MIND ALREADY.

1:01:11 SIX TRICK PLAYS FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS.

1:01:14 JUST FOUR DEFENSIVE outs into this. You

1:01:16 are seeing a revolution at first base

1:01:18 from Mason Maxwell. AN AWAKENING OF MAD

1:01:21 MAX ALREADY. THREE trick plays tonight

1:01:24 and we haven't even gotten through an

1:01:26 inning in two3

1:01:29 >> and he's combined talents with all three

1:01:31 of his fellow infielders already.

1:01:35 I mean, you're just seeing him move the

1:01:36 needle. The firefighters certainly don't

1:01:38 want to give up that equalizer point. If

1:01:39 the visiting team has more than the home

1:01:41 team, of course, they get an extra

1:01:42 point. And Maxwell builds his position.

1:01:46 Flips under the legs to Jared Donaldson

1:01:48 at the bag. And he is hunting a record

1:01:52 for the first baseman already. The

1:01:54 single game trick play record for first

1:01:56 baseman is six from the bananas. Alex

1:01:59 Ziegler. Mad Max already with four in

1:02:02 this contest.

1:02:04 Reminder folks that has come on five

1:02:06 outs.

1:02:10 >> Jared Donaldson strikeout the only

1:02:12 banana to be retired without a trick

1:02:15 play on it. And Reese Alexi the home run

1:02:17 stadium king strikes again.

1:02:21 Super Reese with the first run on the

1:02:25 board for either side here tonight.

1:02:28 That is his eighth career home run that

1:02:31 has come in a football stadium. Reese

1:02:34 selects the it doesn't matter if you've

1:02:36 got the short porch to right or left. He

1:02:38 knows how to do damage in these venues.

1:02:41 And no better guy to get the bananas on

1:02:44 the board tonight here in Lincoln.

1:02:53 Well, after it was a dream start

1:02:54 defensively for the firefighters,

1:02:59 Alexi

1:03:00 spoils the fun for now. Nana's offense

1:03:04 was fantastic Thursday night. They

1:03:05 scored eight runs. They could only turn

1:03:07 that into two points because of their

1:03:10 pitching and defense coming up empty on

1:03:12 the other side of the ball. Once again,

1:03:14 the offense giving the Nanners a chance

1:03:17 to put an allimportant point on the

1:03:18 board as Ryan Cox is quickly behind 0

1:03:21 and2.

1:03:25 They will scrape that off the table.

1:03:28 Still an 02 count.

1:03:32 Boxy here in his fifth world tour.

1:03:33 Another legend of the sport.

1:03:39 known for his prowess with the glove,

1:03:41 but a very respectable 382 on base

1:03:43 percentage even through a slump right

1:03:44 now. And

1:03:45 >> actually batting above 400 here in

1:03:47 football stadiums for the bananas. This

1:03:49 one is shot up the middle. Green tries

1:03:51 to transfer behind his back, but that

1:03:54 ball squirts out of his glove.

1:03:56 Nonetheless, a tricky play for Kaden

1:03:58 Green to have to make. Ranging up the

1:04:00 middle. It's going to go down as a base

1:04:02 knock for Ryan Cox.

1:04:03 >> And I think that's the critical point to

1:04:05 make here. He was already going. You

1:04:07 might as well at that point if you can

1:04:08 try it. The twisting part of it might

1:04:10 have gotten a little bit hairy, but I

1:04:12 think for Ken Green, that's a a worthy

1:04:13 trick play to chase.

1:04:17 Ball in a strike on Ty Jackson.

1:04:21 He's been on a tear as of late,

1:04:24 hitting .296, a 412 on base percentage.

1:04:27 Here in his third world tour, fifth year

1:04:29 as a Savannah Banana. heartbeat of this

1:04:32 team

1:04:33 and he'll give the fans an opportunity.

1:04:39 >> No dice

1:04:41 Thursday night. Bo didn't really have to

1:04:43 take a bat off his shoulder very much to

1:04:45 be effective. A couple of ball four

1:04:46 sprints hit by pitch.

1:04:49 >> Lacy between the legs again. Showtime

1:04:51 second trick play of the ball game and

1:04:54 now eight trick plays already through

1:04:57 two defensive innings for the

1:04:58 firefighters.

1:04:59 >> Logan Lacy. This is why it's showtime.

1:05:01 Look at this. And then smart play going

1:05:03 to second to get the lead runner.

1:05:05 Firefighters with a chance to respond.

1:05:15 >> Let's make it a competition. C. Who you

1:05:18 got? Who you representing?

1:05:20 >> That's right. I'm representing the third

1:05:21 base side in the entire left field. And

1:05:24 I know this side has the most fired up

1:05:26 fans in all of Nebraska.

1:05:30 Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Well, you haven't had

1:05:31 that, but I've got all of center field,

1:05:34 right field, and down the first

1:05:35 baseline. AND WE CALL THIS THE WINNING

1:05:37 SECTION.

1:05:42 First song. Here we go.

1:05:45 >> Oh, I want to hear you. Here we go.

1:06:05 Hey, do you see him?

1:06:07 >> You got it.

1:06:10 >> Come on. And the first round goes to

1:06:16 the third base and left field side. Come

1:06:20 on.

1:06:23 We got this one. Here we go.

1:06:46 Round two

1:06:48 has been won by

1:06:52 the first base and right center side.

1:06:56 It all comes down to this.

1:07:00 >> Here we go. Oh, it's our jam. Here we

1:07:03 go.

1:07:12 Welcome back to Memorial Stadium in

1:07:14 Lincoln, Nebraska, where over 85,000

1:07:17 fans have gathered to witness the

1:07:19 greatest show in sports, Banana Ball, as

1:07:21 Austin Drury not for his second inning

1:07:24 of work for Dodgers minor leaguer.

1:07:25 Thought he had a strike there. Lamar

1:07:27 Sparks instead starts ahead 10 and

1:07:30 bounces this one to KJ across the

1:07:32 diamond between the legs. Sneaky between

1:07:34 the legs on the scoop. Double trick play

1:07:37 from the corner. Infielders for the

1:07:39 Nanners. Their first trick plays of the

1:07:40 game. If it's your first time coming to

1:07:42 Banana Bowl, you're just seeing how much

1:07:44 that these guys practice the trick

1:07:46 plays. Kyle Jackson now and Alec Zler

1:07:49 showing off for the Savannah Bananas.

1:07:52 And you see it in Zagler. He has spent

1:07:54 so much time learning to fight that ball

1:07:56 off the turf between his legs to do it

1:07:59 to perfection to start this inning for

1:08:01 AD.

1:08:03 He's one of the big heroes for the

1:08:04 firefighters on Thursday night. EJ

1:08:06 against his former team is a guy who

1:08:08 spent the last three world tours playing

1:08:10 for the Savannah Bananas. Went three for

1:08:12 three, two runs driven in and the

1:08:14 walk-off that won the sixth inning and

1:08:17 played at the decisive point for the

1:08:19 Firefighters and route to their 4-2 win.

1:08:23 EJ the bananas alltime home runs leader

1:08:29 >> right back up the middle Olsen fielded

1:08:31 between the legs throwing between the

1:08:33 legs between the legs another double

1:08:36 trick play fifth of the ball game

1:08:38 already between these two teams we're

1:08:40 not out of the second inning yet I mean

1:08:42 this is absurd I mean you might see the

1:08:45 single game trick play record beaten

1:08:47 tonight we've already had three separate

1:08:49 half innings where these teams have

1:08:51 recorded four trick plays.

1:08:54 >> You can see the confidence of first base

1:08:56 growing in this sport just in these two

1:08:58 teams alone, let alone some of the other

1:09:00 talented first baseman like Jason Swan

1:09:02 with the party animals, Jordan Brewer

1:09:04 with the Loco Beach Coconuts, former

1:09:05 Banana Carell Prime with the Clowns.

1:09:07 Just in this game alone, you're seeing

1:09:09 how much first baseman can change the

1:09:11 trajectory of a game.

1:09:14 Of

1:09:14 >> course, every inning worth a point in

1:09:16 Banana Ball till you get to the final

1:09:17 inning where every run scored counts as

1:09:19 a point. So, the Bananas one strike away

1:09:22 from striking first, but Armando Betetta

1:09:25 a tough cookie. Do not let that 226

1:09:27 batting average deceive you. He's

1:09:29 reaching base at a 402 clip and he is

1:09:31 scorching hot, hitting over 500 across

1:09:34 his last two weeks. Great take on the

1:09:36 slider that barely misses to even up the

1:09:38 count.

1:09:39 >> And a guy who has struck out less than

1:09:40 4% of his plate appearances this season.

1:09:43 It just tells you what a pesky out he

1:09:45 can be.

1:09:47 Tough cookie fouls off another two

1:09:49 strike offer.

1:09:51 >> But this is what you come to expect with

1:09:52 a guy like Armando Biser. He's very zen.

1:09:54 He's very businesslike. It's why he's

1:09:56 fit so well with this firefighter team.

1:09:58 Very protocol.

1:10:00 Spoils another two strike pitch from

1:10:02 Drury.

1:10:05 What a battle here between the 2022

1:10:07 collegiate banana and the rookie on the

1:10:10 mound.

1:10:13 >> Soft contact. Jackson Olsson behind the

1:10:16 back. You bet. It's a five trick play.

1:10:20 Bottom of the second inning for the

1:10:21 Nanners. They win the frame and lead the

1:10:24 game one point to nothing. We've already

1:10:27 seen 13 trick plays between these two

1:10:30 teams. Just two innings in the books.

1:10:45 to move your car two different times and

1:10:48 it was still not moved because of this.

1:10:51 Unfortunately, your car is now being

1:10:54 towed.

1:11:21 I got

1:11:35 uh YouTube, it's just us. We're coming

1:11:37 back from commercial in about 20

1:11:39 seconds, but I would love to know your

1:11:40 thoughts on that one in the chat. Who's

1:11:43 hungry?

1:11:46 Piggy's got to eat.

1:11:50 >> Dogs were barking. All of our manners.

1:11:54 >> Oh gosh. Okay, we're about to welcome

1:11:55 the ESPN audience back in.

1:12:09 Welcome back to Banana Ball here on the

1:12:10 ESPN app Disney Plus the Firefighters

1:12:13 YouTube channel. The face of the

1:12:15 franchise, Logan Lacy. We talked about

1:12:17 it a couple innings ago. He's the only

1:12:19 firefighter who has started all 87 games

1:12:23 in franchise history. And a welldeserved

1:12:26 first appearance in a football stadium.

1:12:29 Showtime with the mic on him, manning

1:12:32 the hot corner. Can you talk us through

1:12:34 what this experience is like, Logan?

1:12:36 >> Man, this is the craziest environment I

1:12:39 have ever played in. And uh I thought

1:12:41 back in 24 we played at Washington DC. I

1:12:44 said, man, it can't get better than

1:12:46 this. And then here we are right now. I

1:12:48 mean, dude, this is insane. This is

1:12:49 double the amount of people.

1:12:52 >> Strike out from Jackson Olsson. Donnie

1:12:54 second of the ball game. Logan Lacy, you

1:12:56 had the distinct privilege of being the

1:12:59 first ever player to get a trick play in

1:13:01 the Banana Ball Championship League's

1:13:03 history. And now for the firefighters,

1:13:05 first trick play in a football stadium.

1:13:07 You're just a man of records in history,

1:13:09 aren't you?

1:13:09 >> Yeah, man. This is just this is what we

1:13:11 prepare for every day. We can't You have

1:13:13 to practice like there's always a

1:13:15 soldout crowd, and that's that's the

1:13:17 best way to uh get over pressure.

1:13:18 >> So, what did those discussions look like

1:13:20 in the locker room? How did you guys all

1:13:22 collectively prep for this game?

1:13:24 >> Right here. right here.

1:13:26 >> OH,

1:13:28 >> Tyler Hughes, javelin catch. What a

1:13:31 play.

1:13:32 >> That's something we can't practice.

1:13:33 That's god-given.

1:13:35 Uh

1:13:37 >> I I forgot the question. That was

1:13:38 electric.

1:13:39 >> How did you and your teammates prepare

1:13:41 for this game? What did those

1:13:43 discussions look like in that locker

1:13:45 room?

1:13:45 >> Every day we had to we had to reflect

1:13:46 from the years before and we said, "What

1:13:49 can we do to be better?" And uh trick

1:13:51 play was at top of the list. We had to

1:13:53 make sure we got better at it every

1:13:54 single day at practice and that's what

1:13:55 we're doing.

1:13:59 >> Logan Lacy, you talked about just

1:14:02 everything that's happened in the three

1:14:03 years that have been built up, but when

1:14:05 I talked to you earlier about starting

1:14:06 87 consecutive games for this

1:14:08 firefighter bunch, has that ever

1:14:10 registered in your head that you had

1:14:11 played in every game you've been

1:14:12 available for here in Banana Ball?

1:14:14 >> Actually, no. Whenever uh actually when

1:14:16 you told me that I said, "Well, now I

1:14:19 have to think about this every single

1:14:20 day. I I would have rather not heard

1:14:22 that. Now that puts pressure on me, but

1:14:25 you know, I'm not I don't mind it.

1:14:27 >> Hey, that 100's right around the corner,

1:14:28 big guy.

1:14:29 >> Hey, what's the record for for everyone?

1:14:32 >> Oh, we're cut short. Donnie's too good.

1:14:35 >> Yeah, we'll get that answer for you from

1:14:37 Josh Pipski in the near future. But

1:14:39 Showtime, thank you so much for joining

1:14:41 us.

1:14:41 >> Thank you, guys. Love you.

1:14:42 >> Thank you so much, Logan. Keep up the

1:14:44 great work.

1:14:46 >> Quick work from Jared Donaldson. Couple

1:14:48 K's in a one, two, three inning and

1:14:50 we'll get it down to Jolie Chabala.

1:14:52 >> The United States, there are over

1:14:54 400,000 children and teens in foster

1:14:57 care without a permanent home. Look

1:14:59 around. That's enough to fill Memorial

1:15:02 Stadium five times. To raise awareness

1:15:05 and support this community, we created

1:15:07 Bananas Foster, the official nonprofit

1:15:09 of Banana Ball. Our organization is

1:15:12 dedicated to celebrating the foster care

1:15:14 community while educating and inspiring

1:15:16 others to get involved. Tonight, we're

1:15:19 celebrating Sarah Breen. Sarah heard

1:15:22 about the need for more foster parents.

1:15:24 So, she became a single foster mom 13

1:15:27 years ago. Since then, she is dedicated

1:15:30 to having a relationship with biological

1:15:32 families and recently adopted a sibling

1:15:35 set that has been in foster care for the

1:15:37 last 11 years. In total, she has

1:15:40 welcomed over 50 children and teens into

1:15:44 her home.

1:15:47 Fans, please welcome to the field Sarah

1:15:49 Green and her family for making a

1:15:52 difference right here in your community.

1:16:02 Heat. Heat.

1:16:31 It's okay.

1:16:34 >> Another massive shout out to Sarah

1:16:37 Brain. And how about the acrobatics from

1:16:39 her small army of young legends down

1:16:42 there after this bananas foster family.

1:16:45 We'll be right back.

1:16:49 And now, please welcome back to the

1:16:51 field of

1:17:06 Heat.

1:17:14 Heat.

1:17:24 Heat. Heat.

1:17:49 Hey guys, I'm here in Banana Ball

1:17:50 backstage with 9-year-old Hannah, who's

1:17:52 actually soon to be 10. Hannah, what's

1:17:54 your question for Brian Trapan here?

1:17:56 >> Um, what's your favorite breakfast

1:17:57 cereal?

1:17:58 >> Hm. What are you eating, BK?

1:18:02 >> Thanks, Hannah. My favorite uh cereal

1:18:04 would be Reese's Puffs. Second favorite

1:18:06 probably Frosted Flakes.

1:18:11 >> Hard-hitting question and good answers

1:18:14 there. My grandpa Larry, big Frosted

1:18:16 Flakes fan. I'm not sure if there's a

1:18:18 bigger one out there on planet Earth.

1:18:20 I'm a huge Honey Bunches of Oats guy

1:18:21 myself, though.

1:18:22 >> I'm straight up Frosted Flakes, too. I'm

1:18:24 not going to lie. I like Frosted Flakes.

1:18:25 Every now and then, those Cinnamon Toast

1:18:27 Crunch.

1:18:27 >> Yeah, I was going to say, how is nobody

1:18:29 saying Cinnamon Toast Crunch?

1:18:31 >> Yeah.

1:18:31 >> Oh, man. I'm such a sucker for that. I

1:18:33 feel like I'm being a bad boy when I'm

1:18:35 eating that.

1:18:36 >> The best the best part of

1:18:37 >> You're being a good boy.

1:18:38 >> The best part of Cinnamon Toast Crunch

1:18:40 is the milk afterwards.

1:18:42 >> Just got all that cinnamon in there.

1:18:43 It's so good. It's like the treat after

1:18:44 the treat.

1:18:46 >> You get some honey bunches. But see, I'm

1:18:48 cheating though cuz I'll throw some

1:18:49 yogurt, some honey, some blueberries,

1:18:51 strawberries. Special K with red

1:18:53 berries.

1:18:53 >> Okay. Big fan of that.

1:18:56 >> Big fan of Tiner Hughes as well. having

1:18:59 himself a fantastic first full tour in

1:19:02 Banana Ball after he debuted with our

1:19:04 developmental team, the visitors last

1:19:06 year. And what a steal he has been at

1:19:08 the tail end of the draft for the

1:19:10 firefighters.

1:19:12 Tiner, their 10th rounder, taking 77

1:19:15 overall. And you saw the numbers

1:19:17 briefly, but hitting 314, tied for the

1:19:19 team lead with 10 doubles. And he has to

1:19:22 wait for his second pitch because

1:19:25 Vincent Chapman

1:19:27 is going absolutely buck wilding

1:19:30 for the full capacity crowd here at

1:19:32 Memorial Stadium.

1:19:35 I think we've got the cam on him. Yes,

1:19:37 Vincent Chapman POV unlocked. And it's

1:19:41 exactly as chaotic as I expected it to

1:19:43 be.

1:19:44 >> Well, that's what the mascot tossed.

1:19:47 >> You don't say.

1:19:51 Ended up in the turn.

1:19:53 Got whiplash there.

1:19:57 No two count on timing.

1:20:00 And then three pitch strikeout for

1:20:02 Austin Drury. His second K of the night.

1:20:07 Pico, I kind of wonder if you're

1:20:08 starting to see some struggles with the

1:20:10 firefighters in terms of just seeing the

1:20:11 ball again. It's such a different

1:20:13 background of view that you really got

1:20:15 to lock on the ball the second it comes

1:20:16 out of the pitcher hand. And it's not

1:20:18 easy with Austin Drury. And as I say

1:20:20 that, Mason Maxwell, the first home run

1:20:23 for the firefighters in the football

1:20:26 stadium. And then out taco from Mad Mac.

1:20:36 That's it for the third inning.

1:20:39 Two batters faced in the bottom half.

1:20:41 Mad Max, his fifth inning ender of the

1:20:45 year. And we're kned at a point a piece.

1:20:48 slam of the helmet on home plate.

1:20:51 >> His signature boogie and Sam Bowman

1:20:54 tracking him down.

1:20:55 >> Hey, Mason Maxwell, first ever

1:20:57 firefighters home run in a football

1:20:59 stadium. How about that?

1:21:00 >> Oh, that's actually really cool,

1:21:01 actually. You know, this is just a great

1:21:03 event, you know. God bless all these

1:21:05 people here. I love this place. Shout to

1:21:08 Nebraska Wrestling, too. Go Corn

1:21:10 Huskers.

1:21:11 >> That was great, Mason. Guys,

1:21:13 >> Jordan is a king. This guy is just

1:21:17 incredible. Hit the first homer of the

1:21:19 firefighters 2025. And now their first

1:21:22 football stadium homer ties us at one.

1:21:33 Get the music going. Go.

1:21:37 >> All right, we got Paul getting after it

1:21:40 and Corbin's going pretty good.

1:21:44 Oh, a little cotton I jump.

1:21:47 Not bad. We got to get crazy, guys.

1:21:51 Who's

1:21:53 camera?

1:21:55 Okay,

1:21:57 I want to see you GET WEIRD AND CRAZY.

1:21:59 WHO'S GOING TO get it?

1:22:01 Oh, look at BOB GO. BOB'S WORKING IT

1:22:04 RIGHT NOW.

1:22:06 Kayen has done this before.

1:22:09 Ocarina.

1:22:12 Okay,

1:22:14 not bad.

1:22:18 Oh yes, we know this one. WE CAN FEEL

1:22:21 FREE TO JOIN IN HERE.

1:22:24 Let's get it going. Sharks.

1:22:29 We're going to see who's going to get

1:22:30 after it. Here we go.

1:22:37 >> All right.

1:22:38 AND THAT'S IT, FANS. LET'S SEE WHO THE

1:22:41 WINNER IS. DO YOU THINK the craziest the

1:22:44 corniest guy we had?

1:22:48 >> Wow. I might come back to him. Was it

1:22:51 Cordon?

1:23:00 >> Welcome back to the Nano Ball live from

1:23:02 Memorial Stadium here in Lincoln,

1:23:03 Nebraska. Take a look at the funky

1:23:05 dimensions when you put a baseball field

1:23:07 in the middle of this historic football

1:23:09 stadium. Down the left field line only

1:23:12 197 ft. Center field is just 295. Of

1:23:15 course, there is the 50ft net courtesy

1:23:17 of Denning Pros. That makes it a lot

1:23:18 tougher to sneak it out. And how about

1:23:22 this?

1:23:23 Nobody more important when it comes to

1:23:25 designing these football stadiums than

1:23:27 the man, the myth, the legend here in

1:23:29 his sixth world tour. Adam Byron, Omaha,

1:23:32 Nebraska's finest. Bro, how cool is

1:23:34 this, man?

1:23:35 >> Man, this is absolutely incredible. You

1:23:37 know, I've I've wanted to bring Banana

1:23:39 Ball to Nebraska for so long and we're

1:23:42 here and Nebraskans, they they turned

1:23:45 out, man, they are electric right now.

1:23:48 >> We showed it on the graphic just now,

1:23:50 but how did you sneak those Easter eggs

1:23:52 in? Three of the five national

1:23:55 championships for the Nebraska Corn

1:23:57 Huskers football team as the donut

1:23:59 batter Max Young Goldberg goes down on

1:24:02 strikes. Jared Donaldson getting our

1:24:03 over 85,000 fans some free donuts

1:24:06 courtesy of Duncan. But that was pretty

1:24:08 slick of you, Byron.

1:24:10 >> I needed to do something special here in

1:24:11 Nebraska. We're all about history. We

1:24:13 love the Ford Huskers. And so deep

1:24:17 center field there. That's 394

1:24:19 representing 94, 295, and 197. The three

1:24:23 national championships that I was alive

1:24:25 for and that I actually remember. So

1:24:27 that's an Easter egg for the Husper

1:24:29 Faithful here. And bro, you're a guy who

1:24:31 grew up coming to games here on

1:24:33 Saturdays as Jackson line of fist past

1:24:36 the diving attempt of South Trimble for

1:24:38 a single for the Nanners. Anyways, you

1:24:41 came to games here growing up and what

1:24:44 you described to all of us a day ago was

1:24:46 that the people here in Nebraska are

1:24:49 loyal. Can you touch on that like a

1:24:51 little bit more for us?

1:24:52 >> You know, I I spoke to the group

1:24:54 yesterday and I said, you know, growing

1:24:56 up in Nebraska, you don't have a lot.

1:24:58 you know, right in the middle of the

1:24:59 country. Most people don't know where

1:25:00 our state is, but the one

1:25:04 >> that's a double trick play, double play.

1:25:06 That was very rude of Lacy Trimble and

1:25:09 the firefighters defense, bro.

1:25:12 >> Yeah, but they're loyal, man. They turn

1:25:14 out through thick and thin, hot, cold,

1:25:16 hot, cold weather, whatever. Winning,

1:25:18 losing. They're such a faithful fan

1:25:20 base. Love them. I'm so proud to be here

1:25:22 in Lincoln. Thanks, guys. You guys are

1:25:24 amazing. We would love just final words

1:25:26 from you, Adam Byron, on what it means

1:25:28 to you, what it means to everybody here

1:25:29 in Lincoln, Nebraska for this to be here

1:25:32 in Memorial Stadium tonight. Man, this

1:25:34 is uh this is my grand openus. This is

1:25:37 uh this is a bragging rights for

1:25:39 Nebraska right here. So, it means

1:25:41 everything. Thank you, Nebraska, for

1:25:42 everything you've done for me. Thank you

1:25:44 for showing up tonight. And uh let's go

1:25:46 bananas.

1:25:47 >> We were bumping 311 in the broadcast

1:25:49 booth today in your honor, Vyra. It's a

1:25:51 heck of a day to be in Nebraska.

1:25:53 >> Thanks, guys.

1:25:54 Thank you, Adam.

1:25:55 >> Vyro,

1:25:56 >> we say goodbye to Bananas coach Adam

1:25:59 Byron. We say goodbye to you briefly.

1:26:00 We'll be right back.

1:26:17 >> Get those arms waving.

1:26:31 Keep it going. Get those hands up.

1:26:45 >> Now keep it clapping as we shuffle.

1:26:51 Oh,

1:26:51 >> you guys look good. Keep it going.

1:27:00 >> Now, let me hear you sing it.

1:27:13 One more time.

1:27:28 You guys are amazing. Give yourselves a

1:27:30 round of applause.

1:27:35 Over

1:27:39 85,000 fans on their feet, moving it and

1:27:42 grooving it as we bring you back to

1:27:44 Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.

1:27:47 Ball game tied at a point each heading

1:27:49 to the bottom of the fourth inning. And

1:27:51 how about Javon Ray and his

1:27:54 firefighters? 10 trick plays already in

1:27:57 just 12 outs defensively for the home

1:27:59 squad, the firefighters. And by the way,

1:28:01 Jared Donaldson hunting that 1 minute

1:28:03 and 5 second record for the fastest

1:28:04 inning in firefighter history set by

1:28:06 Javon Ray. That right there was 1 minute

1:28:08 22 seconds. That's the third fastest

1:28:10 inning for the Firing Flames this year.

1:28:12 Downy's got two of those top three. 116

1:28:14 in Witchah as well. Darien McDow the

1:28:18 rookie. Another one of these late round

1:28:19 draft picks that has been fantastic for

1:28:21 Val Perez and company. AND RIGHT ON Q TO

1:28:24 THE seats premium walk-off BOMB.

1:28:27 FIREFIGHTERS LEAD 2-1. BACK-TO- back

1:28:30 batters in back-to- back innings with

1:28:33 walk-off home runs for the Firefighters.

1:28:36 And the 2024 Gold South Conference

1:28:40 player of the year goes deep to give the

1:28:43 Firefighters their first lead tonight in

1:28:46 Lincoln.

1:28:48 There's a reason he's called Premium.

1:28:51 He's about to answer a premium question

1:28:53 from Sam Bowman.

1:28:57 Last two swings of the bat for the

1:28:59 firefighters. HOME RUNS. WHAT ARE WE

1:29:01 DOING?

1:29:01 >> HEY, bats are hot. Let's keep them hot.

1:29:04 >> Simple enough, guys. Bats are hot. Keep

1:29:05 them hot. It's Matt.

1:29:07 >> Yeah, pretty much, Sam. Yeah, 100,000%.

1:29:10 When you're swinging the stick like

1:29:11 this,

1:29:12 >> 1,000%. Look, I watched that guy have

1:29:15 one of the greatest batting practices

1:29:16 I've ever seen. I know that sounds

1:29:19 elementary. I watched him in Greenville,

1:29:21 South Carolina, hit the top of a brick

1:29:23 warehouse building. Not once, not twice,

1:29:25 not three times, four times when that

1:29:28 guy's stick is swinging powerfully. He

1:29:31 might be the best power hitter in this

1:29:33 sport. Obviously Kmart's got a head

1:29:35 start, but Darren McDow, good lord,

1:29:38 >> he very much does when it comes to Kyle

1:29:40 Martin, but the Padres's knew what they

1:29:42 were doing when they drafted Premium in

1:29:44 the sixth round back in 2024. He looks

1:29:47 like a banana ball star.

1:30:03 Oh my goodness, YouTube. And it's just

1:30:05 us for the world's slowest race. I can't

1:30:08 even fathom how many babies out there,

1:30:10 but we've already got movement on

1:30:13 multiple sides. And now, as per usual, a

1:30:16 pause as the little rascals down on the

1:30:19 field get their bearings, trying to

1:30:20 figure out what the heck's going on. But

1:30:22 how about that Rockstar? He's already

1:30:24 PAST THE HALFWAY POINT. ONE HAND IN

1:30:27 FRONT OF THE OTHER. Oh no. Fighting

1:30:30 through tears

1:30:32 and still powering through. Well ahead

1:30:35 of the pack, not happy about it. But he

1:30:38 will do WHAT MUST BE DONE to give back

1:30:41 to mom. What a performance. Oh, stopping

1:30:44 right at the end, reaching and GETTING

1:30:47 THE FINISH LINE. PURE DOMINATION from

1:30:50 that little youngster in a bananas

1:30:52 onesie.

1:30:54 16 babies on that field. That was the

1:30:57 ONLY KIDDO WHO MOVED AN INCH.

1:31:00 UNBELIEVABLE.

1:31:03 We just had one of the greatest rushing

1:31:05 quarterbacks in college football

1:31:07 history. Feast your papers on one of the

1:31:09 best rushing performances in Memorial

1:31:12 STADIUM'S HISTORY. ERIC CROUCH, YOU'VE

1:31:14 GOT COMPANY. IT'S GOT TO be the best by

1:31:16 an infant.

1:31:18 >> I feel pretty confident about that.

1:31:20 Across 103 years of Memorial Stadium's

1:31:23 existence, it's going to be an alltime

1:31:25 performance.

1:31:27 Wow.

1:31:29 From back-to-back walk-off homers to

1:31:31 that performance right there.

1:31:34 >> This is a banana ball game and a half.

1:31:42 I want to hear

1:31:58 battling through the tears. An

1:32:00 unbelievable performance in the world's

1:32:02 slowest race. There were 16 babies out

1:32:04 there and that young fella was the only

1:32:07 one who really made any progress at all.

1:32:10 Domination start to finish. Potential

1:32:12 future Olympian. We'll keep our eyes on

1:32:13 him as it's a 1-1 count on Robert

1:32:16 Anthony Cruz. Jared Donaldson out for

1:32:18 his fifth inning of work. Just misses

1:32:20 with the heel.

1:32:22 It's Rack Alexi and Cuff. Six, seven,

1:32:25 and eight in this manners lineup.

1:32:30 Rack here in his third world tour, known

1:32:33 for his pop, no different here in 2026,

1:32:36 pacing the squad with three home runs

1:32:38 and will earn the ball for sprint here.

1:32:41 All seven fielders behind the pitcher

1:32:42 and catcher have to touch the ball

1:32:43 before it is live. Textbook defense by

1:32:46 the firefighters and rack only gets 90

1:32:48 ft. He will give way to JT Sakala, the

1:32:51 Bananas designated runner who can pinch

1:32:52 run one time every trick through the

1:32:54 order. Yeah, he may be the team leader

1:32:56 for the Bananas with six home runs this

1:32:58 season, but he's taken a much more

1:33:00 disciplined approach this season at the

1:33:01 plate as well. The first time tonight,

1:33:03 too, but the Bananas have gotten a lead

1:33:06 off man on in an inning.

1:33:09 Alexi home run in an elevator shaft.

1:33:12 It's going to end up in the seats.

1:33:15 No catch by the fans.

1:33:18 >> By the way, Boa, one of the things that

1:33:19 we've pointed out for the firefighters

1:33:21 pitching was a problem this year with

1:33:22 ball force sprints. That was just the

1:33:24 second issue tonight.

1:33:26 Great stop, Eric Jones Jr. keeping

1:33:28 Sakalov put at first base, the Banana

1:33:31 Ball rookie. Six stolen bases. He has

1:33:33 been caught four times as you can see.

1:33:36 Alexianis responsible for the only

1:33:38 offense for the Bananas so far. Solo

1:33:40 home run. That was the difference back

1:33:42 in the second. And here Mason Maxwell

1:33:44 tip drill. He'll grab it himself. Yes,

1:33:47 he was able to come away with it. And

1:33:49 how about that? Already five trick plays

1:33:51 in the ball game for Mad Max. Nearly has

1:33:54 half of the 11 that the firefighters

1:33:56 have as a team.

1:33:57 >> Keep in mind, this is the 11th round

1:33:59 pick, the final pick for the

1:34:00 firefighters in the 2026 Banana Ball

1:34:02 player draft. Val Perez and company

1:34:04 believed in Mason last year, even

1:34:06 through struggles in his rookie year,

1:34:08 and it's paying off dividends both at

1:34:09 the plates and in the field. Well, they

1:34:11 saw him come along very strong in August

1:34:13 and September. Batted above 400 in the

1:34:16 month of September for the firefighters.

1:34:18 was very instrumental in getting all

1:34:20 them all the way to that tour

1:34:21 championship game. So, Val Perez, she

1:34:24 really wanted to honor Mad Max. And this

1:34:26 is a guy also, he is second on their

1:34:28 team in batting average as well this

1:34:30 season. He's not only impressing with

1:34:32 the glove, but with that bat, too.

1:34:37 Cox squibs this. It started foul. It'll

1:34:39 stay foul. Looked like there might have

1:34:41 been enough English for that to jet back

1:34:43 into fair territory.

1:34:45 Peanut told me this turf is playing a

1:34:47 little bit slower tonight in the

1:34:49 infield. So, might have had a little

1:34:50 snake effect there, but it stays

1:34:53 >> right down the goal line. By the way,

1:34:55 Cox had a single up the middle his first

1:34:57 time.

1:35:04 Spoils another two strike pitch. Chance

1:35:06 for the fans.

1:35:08 They're going to say it's caught in the

1:35:09 hat. Do the umpires agree? Yes. How

1:35:12 about that? Third base umpire Heath

1:35:15 Banks

1:35:17 >> right there on the call and Cox fouls

1:35:20 out to the fans here in Memorial

1:35:21 Stadium.

1:35:22 >> And oh by the way, it's a firefighter

1:35:24 fan who made the catch. So the first fan

1:35:27 caught foul ball induced by the

1:35:29 firefighters is helped by a firefighter

1:35:32 fan and caught in the hat. That should

1:35:34 be a trick play for the firefighters to

1:35:36 boot. Well, we just had another one this

1:35:38 weekend over in the Jersey Shore. Now we

1:35:41 see it here in Lincoln, Nebraska. And

1:35:44 impressive stuff from the fans all

1:35:46 across Banana Ball as JT Saka takes off

1:35:50 and swipes second base against Eric

1:35:52 Jones Jr.

1:35:55 Ball in a strike on Ty Jackson.

1:35:58 Make it one and two with Sak Love in

1:36:00 scoring position now.

1:36:06 And Ty spoils

1:36:08 >> the splitter.

1:36:10 >> Bounced into a fieldielder's choice his

1:36:11 first time. Closed out the top of the

1:36:14 second.

1:36:22 >> Another one. Two

1:36:24 serve to straightaway center. Betta

1:36:27 looking up as it sails into the stands.

1:36:30 Two run tater for Tai two fly.

1:36:37 And a big hit with a man in scoring

1:36:39 position as well for the Savannah

1:36:41 Bananas. An area that they've struggled

1:36:44 in over the past month and a half for

1:36:47 Tai Fly. Just the second home run of his

1:36:51 Banana Ball career and a timely one at

1:36:54 that. Multiple runs here in the frame

1:36:57 for the Nanners. That should spell good

1:36:59 things for this squad.

1:37:03 does it against his former collegiate

1:37:04 bananas teammate.

1:37:07 >> The guy who shared a locker room with

1:37:08 each of the last three tours as well. Ty

1:37:11 Jackson saves the homers for the biggest

1:37:14 moments. His first career long ball was

1:37:17 last September in Dyken Park, home of

1:37:18 the Houston Astros.

1:37:21 And now he goes long in front of the

1:37:23 third largest crowd in Banana Ball

1:37:25 history.

1:37:27 As over 85,000 fans got to witness his

1:37:31 second career banana ball home run,

1:37:32 Jackson Olsen has something special for

1:37:34 us.

1:37:36 >> Two.

1:37:39 >> I'm sorry.

1:38:04 1 2 3 4

1:38:17 hardly recognize me. So I could

1:38:22 I

1:38:39 am happy now without you.

1:38:42 too long.

1:38:54 >> Really impressive work by the Banana

1:38:56 Bellis and it was a disaster for them at

1:38:59 regionals last year, but they write the

1:39:02 ship and have a fantastic comeback

1:39:04 performance. Yeah, Olsson was really the

1:39:06 guy who tried to spark that turnaround

1:39:08 for them here in 2026.

1:39:11 Great leadership on full display from

1:39:13 the veterans

1:39:15 and I have still yet to watch pitch

1:39:17 perfect one day. Pretty hilarious. It's

1:39:20 pretty funny, man.

1:39:23 It's It's on the to-do list. Foul ball

1:39:26 got a piece of Vincent Chapman home

1:39:27 plate umpire as Jackson Olsen's rubbing

1:39:30 his hands in the turf trying to get a

1:39:32 better grip on his lumber. Struck out

1:39:35 swinging his first time. And he's in an

1:39:36 O2 hole here

1:39:39 and takes the splitter below the knees.

1:39:41 >> Can I be honest with you for a second?

1:39:42 >> You would love that.

1:39:43 >> I didn't know that was a pitch perfect

1:39:44 reference either.

1:39:47 >> You haven't seen it, huh?

1:39:48 >> No, it's not one. Two. Isn't there a

1:39:51 third one?

1:39:53 >> I couldn't tell you.

1:39:55 >> I know there are two. Let me look at the

1:39:57 Kendrick's IMDb while we're waiting.

1:40:00 >> Another great take by Olsen as he's

1:40:01 worked the count even at two and two.

1:40:06 here in his fourth World Tour, fifth

1:40:07 year as a banana as he debuted summer

1:40:09 2022 in the summer series.

1:40:14 >> And he's worked the count from 02 to

1:40:16 3-2. Huzzah! There is a third one out of

1:40:19 Dayton. This is what Olsson has done so

1:40:21 well. Ball four sprints in two of his

1:40:24 last four games. And now the full count

1:40:26 pitch is going to be smothered by Seth

1:40:29 Trimble. He tried the flip under his

1:40:32 legs to get Jackson Olsen, but the

1:40:35 hustle from the guy in the 10 hole for

1:40:37 the bananas gets him on with two outs.

1:40:43 >> Official scoring decision.

1:40:48 >> I think I lean hit.

1:40:50 >> I completely think it's leaning hit.

1:40:52 Yes,

1:40:53 >> because of the inordinary effort it took

1:40:55 to stop the ball in the first place for

1:40:56 me. Big ricochet off of Trimble as well.

1:41:02 >> Heater in there to even up the count at

1:41:04 one and one on Dr. Meadows. Back at the

1:41:06 top of the order

1:41:09 make it two and one on the Nanner center

1:41:11 fielder. Bounced into a double trick

1:41:14 play. Flew out deep to left center his

1:41:16 last time.

1:41:19 >> Dropped with extra bases on a nice

1:41:20 juggling catch by Tyler Hughes.

1:41:23 He's in the cat bird seat ahead three

1:41:25 and one.

1:41:30 County's full as we get to see a wave

1:41:34 make its way through Memorial Stadium.

1:41:36 It's been going on for minutes. Fans

1:41:38 here in Lincoln are fantastic.

1:41:40 Ball four, another sprint and the

1:41:43 defense will be tested, especially here

1:41:46 for the firefighters. They are sharp.

1:41:48 make sure that Olsson doesn't get

1:41:49 further than third base.

1:41:52 >> As Stober and his teammates come out for

1:41:54 some dance, runners on the corners to

1:41:56 hit the world's tallest hitter,

1:42:02 Dakota built all Britain.

1:42:09 What a moment for the tallest athlete in

1:42:11 the known universe.

1:42:14 Dakota still tall Britain, the legend of

1:42:16 the sport here in his sixth world tour

1:42:18 with runners on the corners, two runs

1:42:20 already home, but the Nanner's hungry

1:42:23 for more. And I'll bet you he's got his

1:42:25 eye on that 197 sign out to left field,

1:42:28 albeit with a 50ft net, courtesy of

1:42:30 netting throws. You never know. This

1:42:32 could be the moment Stilts goes deep for

1:42:34 the very first time. Rising fast ball

1:42:38 has him behind one-two

1:42:40 down swinging.

1:42:43 High stinky cheese from Donaldson gets

1:42:45 him his fifth punch out of the ball

1:42:47 game. But a two-run shot from one of the

1:42:50 more unlikely sources for the bananas.

1:42:52 Ty Jackson

1:42:54 >> has the fellas in yellow with a chance

1:42:57 to earn their second point of the ball

1:42:59 game as we'll get it down to Jesse.

1:43:00 Well, now we're taking it to another

1:43:03 level

1:43:04 because who came in last? Keller's

1:43:09 going to race an actual turtle.

1:43:14 This is Shell Murda

1:43:16 and this is Keller. Keller, COME A

1:43:19 LITTLE CLOSER. OVER here it is baby

1:43:22 versus turtle

1:43:25 for the first time ever. Baby, on your

1:43:29 mark. Shelberta, on your mark, get set,

1:43:32 go.

1:43:36 And Shelberta's going to left.

1:43:40 Shelberta's going to the left. Keller's

1:43:44 chilling. Shalberta is moving.

1:43:49 KELLER IS STILL STANDING THERE.

1:43:51 Shalberta's kind of in the lead.

1:43:55 Keller has taken a breather.

1:43:58 Sheller is going completely

1:44:01 SHELBERT IS GOING THIS WAY. KELLER is

1:44:04 sitting. Shelberta is completely almost

1:44:08 out of bounds.

1:44:10 WE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER BY putting a

1:44:12 TURN ON THE FIELD. BUT WAIT, here comes

1:44:16 Shelberta.

1:44:18 Keller's still chilling. Shelberta

1:44:22 making progress.

1:44:24 Look at this turtle go. Keller still in

1:44:28 second. Here comes Shelberta.

1:44:33 Keller's still at the starting line. But

1:44:36 Shelberta

1:44:38 fans, we have answered the question,

1:44:41 could Turtle beat Baby? And the answer

1:44:44 is yes.

1:44:49 The winner, Shelberta.

1:44:54 Shelberta

1:44:56 full steam ahead. Sam Bowman

1:44:59 >> talk to our winner.

1:45:00 >> Yeah, guys, we got Shelberta here.

1:45:02 Shelberta rolling off here. We get in

1:45:04 here. Shelbert, any any comment on that?

1:45:05 Big win for turtles everywhere.

1:45:09 Not not much for words. Not much for

1:45:11 words, but a big win, guys. Babies are

1:45:14 not looking good tonight. Not good for

1:45:16 babies.

1:45:17 >> Not at all. But a great night for Big

1:45:19 Journalism. Thank you, Sam Bowman.

1:45:23 By the way, I believe that was a

1:45:24 tortoise, not a turtle. Not to get

1:45:26 technical, it was a battle between man

1:45:28 and tortoise or baby or tortoise. Yes,

1:45:31 since we're getting technical, finally

1:45:33 landed on it. I think

1:45:36 >> pretty sure, not certain, but I've

1:45:38 watched a lot of Planet Earth

1:45:41 David Atenboroough was watching. I think

1:45:43 he'd say tortoise. High pop right side.

1:45:46 Alexiotis cruising in. Big call tip

1:45:49 drill. Dr. Meadows tipping it back up

1:45:51 and into the hat

1:45:54 as it'll be a double trick play. Nanders

1:45:57 cut the trick play deficit to four as

1:46:00 they hunt that elusive equalizer point.

1:46:02 They need more trick plays than the

1:46:03 firefighters or the home team. Heading

1:46:06 into our final inning to earn a point

1:46:08 that only the away squad can garner.

1:46:18 And here in the bottom of the fifth

1:46:19 inning, we're finally back to the top of

1:46:22 the firefighters order. This is only the

1:46:24 second time around for the firefighters

1:46:26 thanks to the Mason Maxwell walk-off

1:46:28 homer. Two batters into the third and

1:46:29 the Darien McDow walk-off homer. One

1:46:32 batter into the bottom of the fourth as

1:46:34 Peanut is plunked. And Green will be at

1:46:37 first base with one away.

1:46:39 >> Might hurt, but that'll extend his on

1:46:42 base streak to 12 straight now.

1:46:45 to

1:46:45 >> Kaitton Green

1:46:47 >> battling for one of those

1:46:49 >> year end award opportunities.

1:46:52 OBP goes up as Dalton Cornet ugls win.

1:46:54 The rich get richer. He came in with a

1:46:56 504 on base percentage leading the

1:46:58 firefighters

1:47:00 fifth best in the sport. That'll play

1:47:03 past Cox. That's going to be a knock for

1:47:05 Dalton Cornette. Meadows cleans it up

1:47:07 and Green station to station.

1:47:09 >> That is the first base knock. That is

1:47:12 not a home run for the firefighters

1:47:14 tonight. And it comes in the fifth

1:47:16 inning, but it puts two on for the

1:47:18 righty. Where's that short porch yet?

1:47:21 Inning tying run at first inning,

1:47:23 winning run in the box. And Logan Lacy,

1:47:26 who had a two-run homer to walk off the

1:47:28 third inning two nights ago in Hey

1:47:30 Market Park.

1:47:33 Golden opportunity to turn this inning

1:47:35 on its head. KJ can't snag the bare

1:47:38 hand.

1:47:40 I would wager an infield single.

1:47:43 Definitely it is confirmed.

1:47:46 It's the benefit of having our official

1:47:48 score as our color commentator as well,

1:47:50 Josh Tleski. And now the bag's full of

1:47:53 firefighters. What a moment for the

1:47:55 rookie Lamar Sparks.

1:47:56 >> The man with the most home runs for a

1:47:58 firefighter in a single season has a

1:48:00 chance to get something really special.

1:48:02 He wanted it there.

1:48:07 >> Single could tie this inning though.

1:48:08 Doesn't have to be a long ball.

1:48:12 LINER STRAIGHT UP THE MIDDLE. DIVING

1:48:14 snag wrap, but he scooped it. He goes to

1:48:16 Olsson for one. Nobody was covering.

1:48:18 FIRST THROW HOME IN TIME. ONE of the

1:48:21 more absurd double plays you will ever

1:48:24 see.

1:48:26 The Bananas go 742

1:48:31 to twist it and tie this game at two

1:48:33 points each. I mean, it was just a

1:48:36 perplexing series of events and the

1:48:39 FIREFIGHTERS WIND UP A LITTLE CAUGHT UP.

1:48:41 YOU SAW OLSSON, HIS FIRST INSTINCT was

1:48:42 to try to go to FIRST BASE AND NOBODY

1:48:44 WAS AT THE FIRST BASE BACK. LUCKILY,

1:48:47 BILLOY signaling to Olen, THROW HOME AND

1:48:50 THEY'RE ABLE TO GUN DOWN PEANUT to not

1:48:53 this ball game at two points a piece.

1:48:57 We've got a legendary battle on our

1:48:59 hands. Five innings in the books, still

1:49:02 four to play for Memorial Stadium here

1:49:04 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Over 85,000 fans

1:49:08 have had a treat so far. And now we're

1:49:10 going to get a full group dance.

1:49:13 >> Recording artist

1:49:16 >> Tyler Braden.

1:49:27 >> Jesus. Jesus. Yeah, she really done a

1:49:30 number on me. Torn me to pieces. Got me

1:49:33 feeling some new kind of lonely. Yeah, I

1:49:36 believe those hazel greens are always

1:49:38 gone to home. Oh Lord, I'm sorry.

1:49:43 And I know you heal the blind.

1:49:47 Turn water into wine.

1:49:51 No miracles. Yours is going to work this

1:49:54 time. Cuz this ain't no take my heart to

1:49:57 the river bank. She ain't no memory I

1:50:01 can just wash away. Cuz I've been trying

1:50:04 to get to getting over her. If I'm ever

1:50:07 going to get there,

1:50:09 it's going to take a whole lot more than

1:50:12 a friend.

1:50:15 Let's go, y'all.

1:50:18 A whole lot more than a friend.

1:50:26 Give it up one more time FOR TYLER BAR.

1:50:42 >> Little Tyler Braden concert smack dab in

1:50:44 the middle of a banana ball game.

1:50:47 >> Welcome to the greatest show in sports.

1:50:51 You

1:50:51 >> see it'll be 3, four, and five due to

1:50:53 swing it for the Nanners

1:50:55 >> as we are cruising to the sixth inning.

1:50:59 >> Good pace here in the third largest

1:51:01 banana ball game all time.

1:51:05 Jared Donaldelson has scattered three

1:51:09 runs on four hits, three sprints, five

1:51:11 punches across five innings of work. And

1:51:14 at 87 pitches, he's out for a sixth

1:51:16 frame. Yeah. And you saw some laborous

1:51:18 work for Jared Donaldelsson in the

1:51:20 fifth. 36 pitches for the right-hander

1:51:22 in an inning that lasted a little over 8

1:51:25 minutes. Hopefully able to settle in

1:51:27 here as this could very well be the last

1:51:30 inning of work for the former Savannah

1:51:32 Banana. The longest that Donnie has gone

1:51:33 this year is five innings. That was

1:51:35 against the Indianapolis Clowns in game

1:51:37 three in Greenville, South Carolina. But

1:51:39 you know, this one is a little bit more

1:51:41 personal for him. So he's going to dip a

1:51:44 little bit more of that reserve tank.

1:51:45 But you see it, the strikeout stuff has

1:51:48 been there. The only things that have

1:51:49 really hurt him are the home run ball

1:51:50 and then his defense has done the job of

1:51:52 trick plays to clean up anything else

1:51:54 that's been left out there. And the home

1:51:55 runs are kind of natural again with

1:51:57 these interesting dimensions, you know,

1:51:59 a short porch to left field, 50ft nets

1:52:01 courtesy of netting pros. But the reason

1:52:03 you keep Jared Donaldson on the mound is

1:52:06 the fact that he has been a ground ball

1:52:07 machine for the most part in tonight's

1:52:10 contest. A big reason the firefighters

1:52:12 have 11 trick plays right now.

1:52:15 Firefighters 11 trick plays to the

1:52:17 banana seven.

1:52:20 >> Three more innings while the equalizer

1:52:23 point will be in contention as Maxon

1:52:25 Goldberg finds a hole in the

1:52:27 firefighters defense. Throw goes all the

1:52:28 way into Donnie. Nice athletic play to

1:52:30 knock it down as Mondo showed off the

1:52:33 chooch and MJG

1:52:36 board for the second time tonight. He's

1:52:37 now one for two after he earned a sprint

1:52:39 his first trip. He will give way to

1:52:41 Sakalv, the nanner's designated runner.

1:52:45 That's backto back innings that start

1:52:47 with a leadoff runner aboard for the

1:52:48 Savannah Bananas after not doing that

1:52:50 for the first four innings. And we know

1:52:52 what happened in the last frame.

1:52:56 And a two-run homer from Ty Jackson

1:52:59 offense to win the inning as Trimble

1:53:00 bounce to Green OVER TO FIRST. OH,

1:53:03 MAXWELL got a little greedy going for

1:53:06 his sixth trick play of the ball game

1:53:07 would have tied the single game record

1:53:10 >> for a first baseman. And now we hope

1:53:12 Kyle Jackson's okay. He's down on a

1:53:14 knee.

1:53:16 It'll be a trick play for Trimble. So, a

1:53:18 dozen on the game for the firefighters.

1:53:20 No trick play missed though for Maxwell

1:53:22 as you cannot assume a double play. And

1:53:24 that's why

1:53:26 Kyle Jackson is down. It looks like that

1:53:28 ball deflected off of Maxwell's glove

1:53:30 and got a piece of KJ who's

1:53:33 okay. Got him in the shoulder blade,

1:53:35 left shoulder. He's working it out.

1:53:40 Athletic trainer for the Bananas,

1:53:41 Francis Gilbert, checking on him,

1:53:42 clearing him to stay in the ball game.

1:53:55 >> So off the base pads,

1:53:58 >> KJ replaces him at first. And now Bill

1:54:01 Loy, the catcher and captain.

1:54:05 Couple ground balls on the evening so

1:54:08 far. and he's into a combined four trick

1:54:10 plays on them.

1:54:12 >> This is the guy who caught Jared

1:54:14 Donaldson pretty exclusively in these

1:54:16 football stadiums. Tonight's the first

1:54:18 time EJ has caught him in one of these

1:54:20 environments. And Bill and Donnie know

1:54:22 each other well. But I tell you what, it

1:54:24 goes the other way. DONNIE STRIKES OUT

1:54:26 BILLY BARRELS.

1:54:27 >> He pitched him backwards. An O2 fastball

1:54:30 as we get it back down to the field. Now

1:54:34 coming to coach a threetime national

1:54:38 champion and college football HALL OF

1:54:42 FAMER FROM YOUR NEBRASKA Corn Huskers.

1:54:46 PLEASE WELCOME TOM OSBOR.

1:55:06 Tough to find a great greater legend

1:55:09 when it comes to Nebraska football

1:55:12 than Tom Osborne. The proud of Hastings,

1:55:14 Nebraska. about an hour and 40 minutes

1:55:16 west of Lincoln.

1:55:18 Three of their five national

1:55:21 championships with Osborne at the helm

1:55:23 of the Core Huskers.

1:55:25 A career record of 255

1:55:28 and 49 13 conference titles.

1:55:32 The 836 career winning percentage,

1:55:35 legend of the sport.

1:55:38 get to take the long trip around the

1:55:40 fields to get the applause from all of

1:55:42 the Corn Huskers fans here in attendance

1:55:45 tonight. And you just see the smile

1:55:48 pretty wide for Adam Byron as well.

1:55:50 Again, this was a guy who was coming to

1:55:52 games here growing up and certainly

1:55:55 idolized Tom Osborne, everything he did

1:55:57 for this program. Now he's the guy who

1:56:00 gets to escort him on the golf cart.

1:56:01 That is special stuff.

1:56:07 Byron and Osborne taking their time to

1:56:10 get up close and personal

1:56:13 with every corner of Memorial Field

1:56:17 as the full capacity crowd gets to

1:56:19 celebrate the 1999 College Football Hall

1:56:22 of Fame inductee

1:56:26 and even their athletic director 2007 to

1:56:28 2013.

1:56:35 Pico, 17 college football coaches across

1:56:39 the history of the sport have multiple

1:56:41 national championships. Three of them

1:56:43 live with that man here in Nebraska.

1:56:47 Three with the likes of Urban Meyer, N.

1:56:50 Rock Ly, Barry Switzer, Bob Warner.

1:56:54 >> You're seeing a legend of rare air right

1:56:58 here back at home.

1:57:05 Tom Osborne

1:57:07 joining the bananas on the third base

1:57:08 side is going to help coach th here. I

1:57:11 mean, that's just one of those moments

1:57:13 that gives you chills to see 85,000

1:57:16 people standing up giving Tom Osborne

1:57:18 that ovation and also leading the go big

1:57:21 red champ. It doesn't get any bigger

1:57:24 than that.

1:57:29 Well,

1:57:29 >> Tom Osborne looks on as Robert Anthony

1:57:32 Cruz

1:57:34 >> has himself a 200 count against Jared

1:57:36 Donaldson. There goes KJ from first.

1:57:37 Throw from EJ on a hop. Perfect. And in

1:57:41 time. Nice scoop and tag from Kaden

1:57:44 Green as EJ guns down Kyle Jackson.

1:57:48 Donnie fired up too because he didn't

1:57:50 have the best stuff there right off the

1:57:52 entrance, but he gets help from his

1:57:54 longtime battery mates in front of a

1:57:56 legend.

1:58:14 Heat.

1:58:55 YouTube. It's just us. Hello. As the

1:58:59 crowd goes buck wild here.

1:59:03 Wow. Texas mom checking in from the

1:59:05 Clowns Gator game in Morgantown, West

1:59:08 Virginia.

1:59:11 Tell you what, Texas mom, Josh and I got

1:59:13 to see some of those West Virginia fans

1:59:15 in the person in Omaha yesterday. They

1:59:17 are entertaining. They are they are a

1:59:20 wild bunch. They love their baseball.

1:59:22 They love their booze. They love their

1:59:24 skin caps.

1:59:37 How about a little royal treatment from

1:59:41 the Mananas?

1:59:43 They said that they were towing this

1:59:46 Jeep.

1:59:46 >> Yeah, they they've started a towing

1:59:48 company.

1:59:48 >> Once again, another like Amelia Bedilia

1:59:51 type deal here.

1:59:52 >> That's pretty good.

1:59:53 >> We like the

1:59:55 >> I don't like this.

1:59:58 I don't like that one bit. It was really

2:00:00 something else. Eric Jones Jr. kick off

2:00:04 the bottom of the sixth in style, why

2:00:05 don't you?

2:00:31 going crazy

2:00:38 my heart now

2:00:41 it's going on the playground but I

2:00:44 really want to see her on the weekend

2:00:48 so that's how my heart is breaking but I

2:00:51 just keep on

2:01:13 You think Tom Osborne ever participated

2:01:15 in a flash mob?

2:01:16 >> No. And I'm fairly certain that my

2:01:19 answer. I would have loved to have seen

2:01:21 a part of that. By the way, last time EJ

2:01:23 did a flash mob in Richmond. Got double

2:01:25 digit million views on Instagram. Social

2:01:28 media, do your thing.

2:01:32 >> Rounded up to second his first time

2:01:33 tonight.

2:01:36 Able to check his swing. He peeled down

2:01:38 to Seth Markham. First base umpire.

2:01:41 >> Austin Drury out for his sixth inning on

2:01:43 the bump. Beautiful

2:01:46 slider on the 200

2:01:49 as homer minor leaguers duel it

2:01:53 >> and it's going to be a scorcher snagged

2:01:55 on the slide. Olsson flipping it between

2:01:57 the legs between the legs at first. A

2:02:00 wet jab turns into a double trick play

2:02:02 for the Nanners. I mean, that is insane

2:02:05 stuff from Jackson Olson ranging over to

2:02:08 slide, get that banana ball in the

2:02:10 glove, and then he's got the wherewithal

2:02:13 to throw under his legs to Alec Zagler.

2:02:17 That duo was teamed up for a plethora of

2:02:19 double trick plays over the last couple

2:02:21 of weekends. And the Bananas creeping

2:02:24 closer and closer to potentially earning

2:02:26 an equalizer point. And now Olsson and

2:02:28 Ziggy have done it to EJ twice tonight

2:02:32 >> as Petta

2:02:34 takes the O2 just a smidge wide.

2:02:37 >> As you can see, firefighters lead 12 to9

2:02:39 in the trick play battle.

2:02:42 >> And a strike out of Armando Vana. You do

2:02:45 not see that very often. It's only his

2:02:48 fourth this season compared to a team

2:02:50 leading 14 ball force sprints.

2:02:53 But that's

2:02:54 >> an unstoppable force running into an

2:02:56 immovable object. Drury, the banana ball

2:02:59 championship league league leader

2:03:02 who has now 51k is on the year and he

2:03:06 sits down. Mondo Tiner Hughes has swung

2:03:08 it all four pitches he's seen tonight.

2:03:11 Aggression is the name of his game at

2:03:12 the plate, making all five.

2:03:24 Not going to swing at that. Held my

2:03:26 breath for a minute.

2:03:32 >> And down. No, he got a piece of it.

2:03:36 >> He sure did. No. Down. Yes.

2:03:41 Tough to tell if he was head back to the

2:03:43 dugout or not.

2:03:45 >> Oh yeah. Unfortunately for Bill Loy,

2:03:48 Tina Hughes very much got a piece of

2:03:50 that.

2:03:56 We'll get ourselves another one to

2:03:58 >> to the kid out of Dyer, Tennessee.

2:04:01 >> It's in the Gibson County Hall of Fame

2:04:04 and bounces this one back to Austin

2:04:07 Drury. He will flip it under the leg.

2:04:09 Ziggy has to scoop it to save the trick

2:04:11 play for his pitcher.

2:04:14 And three trick plays on the inning for

2:04:16 the Nanners Drury. A perfect bottom of

2:04:18 the sixth inning as we are still tied at

2:04:21 two. And it's the Bananas reaching

2:04:23 double digits in trick plays and keeping

2:04:26 us all square at two points a piece.

2:04:41 Let me hear you scream.

2:05:24 Oh my goodness, YouTube. It's just us.

2:05:29 Love to see the fans in the chat going

2:05:31 crazy for Chief as he deserves.

2:05:34 >> If you don't go crazy for Chief, I think

2:05:36 you're kind of the problem. Couldn't

2:05:38 agree more.

2:05:41 What everybody loves. Hey, it's Javon.

2:05:44 Great to see

2:05:46 Ray on the bump. This will be fun.

2:05:50 >> Yeah, man. How about those t-shirt

2:05:51 cannons? Those things are industrial.

2:05:54 I would not want to be standing in the

2:05:55 way of one of those bad boys.

2:06:08 Kayen Green, a 2022 collegiate banana

2:06:11 here in his second year as the shortstop

2:06:13 for the firefighters. And an absurd

2:06:16 season he's putting up

2:06:19 that is leading the firefighters in

2:06:21 batting average, rib eyes, ball force

2:06:24 sprints, OPS, and trick plays.

2:06:28 turning into a superstar here in Banana

2:06:30 Ball and joining us on the broadcast.

2:06:33 Peanut, what's this experience been like

2:06:35 here in front of 85,000 fans?

2:06:37 >> I mean, no words. You can't explain it.

2:06:40 Uh, this is so special and I'm so

2:06:42 blessed to get to be a part of this.

2:06:45 >> Truly, truly never forget moment, not

2:06:48 only for me, but hopefully for everyone

2:06:50 here, too.

2:06:51 >> I asked you this at Fire Drill Live. If

2:06:53 I had gone back in time in our Delorean

2:06:55 that we have here at Banana Land and

2:06:57 told you in 2022, you'd be playing for a

2:07:00 team called the Firefighters in front of

2:07:01 85,000 people. Hello, South D.

2:07:05 Oh my goodness.

2:07:08 >> And also, by the way, you'd be playing

2:07:09 next to a guy who does magic for a

2:07:11 living. What would you have said back in

2:07:12 2022?

2:07:13 >> I I would call you crazy. I'm not going

2:07:15 to lie. I would call you crazy. Um, but

2:07:18 man, like I said, so so blessed to be

2:07:21 here. You guys,

2:07:22 >> you already do call me crazy a lot

2:07:23 anyway, so

2:07:25 >> we'll keep it there.

2:07:26 >> N

2:07:29 >> we got Javon Ray on the mound for your

2:07:30 firefighters, Peanut. My guy is my

2:07:34 roommate right here. This that's my

2:07:35 brother. He's actually going to be in my

2:07:37 wedding.

2:07:40 >> But is he really?

2:07:41 >> Yeah.

2:07:42 >> Can't wait to see the pictures, any

2:07:44 videos that come from that. How proud of

2:07:47 Javon were you when you were in player

2:07:49 of the week honors two weeks ago at

2:07:50 Corpus Christie.

2:07:51 >> Oh, so happy for him. He He works his

2:07:53 butt off. He deserves it. Uh we were

2:07:56 actually in the same car pulling into

2:07:57 our garage when we got the news and uh

2:07:59 me, Ron, and him are going crazy. It It

2:08:01 was pretty cool.

2:08:04 >> Come on. Do something cool.

2:08:06 >> J.

2:08:07 >> Wow.

2:08:08 >> Got him.

2:08:09 >> Oh, look at Mace over there.

2:08:12 >> Look at him go over there. That's

2:08:14 Mason's sixth trick play of the game.

2:08:16 That just tied the record for first

2:08:18 baseman in a single game.

2:08:20 >> Fearless. Fearless. He's a dog. Look at

2:08:23 him go, man.

2:08:24 >> Kate, what does the evolution look like

2:08:26 for this firefighters team from a trick

2:08:28 play standpoint? I mean, you are the

2:08:30 team leader, but so many of the other

2:08:32 guys on this squad have just really

2:08:34 impressed with the leather this year.

2:08:36 >> Yeah, just just confidence. It's a

2:08:38 confidence thing. Trust in your stuff.

2:08:39 Trust in what you got. have your bag of

2:08:41 tricks and really trust them. Um, and

2:08:44 like I said, like play with some swagger

2:08:46 and some confidence. And I think we're

2:08:47 we're doing that right now. Oh, is that

2:08:49 going fast? Well, they got to you.

2:08:52 >> Ah, they did get me. What was that

2:08:54 about?

2:08:55 >> Yeah. How How about that to start

2:08:57 tonight offensively?

2:08:58 >> Can't do Can't do anything with smile.

2:08:59 It's

2:09:00 >> peanut. We got it right back with a

2:09:02 firefighter fan who thought Brian Cox

2:09:05 out.

2:09:05 >> Right. Right. So, we got back to you.

2:09:07 >> Something about these short stops though

2:09:08 in Nebraska. They don't like him.

2:09:12 I mean, give another trick. Why not?

2:09:13 >> Treble between the legs.

2:09:16 Come on, Mace. Brand new trick for first

2:09:21 ball. Seven trick plays for nothing.

2:09:30 >> COME ON, BABY.

2:09:32 >> PROUD OF HIM. He deserves it. He

2:09:33 deserves this moment right here.

2:09:34 Seriously.

2:09:36 >> Team guy does it all. Will do anything

2:09:38 for the boys. Hey, say something to him.

2:09:41 I love all you guys. Go firefighters.

2:09:47 >> Thank you so much, Peanut.

2:09:48 >> I appreciate you guys. Love you. Love

2:09:50 you. You, too. Keep up the great work,

2:09:52 K. Thank you.

2:10:01 I think Derek Lenn's about to sing.

2:10:05 Cut my heart about one two times so you

2:10:07 question the reason I'm yours.

2:10:11 I'm yours.

2:10:13 Not move the earth and lose my choice.

2:10:16 Cuz you got no choice.

2:10:19 No choice.

2:10:22 Not trying to be a part time lover. Sign

2:10:24 me up for that full time yours.

2:10:28 I'm yours. So what a man got to do? What

2:10:32 a man got to do?

2:10:35 to be totally locked up by you.

2:10:38 What a man got to say. What a man got to

2:10:42 play

2:10:43 to be a last night.

2:10:47 What a man got to do. What a man got to

2:10:50 do

2:10:52 to be totally locked up by you.

2:10:56 What a man got to do? What a man got to

2:10:59 do

2:11:01 to be totally locked up by you?

2:11:10 Independence for Savannah Bananas number

2:11:12 24.

2:11:21 >> I really thought Derek Cla might have

2:11:22 been pantsless. I mean, I guess he could

2:11:24 be. I don't think shorts, you know,

2:11:27 there's a whole discussion to have

2:11:28 there. Do they count as pants? No, it's

2:11:31 a completely different thing. That would

2:11:32 make two of us, by the way, because I

2:11:34 thought he was pants up as well.

2:11:35 >> Well, he's gonna pitch in son's pants

2:11:38 >> in his under.

2:11:39 >> Yeah, looks like he's It looks like it

2:11:40 is just his sliders.

2:11:44 >> Glenn,

2:11:45 nice outing last weekend. Got his man

2:11:48 against the Indianapolis Clowns. It's

2:11:50 been pretty simple for the Broadway

2:11:52 star. 14 years on Broadway after he was

2:11:55 on the UCLA pitching staff with Garrick

2:11:57 Cole and Trevor Bower. When he's in the

2:11:59 strike zone, he's found a lot of

2:12:00 success. Yeah, I mean he's not going to

2:12:02 overpower you, but Derrick Lenn again

2:12:05 when he's in the strike zone, he's shown

2:12:07 to be effective. Got to win this season

2:12:09 for the Savannah Bananas in Anaheim,

2:12:11 California. And I'll tell you what,

2:12:14 could potentially be in a position to do

2:12:16 that again if he can pitch a clean frame

2:12:18 for the Naners here and then start to

2:12:19 get some run support in the top of the

2:12:21 eighth. As you can see, we're nodded at

2:12:24 two points a piece.

2:12:26 It's been a stupendous

2:12:29 defensive display from both teams. A

2:12:31 combined 26 trick plays. 16 of them

2:12:34 coming from the headlining home squad in

2:12:37 the firefighters

2:12:39 and the first ever game in a football

2:12:42 stadium in franchise history. And the

2:12:44 guy who's coming up not only has the

2:12:46 first ever home run in a football

2:12:48 stadium for the Firefighters, but it's

2:12:49 the guy who just broke the single game

2:12:51 record for trick plays by a first

2:12:53 baseman, Mason Maxwell.

2:12:58 And I think he beat me up if I didn't

2:12:59 get to shout out that he's a huge Jordan

2:13:02 Burroughs fan. One of the best grapplers

2:13:06 in US history. A New Jersey cat who did

2:13:10 his college wrestling here in Lincoln at

2:13:12 Nebraska. He

2:13:13 >> got off the airplane and that is the

2:13:15 first thing he told me while we were

2:13:16 waiting for our bags.

2:13:18 >> He's really fired up. I love it. He's

2:13:20 fired up about playing banana ball in

2:13:22 the college home of Jordan Burroughs.

2:13:25 And he doesn't have to take the bat off

2:13:26 his shoulders. Four straight bad ones.

2:13:29 He's aboard for the second time tonight.

2:13:32 And we'll respect the banana sprint

2:13:34 defense

2:13:35 as he parks it at first base.

2:13:39 Austin Drury did not allow a sprint

2:13:41 across his four to third credited

2:13:43 innings. He pitched throughout six, but

2:13:46 getting walked off on with only one out

2:13:47 in the third and none in the fourth

2:13:49 means he'll go down in the books as four

2:13:51 and a third innings pitched, three

2:13:52 strikeouts, 10 trick plays induced. And

2:13:54 now Cowboy Kyle, the nine-year nanner,

2:13:57 will take over for Cla. Yeah, Jory gave

2:13:58 the Bananas everything he needed to.

2:14:01 He's now had three straight starts for

2:14:03 the Bananas without allowing a single

2:14:05 ball for sprint. He's a guy who's built

2:14:07 different and Cowboy Kyle was one of the

2:14:10 best at limiting ball four sprints a

2:14:12 season ago for this Savannah Banana

2:14:14 squad. And you see 17 strikeouts to just

2:14:17 eight sprints for the 9-year Nanner.

2:14:20 >> Escorting him to the plate is our

2:14:22 firefighter of the night, Battalion

2:14:24 Chief Eric Jones.

2:14:26 >> Eric began his career as a firefighter

2:14:28 before adding paramedic and hazardous

2:14:31 materials technician to his resume. He

2:14:34 is a dedicated member of Nebraska Task

2:14:36 Force One and his deployment spanned

2:14:38 some of the nation's most significant

2:14:40 disasters including the World Trade

2:14:42 Center collapse, Hurricane Katrina, the

2:14:45 space shuttle Columbia recovery and the

2:14:47 Jofflin Greensburg and more tornadoes.

2:14:50 Throughout his career, he has served

2:14:53 your community at Lincoln Fire and

2:14:55 Rescue for 32 years.

2:15:01 And please join us IN CELEBRATING OUR

2:15:03 FIREFIGHTER OF THE NIGHT, BATTALION

2:15:06 CHIEF Eric Jones.

2:15:13 Eric Jones has served this community

2:15:16 for more than three decades in the

2:15:20 Lincoln Fire and Rescue Department. An

2:15:22 absolutely incredible man leading Darren

2:15:25 McDow to the plate. Shout out to another

2:15:29 EJ here tonight and a shout out to all

2:15:31 our great firefighters across our

2:15:33 country and communities. It's a big part

2:15:35 of why the firefighters were the third

2:15:37 team added into the banana ball world is

2:15:39 getting to honor the superheroes who put

2:15:42 their lives on the line to fight fires

2:15:45 all across the United States of America.

2:15:47 As McDow extends his strike zone, offers

2:15:51 up at the high heat. He's behind one and

2:15:53 two,

2:15:55 >> but does not bite on the slider below

2:15:58 the knees.

2:15:59 >> And all this excitement, he's got under

2:16:01 the radar. He put the firefighters in

2:16:02 the lead with a walk-off homer all the

2:16:05 way back in the fourth. Slider gets him

2:16:08 there filthy as we got to watch it

2:16:10 through Vincent Chapman's ump cam.

2:16:14 And Lig baffled by how nasty the bender

2:16:17 was that he just broke off. Well, this

2:16:19 is what Cowboy Kyle talked to us about a

2:16:21 couple weekends ago. He said, "You know,

2:16:23 I think I'm in the roughest part of my

2:16:25 season, but I'm really encouraged by the

2:16:27 bullpens I've been throwing, what I have

2:16:29 been working on." Says, "I think it's

2:16:31 only going to get a lot better from

2:16:33 here." And we've seen a handful of punch

2:16:35 outs for last weekend against the

2:16:38 Indianapolis Clowns. Now picks one up

2:16:40 there against McDow.

2:16:42 Now he goes against his longtime

2:16:43 teammate, Dakota McFaten. This one

2:16:46 peppered the opposite way. Olson

2:16:48 flipping between the legs. Ziegler with

2:16:50 a basket catch at first.

2:16:53 Fourth trick play of the night for the

2:16:55 great eight at second base. Nanners back

2:16:57 within five in pursuit of that equalizer

2:17:00 point as the inning winning run. Noah

2:17:02 Bridges the firefighters designated

2:17:04 runner tonight into scoring position.

2:17:06 And who's that Zack?

2:17:07 >> For the first time in a football

2:17:08 stadium, we say hello to my friend

2:17:11 Chief.

2:17:12 >> Oh, he's gotten himself. He's just a

2:17:14 little gunshy right now. There you go,

2:17:16 boy. Oh, good job.

2:17:19 >> You never quit on the mission. Always

2:17:23 keep your nose or in this case your

2:17:25 snout to the grindstone.

2:17:29 >> That's a good life lesson that Chief

2:17:30 just taught us and over 85,000 of the

2:17:34 folks here on hand at Memorial Stadium.

2:17:37 So, great speed at second base, the

2:17:38 veteran Noah Bridges. And here's the

2:17:41 firefighters first half MVP Kaden Green

2:17:44 fresh off the mic. And now with the bat

2:17:46 in hand, he's got a ball and a strike on

2:17:48 him. The first time he faced off against

2:17:50 Kyle Luig was his first plate appearance

2:17:52 as a Savannah Banana.

2:17:55 Was Banana Fest 2022 actually got a

2:17:58 single against the Nanners legend. And

2:18:01 now he fouls out to the fans for a

2:18:03 second time in this game.

2:18:07 >> Peanut can't believe it.

2:18:12 The fans get the Naners out of a sticky

2:18:14 situation. Inning winning run was in

2:18:16 scoring position. And now we go to the

2:18:18 eighth tide. THAT MIGHT BE THE MOST

2:18:20 PIVOTAL PLAY OF THE NIGHT. It keeps us

2:18:24 even at two. AND THE FANS COME UP BIG

2:18:27 FOR THE Savannah Bananas.

2:18:40 Time for tonight's fly over crew.

2:18:52 And now at this time, would all veterans

2:18:56 and active duty military service members

2:18:58 please rise.

2:19:01 fans, please join us in honoring the men

2:19:03 and women who serve this great nation as

2:19:05 we salute our hometown heroes of the

2:19:08 night.

2:19:13 to our police officers,

2:19:17 to our nurses,

2:19:20 to our EMS workers,

2:19:24 to our dispatchers,

2:19:26 to our school teachers,

2:19:30 to our farmers,

2:19:35 AND TO OUR FIREFIGHTERS.

2:19:41 We thank you for your service and

2:19:43 commitment to our great country.

2:19:47 Now is the time we ask for everyone in

2:19:50 attendance at tonight's game to please

2:19:52 rise as we stand together with our

2:19:55 firefighters in appreciation of the

2:19:57 sacrifices they make each day.

2:20:06 Let's take a look at tonight's smooth

2:20:08 plays brought to you by Tropical

2:20:10 Smoothie Cafe. It's been a trick play

2:20:13 clinic put on by the firefighters here

2:20:15 in their first ever game in a football

2:20:17 stadium and led by their first baseman,

2:20:20 Mason Maxwell. A record seven trick

2:20:22 plays, the most we've ever seen by a

2:20:24 first baseman in our sports history. And

2:20:27 let's not let it go under the radar.

2:20:29 South Trimble's got five already. It's

2:20:31 obviously already been overtaken by

2:20:34 Mason's record, but South Trimble at

2:20:36 second base has five of those bad boys,

2:20:38 too. Javon Ray out for his second inning

2:20:41 of relief. Ty Jackson pokes the opposite

2:20:44 way and McDow with the tip into the

2:20:47 magic hat of Trimble. South has his

2:20:50 sixth trick play on the ball game. It's

2:20:52 another double trick play for the

2:20:53 Firefighters who are up to 18 on the

2:20:56 night. Look, I'm not saying the single

2:21:00 game record overall is in jeopardy yet

2:21:02 cuz I don't know for sure. But I would

2:21:05 be starting to get a little bit sweaty

2:21:06 if I were you at home and you had it

2:21:08 against that.

2:21:09 >> And the single game record is 33. So we

2:21:12 are four away from tying it between the

2:21:14 bananas and firefighters.

2:21:16 >> Between that and just the single game

2:21:18 individual record,

2:21:19 >> firefighters are four away from that.

2:21:21 That's 22 trick plays. Tailgator set

2:21:23 less than a month to go. Maxwell. HEY,

2:21:26 HOW ABOUT EXTEND your record? Eight

2:21:29 trick plays on the ball game for Mad

2:21:30 Max. He can't be stopped at first base.

2:21:34 Every opportunity he's getting, he's

2:21:36 going to try and collect more trick

2:21:38 plays. Now, one off the single game

2:21:40 record for any player in Banana Ball. He

2:21:43 is now hunting Sunshine Looters

2:21:46 territory.

2:21:50 >> I'm not going to lie, I'm pretty locked

2:21:51 in now on these trick plays.

2:21:54 >> So are the guys down on the field. Back

2:21:57 to the top of the order.

2:21:59 The ball in two strikes on David Ray

2:22:02 Meadows. Ground out, fly out, work the

2:22:05 ball for a sprint. Back in the fifth

2:22:06 inning.

2:22:10 Matt Max having a spirited discussion

2:22:12 with somebody.

2:22:15 Off stays right. I think that might be

2:22:17 Vyro.

2:22:19 >> It is Adam Byron.

2:22:24 I saw a that counts from Mason Maxwell

2:22:28 and he's right that does count. Kebian

2:22:32 getting the ball in the air on the

2:22:33 transfer between the legs and now Kaden

2:22:36 Green between the leg transfer over to

2:22:38 Maxwell. Another trick play 20 on the

2:22:41 game for the firefighters. Peanut with

2:22:44 his second and team leading 54th of the

2:22:46 year. This is an incredible historic

2:22:49 night trick playwise for the

2:22:51 firefighters. And they're not done yet.

2:22:53 A chance to take the lead in the bottom

2:22:55 of the eighth.

2:23:14 >> Sing it. Lincoln.

2:23:17 You want me

2:23:21 to

2:23:27 feel you,

2:23:30 but you're not strong.

2:23:33 I feel you.

2:23:36 I know you

2:23:43 belong.

2:23:51 Let's get even louder.

2:24:06 I just

2:24:17 >> sing aloud

2:24:24 and I'll be your friend.

2:24:28 I help you carry

2:24:30 on.

2:24:34 It won't be long.

2:24:44 >> Lincoln, you have been absolutely

2:24:46 amazing. Keep up the energy and let's go

2:24:49 firefighters.

2:24:54 Over

2:25:03 85,000 fans, a full capacity crowd here

2:25:06 in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln,

2:25:08 Nebraska, lighting up the sky in the

2:25:11 middle of the eighth inning in a tied

2:25:14 game. Two points a piece between the

2:25:15 Savannah Bananas and the home team

2:25:18 firefighters who are putting on a heck

2:25:20 of a show in their first ever football

2:25:23 stadium banana ball game as the Nanners

2:25:26 go to the best closer in the history of

2:25:28 the sport. Danny Hosley trying to keep

2:25:30 this game tied going to our final

2:25:32 inning. Pitching in his 10th straight

2:25:33 game for the Savannah Bananas. the man

2:25:35 with five wins, only one loss this

2:25:37 season, and on a streak of 11 and 2/3

2:25:40 innings without allowing an earned run

2:25:42 for his squad. Opponents only batting

2:25:45 .207 against Hosley. And he's a guy who

2:25:49 has been 28 runs better than the total

2:25:52 average pitcher this season. That is

2:25:54 fourth in banana ball and six runs

2:25:57 better than the next best relief arm in

2:26:00 this sport.

2:26:02 Love when we get to talk vorp on the

2:26:04 firefighters YouTube channel, the ESPN

2:26:07 app and Disney Plus.

2:26:09 >> However, what about the guy coming up to

2:26:11 the plate? Might I take you back to

2:26:12 October 4th, 2025 when Dalton Cornet in

2:26:17 a winner take all showdowns in the World

2:26:18 Tour semi-finals, homerred off of Danny

2:26:21 Hosley. Could he do it here again?

2:26:24 Right.

2:26:24 >> The first series showdowns at Banana

2:26:26 Ball history. Cornet ended it before the

2:26:29 Nanners even got to take a swing in the

2:26:31 bottom half.

2:26:32 He's in an 02 hole here. He's able to

2:26:35 spoil the Vulcan change up Hosley's best

2:26:37 pitch. There's also a low 90s fast ball

2:26:40 and a 126 curve in his back pocket. He's

2:26:43 working quickly. Misses with the heater.

2:26:47 Dalton Cornet has nine walk-offs this

2:26:49 year. That is trailing Reese Selectiatis

2:26:51 now by two.

2:26:54 And these guys have been battling since

2:26:57 the 2023 World Tour. It was Cornet

2:26:59 second and Hosley's debut in the sport.

2:27:03 Rolls this over to Olsen. Fields it

2:27:05 between the legs. Tagler between the

2:27:07 legs at first. No chance for the

2:27:10 equalizer for the Bananas. They're just

2:27:12 doing it for the love of the game.

2:27:14 Another double trick play from Olsson

2:27:15 and Ziggy. I mean, they're just trying

2:27:17 to show off. And the thing is they trust

2:27:20 Danny Hosley. Even if they miss the

2:27:23 trick plays here, they know he's going

2:27:25 to get outs regardless. This is the tour

2:27:27 leader in earned run average pitching

2:27:29 for the Savannah Bananas. And they're

2:27:31 desperately trying to win this ball game

2:27:33 and hold the firefighters at bay. It's

2:27:36 now Hosley battling against the veteran

2:27:39 Logan Lacy. Took me a second to do the

2:27:41 math. By the way, we just tied Banana

2:27:43 Ball's single game trick play record. 33

2:27:46 check plays as Kyle Jackson a Superman

2:27:49 dive takes extra bases away from his

2:27:52 counterpart Logan Lacy AND TY JACKSON IS

2:27:55 burst onto the field OF PLAY TO HYPE UP

2:27:59 KYLE JACKSON. A web gem for the nanner

2:28:04 superstar and that was probably going to

2:28:07 be extra basis for Logan Lacy.

2:28:14 Now Lamar Sparks.

2:28:17 He takes the fast ball for strike one.

2:28:22 Ground out and a line out for Lamar.

2:28:25 Stung the ball his last time. Was robbed

2:28:27 of a hit by a fantastic dabbing catch

2:28:29 from Robert Anthony Cruz. 02

2:28:34 able to spit on the Vulcan change.

2:28:39 >> Skipping in there. One, two. Fouled

2:28:42 away. will do it again.

2:28:44 >> Home runs in Richmond,

2:28:47 El Paso, Corpus Christi,

2:28:50 Witchah.

2:28:52 Five of his last seven series he's gone

2:28:55 yard in.

2:28:57 Deep down the right field line, Alexi

2:29:00 runs out of room and the fans do not

2:29:02 make a play either on the big hopper.

2:29:10 the rookie, firefighters, fourth round

2:29:12 draft pick, seven years of minor league

2:29:14 baseball experience,

2:29:16 and he has been fantastic here in his

2:29:18 first year of banana ball. Professional

2:29:20 take and sparks over the last two months

2:29:22 for the firefighters. He's slugged over

2:29:24 700 in that span as he lines the banana

2:29:27 ball straight to Ryan Cox. And the

2:29:30 Nanners may not have earned an equalizer

2:29:32 point, but they kept the firefighters

2:29:35 off the board for yet another inning. We

2:29:38 go TO THE FINAL FRAME AND IT IS STILL A

2:29:41 TWO TO2 BALL GAME.

2:29:48 >> The score is

2:29:49 >> Let's get it on down to Cass

2:29:51 >> to find out what the final inning's all

2:29:53 about.

2:29:53 >> But the thing about Banana Ball is the

2:29:54 final inning means the most as every run

2:29:57 scored counts as a point. Ladies and

2:30:01 gentlemen, it all comes down to this.

2:30:03 This is the FINAL

2:30:06 INNING.

2:30:15 We heard it from the man himself. Every

2:30:17 run scored counts as a pointle.

2:30:19 >> Hardly matters when you're tied though.

2:30:28 Oh,

2:30:32 >> I've got that lightning inside me.

2:30:38 I'm like a tightness that's rising on

2:30:41 just you.

2:30:44 I'm stepping.

2:30:46 There is no time to wait. I've got that

2:30:50 lightning inside me. This is how legends

2:30:54 are made. Oh,

2:31:03 this is how life is on.

2:31:06 Oh,

2:31:14 this is how

2:31:17 >> now pitching for the firefighters.

2:31:20 Number 95,

2:31:22 Johnny

2:31:24 Hmel.

2:31:26 >> Johnny Hmel emerges in the midst of over

2:31:29 85,000 fans with flames blasting the

2:31:33 sky. It's Johnny Lightning who looks to

2:31:37 send the firefighters to the bottom of

2:31:39 the ninth. Still tied at two.

2:31:40 >> New hair, new me potentially for Johnny

2:31:43 Hmel back out there with the Piston Cup.

2:31:46 Lightning got his head shaved and then

2:31:49 last week, excuse me, two nights ago on

2:31:51 Thursday. Earned his first save in

2:31:53 almost a month for the Firing Flames.

2:31:56 When his curve ball is locked in, it is

2:32:00 an awfully difficult pitch to hit. It

2:32:03 helps his fast so much. And this is a

2:32:05 guy in pressure situations. Has come up

2:32:08 big in all of his baseball career,

2:32:10 including just an hour north in Omaha,

2:32:13 Nebraska. Closed out the University of

2:32:15 KY's first ever win in the College World

2:32:19 Series. Got them to Omaha with a

2:32:22 shutdown in a save opportunity. If

2:32:25 there's anybody you want on the mound,

2:32:27 when the stage gets bigger and the

2:32:29 spotlight gets brighter, it's home

2:32:31 number 95.

2:32:36 It's the big boppers for the nanners

2:32:39 against the firefighters closer. Oburst,

2:32:42 young Goldberg, and Jackson. Two, three,

2:32:44 and four in the lineup. Dan Obur a big

2:32:47 leg kick. And watch his ball on fire in.

2:32:49 And this trio all got a look at Johnny

2:32:51 Hmel on Thursday as he earned a save

2:32:53 against this Banana squad. They got a

2:32:56 little experience against him. And last

2:32:59 season we did see the Bananas post a 373

2:33:03 team batting average against the

2:33:05 firefighters closer.

2:33:10 One-two count on Over. He flew out to

2:33:12 left against Hmel on Thursday night

2:33:24 and pops this on a mile high right side.

2:33:27 Maxwell

2:33:28 an adventurous route comes away with the

2:33:31 banana ball for out number one here in

2:33:33 the ninth.

2:33:34 >> Look, there have been a couple plays

2:33:35 right in a row defensively where Mason

2:33:37 Maxwell could have been record chasing.

2:33:38 He could have gotten the record tying

2:33:40 ninth trick play in a single game, but

2:33:42 on that on the last two he I think he

2:33:44 shown really good judgment. Don't go for

2:33:46 it. Get the out in a tie game.

2:33:51 Max Young Goldberg ahead of ball and no

2:33:53 strikes.

2:33:56 Tries to hold up. Check down to third.

2:33:59 Heath Banks said he held up.

2:34:02 Two on MJG who has reached twice. A

2:34:05 sprint and a single with a strikeout

2:34:06 sandwiched in between.

2:34:09 Peter misses in fast balls usually about

2:34:12 88 to 91 miles an hour from Hmel. Zach's

2:34:15 talked about the hammer of a curve ball

2:34:17 he's got. He also has a slider that's

2:34:20 pretty cuttery as well. It's a hard

2:34:22 slider. And the heater just misses.

2:34:26 MJG waited for the call from Vincent

2:34:28 Chapman. He's got his second sprint of

2:34:31 the night. His tour leading 27th on the

2:34:34 year. And the go ahead run is aboard

2:34:37 with one out.

2:34:39 Now the inning in the hands of Kyle

2:34:40 Jackson who lined out to end the game

2:34:43 against Johnny Hmel on Thursday. It was

2:34:45 the first time Hmel had ever retired

2:34:48 Kyle Jackson when they faced off. KJ was

2:34:51 previously two for two with a ball force

2:34:54 sprint against Hmel.

2:34:58 The loopy liner into the middle of Eric

2:34:59 Jones Jr. the showman of the game who

2:35:02 was holding down first base on Thursday

2:35:04 night.

2:35:10 Ball and a strike on KJ as JT Sakalov

2:35:13 has taken over for Young Goldberg at

2:35:15 first.

2:35:21 Swing and a miss. There's the slider. It

2:35:24 was disgusting.

2:35:36 Sackle of dancing off first.

2:35:40 Same pitch this time. KJ Wise to it.

2:35:50 Two-2

2:35:52 deep drive out to right. McDow is going

2:35:55 to watch it bang off the wall. Sackle up

2:35:58 to third. KJ follows him to second. It's

2:36:01 a screamer of a double as JT back to the

2:36:04 bag. Just ahead of the throw from

2:36:06 Maxwell.

2:36:08 Heads up play by the firefighters. Sakov

2:36:10 survives it.

2:36:15 And now we've got a heck of a discussion

2:36:17 down the third baseline.

2:36:21 >> Ladies and gentlemen, the challenge rule

2:36:25 has been

2:36:26 >> Well, the fans are challenging the play

2:36:28 at 30.

2:36:32 >> Take it with me before I've seen so far.

2:36:34 I didn't know there was anything I could

2:36:35 see after this. It's one of those

2:36:38 things. Can't take it home with you if

2:36:40 you're the fans.

2:36:42 >> But the call was correct by Heath Banks.

2:36:49 >> The ruling on the field

2:36:52 is confirmed. The runner is safe.

2:36:58 >> You could cut the tension with a knife

2:37:00 here in Memorial Stadium. The third

2:37:03 largest crowd in Banana Ball history.

2:37:04 Over 85,000 fans on hand and they're

2:37:08 about to see a golden battle.

2:37:09 >> The Savannah Bananas are invoking the

2:37:12 golden batter rule. Hitting in the place

2:37:15 of Bill Leroy is the Savannah Bananas

2:37:18 golden batter. PLEASE WELCOME MAX YOUNG

2:37:23 GOLDBER.

2:37:27 How about this spot for the Bananas lone

2:37:31 rookie in their lineup? their second

2:37:33 round draft pick, Max Young Goldberg. He

2:37:36 worked a sprint to start this rally. He

2:37:38 worked a sprint against Johnny Hmel two

2:37:40 nights ago down the street in Hey Market

2:37:42 Park and he is very late on a fast ball

2:37:45 to fall behind on one. Five firefighters

2:37:48 are in the infield. They are playing as

2:37:50 shallow as can be with just two

2:37:52 outfielders and nobody in left field.

2:37:55 Peter misses high to even up the count.

2:37:58 The Bananas know this guy can work a

2:38:00 plain appearance. Maximum Goldberg is

2:38:01 lone golden batter opportunity out now

2:38:05 trying to come through for this man or

2:38:07 her squad as he takes a call strike on

2:38:09 the inside corner.

2:38:12 The slider gets home back ahead

2:38:17 one two

2:38:20 and Goldberg able to hold off.

2:38:23 Conor Hughes the left fieldielder has

2:38:25 come in to man the center of this

2:38:26 infield.

2:38:28 He joins Lacy, Green, Treble, and

2:38:30 Maxwell.

2:38:33 Metta and McDow the only outfielders.

2:38:36 Peter misses low and the count is full.

2:38:39 Ball four will drive in two runs.

2:38:46 MJG set a Pioneer League record with 130

2:38:49 RBI's last year.

2:38:52 Can't come up with the two biggest

2:38:53 ribbies of his bananas career here.

2:38:56 Humble bears down and gets a massive K.

2:38:59 But that's where you see what Johnny

2:39:01 Hmel brings to the table. Back against

2:39:04 the wall. Baltimore sprint would put you

2:39:06 down too. Attack right after a guy he

2:39:10 just put on the base pads. And now two

2:39:13 outs and it's Robert Anthony Cruz. Link

2:39:17 to that slider cutter hybrid. It pulled

2:39:20 MJG

2:39:24 and Rack the veteran 0 for two on the

2:39:27 night.

2:39:31 But a sprint back in the fifth inning

2:39:34 and a run scored on the Tai Jackson

2:39:37 homer. Trying to play hero for the

2:39:40 Bananas.

2:39:45 Fast ball just misses. There's one thing

2:39:47 we know about Rack. He's got that clutch

2:39:49 gene. Saw a game tying home run in the

2:39:52 ninth in Chapel Hill. Did it in the

2:39:54 banana ball open as well. Just trying to

2:39:57 get a good piece against Johnny Hmel and

2:40:00 see if he can score up.

2:40:03 Swings through the fast ball to even up

2:40:05 the count. Deuces wild. Two balls, two

2:40:08 strikes, two outs, two runners in

2:40:10 scoring position.

2:40:12 Hummel to Cruz. Swing and a miss. Back

2:40:16 to the slider. Johnny Hmel icing his

2:40:20 veins as he strands a pair of manners in

2:40:22 scoring position. You do not see that

2:40:26 level of emotion from Johnny Hmel except

2:40:29 for tonight. He knows the stage. He

2:40:32 knows the setting. He knows what this

2:40:34 means for firefighter history. Back

2:40:36 against the wall. Backto back.

2:40:40 >> Let's get on back down to

2:40:44 it.

2:40:46 Impressive

2:40:56 stuff, Cash. Guy had a lot to say,

2:41:01 man. A few words with a lot of hype. And

2:41:04 take a look at this. Eric Jones Jr., the

2:41:08 legendary Savannah Banana, the

2:41:10 firefighters first round draft pick.

2:41:12 They napped him fifth overall last

2:41:15 November. Leads it off with Armando

2:41:18 Betta on deck. Tiner Hughes, the rookie

2:41:21 in the hole. And we talked about it

2:41:23 earlier tonight. Bill Laoy facing off a

2:41:26 couple times against Jared Don. He used

2:41:28 to catch for JD. Well, Eric Jones Jr. of

2:41:32 course is the backup catcher for the

2:41:33 Savannah Bananas for a couple of years.

2:41:36 Spent three seasons working with Danny

2:41:38 Hosley. So, he's a man familiar with the

2:41:41 Bananas closer arsenal. See if he tries

2:41:44 to ambush Hosley or maybe Hosley has to

2:41:47 switch things up and work his way

2:41:49 backwards against his former teammate.

2:41:53 In a game with so many trick plays, both

2:41:55 teams have scored in two innings. That's

2:41:57 it. Someone's going to have to do this

2:42:00 one more time. Why not the firefighters

2:42:02 in their first ever football stadium

2:42:04 game in heroic fashion?

2:42:08 There's a vulcan change up for strike

2:42:09 one. The fast ball put on and miss for

2:42:11 strike two. Hosley working quickly right

2:42:14 back to the heat. Just barely misses.

2:42:19 Professional take from EJ right there

2:42:21 against his former closer.

2:42:26 >> Eric Jones

2:42:28 knocks it off. Fireman

2:43:11 The firefighters faithful awaited

2:43:15 the bananas fans

2:43:18 absolutely gods smacked. That is how

2:43:20 quickly it can end for you in banana

2:43:23 ball.

2:43:25 And who else but the Savannah Banana's

2:43:27 all-time leader in home runs

2:43:32 in his first year with the firefighters.

2:43:35 Doesn't get more poetic than that. The

2:43:38 biggest swing of his firefighters career

2:43:41 and his first home run since his first

2:43:44 played appearance as a fire firefighter

2:43:47 all the way back in Tallahassee on

2:43:50 February 27th.

2:43:53 Another

2:44:02 look

2:44:03 >> at the swing that won it for the

2:44:05 firefighters. A knockdown out to left.

2:44:11 His first hit with the firefighters was

2:44:13 a home run. His second home run just won

2:44:16 the largest game ever. The story speaks

2:44:19 for itself. Nico and Joshi.

2:44:22 What a night for this fight. What a

2:44:25 night for this team. The firefighters

2:44:28 have come to Nebraska and in front of

2:44:30 85,000 people have shown what they're

2:44:33 made of and it's booking

2:44:37 by two former Savannah Bananas and Jared

2:44:39 Donaldson and Eric Jones.

2:44:42 Massive shout out to our entire cast and

2:44:45 broadcast directed by Chris Haynes,

2:44:47 produced by Chad Ree for Josh Tlespki,

2:44:50 Zack St, and Sam Bowman. And I am Bo

2:44:52 Scala saying so long for now and of

2:44:54 course we will see you later.

2:45:09 YOU THOUGHT YOUTUBE WE'RE BACK. WE'RE

2:45:13 STILL HERE YOUTUBE. We're not GOING

2:45:14 ANYWHERE.

2:45:16 That's one of the greatest games in

2:45:18 banana ball history. We have a lot to

2:45:20 talk about. We have said so long to the

2:45:22 ESPN and Disney audiences. We keep it

2:45:25 right here on the Firefighters YouTube

2:45:28 channel.

2:45:30 >> It's on the short list for the biggest

2:45:32 wins in firefighters history right up

2:45:34 there

2:45:36 >> with the Dalton Cornet swing in series

2:45:38 showdowns to send them to the

2:45:40 championship last year. And as you can

2:45:41 see, Sam Bowman patiently waiting with

2:45:44 the firefighters hero Eric Jones Jr.

2:45:47 Let's not wait make him wait any longer.

2:45:50 Down to SP we go. Yeah, the waiting was

2:45:52 over the minute Eric Jones stepped up to

2:45:54 bat there in the bottom of the ninth.

2:45:56 EJ, we talked pregame. You said not a

2:45:58 day to hit the ball on the ground. Prove

2:46:01 that.

2:46:01 >> I hit two ground balls. I did not have

2:46:04 fun. I hit it in the air one time. I had

2:46:06 a lot of fun.

2:46:08 >> EJ, talk to me about this team, this

2:46:10 fight, this stage.

2:46:13 >> This team has so much grit. We come in

2:46:15 every day. We work. We worked when it

2:46:17 was cold. We work when it's hot. It

2:46:19 doesn't matter. Every single day we put

2:46:20 the work. We got some young guys.

2:46:22 Everybody's learning. Everybody's taking

2:46:23 steps forward. We're coming together.

2:46:25 >> What does this say about the

2:46:26 firefighters to do this in front of 80

2:46:28 plus thousand people against the boys in

2:46:30 yellow over there?

2:46:31 >> They're scrappy. Everybody had this

2:46:32 weekend circled. We know that we're

2:46:34 going to be seeing these guys some more

2:46:35 in the future. We're ready for whatever

2:46:37 comes next.

2:46:38 >> Eric Jones, you have a good game. I had

2:46:40 a lot of fun. Thank you, Lincoln. Thank

2:46:42 you, the Kohl's. What an amazing day.

2:46:43 Thank you, Sam. EJ, thank you. We're

2:46:46 going to go find Donnie here now. Huh?

2:46:47 How about let's find Donnie. EJ, good

2:46:49 work. Good work. Let's go find Donnie,

2:46:51 guys. There he is. There's a

2:46:53 >> quick

2:46:54 >> asking you shower.

2:46:57 Hey, I jinxed you, man.

2:46:58 >> We're not going to talk about it.

2:47:01 >> How does it feel to start a game like

2:47:04 this in front of 80 plus thousand and

2:47:07 then it ends like that?

2:47:08 >> Yeah, you know, I got eight guys behind

2:47:09 me every day. We got all the guys on the

2:47:11 side over here backing me up all the

2:47:13 whole game. Uh to God be the glory, man.

2:47:15 Just come over here, have fun. We got

2:47:16 Animal Mason Max first base. He told me

2:47:18 before the game he's going to have as

2:47:19 many trick plays as he can. They rip

2:47:20 four out in the first two innings. Um

2:47:22 yeah, man. God's good.

2:47:23 >> Talk to EJ yourself, former bananas

2:47:25 coming out here on a stage like this,

2:47:27 proving the firefighters. Man, we got

2:47:29 some fight, huh?

2:47:30 >> Yeah, dude. It's fun to work with EJ

2:47:31 back there, man. He knows the pitches

2:47:32 that I want before I even even get up

2:47:34 there. And uh yeah, shook him up once,

2:47:35 gave a home run to Reese. Um shouldn't

2:47:37 have happened, but yeah. Hey, we live

2:47:39 and we learn.

2:47:40 >> Hey, let's bring in Mason Maxwell cuz

2:47:42 Mason Maxwell

2:47:43 >> is our showman of the game. Face it, a

2:47:46 record-breaking night, an unforgettable

2:47:48 performance as a team. I mean, how can

2:47:50 you put it in perspective,

2:47:51 >> man? When you got people that push you

2:47:53 every day and and work and and work to

2:47:55 one one goal at the end of the year and

2:47:57 just having fun and and trusting each

2:47:58 other, that's when every all the things

2:48:00 align and and we've been having a blast,

2:48:02 man.

2:48:03 >> Donnie saying, you said before the game,

2:48:05 this is going to be a big one for you.

2:48:06 >> Yeah. Yeah. The the left field uh wall

2:48:10 is right into my swing path, but then uh

2:48:13 trick plays, man. all my infielders,

2:48:15 they put him they put him right there.

2:48:16 And when you got a guy you share first

2:48:18 base with like EJ, man, he he just

2:48:20 pushes me and and we push each other and

2:48:22 he had a walk-off today. So, it's just

2:48:24 like, yeah, he's a brother. So, he's

2:48:25 awesome.

2:48:25 >> What's this game say about

2:48:26 >> the guy that's getting me ground balls?

2:48:28 That's pretty sick.

2:48:28 >> Finally, what's this game say about the

2:48:30 firefighters for the rest of the year?

2:48:31 >> Oh, we're back. We're back, BABY. WE

2:48:33 HAVE A GOOD OFFENSE. WE HAVE A GOOD

2:48:35 DEFENSE. AND WE HAVE GOOD PITCHING.

2:48:37 LET'S GO.

2:48:38 >> Enough said, guys. You get it? Yeah.

2:48:41 >> Oh, yeah. Those are the three keys to

2:48:43 having a great banana ball team. Mad Max

2:48:45 laid it all on the line right there and

2:48:47 he is your showman of the game here at

2:48:51 the conclusion of this two game set. The

2:48:53 first time the firefighters have ever

2:48:55 swept the bananas in a series. Couldn't

2:48:57 have come at a better time at Mad Max. A

2:49:00 record eight trick plays at first base.

2:49:03 Beat the previous record by two and he

2:49:05 was one shy of a single game total

2:49:08 record led by Jonathan Sunshine Looters

2:49:11 at nine. But then he had the first ever

2:49:14 home run in a football stadium for the

2:49:16 firefighters. And just for added

2:49:18 measure, that guy goes for the tripplay

2:49:22 record. This might be in terms of

2:49:25 firefighter brand, it might be the

2:49:27 greatest weekend in the history of this

2:49:28 team. As you take a look at how we got

2:49:30 to where we are tonight, the trick place

2:49:33 20, the most ever in a game by the

2:49:35 firefighters. You have Mason Maxwell set

2:49:37 the record for first baseman. But the

2:49:39 story of this weekend is going to

2:49:41 revolve around number four in red

2:49:44 tonight. Eric Jones Jr., he didn't get a

2:49:46 chance to play that second game in

2:49:48 Grayson Stadium, but he did not get a

2:49:49 hit in game one back in March. You knew

2:49:52 this weekend he wanted this one bad. He

2:49:55 got it and did some in a moment that

2:49:57 will stand the test of time. And the

2:49:59 moments created by the man with Sam

2:50:01 Balman and Jesse Cole will stand the

2:50:03 test of time as well.

2:50:04 >> All right, Z. Thanks, Zach. Hopefully

2:50:06 you guys aren't tired of me yet. I know

2:50:07 you're not tired of seeing this guy,

2:50:09 Jesse Cole. Jesse, we look at a place

2:50:11 like Nebraska, Lincoln. Many people say

2:50:13 it's a place you fly over, but you had

2:50:15 your eyes on Lincoln, and it proved to

2:50:18 be a place you want to fly to for a

2:50:20 moment like this.

2:50:21 >> Oh, this was special. And I don't

2:50:22 realize I don't know if fans realize

2:50:24 what they just witnessed. That might

2:50:26 have been the greatest game in Banana

2:50:28 Ball history. When you think of

2:50:29 everything that just happened, the speed

2:50:31 of the game, records broken with Mason

2:50:33 Maxwell, records tied with trick plays,

2:50:35 fan caught foul balls, huge

2:50:37 performances, walk-offs, a game-winning

2:50:39 home run in the ninth inning. That's

2:50:41 banana ball at its best. And boy, we've

2:50:43 worked so hard to get here. We've played

2:50:45 at all these football stadiums and

2:50:46 everyone's been hard. There's been

2:50:47 challenges. They haven't gone as well as

2:50:49 planned. But we showed tonight in front

2:50:51 of 85,000 fans what Banana Ball can be.

2:50:54 I am so proud of the firefighters. Think

2:50:56 about the road they've been on. you

2:50:58 know, starting a few years ago, ups and

2:51:00 downs, challenging year last year, and

2:51:02 then to be here, their first football

2:51:04 stadium and put on that show and show up

2:51:06 like the way they did. And Eric Jones

2:51:08 Jr., man, what a story. Come back and

2:51:11 finish that. Oh man, Banana Ball has

2:51:13 come so far. And I owe so much to these

2:51:16 guys to come up like that and perform

2:51:18 this way with this crowd, this pressure.

2:51:20 It is not easy to perform in front of

2:51:22 5,000 fans, let alone 85,000 fans.

2:51:26 Banana ball has come so far and I'm so

2:51:28 proud. And I'll tell you this, these

2:51:29 Nebraskan fans, they got something that

2:51:31 very few people get when it all comes

2:51:33 together, firing on all cylinders. Um,

2:51:36 I'm just so proud right now,

2:51:39 >> Jesse. You look at a year we've had,

2:51:40 we're almost at the midway point and you

2:51:42 could think, oh, the fatigue sets in,

2:51:44 but you hit a moment like this where it

2:51:45 feels like we've only just begun again,

2:51:48 right?

2:51:49 >> That's the beauty of Banana Ball. Every

2:51:51 night it's it's brand new. And, you

2:51:53 know, we've tried a lot of things. We

2:51:54 had turtles on the field tonight. We had

2:51:56 brand new promotions and we had, you

2:51:58 know, performers. And then, boy,

2:52:00 honoring Tom Osborne and Eric Crouch and

2:52:02 just, you know, that's what makes Banana

2:52:04 Ball great. It just brings people

2:52:05 together. And to see the crowd, the

2:52:07 response to Tom Osborne, obviously a

2:52:09 legend here, and then see us try new

2:52:11 things and get huge responses from the

2:52:13 crowd.

2:52:14 >> Man, it's just we try so many things

2:52:16 every single night. And so many nights

2:52:18 things don't go well. Whether it's sound

2:52:20 issues, whether it's a promotion that

2:52:22 wasn't casted right or whether it was a

2:52:24 game and sometimes we just don't play

2:52:25 well. But when it all comes together,

2:52:27 it's magic. And I think that's what we

2:52:29 work for. We work for those nights of

2:52:30 the magic where it comes together and

2:52:32 you look around and everyone, the crowd,

2:52:34 not one fan left tonight. It was a fast

2:52:36 game, walk-off. She didn't miss

2:52:37 anything. We actually had to slow down

2:52:39 the game with Tom Osborne's entrance

2:52:41 because we were intentionally going so

2:52:43 fast. When the magic happens, that's

2:52:45 what we work for every single day. And

2:52:47 I'm so grateful. 85,000 fans, our

2:52:49 players, our cast got to feel it cuz

2:52:50 once you feel it, you want more of that.

2:52:52 And you're right, we're halfway through

2:52:54 the year, but if this is where we are

2:52:55 right now, good luck the rest of the

2:52:56 way.

2:52:57 >> Tell you what, Jesse said this may have

2:52:58 been the greatest game in Banana Ball

2:53:00 history. That might have been the best,

2:53:01 greatest Jesse Cole interview we've done

2:53:03 in Banana Ball history, guys. Put a bow

2:53:06 on it.

2:53:06 >> Sam, can you do me a favor and tell

2:53:08 Jesse Cole that this is the best night

2:53:09 of my professional life as well?

2:53:11 >> I'll tell I'll tell him in a little bit.

2:53:12 Yeah, he's

2:53:13 >> Thank you very much. What a night. What

2:53:16 What a night. What a moment.

2:53:19 An incredible weekend for the

2:53:20 firefighters. An incredible weekend for

2:53:22 for Banana Ball in the third largest

2:53:25 game in the history of the sport.

2:53:27 >> And the first time the firefighters ever

2:53:29 play in a football stadium, uh Jesse is

2:53:32 never short of the perfect words after a

2:53:35 magical night like that. But he laid it

2:53:37 out really well. I mean, the show that

2:53:39 the firefighters put on and between

2:53:41 these 33 trick plays between the bananas

2:53:44 with 13 and the firefighters with 20,

2:53:46 not one trick play missed in this ball

2:53:48 game, which is absolutely astounding,

2:53:51 especially when you think about the

2:53:52 degree of difficulty. I mean, these guys

2:53:55 were doing some really highlevel stuff

2:53:57 and never came up empty on any of the

2:54:01 opportunities. And when you think about

2:54:03 all three points coming on walk-off home

2:54:05 runs for the firefighters, I mean, you

2:54:06 couldn't have scripted a better night.

2:54:08 Uh, it's that is the beauty of Banana

2:54:10 Ball. Josh Tipsky, he's the statistical

2:54:12 savant of the sport. I can't wait to

2:54:14 hear what he's got to say. Zack Stton is

2:54:16 the voice of the firefighters. Uh,

2:54:18 congratulations on the best moment in

2:54:20 your professional career. I completely

2:54:22 understand it. I'm beca. Uh, Josh, try

2:54:24 and put this whole thing into

2:54:25 perspective, please. All right,

2:54:26 everybody. Just track with me here

2:54:28 because we weren't even uh we're not

2:54:31 even a month out from Nan Stadium and

2:54:34 and Brett Loftus and I, you know, we

2:54:35 were sharing the the wrap-up that

2:54:37 postgame show together and saying we

2:54:40 were trying to make a claim that that

2:54:41 might have been the greatest banana ball

2:54:43 game of all time. We saw so much

2:54:45 incredible stuff throughout that night.

2:54:47 But I'm going to try and list out really

2:54:49 everything that happened throughout this

2:54:51 ball game, which is which includes, BUT

2:54:55 IS NOT LIMITED TO, we had a first pitch

2:54:58 that counts from Eric Crouch. We had a

2:55:00 record tying 33 trick plays with zero

2:55:04 missed. Great catch by you, my friend.

2:55:07 We also saw every run in this ball game

2:55:10 scored on home runs. The beauty of the

2:55:13 football stadiums at work. It also ended

2:55:16 in a walk-off victory for the

2:55:17 firefighters. 85,000 people got to

2:55:20 witness this walk-off win. But beyond

2:55:22 that, incredible performances. Derek

2:55:25 Clenn comes out, does a big number. The

2:55:28 Banana Bellas were performing with

2:55:30 Jackson Olsen. You got another EJ Flash

2:55:33 Mob. Tyler Braden comes out and performs

2:55:36 as well. Tom Osborne circles around the

2:55:39 stadium and gets that ovation. Everyone

2:55:41 in Lincoln is going crazy, shouting, "Go

2:55:44 big red." It is unbelievable the things

2:55:47 that happened tonight. And it it's very

2:55:49 similar to what we experienced in

2:55:51 Knoxville. But here's the kicker. Here's

2:55:53 where we did better. Tonight's ball game

2:55:56 was played in 1 hour and 51 minutes. You

2:55:59 had all of these things that I listed

2:56:01 out in less than 2 hours. Jesse was

2:56:04 talking about how fast this game went.

2:56:06 He wasn't joking around. This is one of

2:56:09 the most complete Banana Ball

2:56:11 performances I have ever seen. Not only

2:56:13 from a gameplay standpoint, but all the

2:56:16 entertainment that encompassed tonight

2:56:18 as well. It was the 414th banana ball

2:56:22 game ever played. And I think that's a

2:56:24 pretty compelling argument for why it

2:56:26 might have been the best ever. Uh, Zack

2:56:27 Stton, your final thoughts after this

2:56:29 wild one here.

2:56:30 >> Firefighters represent heroism, courage,

2:56:33 bravery, and grit. There were so many

2:56:35 things that represented all of those

2:56:37 words. Let's go back to the top of the

2:56:38 ninth. Johnny Hmel was facing runners on

2:56:40 second and third with one out and he got

2:56:43 backto back strikeouts with a ball force

2:56:46 sprint on the table against Max Young

2:56:48 Goldberg with the golden batter. It's

2:56:50 those things that get you to where you

2:56:53 have the ultimate storybook ending for

2:56:55 Eric Jones Jr. But those acts cannot go

2:56:58 unnoticed. South Trimble had five trick

2:57:01 plays in this game at second base

2:57:03 playing for Tiner Hughes who was at a

2:57:05 completely different position. So much

2:57:07 went into this night for the

2:57:08 firefighters. I think the Savannah

2:57:10 Bananas, they're going to be fine. Look,

2:57:12 this has been a tough stretch. That team

2:57:14 is talented. You saw the grit there

2:57:15 tonight, too. How many guys are going to

2:57:17 get walk-off hits off Danny Hosley this

2:57:18 year? I bet y'all probably count it on

2:57:20 one hand. But tonight and this weekend,

2:57:23 what the firefighters just accomplished

2:57:24 from what Josh just said with

2:57:26 entertainment to what you saw

2:57:28 statistically, it will go down in my

2:57:31 estimation is probably the greatest

2:57:32 weekend in this brand's history. And I'm

2:57:35 so blessed to be a part of it, to see

2:57:37 this for the first time. What we all

2:57:39 just got to witness, man, you can't you

2:57:41 can't put into words how cool this job

2:57:43 is and how cool this sport is. And I

2:57:45 cannot tell you how thankful I am.

2:57:47 >> Well, don't look now because we've got a

2:57:50 football stadium in July. We've got

2:57:51 three games in Wrigleyfield and then a

2:57:53 series in Savannah between these two

2:57:55 teams. So, uh, I have a good idea that

2:57:58 this thing might even take another

2:57:59 level, but this might be as good as it's

2:58:01 been until now. Let's get a look at what

2:58:03 we have on the docket next week because

2:58:06 surprise surprise, it's going to be

2:58:08 another epic weekend of Banana Ball.

2:58:10 That's just what this sport does here in

2:58:12 the inaugural season of the Banana Ball

2:58:14 Championship League. It starts Thursday

2:58:16 night on the Coconuts YouTube channel.

2:58:18 Firefighters and Coconuts playing the

2:58:20 first ever Banana Ball game in the great

2:58:22 state of New Hampshire up there in

2:58:24 Manchester. And at the very same night,

2:58:27 just one hour later in Nashville, one of

2:58:29 the greatest Banana Ball cities we've

2:58:31 ever experienced, Party Animals YouTube

2:58:33 channel, as they take on the Tailgator,

2:58:35 the top team in the sport. And then the

2:58:37 following night on Friday night, the

2:58:39 Bananas and Clowns will kick off a

2:58:41 threeame series in Great American

2:58:43 Ballpark in Cincinnati. That'll be on

2:58:45 the Clowns YouTube channel. We will also

2:58:47 have it on the ESPN. You can catch it on

2:58:49 the ESPN app, Disney Plus. And as

2:58:52 always, you can catch the Spanish

2:58:54 broadcast on YouTube as well. If you can

2:58:56 understand Spanish, I implore you to

2:58:58 listen to José Chi do Bonitez because he

2:59:01 is as good as they come in that

2:59:02 department. It's going to be tough to

2:59:05 top this wild weekend of banana ball,

2:59:07 but I trust this sport to do just that.

2:59:11 Uh what an insane night we had here in

2:59:14 Lincoln. And thank you so much for

2:59:16 spending it with us in virtual banana

2:59:18 land. I got them out quickly at the end

2:59:21 of our ESPN and Disney broadcast. They

2:59:24 deserve another shout out because they

2:59:25 are absolute superstars. For everybody

2:59:27 in the control room, they are rock

2:59:29 stars. And Chris Haynes, our director,

2:59:32 leading that really incredible crew on

2:59:34 the other side of the Mississippi and an

2:59:36 hour in the future as far as time and

2:59:38 space goes. And right here in Lincoln,

2:59:40 Nebraska, our broadcast produced by the

2:59:43 legend himself with the most beautiful

2:59:45 hair this side of the Mississippi, Mr.

2:59:47 Chad Ree, our executive producer, Josh

2:59:50 Richardson on hand playing a massive

2:59:51 role as always. And down on the field,

2:59:53 Sam Bowman. A legendary performance for

2:59:56 him as well. A big thank you to Josh

2:59:58 Tipsky, Zack Stton. I am Bo Scala saying

3:00:01 so long for now. Cannot wait to see you

3:00:04 in the YouTube chats. Coconuts and party

3:00:07 animals on Thursday night. And Josh and

3:00:09 I can't wait to talk to you on the

3:00:11 clowns YouTube channel on Friday,

3:00:13 Saturday, and Sunday. Until we see you

3:00:15 next weekend, we will see you later.

3:00:36 Heat.

3:00:54 Heat.

3:01:29 That was over.