Louisiana Fast! Season MPI record broken twice in consecutive innings. League MPI record broken.
August 8, 2025: Texas Tailgaters 2(4)TP4 ~ Party Animals 0(1)TP9
First of all, not Banana Ball related; but I want to take a moment to use my forum to make this statement. I want to express my appreciation to the NFL, Falcons, Lions and Fox Sports on how they handled Morice Noriss’ tragic injury in yesterday’s pre-season game. Yes, this is a game but we are also human. Yesterday’s fourth quarter of that game was a true testament of humanity. My thoughts are with Morice Norris and his family as well as to the entire Detroit Lions Family. Let’s move forward and get through this article.
The Party Animals know the right places to party and they sure found one at Louisiana State University, one of the nation’s top party schools. No better than to play Banana Ball with a Party Animals headliner at Alex Box Stadium on the LSU campus.
Party Animals coming in at 37-20 with a 64.9% win percentage and the #1 seed under the recently announced 2025 Banana Ball championship criteria. They are taking on the 4-13 Texas Tailgaters (23.5%), current seeded #3.
Before the game we were treated to the singing of the National Anthem by Elizabeth Burris. There were a lot of comments in the YouTube chat complementing her dress. I agree. That dress is gorgeous. Too Barbie pink for me, but she wears it well. Myself, I will take something more red (or red Michi plaid). Puffed sleeves and petticoats are just a bonus, LOL!
Triple 7 Garret Delano is starting for the Party Animals. Likewise, Christian Davis will be the starting pitcher tonight for the Tailgaters.
The first inning was pretty much 3-up, 3-down. The first trick play was a behind the back catch on a fly to center by Reece Hampton. In the bottom of the first, Christian Davis took down Jake Skole swinging.
Top of the second would start with Bret Carson flying out to Noah Fisher. Next up was LSU alum Zach Watson, who ripped off blue Tailgater uniform to show his yellow LSU uniform as #9 would hit a line drive to Noah Fisher in left, who made a spectacular between the legs trick play. The scorekeeper didn’t give the justice that Fisher deserves. They put it down as a *2 in the book, but it is definitely a *3+ in my book.1
Top of the second, two out for the Tailgaters. Travis Moniot would drop one into mid-center for the first base hit. Dustin Baber would then field a ball hit by Mac Danford. Baber would flip the ball behind his back and throw to first and was not in time. Runners now on first and second. Taylor Justus would send a fly ball out to left Noah Fisher could not field the ball scoring Moniot. Jonathan Luders to short. Sal Jacobo tried for the play at first but threw it too high. This will score Danford. Marcos Castillo gets caught swinging and the Tailgaters brings first damage with two runs that the Party Animals must now face.
Bottom of the second, Andy Cosgrove grounds to Jordan Hussein with a between the legs trick play and makes the play at first. Bryson Bloomer and Tanner Thomas would both go down looking. The Tailgaters win the point.
Animals bring in Dalton Ponce to pitch in the top of the third. In the third and fourth innings, Ponce had six strikeouts while only allowing for one hit. Christian Davis, over four innings had four strikeouts. This game is moving pretty fast.
We’re going to advance to the top of the sixth with one out and fan favorite Indy Stanley hits a solo home run over the left field wall. The Party Animals would answer with Armando Becerra also hitting a solo shot to right. The inning ends in a push. Tailgaters still up 1~0.
This game starts to pick up in the top of the eighth inning. Tre Jones will lead off for the Tailgaters. Jones gets a base hit to right and slides in for two. Jason Arendt would also get a base hit to right. Runners now on the corners. Jordan Hussein steps up. Before the first pitch to him, reliever Peter Holden would pick-off Arendt at first. Jorden Hussein would then pop to Jake Skole in right. The throw home is off line and Jones scores.
Bottom of the eighth with Brett Carson at the bump. Carson has pitched 10 1/3 innings on this 2025 World Tour, has 11 strike outs and only 2 ball four springs and an ERA of 5.23. Jason Swan lines to Jonathan Luders, who then does a little hackeysack with the ball and that’s the first out. Dustin Baber makes his entrance with this trademark chug-a-lug also lines to Luders who does yet another hackeysack. The Party Animals then goes to their golden batter, College World Series champion for LSU, Ryan Theriot. Theriot flies to Jayson Arendt in right. Brett Carson records a 54 second MPI (minutes per inning) for this frame. This is the fastest MPI this season, or is it?
Top of the ninth, the Party Animals bring up closer Drew Gillespie. Indy Stanley, on the first pitch, Jake Skole catches it in right with a tip drill trick play and gets the ball immediately back to Gillespie. Bret Carson, grounds to Jason Swan who trick plays to Gillespie covering first and Drew wants to keep going. Zach Watson, still donning the LSU Tigers uniform lines out to Jake Skole for the third out. This frame was timed with a 44 second MPI. Not only does this set a 2025 World Tour record, but it is also an all-time Banana Ball record for MPI. Gillespie set the previous record of 46 seconds in the 2024 World Tour. The Party Animals fail to score in the bottom of the ninth and the Tailgaters win their fifth game on the 2025 World Tour.
Party Animals and Tailgaters go at it again tonight from LSU starting at 7PM CT, 8PM ET. Bananas and Firefighters from Coor’s Field in Denver will be at 7PM MT, 9PM ET. Double the Banana Ball. Double the fun!! Remember to look for the Michi on the YouTube live chats as @Michi-chan Sports.
Texas Tailgaters win: Texas Tailgaters 2(4) ~ Party Animals 0(1).
Tailgaters trick plays: 4 ~ Watson (2), Hussein, Stanley.
Party Animals trick plays: 9 ~ Cosgrove (2), Fisher (2), Hampton, Skole, Swan, Baber, Jacobo.
Showman of the Game: Christian Davis ~ Texas Tailgaters
Championship seeding
When trick play counts between what is shown in the post game graphic and the official scoresheets, we will use the scoresheet values.
Please pardon if we get a name spelled wrong. Sometimes, I am rushed to write these. Keeping up with four rosters can be tricky sometimes. Thank you for your understanding.
All screenshots: Fans First Entertainment. YT @thepartyanimals.bananaball (fair use).
Additional credit: official scoresheets from Josh Talevski (X: @JoshTalevski)
Game Replay
In the official scoresheet, a trick play can be rated *1 to *3 based on, I guess, awesomeness and skill. *1 being normal and *3 being extraordinary.