Party Animals snuff out Firefighters to start the Norfolk series
July 24, 2025: Party Animals 4(8) ~ The Firefighters 3(3).
At Harbor Park in Norfolk, Virginia, home of the Norfolk Tides (AAA-Orioles), there was a run fest between The Party Animals and The Firefighters with runs scored in 7 of the 9 innings.
The first three innings were all about the Party Animals. In the first, Garret Delano would start on the bump for the Firefighters and Party Animal Reece Hampton would lead off with a strikeout. With two outs, Jake Skole would single to center followed by a Andy Cosgrove double to bring pinch runner Mark Smith to score the Animals’ only run. In the bottom of the first, The Firefighters would go three-up and three-down with back to back to back trick plays by Dustin Baber, Jason Swan and Sal Jacobo. Party Animals win the inning.
In the second inning, Bryson Bloomer knocks one down the line left, sliding into second. 1-1 count with Dustin Baber at the dish, Bloomer attempts to steal third. The throw from catcher Dalton Cornett to Logan Lacey was missed allowing Bloomer to steal home. In the bottom, Dakota McFadden flies out to center fielder Reece Hampton. Liam Spence lands one in shallow right to get on first. He would get picked-off at first to end the frame. Party Animals win this winning.
In the third inning, a stand-up double by Sal Jacobo and a single by Noah Fisher puts runners on the corners. Delano would then strike out Jake Skole, his fourth K on the night. Andy Cosgrove grounds to shortstop Caden Green who throws to first baseman Stephen Cullen off the bag and misses the tag scoring Jacobo. With runners on first and second, Jason Swan grounds another one to Caden Green who dives to prevent from going to the outfield. Bases loaded. Tanner Thomas rolls one into center scoring two more. Bryson Bloomer would line even another one to Caden Green who catches it to end the frame. Animals have 3 runs on the inning. In the bottom Stephen Cullen would get on first but then was caught stealing. A fly out to right by Caden Green and a strikeout to Mason Maxwell by Bradford Webb would end the inning and the Party Animals would win another one. They are up 3 points with the Firefighters yet to score.
In the bottom of the fourth, Noah Bridges would get on by a tip drill trip play missed by Bryson Bloomer. South Trimble gets on a Sal Jacobo trick play missed. Runners on the corners with no outs. Logan Lacey pops up to Reece Hampton in center. Trimble tags up to score the inning winning run. Firefighters finally get a point to answer the three racked up by the Animals already.
Drama in the top of the fifth. Noah Fisher grounds to Caden Green through the legs and over to first caught behind the back by Stephen Cullen but was called safe because Stephen Cullen had his foot off the bag and never made the force play. A Fan Challenge was made and the original call was upheld. Singles were then made by Jake Skole and then by Andy Cosgrove, who brought in Noah Fisher. Two more runs will score on a Noah Fisher ball four sprint delivered by Dakota McFadden. In the bottom of the fifth, despite a single by Dakota McFadden, it was not enough an the Party Animals win their fourth inning.
Bottom of the seventh, Ron Franklin Jr. sends one to left to get on base. Dalton Cornett will steal first on a Nate Teller wild pitch. Runners now on first and second. Teller would pick up two strikeouts and then Liam Spence would hit one to right center bringing in Franklin to win the inning. This sends Bo The Beaver into a celebration. Firefighters are now down by only two.
Bottom of the eighth, Joe Lytle would get on courtesy of a Brady Kais ball four sprint. A single by Stephen Cullen and an RBI double by hitting one deep left center to the warning track. This will win the inning. Firefighters are now down 4-3.
In the ninth, Sal Jacobo was the only one to get on for the Party Animals. In the bottom of the ninth, golden batter Dalton Cornett would get on first by an error, but it was not enough. Party Animals win 4(8) over the Firefighters 3(3). Party Animals with 6 trick plays (half of those in the first inning alone) and the Firefighters with two. Andy Cosgrove was declared the Showman of the Night batting 3 out of 4 with 3 RBIs.
The fun continues tonight (July 25, 2025) at 7PM with the second game in this series between the Firefighters and the Party Animals. Also tonight at 7PM, the Savannah Bananas will take on the Texas Tailgaters at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Both games will be streamed live on YouTube.
DON’T MISS IT!
All screenshots: Fans First Entertainment. YT @TheOfficialFirefighters (fair use).
Additional credit: official scoresheets from Josh Talevski (X: @JoshTalevski)