The Party Animals put Banana Ball on the map in Minnesota
August 1, 2025: Texas Tailgaters 1(5)TP0 ~ Party Animals 2(4)TP4.
While the Bananas and Firefighters were rocking down the house in Charm City, the Party Animals were hosting the Texas Tailgaters in St. Paul, MN at CHS Field. This is the first ever Banana Ball game played in the state of Minnesota.
The Party Animals will start with pitcher Garrett Delano. Delano has pitched over 64 innings in this 2025 World Tour season with 41 strikeouts and a 4.87 ERA. Zach Watson would lead off for the Tailgaters. With an 2-0 count, Watson would pop foul and catcher Andy Cosgrove was able to make a reach over the railing and into the dugout for the first out of the game.
Delano would add another strikeout on Taj Porter. In the bottom of the first, the Tailgaters start with Christian Davis, 13.2 innings pitched, 11 strikeouts and an 8.44 ERA. He will strike out Reece Hampton. Noah Fisher fouls out to a young fan who is a fan of the University of Minnesota and the Party Animals. Of course, some may question one’s loyalty or fandom to a team when you make a play from the stands against them. You can cheer on the Party Animals all the time, but it is not every day that you get the golden opportunity to not only catch a foul ball but have it also impact the outcome of the game. The first inning ends scoreless.
Top of the second, Taylor Justus would get hit by a pitch. Nelson Smith is brought in to run. Extra hitter Mac Danford would then go into a ball four sprint (B4S) advancing Danford to third even though he showed some hesitation when he reached second. With one out, Travis Moniot would line one towards Dustin Baber, who throws to first to get Moniot out but Danford would score. In the bottom of the second, the first three batters, Bryson Bloomer, Tanner Thomas and Jason Swan would each hit singles to load up the bases. Dustin Baber would hit a sacrifice fly to Marcos Castillo bringing in Bloomer. A little controversy with Tailgater Taylor Justus during Armando Baccera’s at bat. Even though Justus thinks he tagged first base, the runner was safe. This is because Justus did not actually tag first base, he only touched the “safety base”. The safety base is an extension of first base into foul territory. This base is extended to allow for a runner from home using the runners late to safely reach first base without having to come into fair territory to touch the first base bag. Despite having bases loaded, the Party Animals were not able to bring anyone else home. This inning ends up in a push and we remain scoreless in points.
Third inning for the Tailgaters. Jordan Hussein would get on with a single by way of left center. Scary moment with pinch hitter Jason Arendt. The first pitch from Dalton Ponce resulted in Arendt’s bat slipping from his hands being hurled right over Ponce’s head. Arendt would eventually get on with a B4S. Nick Lopez would get plunked. Runners now on first and second. Taj Porter would also get a B4S, which brings in two runs, still no outs, runners on the corners. Bret Carson hit one down the line to first. Jason Swan touches the right bag this time, but one more run scores. The Tailgaters would end the half with three runs despite having the bases loaded again. In the bottom half of the frame, Noah Fisher gets on with a single to right, but then Jake Skole hits into a double play to clear the bases. Andy Cosgrove flies out to left to end the inning. Tailgaters get the first point in the game.
Bottom of the fourth, 2 out and a runner on second with a 1-2 count, Dustin Baber hits a foul ball that the Tailgaters may think was caught by a fan. They decide not to challenge it and the game goes on. Baber would eventually go down swinging. The fourth inning was scoreless.
In the top of the fifth with Blake Benson on the bump, he delivers B4Ss to Bret Carson and Taylor Justus. Runners now on the corners with one out. Mac Danford would hit one out to center scoring Carson. The Party Animals would answer through a B4S from Rodrigo Sanchez to Reece Hampton. Noah Fisher could come up to the plate. A failed pick-off by Taj Porter would advance advance Hampton to second. Fisher would end up with the B4S bringing Hampton home. Sanchez would then successfully pick-off Fisher at first. The inning ends in a push.
The Party Animals would score in the sixth through a B4S to Jake Skole off Briain Trepanier. Bryson Bloomer would hit into deep left for a stand up double. Skole was held at third. Jason Swan would hit one into shallow center to bring in Skole and they walk off the sixth inning. The game is tied at 1~1.
The seventh inning starts with Nate Tellier who strikes out the first two Tailgaters. Jonathan Luders would fly out to right to end the half. In the bottom of the inning with John Reid pitching for Texas and two out, Reid would plunk both Sal Jacobo and Reece Hampton. Noah Fisher would roll one under the glove shortstop Jordan Hussein scoring Jacobo giving the Animals another inning. They are now up 2~1.
Top of the ninth, Drew Gillespie on the bump. Jordan Hussein flies out to Noah Fisher in left. Gillespie would the strike out Zach Watson. Nick Lopez would ground to Jacobo, who trick plays it to Jason Swan to put the icing on the cake for the Party Animals.
Party Animals win: Texas Tailgaters 1(5) ~ Party Animals 2(4).
Tailgaters trick plays: 0.
Party Animals trick plays: 4 - Hampton, Baber, Swan & Jacobo.
Showman of the Game: Jason Swan - Party Animals
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Game Replay
All screenshots: Fans First Entertainment. YT @thepartyanimals.bananaball (fair use).
Additional credit: official scoresheets from Josh Talevski (X: @JoshTalevski)