Trick play records, fan outs and a rain delay.. but the Nanners still sweep Chi-town. Party Animals sweep Razorback country.
Aug 15: Firefighters 2(4)TP9 ~ Bananas 3(4)TP10, Tailgaters 3(9)TP7 ~ Party Animals 4(9)TP9; Aug 16: Firefighters 2(8)TP5 ~ Bananas 5(8)TP14, Tailgaters 0(6)TP2 ~ Party Animals 5(11)TP9.
It was another crazy weekend of Banana Ball as the road to the championship series continues.
Friday, August 15
This was the Michi’s birthday game and just like the Michi, this game had some crazy factors. Overall, this game has tied the Banana Ball record for the most foul balls out by fan catches (fan outs). This game recorded six fan outs. Four of them were recorded by the Firefighters in the first and seventh innings. In addition, there were two fan outs in the second inning against the Firefighters. The Bananas chocked up the other two. There was controversy on a couple of the fan catches where it was questioned on the field whether it was caught cleanly. Those who know me know that I want to see the fan out loosed up a little bit. Whatever can be caught on the field as an out and be seen by umpires or the broadcast booth should also be considered an out.
The Bananas would take first blood in the first inning through a Reese Alexiades shot into right field. Noah Bridges would try the trick play and would carelessly miss. This puts the Bananas up 1~0, after one inning.
In the top of the third with one out, Mason Maxwell would get hit by a pitch off of Noah Niznik. Next up was Zach Bridges with a two run blast to give The Firefighters a 2 run advantage. Bananas were not able to answer that challenge and now we are tied at 1 point each.
Bottom of the fourth, Kyle Jackson gets on first through the first ball four sprint of the game off of Marshall Shill. Jackson would eventually score on a tapper by Ryan Cox that was fielded by Liam Spence, but Stephen Cullen could not make the play at first. Bananas now up 2~1.
In the top of the sixth, Liam Spence would hit a home run out to left scoring 2. Bottom of the sixth, the Bananas call up A.J. Pierzynski, former Chicago White Sox from 2005~2012. He would ground infield with a glove flip by Liam Spence and a behind the back catch by Stephen Cullen at first for the out. The Bananas could only answer with 1 run and we are tied again at 2~2.
Top of the seventh and Pierzynski comes into the game to catch with Bill LeRoy moving to first. There was a tense moment. With Caden Green at bat and a 1-1 count, a pitch goes inside and hits him in the face taking him down. Without the normal helmet tap (that indicates that he is OK), he was tended to and was escorted off. With two out, the Bananas call up former White Sox World Series champion Mark Buehrle. Pierzynski is still behind the dish. Buehrle would give up a base hit to Dakota McFadden but would be redeemed by a Ryan Cox trick play to end the half.
Bottom of the seventh, Robert Anthony Cruz grounds to Cullen who tried to back hand flip to pitcher Tyler Rigot covering first and the ball was not even close. RAC is on first. Bill LeRoy would get on a trick play missed to South Trimble. RAC advances to third. Eric Jones Jr. would pick up a ball four sprint by Rigot to score RAC. Bananas up 3~2. No further runs were scored giving the Bananas their 34th win on the season.
The Party Animals continues their college tour to the University of Arkansas with the first Banana Ball game played in the state. The game itself was a see saw battle. Bottom of the first, Tanner Thomas would hit a two run jack also bringing in Reece Hampton. The first inning would get pushed. The Tailgaters would pick up the third and fifth innings but then the Animals would then claim the sixth, seventh and eighth innings (the latter with 4 runs). Bottom of the fifth, the Animals will call up former Arkansas Razorbacks football player Peyton Hillis. He would ground to Mac Danford, who walked it to first but also picked up a trick play. Both teams pick up a run in the ninth inning and the Party Animals would win 4~3.
Saturday, August 16:
At Rate Field in Chicago, it was already raining as the second game between the Savannah Bananas and The Firefighters was about to start. Jesse Cole was there to start the clock, but a few minutes into the game with one out, runners on first and second and a 1-1 count on Joe Lytle, the grounds crew comes in to roll out the tarp and we go into an 80 minute rain delay. The clock stopped at 1:57:13. The BTV broadcast, which was also being broadcast for the first time on the new TNT Sports deal which included TruTV and HBO MAX would eventually switch to the Party Animals vs. Tailgaters game for the duration of the delay. I know from fan comments, some fans were concerned that the Party Animals were not going to get any TV time with the TruTV deal. While we will see The Party Animals play for at least four games in October during the Championship series, tonight’s temporary addition of the PA on linear TV was an added bonus.
Before the delay, with Kyle Luigs on the mound, Liam Spence would get a ball four sprint, Dalton Cornett would fly out to center and then a base hit by Logan Lacey to put runners on first and second. After the sky cleared and we were back to Banana Ball, Joe Lytle would complete his at bat with another base hit single to load the bases. Stephen Cullen would get a base hit out to left scoring three. Noah Bridges gets a base hit out to center, but it will be Mason Maxwell who will bring Cullen home. Firefighters get four in the frame. The Bananas were not able to get any runs home and the Firefighters take the first inning.
The Bananas would subsequently take the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings giving the boys in yellow a commanding lead 4~1 points. The Bananas’ inning win in the third was made possible by a solo bomb to right by Robert Anthony Cruz. The only home run in the game. The Firefighters would take the 7th inning, 3 runs to 2, but the Bananas would widen the lead by taking the eighth and winning the game, 5~2 points.
With the topic of fan outs on everyone’s mind, we had controversy in the bottom of the fourth. Jackson Olson would hit a foul ball towards the left field lower deck. The third base umpire called it a bobble. The Firefighters would challenge the call. Biko and Josh would call it as cleanly caught and the call was overturned.
In the bottom of the fifth, Jesse Cole would introduce former White Sox shortstop and then manager Ozzie Guillen. Guillen will take first base coaching activities. Jesse would eventually bring up six-time all star and 2005 World Series champion Paul Konerko.
This game has also made some Banana Ball history as in this game, Ryan Cox broke a Banana Ball record by achieving 8 trick plays in the game.
On the second night in the Arkansas series from Baum-Walker Stadium, the 38-22 Party Animals would dominate the Texas Tailgaters. The Party Animals would take 5 innings and push another inning as both teams would reach four runs in the fifth inning.
Game Stats
Friday: Bananas vs. Firefighters
Bananas win: The Firefighters 2(4) ~ Savannah Bananas 3(4).
The Firefighters trick plays: 9 ~ Cullen (4), Green (2), Lacey, Maxwell, Spence
Bananas trick plays: 10 ~ Cox (3), Jones Jr. (2), K. Jackson (2), Meadows (2), Cruz.
Home Runs: (FF) Spence, Z. Bridges
Triples: (none)
Strikeouts: (FF) Webb (3) (SB) Archer (2), Phillips.
Fan Outs: T1 (3B), B1 (1B), T2 (1B), T2 (HP), B2 (HP), T7 (3B) (ties league record)
Fastest MPI: (FF) Lang 1:07.
Saturday: Bananas vs. Firefighters
Bananas win: The Firefighters 2(8) ~ Savannah Bananas 5(8) .
The Firefighters trick plays: 5 ~ N. Bridges (2), Parra (2), Trimble.
Bananas trick plays: 14 ~ Cox (8), Meadows (3), Olson (2), Hosley. Cox: league record for most trick plays in a single game.
Home Runs: (SB) Cruz.
Triples: (none).
Strikeouts: (SB) Donalson (2), Luigs, Vorhees, Perry.
Fan Outs: B4 (3B).
Fastest MPI: (SB) Perry 1:58.
Friday: Party Animals vs. Tailgaters
Party Animals win: Texas Tailgaters 3(9) ~ Party Animals 4(9).
Tailgaters trick plays: 7 ~ Stanley (2), Luders (2), Watson, Castillo, Danford.
Party Animals trick plays: 9 ~ Swan (2), Bloomer (2), Baber (2), Jacobo (2), Hampton.
Home Runs: (PA) Thomas.
Triples: (PA) Fisher.
Strikeouts: (TT) Carson, (PA) Ponce (3), Delano (2), Benson, Holden.
Fan Outs: (none)
Fastest MPI: (TT) Davis 1:34.
Saturday: Party Animals vs. Tailgaters
Party Animals win: Texas Tailgaters 0(6) ~ Party Animals 5(11).
Tailgaters trick plays: 2 ~ Danford, Luders.
Party Animals trick plays: 9 ~ Baber (2), Hampton, Skole, Thomas, Jacobo.
Home Runs: (none).
Triples: (none).
Strikeouts: (PA) Helton (2).
Fan Outs: T2 (LF).
Fastest MPI: (PA) Holden 2:13.
Season Standings
Game Replays
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 and YT @thesavannahbananas (fair use).
Additional credit: official scoresheets from Josh Talevski (X: @JoshTalevski)