Savannah Bananas add some Ohio State flair in Columbus debut, selling out Huntington Park
The Savannah Bananas knew what city they were playing in when they started their three-game series against their usual rival, the Party Animals, at Huntington Park on Friday.
"I heard they're a big football town around here," said Bananas catcher and captain Bill Leroy, before the game. "So, we've got some tricks up our sleeve for that. Can't spill too much, but you'll see it soon."
Leroy's statement proved to be true when the Bananas celebrated taking a 2-1 lead with their own version of the iconic "Script Ohio," traditionally done by the Ohio State marching band.
Instead of a full marching band formation spelling out "Ohio," the Bananas had each letter written out in script on four different canvases while a member of their band played the tuba.
The team that has become a social-media sensation, accumulating 8.5 million TikTok followers since 2020, made its "Banana Ball" debut in Columbus in front of sold-out crowd of over 10,000 and then some. People could even be seen watching from the outfield fence on Nationwide Boulevard as the Bananas defeated the Party Animals 3-1.
While the first pitch was scheduled for 7 p.m., the show started minutes after gates opened at 5:30, with entertainment such as a banana-throw contest between Leroy and the Party Animals' Tanner Thomas, and a "dad body" contest between four fans.
Thirty minutes to game time, the action ramped up, with the whole Bananas squad taking the field for a dance tunnel and their choregraphed team danced to "The Greatest Show" from "The Greatest Showman." The Party Animals followed it up with their own dance during lineup announcements.
Once 7 p.m. rolled around, two hours were put on the clock (Banana Ball rule No. 2 establishes a two-hour game-time limit), and the game began. But the start of the game did not mean the end of the dancing and antics.
Savannah Bananas break single-game trick record
Before the start of the game or show, as Bananas in-game host "The Young Professor" called it, both teams had a goal of setting a single-game trick record, which was 16 prior to Friday.
Tricks in Banana Ball are tracked in the same way regular team stats are tracked in any other sport and could be things such as making a catch while falling, or throwing the ball between the legs to make an out at first.
With the first trick coming at the top of the first with a between-the-legs throw from second baseman Jackson Olson, the Bananas and Party Animals combined for 22 tricks. The Bananas broke the record at the top of the seventh, when Alex Ziegler, the first baseman, made a trick throw to relief pitcher Andy Archer for an out at first.
Game-time action
Coinciding with the game action was the dancing from the Bananas, Party Animals and Vincent the "Dancing Umpire," who was behind home plate. In between each pitch, Vincent showed off his moves, dancing alongside Leroy, the Bananas' catcher, as a new batter stepped up to the plate.
To start the game, Noah Niznik was on the mound for the Bananas, and threw a scoreless first two innings.
In the bottom of the third, Olson was hit with a pitch, sparking both dugouts to come out to the field. Though, not many players were in the dugout to begin with, as they mostly opted to stand in front of it.
While the teams came onto the field of play, Bananas' baseballs were poured out of a bucket in front of the mound and instead of a normal baseball brawl, the teams engaged in a dodgeball fight.
Banana weekend: Here’s everything to know ahead of Savannah Bananas' games at Huntington Park
The Bananas walked off the third with a single to left field, bringing in the lone run of the inning from third base. Banana Ball rule No. 1 states that, "Every inning is worth a point. The team with the most runs in an inning gets a point."
Down 1-0, the Party Animals came out in the fourth and put three runs on the board, starting with an RBI double from Bryson Bloomer. Upon scoring their first run, the whole team came out to home plate and started a "Yes" chant.
At the end of the fourth, the game was tied 1-1.
Despite the Bananas making a pitching change in the fifth, putting Archer and his bag of bows on the mound, the Party Animals' Noah Fisher hit the first home run of the game. This put a pause to the Connect Four game taking place on the third-base line between Bananas' third baseman Danny Hosley and the Party Animals
It took only one Bananas' batter, Eric Jones Jr., to match the Party Animals' home run total in the bottom of the fifth, keeping the inning and the game tied.
Fan involvement
During multiple inning breaks, people from the audience were brought on to the field to do unique variations of classic games, which were hosted by team owner Jesse Cole.
There was the "Peanut Butter and Jelly Race" around the bases, where two pairs met at second and home, jumping together to create a peanut butter and jelly "sandwich" with the condiments on their chests. A first occurred in the race, when one of the contestants hurt his arm on the final jump.
And the winner is...
After the Bananas took a 2-1 lead in the sixth off a walk-off walk, leading to the Script-Ohio celebration, Savannah expanded their lead by winning the seventh 3-1.
In the eighth, the fan challenge, which allows one selected fan to make a challenge, and is established in Banana Ball rule No. 10, was used when Dalton Mauldin was called out when trying to take second on a hit. The three umpires did the "Hokey Pokey" during Vincent's review, but the call on the field stood.
What to know: Savannah Bananas make pitch to always entertain fans
Despite the Bananas being ahead 3-1 going into the ninth, the inning was still played as the rule changed back to regular baseball standards and every run counted toward the team's totals, meaning the Party Animals could possibly make a comeback.
The Party Animals were unable to put a run on the board and the Bananas took the first game. Following the game, the team held their first postgame autograph session of their world tour for all fans attending.
More to come
There are still two nights to come of Banana Ball in Columbus, and according to Party Animal Chase Achuff, expect a little bit of the upcoming games to be different from Friday.
"About 60% of our show will be the same every day," Achuff said. "But we like to keep it fresh, keep it new."
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Savannah Bananas bring Banana Ball to Huntington Park
