Written by Biko, Don’t Cry Because It’s Over, Smile Because It Happened, Skalla:
I’m not sure there is a greater truth in our world than the fact that time flies when you’re having fun. Another insanely wild, whacky, and entertaining summer in Bananaland is in the books and I feel like just a few days ago the professional World Tour team was playing the college guys in Banana Ball, passing the torch from the men of spring to the boys of summer. And what a summer our boys have had.
For the second year in a row the CPL West went through Savannah, with the Bananas winning the first and second halves in dominating fashion. After posting one of the best overall records in league history and taking home a Pettit Cup with the veteran filled 2021 team, Tyler Gillum and company compiled a much younger squad that didn’t have the Bananaland experience of their predecessors but were hungry and more than happy to buy into everything it takes to excel in the madhouse that is Historic Grayson Stadium. It led to another juggernaut in Southwest Georgia as the Nanners combined their speed, aggressiveness on the bases, great bat to ball skills, a knack for coming up clutch, and another top tier pitching staff in the league to steamroll their way to a second-straight CPL Championship.
It’s a testament to the superb coach that Gillum is and how dynamite his assistants Errick Fox, Corey Pye, Adam Moreau, Tyle Hankins, and Reginald Horton are, that the Bananas can juggle being a team that requests FAR more from its players entertainment wise than any other in the country and can continue to destroy opponents on the baseball side of the operation as well. So as my good friend Tay Zonday is known to say quite often on Intentional Talk: “Let’s go back in time!,” and take a look at not all of the memorable moments that made this summer so magical because that would take at least a week to read/watch, but at least the crème de la crème of another absurdly fun summer in Savannah.
No better place to start than the true passing of the torch from our World Tour fellas to the college guys with the teaching of the “Let’s Groove” dance…
The Bananas alumni had to give a few pointers to the new collegiate team on some TikTok moves…and now both teams are ready to rock for Banana Fest tonight😎 pic.twitter.com/Qhe2zqz2o0
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) May 24, 2022
That one truly warmed my heart. While we’re at it let’s tug on the ole’ heart strings a tad more…
Tonight we got to present the 2021 CPL Championship rings to our 2021 CPL players and coaches! 💍 pic.twitter.com/U489cmTmQS
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) May 24, 2022
With 2021 CPL Championship rings on the fingers of all the guys in attendance who helped bring the Petitt Cup to Savannah for the second time in franchise history, we were ready to play Banana Ball! I promise the updates will be much fewer and further between once we get into the season, but it’s just mind boggling to see Kyle throw a ball behind Armando Becerra and then watch Mando spray a shot the other way…
Come for the brush back pitch from @kyle_luigs5, stay for one heck of a catch from Milhan 💪 pic.twitter.com/pIXdZlAH4L
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) May 24, 2022
This was some serious foreshadowing of the excellent summer Mando was about to have, and the “Good piece, atta boy” from Mr. Luigs on the mic just ties the whole thing together so well.
I think now’s as good a time as ever to see a tale of two catches from this game as Ty makes a Web Gem worthy snag and Jacob Teston makes a… well… he also caught a baseball…
@thesavbananas you vs the guy she tells you not to worry about #savannahbananas #baseball #mlb #fail #fypシ #viral
Not all F-9’s are built the same.
Here’s a classic case of a picture’s worth a thousand words for ya…
Ummmm pic.twitter.com/UZovdP467Q
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) May 25, 2022
Hang that in the Louvre.
And last but not least from Banana Fest, find me a better Harlem Shake, I’ll wait…
The Harlem Shake is 100x better when everyone is wearing a Banana costume. We'll never let the Harlem Shake die. pic.twitter.com/ADzcwiTFSD
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) May 25, 2022
Okay let’s get our tushes to Opening Day what do you say. I personally had just as much fun reliving the unique entrances for every player as I did just getting to see what the starting lineup was and how so many phenomenal Bananas were introduced to Nanners Nation…
The best team in sports deserves the best entrance in sports 💥 Opening Night was electric to say the least. pic.twitter.com/yg59TlM6Fw
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) May 27, 2022
What a murderers row! Now it’s tough to pinpoint the exact time that we all fell in love with Beau Brewer in Bananaland, and while that tiny little puff he got from his smoke thingy in the Opening Day entrance was comical enough, I think the future New York Yankees draftee truly got off on a great foot when he absolutely nailed this walkup to the dish…
@thesavbananas #duet with @beerfarts209 We’re all still little leaguers at heart 🤷♂️ @Beau Brewer #savannahbananas #baseball #mlb #littleleague #fypシ #viral
What a performance by both parties involved.
The first hit and run scored of the summer were both indicators of more great things to come. First, third-year Banana Drew Yniesta while on the mic with Kyle and I finishes a heck of an at-bat with a double and on the next pitch Indiana Stanley does the same…
With the Bananas one win away from winning back-to-back CPL Championships, lets take a journey back to the first hit and first run of this magical summer.
None other than @drew_yniesta mic'd up with a double to right and on the next pitch Indiana Stanley smokes a double too! pic.twitter.com/LudKHZsaNf
— Biko Skalla (@BikoRicoSuave) August 5, 2022
A key part of the offense would of course be the Bananas going on to lead the CPL in stolen bases for the fourth time in Gillum’s fifth year at the helm, and the bag swiping barrage on the league begun with this mother of all steals from none other than our guy Drew…
He takes one bag. He takes another. And then he takes yes, you guessed it, another.@Drew_Yniesta steals first and makes it home to score run number three for your Nanners.
As @Kyle_Luigs5 said "What a hullabaloo that was.." pic.twitter.com/DP3ef2vQFt
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) May 27, 2022
Drew quite simply is THAT guy.
Speaking of THAT guy, the introduction of Tyler Bradt to Bananaland was a pretty decent one, as all he did was set the team-record for most strikeouts in a row in a debut, edging out Bananas legend Dylan Cunningham who had five straight in 2021…
HAVE YOURSELF A DEBUT @tradt88 😤
Six straight Ks from the man on the mound! pic.twitter.com/1tunNT2DFL
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) May 27, 2022
ALRIGHT! Pick it up Biko you can’t show us five videos from every game this summer, man!
I hear you. You are heard. I will pick it up from here. But it was Opening Day! The nostalgia is taking me over and I just can’t help it. Also… Jared Donalson (3 IP), Leighton Finley (1 IP), Tyler Bradt (2 IP), Gage Voorhees (2 IP), and Dylan Cunningham (1 IP) combined to throw the first of the Bananas league-leading five shutouts of the regular season. Good stuff, let’s put it into light speed now Chewie!
The fellas got a day off after Opening Day (well deserved, as per usual) and then welcomed the Bacon into town for the first of 18 matchups on the summer (all that was scheduled for the regular season at least…) I just can’t help myself, I just can’t, you’ve gotta see Drew going first to home on a SINGLE from Beau to kickoff what would be another utterly dominant summer for the Nanners over the only CPL team they share Georgia with…
Green Light Special 🤝 Drew Yniesta
Beau Brewer smacks one into left center field to bring in Drew Yniesta to make it 1-0 Nanners in the 1st! pic.twitter.com/vum6ZmhcCZ
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) May 28, 2022
Green Light Special baby, what a beautiful thing to behold.
Alrighty I think I can get away with just one more highlight from May 28th because Indy hit his first of his league leading four triples on the summer and also the caption on this tweet is a gazillion out of a gazillion…
Indy Stanley and the Temple of Triples 🤠 pic.twitter.com/iLIGx0uWSJ
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) May 29, 2022
Dude simply loves hitting triples and I don’t blame him. I would too if I was that good at hitting baseballs and also that fast.
Oh snap we’re actually not done with the Indiana highlight show because he also made a play so insane it got nominated for a Best Defensive Play Splitsie Award…
Holy. Moly. Indy Stanley is not playing any games. An incredible pick and then a gun down at second to help secure the dub💪 pic.twitter.com/nvu7M7NPyq
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) May 29, 2022
Literally what in tarnation. I stand by my statement in the moment – I’ve never seen a catcher make a play like that in my life.
Let’s take a quick gander at how our pals on the Tik and the Tok saw this one…
@thesavbananas Good baseball is fun baseball ‼️ #savannahbananas #baseball #mlb #fypシ #viral #baseballboys #baseballlife #summervibes
Example number infinity (stay away from me with that infinity isn’t a number nonsense, I haven’t taken math since high school this isn’t what we’re here for) of our Marketing Team being content geniuses. It feels like it was yesterday when this was slapped together by Savanah in the office and put up against another sound as a possibility. Crazy!
Also Blake McGehee got a strikeout on the next pitch to end the ballgame. Bananas 2-0.
OKAY OKAY OKAY, truly strap in because we jump into light speed starting NOW!
All the way to from May 28th to June 1st because I simply cannot ignore the 110% effort from these little rascals at the end of the greatest promotion of all time…
Might need a photo finish on this one pic.twitter.com/R5d94CE5Sq
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) June 2, 2022
SHEET RACE YESSSSSS!!! That’s the kind of finish I dream about on a bi-nightly basis at minimum. Man that video rocks. Also shoutout the two dudes in the back taking the scenic route to the finish line. Quality content all around.
To June 3rd we go, the Nanners are 4-0 now and facing the Bacon for the third time on the summer. Dylan Kurahashi-Choy Foo, please activate super hero mode to keep this game tied…
#SCTop10 #SCTop10 #SCTop10 #SCTop10 #SCTop10 #SCTop10 @SportsCenter @SportsCenter @SportsCenter @SportsCenter @SportsCenter @SportsCenter
Dylan Kurahashi-Choy Foo!!!!! This is the kind of stuff you see in Marvel movies 😲😲😲 pic.twitter.com/SqJOugPpRH
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) June 3, 2022
NA-NA-NA NA-NA-NA! There’s SportsCenter’s number one play of the night (literally, it was) and much more importantly the 2022 Splitsie Award Winner for Best Defensive Play of the summer! So nice, you’ve gotta see it twice!
Alexa, play "Levitating" by Dua Lipa.@dylankcf28 defied gravity last week to make this catch that landed him in the #1 spot on the SportsCenter Top Ten😎 pic.twitter.com/8XlpRL13E9
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) June 6, 2022
Beyond insane! Guy nearly jumped out of Chatham County!
And for all you narks out there who say get a move on with this season recap Biko, TOO BAD, WE’VE GOT MORE FROM THIS ONE…
Everybody loves a little two out rally.
Nanners had some fun and came back in the eighth to secure a 3-1 win and to remain undefeated😎 pic.twitter.com/GLXecW3aMC
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) June 4, 2022
Once again, this team showed it was a really special group early on in the summer. Mando, Ty, and Justus. We’d hear a whole lot more from the three of them for the rest of the regular season and all through the playoff run.
Let’s jet on up to June 7th, because Mando’s got himself a nomination for a Splitsie…
SOMEBODY GET THIS MAN A GOLD GLOVE.
Armando Becerra with a phenomenal catch in center field. pic.twitter.com/C70LB8NKcb
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) June 7, 2022
That man ran a country mile and all he got was an out and a rude greeting from the centerfield wall for his troubles! Funny thing is, Armando wasn’t done…
AGAIN, SOMEONE GET HIM A GOLD GLOVE.
Becerra with another incredible catch in center field!! pic.twitter.com/hXq719Rpr8
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) June 8, 2022
Neither of these plays ended up on SportsCenter, but they should have! I thought singing the music might summon the Top Plays lords to come and usher this double play into their hallowed halls of athletic prowess, but alas my mythical quest failed. What can ya do. Good job catching baseballs that shouldn’t have been caught, Armando.
And a cherry on top of the Mando being a sicko in center sundae is Beau doing a Splitsie nominated walkup to the dish, one that has captivated Yankees nation since the Bombers drafted him in mid-July…
Welcome to Jurassic (Ball)Park 🍃
Who had the best dinosaur impression during Beau Brewer's at bat? pic.twitter.com/elE9AE2zNR
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) June 10, 2022
I don’t think I have to actually say this cause I’m sure everyone’s thinking it, but Vinny Rauso’s dyno impression is Oscar worthy. Honestly surprised Beau even approached him with how fierce that roar was.
To June 9th we go for the debut of a Splitsie nominated promotion, the already legendary Keep Your Job…
⚠️Caution⚠️: collision ahead pic.twitter.com/57W4enNbCK
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) June 10, 2022
As well as Bobby McBride backflipping his way off the field…
In case y'all didn't believe us🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/EkInkQMGmM
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) June 10, 2022
And for good measure a Keep Your Job worthy wipeout from Davis Heller on a spooky slider from Max Bergmann…
Aye you good, bro? pic.twitter.com/xPJu3Qmkok
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) June 10, 2022
Woof. Atta-boy Bergy.
Just a note on June 1oth: The Nanners won 9-7 in 13 innings in Macon over the Bacon. Third-year Banana, Nolan Daniel threw 3.2 scoreless innings of relief from the 9th into the 12th and Nick Foray got the final four outs, striking out the side in the bottom of the 13th. Easily a top 5 win of the summer.
Now to June 11th we go, and this just has to get in here for my dear pal Josh Talevski as there’s not much he loves more than the Rec Spec Boys…
Rec Specs gang 😎 pic.twitter.com/TX3wH87pYS
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) June 11, 2022
And this one’s for me as there’s not much Biko enjoys more in life than watching Indiana hit triples…
HOT DANG🔥 Indy Stanley rakes a triple to bring home two more Nanners. pic.twitter.com/OgMPd3aVhw
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) June 12, 2022
Beautiful stuff.
How about a brief intermission from Stanley mashing baseballs for one of my favorite walkups to home plate of the summer…
@thesavbananas Sometimes you need valet service at the plate… 🚖 #savannahbananas #baseball #fyp #viral #mlb #AmazonVirtualTryOn #ridindirty
That’s a Splitsie nominee if I’ve ever seen one.
Back to your scheduled programming: Now what’s the only thing better than an Indy triple you ask…
IT'S AN INDY PARK HOMERUN!!
Indy Stanley rips an inside the park homerun and Grayson Stadium GOES WILD🔥 pic.twitter.com/60qlT8sq5Q
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) June 12, 2022
I mean the captions just write themselves but another nomination for best of the year right here from our Marketing Queens. Also shoutout Indy for blasting the Bananas first homer at home this summer in the most exciting way possible.
Now let’s boogie on over to June 15th where Indy’s partner behind the dish, The Sherriff, Taylor Justus is gunning down potential base stealers at an alarming rate…
"Strike 'em out, throw 'em out baby" 🔋🔋🔋 pic.twitter.com/S5hCxRw9YV
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) June 16, 2022
Justus is a bad, bad, bad man. He ended his season by throwing out the last six guys who tried to steal on him. That’s pretty unheard of.
I think it’s about time we talk about love. Love?! Why are we talking about Love?! Well I’ll tell you why, rhetorical voice in my head. Because I’m not sure I’ve ever met a team that’s loved each other quite like this one, and here’s one of the countless examples to support that claim…
@thesavbananas Sometimes you just gotta hold your bro’s hands 😌🤝 #savannahbananas #prank #funny #viral #baseball #mlb #ItsGreatOutdoors
Brings a tear to at least one eye, maybe even two.
To the 17th we go, and it’s astonishing I’ve been able to bypass the legendary Reginald Horton content up until now. I can no longer be contained…
Sometimes you gotta stop mid “come on” to reset and then proceed to give the best “come on” you’ve ever given.
Reginald the Absolute Legend. pic.twitter.com/S32GVVXp3s
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) June 17, 2022
He’s quite simply the best person on the planet. Find me a brighter ray of sunshine in a human being and I’ll give you my life savings (I know this is impossible and therefore am not at all afraid to make this claim.)
Okay and while we’re at it how about two for the price of one on two fronts. Let’s jump to June 21st, get another electrifying “COME ONNNNN” and a sweet play from Jack Renwick at short all in one fell swoop…
Four-pitch inning fueled by a "COME ONNNNN" from the birthday boy and legend, Reginald 🤪 pic.twitter.com/P5Bm62xtWI
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) June 22, 2022
This is the uncontainable energy that has powered the Nanners to back-to-back Pettit Cups. You can’t possibly hope to contain him. He’s “The Regend” for a reason folks.
Let’s scoot on over to June 23rd now as a Bryce Madron pinch-hit double leading off the top of the 9th in Macon sparks a 5-run rally to give the Bananas a 9-6 win improving them to 16-5 on the summer, clinching the first half and securing the first playoff spot in the league that comes with it.
The next night, Indy decided a good way to celebrate the playoff birth would be with his league-leading third triple of the summer…
FIRE US UP, @indystanley_ !!! 🔥🔥🔥
With an absolute SHOT to deep centerfield, Indy Stanley officially leads the CPL in triples (3) pic.twitter.com/Sf5hzHK56L
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) June 23, 2022
I don’t know how I’m going to fill the void in my life where Indiana Stanley triples once resided, but I’m gonna need to do something drastic this offseason to quell not just the want, but the need to see more of these.
One thing that certainly will help, is watching this Livan Reinoso pinch-hit triple and Ty Jackson walk-off…
Livan Reinoso and Ty Jackson get the job done👏
Nanners walk it off in the ninth to cap off another thrilling night here in Bananaland. pic.twitter.com/e39N8dxbwN
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) June 24, 2022
Oh yeah that’s the good stuff right there. That’s a video I can turn to in my darkest of “needing more Indy triples in my life” moments.
I think a little highlight video of the best moments of the Bananas first 21 games could do us all some good as well…
Nanners just gonna keep rollin'🍌
A clinched first half secures us a seat in the Playoffs. Now were ready to rock for another fun night in Bananaland. pic.twitter.com/5SBIwL6Woh
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) June 25, 2022
Ty’s the Confucius of Bananaland. That guy’s wisdom knows no bounds.
Now let’s take a quick moment to enjoy a little “Hey Baby” pregame out on the Party Plaza…
heyyyyy HEY babyyy ᵒᵒᵒʰ ᵃᵃᵃᵃʰʰ pic.twitter.com/oYNnTKrR9J
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) June 25, 2022
What a sight! It really never ceases to amaze me.
Oh yeah and then we had Jorge Masvidal as our Weigh-In representative, which was actually one of the coolest moments in Macon head coach Kevin Soine’s life as a die-hard UFC fan who got to square off with Jorge…
No big flex or anything but we just sent @GamebredFighter to be our weigh in guy of the night https://t.co/iTc06gXkMe pic.twitter.com/ZF2zInWlic
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) June 25, 2022
That’s Fan’s First right there, even for an opposing manager!
As we approach the end of June, I think now would be a good time to appreciate one of Bryson Bloomer’s five slick sliding catches this summer…
Bryson Bloomer makes it look easyyyyy.
Some solid defense from the boys to keep the Bacon scoreless after 3! pic.twitter.com/g4VQ9D50ho
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) June 28, 2022
Smooth as silk from the second-year Nanner!
And six innings later we cranked up the difficulty, giving The Boomer a serious distraction heading his way…
Are we having déjà vu or did Bryson Bloomer make that exact same catch 6 innings ago? 🤔🤔🤔 pic.twitter.com/92y8dlCZNU
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) June 29, 2022
Like buttah!
And a little earlier in this ballgame we had one of my favorite 10 seconds in Bananas history filmed…
You're gonna want to keep your eyes on the shirtless guy in the dugout for this one… pic.twitter.com/MsTJFyzeFU
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) June 29, 2022
I think I’ve watched this video well over 100 times. It’s captivating! One of my favorite things to do is pause it at different parts of DC’s belly flop. Always good for a giggle!
Now I’ve gotta include this next piece of content because it’s one of the most impressive things I’ve seen in my life and another great example of how Jestin Jones is simply built different…
Some people are just built different. #CinnamonChallenge
P.S. No Bananas were harmed in the making of this video. pic.twitter.com/xpBNAVl1zH
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) June 30, 2022
That’s the kind of absolute mental fortitude you love to see in a baseball player. Jestin’s will to triumph is stronger than Atlas holding the world on his shoulders.
And then later that evening we had one of my favorite walkups of the summer, a Splitsie nominee of course…
Forget a surfboard, we ridin' tables up to the plate pic.twitter.com/TAITV70trI
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) July 1, 2022
I wasn’t quite sure what was happening but boy did I love it! Also shoutout Leighton for a huge save late in Jack’s journey to the dish.
Anddd two batters later Brody Wortham brings Jack and a couple more friends home as the Bananas finally figured out Ryan Schroeder in a BIG way…
BUST IT OPEN, BRODY WORTHAM!!!
A deep shot to right center scores 3 and the Nanners are sittin' pretty 🤩 pic.twitter.com/sCCkQTLTEd
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) July 1, 2022
That was a cathartic experience finally putting an ugly number up against a guy who had the Nanners number earlier in the summer.
As we cross into July I feel I must share this one as it’s one of the most beautiful and cinematic shots of a battle in the history of film (according to me)…
The outfielders gettin' out of control with these warm ups… pic.twitter.com/NYKJ9ybGHS
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) July 1, 2022
A masterpiece!
And here’s another piece of video that is just about as beautiful as it gets, especially Nick Clarno at the end…
@thesavbananas Replying to @herself.milayah banana #savannahbananas #minions #gru #minionsriseofgru
Clarno doing his minion impersonation is another one I’ve probably watched a few hundred times this summer if I were to give it a conservative guess.
Time to checkout another moment nominated for its clutch-ness at the prestigious Splitsie Awards…
Drew Yniesta with the RBI and the Bananas have officially taken the lead🙌 pic.twitter.com/YDyK76oQqk
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) July 7, 2022
That sparked a 7-run rally and once again was the Nanners getting to Ryan Schroeder big time, something they had failed to do over their first 12+ innings against him.
Here’s one more example of this two-out rally really getting out of hand for Florence…
Did we mention all of this is happening with two outs? 😄😄 pic.twitter.com/nEcB5LgbQ4
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) July 7, 2022
Mama there goes that man again!
The Bananas would send eight guys (Drew Yniesta, Ty Jackson, Armando Becerra, Beau Brewer, Indiana Stanley, Nolan Daniel, Jared Donalson, and Carson Dorsey) to the All-Star game on July 10th, tied for second in the league with the Marlins who both trailed the Tobs (more from them later). The Bananas would lead the West to a 3-2 victory, collecting both the team’s RBI’s and scoring two of the runs to boot. Jared got the win with 2 scoreless innings of work and Nolan tossed a run-less frame as well. All the action was highlighted by Ty and his patented walk celebration…
Ty Jackson walks are must see TV pic.twitter.com/VSFqhfDkdu
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) July 10, 2022
Beau also picked up hitter of the game honors for driving in the winning run and Jared should have gotten pitcher of the game honors but it seemed like the powers that be wanted to spread the wealth and what can ya do about that.
A couple days later and St. Patty’s Day in July had snuck up on us! Here’s quite possibly a top 10 picture in Bananas history for the occasion
babe wake up, it's St. Patrick's Day in July. 🍀🍀🍀 pic.twitter.com/4bIYjmy5p5
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) July 12, 2022
The incredibly sad part about this game was Drew Yniesta being hit in the face with a fastball in the first inning, which broke his nose and part of his cheek bone, ending his season. He was leading the team in runs and RBI’s at the time, and even after missing the last three weeks of the season he ended the summer tied for the league lead in doubles. It was a heartbreaking and scary moment, and a sad end to his legendary three-year career in Savannah. But luckily he was able to have a successful surgery and seems to be on the path to a solid recovery.
Amongst the sadness of the evening was the joy of Drew’s Lenore-Rhyne teammate Joshua “Juicebox” Lanham making his Bananas debut, as the dynamic starting pitcher would go 3 scoreless innings. Then with the Bananas already up big, The Boomer put the nail in the coffin for Holly Springs…
Bryson BOOMER 💥
Bloomer's double unloads the bases and makes it 8-0 Nanners! pic.twitter.com/MrhV7SLHfu
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) July 13, 2022
One more bright spot from the night, as it is every night in Bananaland, was Maceo getting after it in the first base coaches box…
@thesavbananas If your first base coach doesn’t do this… tell them to step it up 😉 #savannahbananas #baseball #fypシ #dance #mlb #viral
Guy can move it and groove it like no other!
Let’s head on over to July 14th now where Livan was ready to hit the Bananas first OUT of the park home run of the summer…
LIVAN RIPPIN' REINOSO!!!!
The 2nd year Nanner absolutely SMASHES the ball over left field fence, tying the ballgame! pic.twitter.com/oSzB1foLkQ
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) July 15, 2022
I will never understand why pitchers point to the sky like their outfielder may have a chance to catch a ball hit well out of a stadium but wishful thinking I guess. On another note, Livan bombs are so much fun. I hope he gets a chance to keep hitting with the Dodgers instead of just pitching because I would like to see some more of these in life.
Another great moment from the 14th was DC and Ryan Kennedy going full secret service and preventing Bergmann from laying a finger on Bryce while he tried to get to home plate…
We must protect our hitters at all costs 🫡 pic.twitter.com/6CWLIQXc6T
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) July 15, 2022
Everything about this is perfect. The casting, the fits, the form in both DC’s football tackle and Kennedy’s shield for Madron up to the dish. Just knocked it out of the park.
Let’s jump a couple more days ahead now for another still image that should be hanging in a museum of some kind or another…
brb, gonna try unplugging our dugout and plugging it back in pic.twitter.com/lbBT8zNpgu
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) July 17, 2022
As the Bananas got closer to the playoffs we had three of our guys yanked from the team by MLB and eight more drafted or signed from past teams (or earlier in the summer in the case of the insanely dirty Carson Dorsey)…
7 Nanners were selected in the 2022 MLB Draft and 4 others signed, for a total of 11 Nanners headed to the Pros! @BikoRicoSuave breaks down each pick and tips his cap to our newest Pro Bananas!
Story: https://t.co/y2jjNtgMpp pic.twitter.com/MpqujPy9EG
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) July 22, 2022
Our guys have started their affiliated careers and it’s so exciting to see them hopefully climb the ranks and join some more Bananas in the bigs!
Now another nominee for picture of the 2022 season…
7th inning snuggles 🥰 pic.twitter.com/ouJgXLOj0t
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) July 23, 2022
Talk about a snuggle bus that I’d like to take a trip on!
Time to hop, skip, and jump over to July 24th where the Bananas had a perfect game being thrown against them by Matt Murphy through 6.1 innings and a no-hitter through 8, so naturally they had to employ Reggie to wake the bats up…
bats asleep? not with Reggie around 👀 pic.twitter.com/egcFDKWsRZ
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) July 25, 2022
The Regend certainly had something to do with what happened in the bottom of the ninth, because down two runs Renwick was plunked and then Bloomer worked a walk to start the inning. They double stole and then Mando missed a walk-off homer by a few feet and had to settle for a sac fly. Then Bryce Madron notched the first hit of the game for the Bananas when it mattered most…
BRYCE. FRICKIN. MADRON.
Madron with the line drive through the right side to tie the ball game!! pic.twitter.com/11XHbYT6wm
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) July 25, 2022
On the next pitch Bryce stole second, and on the pitch after that this happened…
What did we say… DON'T. COUNT. US. OUT.
DR Meadows walks it off for a storybook ending!! pic.twitter.com/kyWb93ny1R
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) July 25, 2022
Legendary stuff. No baserunners until the 7th and no hits until there was one out in the 9th. Another superb example of this team figuring out how to win a game it did not deserve to win.
Now if you’ll remember back on Opening Day we had our first mic’d up double of the summer. In game 46 we had our second…
RUN NUMBER ONE ON THE BOARD.
And it all happened with Indy Stanley mic'd up during his at bat. To top it all off- when he was rounding the bag the umpire picked up the mic to chat a bit🤣 pic.twitter.com/wEPr67ZyYm
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) July 27, 2022
Who else but Indy?!
Then Bryson brought Stanley home and Indy lost the mic but did a heck of a job on the recovery…
Run number ✌ and mic drop number ✌ pic.twitter.com/vyKA0O74Lr
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) July 27, 2022
And another legendary no-context picture from Bananaland…
Casual dugout vibes here in Savannah pic.twitter.com/RGEFbvLdNZ
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) July 28, 2022
All of this led up to the Bananas third walk-off of the summer, although I have to say this didn’t quite have the drama of Ty or DR’s…
TAYLOR JUSTUS WITH THE RUN RULE WALK OFF!!!
BANANAS WIN IT IN 7!!! pic.twitter.com/bCtf5QJu6i
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) July 28, 2022
To the last game of the regular season we go!
It was the first annual Splitsie Awards, and unfortunately for KFC he made this dazzling play at third after we had already compiled the nominees and voting had closed for Defensive Play of the Year…
Dylan Kurahashi-Choy Foo is literally that guy. pic.twitter.com/TChPB2lhMK
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) July 31, 2022
After completing the first ever awards show combined with a baseball game as far as we know, it was time for the playoffs!
Tyler Gillum somehow knew just the right words to fire the boys up for Game 1 of the Western Division Championship Series against the Bacon…
If you had one shot…or one opportunity…to seize everything you ever wanted…in one moment…would you capture it? Or let is slip?
It's Playoff Time. The Boys are Ready. Let's Run it Back. pic.twitter.com/iNFViy7yi4
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) July 31, 2022
TURN ME UP!!!
Unfortunately for the Nanners, no pump speech could prepare them for the Bacon putting three runs on the board in the top of the first inning. Naturally, our boys were not at all shook by the small deficit, and after scoring a run in the first, Indy once again decided to do something crazy…
IN-DY PARK HOME RUN: THE SEQUEL
Indy Stanley gets Grayson Stadium LOUD and adds another run to the board 😤 pic.twitter.com/tn9MYfYdFA
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) July 31, 2022
Absolutely banana pants bonkers stuff!
Then an inning later Ty nearly picked up his first ever Grayson Stadium home run but he would be content with a game-tying triple…
TY JACKSON HAVE YOURSELF A NIGHT.
A triple from the kid brings home the tying run. pic.twitter.com/nDGAt6bsIh
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) August 1, 2022
There just isn’t much like Grayson in the playoffs. The atmosphere is out of this world.
Just one inning later the Bananas would take their first lead of the postseason and wouldn’t trail in a game afterwards. The man who scored the first run of the game would drive in the fourth…
War 👏 Damn 👏 Wortham 👏
Auburn University's Brody Wortham gives the Nanners the lead in the 4th 🤠 pic.twitter.com/yXngpUKZMh
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) August 1, 2022
Another inning in the books and Brody would continue to add to his series MVP case…
STAY HOT, @_bw12 🔥🔥🔥
Wortham knocks in another two to makes it 8-3 Banana Boys! pic.twitter.com/dO9LsRW8FJ
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) August 1, 2022
After the 3-run top of the first, Jared Donalson settled in to toss six terrific innings and Ryan Kennedy would come in for the final three to nail down the 8-3 Game 1 win.
The fellas shipped off to Macon for Game 2 and five batters in were up 3-0. Then Brody secured his Series MVP campaign by leading off the fourth inning with a solo shot to left-center. A DR double, Pearce Howard single, Ty double, and Indy single put three more runs across and the rout was officially on.
Juicebox threw 3.1 innings with just one unearned run, Nolan allowed one run in 1.2 innings of work, and then Jestin and Bobby tossed 2 scoreless innings a piece to secure the 8-2 victory and the series sweep…
"Why not us?" – @tyboooley
Last night's final out to make us the 2022 West Division Champions. See you in the 'ship this Thursday. pic.twitter.com/NZgJCvz69t
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) August 2, 2022
With the Wilson Tobs upsetting the Morehead City Marlins in the Eastern Division Championship, the Bananas got homefield advantage meaning they would ship up to Fleming Stadium for Game 1 and have Games 2 and 3 at home.
It was the first trip in franchise history to Wilson, North Carolina, and the boys didn’t wait long to jump out in front with Justus lining a base hit to center to score Ty and Indy in the second inning.
The Tobs tied it up in the bottom half but the Nanners jumped back out in front on a two-run, two-out double from Mando to bring home Brody and Taylor in the fourth.
Indy doubled in Ty in the seventh to make it 5-3 and then drove in DR in the 9th to make it 6-3. A KFC safety squeeze to score Bloomer and Indiana coming in on a passed ball made it 8-3.
The big man, Gavin Oswald gave up a couple runs in 1.2 innings of work, Zach Smith came in and allowed just one run across 2 innings on the bump and then Kennedy went 2.1 scoreless frames and Jestin threw a perfect final 3, striking out 6 to slam the door on Game 1.
Time to get rowdy for Game 2 in Savannah…
It's go time, boys.
Tonight – Game Two of the CPL Championship goes down in Bananaland. #RunItBack pic.twitter.com/FsqkmpgDVc
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) August 5, 2022
COME ONNNNNNNN!!!! Zack Breaux never ceases to amaze me with his insane editing skills. I’d honestly be shocked if there’s ever been a saucier video editor from the state of Louisiana. Certainly not one I know of and that should just about shut the door on that matter.
Of course it wouldn’t be a game with the Pettit Cup on the line without hearing from our amazing fans out in the world…
We asked Banana Nation to send good luck videos to our players for the game tonight…here are their reactions🤗 pic.twitter.com/WS5vH4PjbA
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) August 5, 2022
One of my favorite things we ever get to do right there. Shoutout to Ty’s mom who had what was in my humble opinion the greatest submission we’ve ever gotten for one of these. I submit the “YAHOOOO” woman at the end as my second favorite submission of all-time.
Once the ballgame was underway Donny threw a scoreless top of the first, Brody laced a double down the leftfield line on the first pitch he saw and a couple batters later DR gave the Bananas a lead they would never relinquish…
Things you love to see: that.
Nanner run #1 across the board! pic.twitter.com/Nyy663xDNG
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) August 5, 2022
Pressure. Bursts. Pipes. It looks like a screaming line drive in the box, Doc!
Ty saw DR’s swinging bunt and raised him a bunt the old fashioned way for a two-out RBI single bringing in Meadows.
Then in the second inning Bloomer peppered frozen rope off the left field wall for a double and came in on a line-drive single up the middle from Mando.
With a 3-0 lead in the third, Ty laced a single to right and Indy worked a walk before stealing second, setting up KFC who put the game out of reach for all intensive purposes…
Yeah, we'll take 5, @dylankcf28 ‼️ pic.twitter.com/hQP2lYU76W
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) August 6, 2022
Pretty apropos for the Bananas season leader in RBI’s to pick up the two that felt like the nail in the coffin for the Tobs.
Donny Day was as glorious as ever, with Jared going seven shutout frames while striking out six. The only inning his offense didn’t score in was the fourth, and they had 10 runs on the board by the time Ty stepped into the box for his last plate appearance of the summer…
OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS. TY JACKSON JUST BLASTED ONE OVER THE LEFT FIELD WALL.
Have yourself a night @tyboooley !! pic.twitter.com/NDnoSE0n6a
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) August 6, 2022
DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES?!?!?! I’ve seen enough now through my three years in Bananaland to make me a firm believer myself. Ty literally never put a ball out of Grayson in batting practice across the last two summers. You simply can’t make this stuff up.
Legendary two-year Banana, Dylan Cunningham was honored by the Grayson faithful after picking up two outs in the eighth. Bobby got the last out of the frame and then the first in the ninth before legendary three-year Banana, Nolan Daniel got his time to shine. NoNo put the finishing touches on another magical summer…
The mission to repeat is complete.
Back to back Champs, baby. pic.twitter.com/fQukKJ2G81
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) August 6, 2022
A banana-pile is one of the most beautiful sights in all the land. Back-to-back champs and three in six years. Naturally, the party was on…
That post championship locker room feeling > pic.twitter.com/Au8qZgpUs6
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) August 6, 2022
And what an incredible party it was. After going 34-14 in the regular season the guys went 4-0 in the playoffs with 8-3, 8-2, 8-3, and 11-0 wins. That’s what the folks at Meriam-Webster would call “dominance”.
If you want to get one of these sweet limited edition championship shirts, the link is right here.
And if you’ve gotten to this point, congratulations!! You’ve made it through another ridiculously long Biko’s season recap! I’ve gotta get out of here before I hit my 5,000 word limit. Just know that I left out so many things I would have loved to include and I can’t imagine this being even one video or picture shorter.
Although our 2022 CPL campaign is complete, there is still plenty more madness ahead in Bananaland before the summer is through! We’ll have a Banana Ball game live on ESPN2 on August 19th at 7:00pm eastern. Then the ESPN+ Bananaland documentary will debut on ESPN2 directly after. It’s going to be a bonkers night. The next five games between the Bananas and Party Animals will be on ESPN+ after the 19th…
It's Coming. Bananaland.
An ESPN+ Original Series premiering August 19th. pic.twitter.com/hG3WXakiz1
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) August 4, 2022
Keep your eyes peeled to Bananas social media for more updates on what the future holds and more celebrations of the miraculous season we just completed!
Thank you for being the greatest fans in the world and making everything we get to do so gosh darn incredible! Can’t wait for the next chapter to unfold. 5,021 words. Whoops. Good luck cutting this down, Kara!