Banana fans

A recent comment about the article I wrote "Banana fans around the world"

I was recently in Chicago visiting and went to a cubs game, I wore a Cubs Hat and my Bananas shirt and after the game, wouldn’t you know it... another Bananas fan approached me, he had a Bananas Jersey on, the white one with the number one on the back! We had to take a picture! Just more proof bananas are being spread all over the place!

Banana fans around the world

Reminiscing about the Savannah Bananas Inagrual Championship season in 2016, I checked my blog(savannahbananas2016@blogspot.com). The blog statistics showed the countries that viewed the blogs and the number of viewers from each country.
United States(7,956),France(2,710),Russia(620),Brazil(528),Indonesia(309),Germany(269),United Kingdom(225),Poland(177),Ukraine(138),and the Netherlands(119).
When the 2016 season started, no one envisioned their would be Savannah Bananas fans all over the world. Today Banana t-shirts can be seen world wide.

Thank you

I would like to thank the Bananna fans and fans across the United States for checking out savannahbananas@blogspot.com
Thanks to the fans for the all time views of the blogs  by the countries listed with the number of views next to their name: Germany(251),Russia(141), Portugal(95),France(78),Peru(48),Brazil(30),Poland(30),Phillipines (28),United Kingdom(22),Spain(8),Canada(7),and United Arab Emirates (8).
Another great season for the Savannah Bananas.

High Point-Thomasville Hi Toms 3 Savannah Bananas 0

Savannah Bananas played their second playoff game Tuesday evening at Grayson Stadium against the High Point-Thomasville HiToms in front of a sold out crowd of 4,009 fans.
For the game the HiToms had 12 hits and their 2 pitchers allowed 5 hits and won the game 3-0.
Leading off the game for the HiToms, Dylan Enwiller,cf(North Carolina) singled and went to second on a wild pitch. A double by Bailey Welch,ss(Appalachian State) scored Enwiller.
In the 4th inning for High Point-Thomasville, catcher Jacob Whitley(Charlotte) led off with a single and advanced to third on a single by Jackson Hesterlee,dh(North Carolina). Whitley scored on a ground out.
The HiToms scored their final run in the 8th inning on a throwing error.
Starting HiToms pitcher Taylor Sugg(North Carolina) (W,3-1) pitched 7 shutout innings, allowed 3 hits, 1BB and 3 K's.
Savannah starting pitcher Jordan Merritt(Citadel) (L,5-1) pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowed 2 runs on 9 hits, 0BB and 3K's. Closer Hunter Phillips pitched 1 2/3 innings and recorded 3 strikeouts.
The HiToms will play in the CPL Petitt Cup Championship August 9th,10th and 11th. Their opponent Morehead City Marlins. Best 2 of 3 series.
It was another successful season for the Savannah Bananas playing in the playoffs  3 conceutive season. Congratulations to the coaches, players, host families, and staff for another great season.

Bananas Head Coach Tyler Gillum and his staff did an outstanding job leading the team to an all time best record of 38-14.
Note: Leaving the stadium, I talked to a HiTom player near his bus and he told me his team has "great hitters and good pitchers" and he enjoyed playing in front of a large crowd. He asked if every game in Savannah was well attended and I told him every home game  was sold out with 4,000 plus fans.

Savannah Bananas 15 Macon Bacon 4

The first CPL playoff game was played Sunday evening(August 5th) at Grayson Stadium between the Savannah Bananas and the Macon Bacon in front of a sold out crowd 4,309.
Bananas hot bats exploded for 19 hits and solid pitching enabled Savannah to win 15-4.
Both teams scored in the 1st inning. Leading off for Macon, Alex  Canty,2b(Southeast Missouri State) doubled, stole third base and scored on a single by catcher Andres Perez(North Georgia).
Leading off the 1st inning for Savannah, Cole Parks,cf(Warner) doubled and went to third base on a single by Clay Dungan,ss(Indiana State) A sac fly scored Parks. Justin Dirden,rf(Southeast Missouri State) singled to drive in Dungan.
Savannah scored 2 runs in the 3rd inning.
Sending 8 players to the plate in the 4th  inning the Bananas scored 4 runs.
Macon scored 2 runs in the 5th inning and scored their final run in the 8th inning.
In the 7th inning, Savannah scored 2 runs. It was a big 8th inning for the Bananas again sending 8 batters to the plate and scoring 5 runs highlited by a 3 run home run over the left field fence by Garrett Delano,dh(Brown)-his 3rd home run of the season.
Savannah starting pitcher, Tyler Follis(W,4-1) Louisiana Tech) pitched 7 innings, allowed 3 runs on 4 hits, 1BB, and 4K’s. Reliever Jason Ruffcorn pitched 1 inning allowed 1 run on 1 hit. Closer Hunter Phillips pitched the 9th inning and gave up 1 hit.
Several players for Savannah had big nights at the plate, including  Dirden who was 3-for-5 with 2 runs scored and 4RBI’s.
The next playoff game is Tuesday(August 7th) at Grayson Stadium with Savannah playing the High Point-Thomasville HiToms.

                                                                     Tyler Follis

Savannah Bananas 2 Florence RedWolves 1

The Savannah Bananas(36-13)  played their final game of the regular season Saturday evening against the Florence RedWolves(22-25) at Grayson Stadium in front of a sold out crowd 4,000 plus.
Solid pitching by the Bananas with 4 pitchers allowing 4 hits helped Savannah win 2-1.
Leading off the game for Florence, Griffin Hulecki,cf(Ball State) walked. A single by Bryson Smith3b(Texas) and  a walk loaded the bases. Hulecki scored on a wild pitch.
Savannah scored in the 2nd inning. Justin Dirden,rf(Southeast Missouri State) reached first base on an infield hit. Catcher Connor Hamilton singled sending Dirden to third base. A bunt single by Connor Basler,2b(Southeast Missouri State) scored Dirden
With 2 outs in the 5th inning for Savannah, Garrett Delano,lf(Brown) hit a home run over the left field fence giving the Bananas a 2-1 lead which was the final score. It was the second home run of the season for Delano.
Starting Savannah pitcher, Anthony Rodriquez(Maryville College) pitched 4 innings, allowed 1 run on 2 hits, 5BB, and 4 strike outs. Reliever Elliot Forde(Misericordia) (W,2-0) pitched 2 2/3 shoutout innings 1BB and 2 strikeouts.
Savannah had 7 hits for the game. Dirden was 2-for-3 with a run scored. Basler was 2-four-3 with 1 RBI.
Playoffs start Sunday evening (August 5th) at Grayson Stadium with Savannah playing the Macon Bacon.

                                                  Garrett Delano(photo by Malcolm Tully).

Bananas/Grizzlies game cancelled

The Savannah Bananas/ Gastonia Grizzlies game Thursday evening at Grayson Stadium was cancelled due to heavy rain. The Bananas return home to play the Florence RedWolves Saturday evening at Grayson Stadium.

Savannah Bananas 6 Macon Bacon 1

The Savannah Bananas(33-13 ) played the Macon Bacon(22-22) Tuesday evening at Grayson Stadium in front of a sold out crowd 4,045.
Good pitching and timely hitting helped Savannah win 6-1.
Sending 8 batters to the plate in the first inning, Savannah scored 5 runs. Highlights of the 1st inning.  With the bases loaded, a walk to Hunter Wilson,2b(Arkansas) scored the first run. A double by catcher Bill LeRoy(North Georgia) drove in 3 runs. The final run scored on a single by Garrett Delano,rf (Brown).
The Bananas scored a run in the 5th inning. Cole Parks,cf(Warner) singled and scored on a double by  Cade Marlowe,lf(West Georgia).
Macon scored their run in the 6th inning. Leading off, Zach Weisz,cf(Cal State Fullerton) singled.
Brandon Michie,3b(Mercer) singled and Weisz scored on an error by the shortstop.
Starting Savannah pitcher, Jordan Merritt(Citadel) (W,4-0)  pitched 6 solid innings, allowed 1 run on 4 hits, 2BB, and 5K’s. Reliever Jason Gifford(Reinhardt) (Sv,1) pitched 3 shutout innings, allowed 2 hits, and recorded 3 strikeouts.
Both teams had 6 hits. Delano was 2-for-3 for the Bananas.
The next Savannah home game is Thursday(August 2nd against The Gastonia Grizzlies at Grayson Stadium.

                                                   Starting Savannah pitcher Jordan Merritt