Sports
Revolutionizing Fitness
Scientific Backing Miami, Florida–(Newsfile Corp. – January 1, 2025) – Condemned to go beyond its innovative strides in unveiling the FDA-cleared Electro Muscle Stimulation (EMS) training system for at-home use, the SQAI Power Suit is well applicable to such user-demanding technology as innovative EMS and user-friendliness to make available an answer to attend to benefits […]
Scientific Backing Miami, Florida–(Newsfile Corp. – January 1, 2025) – Condemned to go beyond its innovative strides in unveiling the FDA-cleared Electro Muscle Stimulation (EMS) training system for at-home use, the SQAI Power Suit is well applicable to such user-demanding technology as innovative EMS and user-friendliness to make available an answer to attend to benefits form short and intense workout sessions equivalent to a 2-hour gym EMS workout at home in just 20-minutes. Injury Recovery: Get strength and range of motion back after an injury quickly and easily. Media Contact:
Company Name: SQAI
Contact Person: Alec Oliver
Email: support@sqai.co
Country: United States
Website: https://sqai.co Time Effective: The work done in two hours of a gym can be experienced in just 20 minutes.
- About SQAI
- SQAI Power Suit is designed for:
- A Complete Workout: Get most muscles working together while at it – full body workout.
- To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/234585
Portability and Comfort: Designed for home use, the EMS suit is lightweight, easy on the body, and intuitive app guidance for personalized support. Who Can Benefit? Read further to learn about SQAI Power Suit and how it can revolutionize any fitness regimen. https://sqai.co. Transforming the Fitness Journey The SQAI app makes the experience better by providing a personalized plan for workouts combined with the facility of recording progress along with the ability to manage the intensity and duration of every session, which is an exciting concept for many fitness enthusiasts.
- The Future of Fitness Is Here
- Fitness Lovers: Exclusively avail for high-quality workouts without heavy weights and equipment in gym facilities.
- SQAI bases its commitment to excellence on science-backed results in the application of EMS. This has been proven by a plethora of studies, the summary of which is available in the Science section of the company. All of these studies illustrate how EMS encourages muscle hypertrophy and increased endurance in rehabilitation, thereby resulting in minimal physical stress.
- Busy and Professional People: Achieve fitness goals in just a fraction of the time.
This new technology is redefining fitness for busy professionals, athletes, and any individual looking to be a little safer in implementing fast, efficient muscle development and overall fitness improvement. SQAI is a Miami-based fitness-tech firm that devises innovative solutions that inspire people to achieve their health and wellness goals. The flagship product SQAI Power Suit is an FDA-cleared EMS training system intended to bring home the efficiency of professional-grade workouts. Driven by science and guided by a passion for improving lives, SQAI is redefining fitness in the modern world. The recent fitness technology that involves sending electrical pulses to activate muscles by replicating signals transmitted from the brain to the muscle’s outcome: has far greater efficacy than traditional resistance training. This technology is nothing new; for many decades, professional athletes and physical therapists have used it for hasting and low-impact benefits. The Power of EMS at Home “The SQAI Power Suit is more than just fitness equipment-it’s a game-changer for health and wellness,” said Alec Oliver, CEO of SQAI. “We’re on a mission to empower people of all fitness levels to achieve their goals more efficiently, safely, and conveniently. Whether you’re an elite athlete, a busy parent, or someone recovering from an injury, our EMS technology adapts to your needs.” The key advantage SQAI brings with Power Suit is democratizing the technology so that everyone can enjoy: Athletes: Activates specific muscles and helps improve performance and enhance recovery.
Sports
Pellicoro Advances to NCAA Championships in 800m
Story Links College Station, Texas — Laura Pellicoro is headed to Eugene. The senior earned her spot at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships with a strong performance in the 800m quarterfinal on Saturday evening at the West Regional. Pellicoro placed second in her heat and third overall […]
College Station, Texas — Laura Pellicoro is headed to Eugene. The senior earned her spot at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships with a strong performance in the 800m quarterfinal on Saturday evening at the West Regional.
Pellicoro placed second in her heat and third overall with a time of 2:01.44. She earned an automatic qualifying spot by finishing among the top three in her heat. She will compete on the national stage at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon on June 11–14.
Pellicoro will be joined in Eugene by Matt Strangio, who qualified yesterday in the men’s 5,000m after winning his semifinal in a facility record time.
2025 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships West First Round
College Station, Texas (E.B. Cushing Stadium)
May 28-31, 2025
Wednesday, May 28
Men’s 1,500m First Round
8. Mark Milner, 3:46.65
44. Jonas Price, 3:58.32
Men’s 10,000m Semifinals
32. Jona Bodirsky, 29:23.75
46. Bradley Peloquin, 31:12.92
Thursday, May 29
Women’s 800m First Round
3. Laura Pellicoro, 2:03.55
Women’s 10,000m Semifinals
24. Juliette Forstrom, 35:09.34
Friday, May 30
Men’s 1,500m Quarterfinal
20. Mark Milner, 3:50.34
Men’s 3,000m Steeplechase Quarterfinals
33. Giuliano Scasso, 9:07.72
Men’s 5,000m Semifinals
1. Matt Strangio, 13:25.98 (Facility Record)
Saturday, May 31
Women’s 800 Quarterfinal, 5:05 PM (PT)
3. Laura Pellicoro, 2:01.44
Sports
USD sprinter punches ticket on final day of NCAA West Prelims
Story Links COLLEGE STATION, Texas –South Dakota’s Sara Reifenrath grabs a ticket to Eugene to highlight the final day of the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds for Summit League athletes. North Dakota Jadyn Keeler (5,000 meters), Kenna Curry (discus) and Frida Giersdorff (3,000-meter steeplechase) wrapped up North Dakota’s stay at the NCAA West Preliminary Round on Saturday. […]
COLLEGE STATION, Texas –South Dakota’s Sara Reifenrath grabs a ticket to Eugene to highlight the final day of the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds for Summit League athletes.
North Dakota
Jadyn Keeler (5,000 meters), Kenna Curry (discus) and Frida Giersdorff (3,000-meter steeplechase) wrapped up North Dakota’s stay at the NCAA West Preliminary Round on Saturday.
Keeler came less than three seconds shy from qualifying for the NCAA Championships in the 5,000 meters and finished 14th in 16:04.12. The final qualifying spot in her heat went to Zofia Dudek of Stanford with a time of 16:01.80. By competing in the 5,000 meters at the NCAA West Regional, Keeler became the first athlete in school history to compete in the event at the regional.
On Thursday night, Keeler punched her ticket to the national championship meet in the 10,000 meters and had the fifth-fastest time (34:07.67) at the meet. By qualifying for nationals, she became the first women’s distance runner in UND’s Division I history to qualify for the NCAA Championships.
Curry finished 29th in the discus with a toss of 170-9 (52.05m). She is just the fifth Hawk on the women’s team to compete in the event at the NCAA West Regional and her throw was good for the second-furthest throw at the meet in school history, trailing only Destine Rose-Haas’ throw of 176-0 (53.65m) in 2021. By throwing the discus on Saturday, Curry became the first athlete in school history to throw the discus, hammer and shot put all at the NCAA West Preliminary Round in the same year.
The thrower from Elk Point, S.D., qualified for the NCAA Championships on Thursday in the hammer throw with a toss of 208-2 (63.44m) at the NCAA West Preliminary Round. By qualifying for the NCAA Championships, Curry became the second UND thrower to qualify for the meet in UND’s Division I history, joining Molli Detloff, who competed at the national meet in the hammer throw in both 2017 (sixth) and 2019 (12th). On Thursday evening, Curry returned to the E.B. Cushing Stadium to take part in the shot put, where she finished 24th with a throw of 51-3 (15.62m).
Curry came into the meet on Saturday as the No. 40 seed in the discus and qualified for the regional with her toss of 172-2 (52.48m) at the USD Tune-Up. Her throw at that meet won the event crown and improved her No. 5 mark on the UND top-10 list.
Giersdorff took 39th in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 10:41.44. She became the first UND distance runner on the women’s side to compete in the steeplechase at the NCAA West Regional in back-to-back years, also taking 45th in 11:15.85 at the meet last season. Giersdorff remains just the second Hawk on the women’s side to compete in the steeplechase at the meet in program history and her time of 10:41.44 beat the previous best time in the event at the NCAA West Preliminary Round, which was 10:51.59 by Keeler last year.
The German steeplechaser entered the meet as the No. 39 seed after clocking a time of 10:18.85 at the Bryan Clay Invitational. With that time, she shattered the school record and took eighth in the open section with a PR. Her time destroyed the previous school record of Keeler, who set it at 10:28.86 at the 2024 Summit League Outdoor Championships.
Keeler and Curry will conclude North Dakota’s season at the NCAA Outdoor Championships on Thursday, June 12.
North Dakota State
Sophomore Arienne Birch and freshman Nyariek Kur concluded competition for the North Dakota State women’s track & field team at the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds on Saturday afternoon.
Birch cleared 5-11.25 (1.81m) to tie for 12th in the high jump, but lost in a jump-off for the final qualifying spot to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene.
Kur placed 39th in the triple jump with a mark of 40-08.75 (12.41m). She ends the season ranked fourth in NDSU outdoor history.
South Dakota
On the final day of the NCAA West First Rounds in College Station, Texas, the Coyotes had their fourth qualifier for the NCAA Championships, and it came on a school record performance from Sara Reifenrath.
Reifenrath, a senior from Hartington, Nebraska, broke her own 400-meter school record Thursday night to advance to Saturday’s quarterfinal round race. She had to best her own record yet again Saturday to make the NCAA Championships in Eugene, and she did that by running 51.91 to place 11th.
She became the first Coyote woman to run under 52 seconds with the performance Saturday. She also competed in the 200-meters, where her time of 23.36 placed her 17th.
Also on the track Saturday, Averi Schmeichel ran a personal best 57.32 in the 400-meter hurdles that ranks her second in South Dakota history in the event. That time placed her 13th in the quarterfinal, missing on making the NCAA Championships by .18 seconds.
In the field events, Lydia Knapp placed 36th in the discus with a throw of 165-7 (50.47m). She took 13th in the hammer throw on Thursday. Danii Anglin tied for 36th in the high jump with a 5-7 ¼ (1.71m) clearance.
Four South Dakota track and field athletes will compete at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon June 11-14. Tre Young represents the Coyote men in the pole vault. Anna Willis and Gen Hirata represent the Coyote women’s pole vault squad and Reifenrath will compete in the 400-meters.
South Dakota State
Senior Madison Kizer competed in the high jump on Saturday afternoon to conclude competition for the South Dakota State women’s track & field team at the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds. Kizer cleared 5-07.25 (1.71m) to take 31st in the event. Kizer also finished her collegiate career, but will live on in SDSU history as the senior tied the program record of 5-10.75 earlier this season.
Sports
Trans athlete wins 2 girls events at California track and field finals
CLOVIS, Calif. — A transgender athlete bested the competition Saturday at the California high school track and field championship to take home gold in the girls high jump and the triple jump at a meet that has stirred controversy and drawn national attention. AB Hernandez competed under a new rule change that may be the […]
CLOVIS, Calif. — A transgender athlete bested the competition Saturday at the California high school track and field championship to take home gold in the girls high jump and the triple jump at a meet that has stirred controversy and drawn national attention.
AB Hernandez competed under a new rule change that may be the first of its kind nationally by a high school sports governing body. California’s governing body changed the rules ahead of the meet to allow more girls to compete and medal in events in which Hernandez competed.
Hernandez finished the high jump with a mark of 5 feet, 7 inches (1.7 meters), with no failed attempts. Co-winners Jillene Wetteland and Lelani Laruelle also cleared that height after each logged a failed attempt. The three shared the first-place win, smiling as they stepped together onto the podium.
Hernandez wrapped up the night with a first place finish in the triple jump, sharing the top spot with Kira Gant Hatcher who trailed by just over a half-meter. Earlier in the afternoon, Hernandez placed second in the long jump.
Olympians Marion Jones and Tara Davis-Woodhall previously set state championship records in the long jump in 1993 and 2017, respectively, both surpassing 22 feet (6.7 meters). This year’s winner, Loren Webster, topped 21 feet (6.40 meters), with Hernandez trailing by a few inches.
The California Interscholastic Federation announced the new policy earlier this week in response to Hernandez’s success heading into the championships. Under the policy, the federation allowed an additional student to compete and medal in the events where Hernandez qualified.
The two-day championship kicked off Friday in sweltering heat at a high school near Fresno. Temperatures reached the triple digits during Saturday’s finals.
The atmosphere was relatively quiet despite critics — including parents, conservative activists and President Donald Trump — calling for Hernandez to be barred from competing. Some critics wore pink bracelets and T-shirts that read, “Save Girls’ Sports.”
During Friday’s qualifying events, an aircraft circled above the stadium for more than an hour with a banner: “No Boys in Girls’ Sports!” Two groups that oppose transgender athletes participating in women’s sports — the Independent Council on Women’s Sports and Women Are Real — took credit for flying the banner.
California at center of national debate
The federation’s rule change reflected efforts to find a middle ground in the debate over trans girls’ participation in youth sports.
“The CIF values all of our student-athletes and we will continue to uphold our mission of providing students with the opportunity to belong, connect, and compete while complying with California law,” the group said in a statement after announcing its rule change.
A recent AP-NORC poll found that about 7 in 10 U.S. adults think transgender female athletes should not be allowed to participate in girls and women’s sports at the high school, college or professional level. That view was shared by about 9 in 10 Republicans and roughly half of Democrats.
The federation announced the change after Trump threatened to pull federal funding from California unless it bars trans female athletes from competing on girls teams. The federation said it decided on the change before then.
The U.S. Department of Justice also said it would investigate the federation and the district that includes Hernandez’s high school to determine whether they violated federal sex discrimination law.
California law allows trans students to compete on sex-segregated sports teams consistent with their gender identity.
The federation said the rule opens the field to more “biological female” athletes. One expert said the change may itself be discriminatory because it creates an extra spot for “biological female” athletes but not for other trans athletes.
The federation did not specify how it defines “biological female” or how it would verify whether a competitor meets that definition.
Sophia Lorey, outreach director with California Family Council, was among those at the stadium Saturday. She said the federation’s policy is not a fix for the issue and only ends up causing more confusion.
“At the end of the day,” Lorey said, “it shows the girls that we know this is wrong and we’re still letting it happen to you.”
Hernandez told the publication Capital & Main this month that she cannot worry about critics.
“I’m still a child, you’re an adult, and for you to act like a child shows how you are as a person,” she said.
Other students break records
California’s championship stands out from that of other states because of the sheer number of competitors. The state had the second-largest number of students participating in outdoor track and field in the nation during the 2023-2024 school year, behind Texas, according to a survey by the National Federation of State High School Associations.
The boys 100-meter heats also were a highlight, with junior Jaden Jefferson of De La Salle High School in Concord finishing in 10.01 seconds Friday, 0.19 seconds faster than a meet record set in 2023. But he fell just shy of making it count as a meet record with a final time of 10.27 seconds in Saturday’s final.
Athletes set new meet records in several events, including boys and girls relay races, hurdle competitions and the boys pole vault.
Sports
Why Savannah Bananas tickets cost more than a Dodgers
In a region where baseball is king, the long-awaited rematch of last year’s World Series between the Dodgers and Yankees is unfolding. Ohtani. Judge. Two of the game’s best, facing off once more. But just down the 5 Freeway in Anaheim, the home of Disney, the hottest ticket in baseball this weekend belongs to a […]
In a region where baseball is king, the long-awaited rematch of last year’s World Series between the Dodgers and Yankees is unfolding. Ohtani. Judge. Two of the game’s best, facing off once more.
But just down the 5 Freeway in Anaheim, the home of Disney, the hottest ticket in baseball this weekend belongs to a stilted pitcher, juggling infielders and a yellow-suited, top hat-wearing carnival barker.
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For back-to-back nights, more than 45,000 fans packed the Big A to see the Savannah Bananas — a team born from a small-time collegiate summer team that became a tour de force that has forever changed baseball. It was one stop during the Bananas’ most audacious barnstorming effort since their baseball traveling show hit the road just a few years ago.
The Savannah Bananas celebrate amid confetti after beating the Firefighters at Angel Stadium on Friday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times)
These tickets were only available through a lottery — reserved months in advance. And when they went on sale, all were gone in an instant. The only way in was through the resale market, where just hours before first pitch on Friday, the lowest price (fees and taxes included) for a pair of tickets on StubHub was $209.52.
Meanwhile, two lowest price StuHub tickets for the Dodgers versus Yankees game were available for $171.72.
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All for the sake of “Banana Ball.”
This baseball game is a ballyhoo. One rooted in the thrills, energy and pageantry of early 20th-century carnivals, but with a 21st-century twist — the atmosphere of a TikTok reel brought to life. It’s the showmanship of Ringling Brothers Circus combined with the athletic flair of the Harlem Globetrotters.
Read more: Meet the Savannah Bananas, who’ve captivated fans and MLB. ‘We exist to make baseball fun’
But above all, it’s a brand built on Walt Disney’s blueprint— not just to entertain, but to make the audience feel.
“When you look at all the touch points — the joy, the fun, the dancing, the celebrating — and think about all the different stages, just like Walt, we think about all the stages: from the parking lot to the plaza, to the upper deck, to the dugouts,” said Bananas owner Jesse Cole, the man in the top hat. “How do we make someone feel something?”
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Instead of lounging in a cushy, air-conditioned owner’s suite, Cole is in the dugout hours before showtime — a Disney-like archetype, his energy as vibrant as his layered, all-yellow suit, braving the afternoon heat.
Savannah Bananas founder and owner Jesse Cole leads the crowd in a cheer as his team takes on the Firefighters at Angel Stadium on Friday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times)
“Nonstop,” Cole said, describing Banana Ball in a nutshell. Refusing to sit, not wanting to lose an ounce of edge, he added, “It’s all about energy. We want to give people energy, delivering it every second, from the moment we open the gates at two o’clock until the last fan leaves at 11.”
While gates opened at 2 p.m., fans began arriving as early as 11 a.m. — clamoring for a shot at Banana-themed merchandise, many leaving the team tents with bags in both hands. In the parking lot, two young boys passed the time playing catch, gloves in hand.
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As the afternoon wore on and the temperature climbed to 91 degrees, crowds trudged through the heat, some seeking refuge beneath the oversized Angels helmets at the stadium entrance, all for a chance to meet their favorite Banana Ballers. At the pregame plaza party, fans collected autographs, posed for photos and presented handmade gifts to players.
Savannah Bananas mascot Split marches through the crowd before the team’s game against the Firefighters at Angel Stadium Friday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times)
When the gates opened, the LaCaze family pointed out their 9-year-old daughter’s favorite player, David “DR” Meadows. Decked out in her signed Meadows jersey, Carrigan LaCaze ran into his arms, with glove and oversized baseball clutched tightly and began speaking with him as if they were old friends.
“I ran to DR, and we started hugging and just started talking for a while because I missed him,” Carrigan LaCaze said. “Tomorrow is actually one year on the dot since I met him.”
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A Christmas road trip planned around the holidays, the family of four traveled across three states from their home in Alexandria, La., to Anaheim for two reasons: to visit Disneyland and see the Bananas. It was their second game — the family first saw the Bananas in the club’s hometown of Savannah, Ga., when Carrigan, who is battling cystic fibrosis, was granted a Make-A-Wish experience so meaningful it was a no-brainer to relive it.
“It’s great,” her father, Pierre LaCaze, said of the player interactions. “We’ve gotten to keep track with some of them during the course of the year. We come back, we see them again. You know they’re truly about the fans.”
Rainer Easton, 11, tries to catch a yellow “Banana Ball” from the stands before the Savannah Bananas take on the Firefighters at Angel Stadium on Friday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times)
The Bananas don’t sell tickets. They sell connections, moments and memories.
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For Cole, meetings are a constant brainstorming session on how to keep fans engaged and interacting. That’s how he measures success. He says when the focus shifts to transactions, the game begins to lose its meaning.
“Our success is not judged by revenue,” Cole said. “It’s not judged by sales. It’s judged by the moments we create.”
But the numbers don’t lie.
The last time the Bananas came to Southern California, they played in front of 5,000 fans at LoanMart Field in Rancho Cucamonga in 2023 — a far cry from now selling out 18 major league ballparks and three football stadiums with capacities over 70,000.
Fans fill the stands as the Savannah Bananas take on the Firefighters in front of a sold out crowd Friday at Angel Stadium. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times)
Attendance has soared year after year. Last season, the Bananas drew one million fans. This year, that number is expected to double, with more than three million people on the waitlist for their ticket lottery. Every game since February has sold out and every date in June and July is as well.
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Michael and Melinda Schulteis, a husband and wife from Mission Viejo, were there the last time the Bananas came to town. When they heard the team was returning, they knew they couldn’t miss it.
“The intimate atmosphere at the last event was great,” Melinda Schulteis said. “But I’m curious, because they do such a good job putting on events, what touches are they going to add to still keep it close and intimate and give us another great experience?”
Read more: What is Banana Ball? Here are the Savannah Banana rules of the game
As the Bananas’ success and reach have grown, spilling out from cozy minor league parks into stadiums not built for intimacy, the games still feel like family gatherings. Whether serenading players with stadium anthems like Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” or the waving of phone lights to Coldplay’s “Yellow,” the crowd moves in sync, no matter the tune.
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While they’re a privately owned team and don’t disclose revenue figures, they’ve confirmed generating millions. Much like their box office appeal, their social media reach extends into the millions as well.
The Savannah Bananas perform a kick line before taking on the Firefighters at Angel Stadium on Friday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times)
Their antics — choreographed dances, lip-synced walk-ups, backflip outfield catches — have attracted nearly 10 million followers on TikTok, almost double the combined total of the Dodgers and Angels. That viral mastery, and the parasocial bonds it fosters, is part of what makes every game feel tight-knit.
With his glove by his side, hoping to catch a foul ball for an out — one of the many offbeat rules of Banana Ball — Michael Schulties was disappointed he missed his favorite player, RobertAnthony Cruz, whom he first discovered on social media through his baseball coaching channel, better known as “Coach RAC.”
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Cruz, who drew the longest meet-and-greet line, is a former minor leaguer in the Nationals’ farm system and a local — born just an hour away in Fontana. The game was a homecoming for Cruz, who joined the Bananas in 2023.
With more than 70 family members and friends in attendance — and even more social media direct messages asking for tickets — playing in big league stadiums has become a dream come true, especially for a former minor leaguer whose baseball ambitions nearly died when he never got the call to the show.
Savannah Bananas pitcher Correlle Prime delivers at Angel Stadium on Friday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times)
Behind all the gimmicks, wackiness and absurdity, the roster is still filled with ballplayers — many of them with unrealized MLB dreams — now finding a second life through Banana Ball. And for Cruz, it’s the happiest he’s ever been in the sport.
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“I never would have imagined playing in this capacity,” Cruz said. “Banana Ball didn’t even exist when I was pursuing my dream of professional baseball. To be here, to see a sold-out crowd at a stadium that I went to growing up all the time, it’s very special.”
As the team travels the nation, sold-out crowds and newfound stardom have become the norm for Cruz.
“I’m not surprised by anything anymore,” Cruz said. “If you told me that we’re playing on the moon next year, I’d be like, ‘All right, cool. Let me know when and where, and I’ll be there’ … I wouldn’t be surprised if this thing continues to grow at an unprecedented rate.”
Read more: It’s time for Banana Ball! The story of the Savannah Bananas
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Despite their growing success, the Bananas’ brand of baseball remains polarizing — an easy target for detractors of zaniness, gatekeepers of fun and opponents of pizzazz who either don’t understand it or refuse to see its appeal.
“Anybody that criticizes this, we’re not for them,” Cole said. “There’s tradition in baseball, perfect. They’ve got Major League Baseball. … For people that want to come out and have fun, not take themselves too seriously and see something they’ve never seen before — and hopefully see the greatest show in sports — we built something for you.”
The formula works. And again, the numbers don’t lie.
The Savannah Bananas’ Jackson Olson celebrates a Troy Glaus base hit while the Bananas take on the Firefighters at Angel Stadium on Friday. Comedian Bert Kreischer celebrated behind the Bananas in the dugout. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times)
Yes, the Savannah Bananas’ brand of baseball is far too outlandish ever to be compared to the major leagues — from flaming baseballs, rump-shaking umps and dress rehearsals. That’s the point. It all feels like something conjured from the wildest dreams of the late Bill Veeck’s imagination found a home, in a good way.
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With many of the Banana Ball’s 11 rules — like an automatic strike when hitters step out of the box or ejecting bunting hitters because bunting “sucks” — are grounded in some sports-based logic, the innovations remain sacrilegious to baseball purists.
But for a fleeting moment in December, Major League Baseball and Banana Ball were almost linked.
In Banana Ball, the Golden Batter rule allows teams, once per game, to send their best hitter to the plate regardless of where they fall in the batting order.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred caused a stir when he floated a potential seismic rule by floating, making an offhand comment about the golden batter rule. Manfred later clarified it was merely “a very preliminary conversation” among members of the league’s competition committee and had not been formally discussed by the full ownership group.
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A far-fetched idea, but Manfred has ushered in sweeping changes, from the widely praised pitch clock to the more contentious extra-inning “ghost runner.”
“Anything that’s best for the fans, I’m all in,” Cole said of its potential. “I know Major League Baseball won’t do it because of traditions, but … we’ve had a lot of fun doing it.”
The Firefighters run on the field before taking on the Savannah Bananas at Angel Stadium on Friday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times)
But MLB would be behind the Bananas, who already introduced their version of the rule last season with a typical flair and showmanship. Their spin on it is a batter summoned from the dugout wearing a James Brown-esque cape and a gleaming golden helmet — an honor that went to Joe Lytle, who came to bat in the top of the ninth for the Bananas’ Anaheim opponent, the Firefighters.
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Ultimately, in a game where the score isn’t the end-all, be-all — but the fun is — the Bananas beat the Firefighters 5–2.
Like any other Bananas game, the festivities took center stage. It began with the “First Peel,” a signature ceremony in which a young fan bites into a banana to declare whether it’s good or bad — setting the tone for the night.
Read more: How do the Savannah Bananas draw sold-out crowds? Five fun facts about the team
Heisman Trophy winner and USC legend Matt Leinart threw out the ceremonial first spiral (because, of course, he did). And in true fashion, Angels World Series MVP Troy Glaus made a surprise cameo as a pinch hitter.
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But what was more important was the trip to Anaheim, a fitting one for Cole and Co.
The team that opened its season lip-syncing “Be Our Guest” from the Disney classic “Beauty and the Beast” — and its owner, cut from the same theatrical cloth as Disney — were celebrated a visit to the Happiest Place on Earth — Disneyland.
Savannah Bananas founder and owner Jesse Cole provides color commentary during the baby race between innings at Angel Stadium on Friday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times)
Greeted by fans in yellow gear, Cole’s creation — the Bananas — marched in step down Main Street U.S.A., alongside Walt’s own — Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck.
“When I walked underneath the castle and over the bridge and in front of thousands of people, they were all there for us,” Cole said. “Then I look and see Walt’s statue, holding the hand of Mickey, and I see that and I’m like, ‘This is special.’”
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It was a full-circle moment for Cole, who became “immersed in the magic” after his first trip to Disney World as a kid — and who now says, “In a perfect world, I’d play catch with Walt on Main Street.” Serendipity.
“For me, that was an emotional moment — to know that we have worked so hard to create something that means something to people, that they come from all over the country just for a chance to see us,” Cole added.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Sports
Indiana University Athletics
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Former Indiana libero Paula Cerame was named among the initial 19-player preliminary Puerto Rican women’s national team roster, as announced by the organization on Saturday (May 31) evening. Team Puerto Rico is set to compete in four major events this summer on the women’s side – including the 2025 FIVB Women’s […]
Team Puerto Rico is set to compete in four major events this summer on the women’s side – including the 2025 FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Championships in Thailand in August. Cerame has spent most of her collegiate and professional tenure training with her native country.
Cerame, who racked up over 990 digs in two seasons with the Hoosiers, is coming off her second season in the Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF). She played in the inaugural campaign with Orlando and spent this last year with Columbus – primarily as the team’s starting libero.
Head coach Steve Aird, a native Canadian, has brought a ton of international flare to Bloomington during his tenure as head coach. There will be two foreign players on this year’s roster – veteran outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles (Spain) and highly-regarded youth setter Teodora Krickovic (Serbia).
On top of the World Championships, Puerto Rico will also compete in the NORCECA Final Six and the Pan American Cup. Cerame’s former teammate, Mady Saris, will play with Team Canada’s roster in the Volleyball Nations League this summer. Krickovic and incoming outside hitter Charlotte Vinson (USA) will train with their respective youth national teams before joining the team this summer.
Sports
Bradley Announces Season Ticket Availability for Fall and Winter Sports
Peoria, IL — Bradley Athletics announces season ticket availability for Soccer, Volleyball, Men’s Basketball and Women’s Basketball. Bradley Athletics season tickets are now available for Soccer, Volleyball Men’s basketball and Women’s basketball. Season tickets for Soccer and Volleyball are all general admission and start at $50. Women’s basketball general admission tickets are $75. Women’s Basketball Season […]
Bradley Athletics season tickets are now available for Soccer, Volleyball Men’s basketball and Women’s basketball. Season tickets for Soccer and Volleyball are all general admission and start at $50. Women’s basketball general admission tickets are $75.
Women’s Basketball
Season tickets are now on sale starting at $75 for general admission. Click below for more information.
Volleyball
Bradley Volleyball will play 15 home games at Renaissance Coliseum August through November this upcoming fall. Season tickets are at $50 for general admission. Click below for more information.
Soccer
Bradley soccer will host nine home games at Shea Stadium from August through November this upcoming fall. Season tickets are $50 for general admission. Click below for more information.
Men’s Basketball
Season tickets are now on sale for new season ticket holders After purchasing season tickets, season ticket holders are allowed to select their preference on ticket delivery options. If you are interested in season tickets and would like more information, fill out a Ticket Interest Form and a Ticket Office Representative will reach out to you.
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