Black Athletes in the Spotlight: HBCU Sports & Local Highlights
- High-energy Savannah Bananas show at Comerica Park featured playful teams Party Animals and Firefighters with nonstop entertainment.
- Sold-out crowd of 40,000 created a raucous atmosphere as fans joined dance breaks, stunts and interactive games.
- Firefighters won after three extra innings, with Lamar Sparks delivering the winning hit amid celebratory stunts.
Updated Sept. 19, 2026, 2:11 p.m. ET
Fan learn team dances before the Bananas Baseball game between the Party Animals and the Firefighters at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
Tyson DeYoung, 13, of Grand Rapids wears a banana hat to the Bananas Baseball game between the Party Animals and the Firefighters at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
A fan holds up a baseball for a player to sign during the Bananas Baseball game between the Party Animals and the Firefighters at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
The Firefighters mascot Bo the Beaver does a backflip off of a ladder during the Bananas Baseball game between the Party Animals and the Firefighters at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
The firefighters get ready to bat during the Bananas Baseball game between the Party Animals and the Firefighters at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. The Firefighters ended up winning after three extra innings.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
Firefighters’ Logan Lacey (11) throws the ball to first base to get the out during the Bananas Baseball game between the Party Animals and the Firefighters at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
Party Animals DR Mark Smith (40) slides into home plate scoring a run during the Bananas Baseball game between the Party Animals and the Firefighters at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
Play stops for a dance break, during the Bananas Baseball game between the Party Animals and the Firefighters at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
Play stops for a dance break, during the Bananas Baseball game between the Party Animals and the Firefighters at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
Party Animals’ Peter Holden (22) chest bumps Bronson Balholm (41) after holding the Firefights scoreless during an inning of the Bananas Baseball game between the Party Animals and the Firefighters at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
Carrie Mahoney, 62, and Sue VanFrank, 68, both of Pentwater, Mich., show their team spirit during the Bananas Baseball game between the Party Animals and the Firefighters at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
The Detroit Lions cheerleaders run onto the field to perform a dance with an umpire during the Bananas Baseball game between the Party Animals and the Firefighters at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
Party Animals’ John Howard-Bobo (999) and Bret Helton (10) dance on the first baseline while Firefighters’ Eric Jones Jr. bats during the Bananas Baseball game between the Party Animals and the Firefighters at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
Fans do the wave during the Bananas Baseball game between the Party Animals and the Firefighters at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
during the Bananas Baseball game between the Party Animals and the Firefighters at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
The Bananas Baseball game between the Party Animals and the Firefighters at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
The band for the Party Animals performs songs while they bat, during the Bananas Baseball game between the Party Animals and the Firefighters in front of a sold out crowd of 40,000 people at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
Firefighters’ Tyner Hughes tosses the ball to 2nd base to get Party Animals’ Mark Smith out, during the Bananas Baseball game between the Party Animals and the Firefighters at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
Party Animals 1B Jason Swan (2) catches a throw form the pitcher to try and get a player out at first during the Bananas Baseball game between the Party Animals and the Firefighters at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
Party Animals’ Jake Skole (X) performs a trick play bouncing the ball off his glove after catching a pop-up, during the Bananas Baseball game between the Party Animals and the Firefighters at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
Party Animals Noah Fisher (12), of Madison Heights, performs during a dance break during the Bananas Baseball game between the Party Animals and the Firefighters at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
Party Animals’ Peter Holden (22) pitches during the Bananas Baseball game between the Party Animals and the Firefighters at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
Party Animals’ Peter Holden (22) pitches during the Bananas Baseball game between the Party Animals and the Firefighters at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
Firefighters dance on top of the dugout during the Bananas Baseball game between the Party Animals and the Firefighters at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
Firefighters Logan Lacey (11) does a handstand after scoring a double, during the Bananas Baseball game between the Party Animals and the Firefighters at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
Party Animals’ Tanner Thomas (4) gets a hit, during the Bananas Baseball game between the Party Animals and the Firefighters at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
Firefighters’ Ben Dum III pitches during the Bananas Baseball game between the Party Animals and the Firefighters at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
Party Animals’s Tanner Thomas (4) reacts after not getting a hit during the Bananas Baseball game between the Party Animals and the Firefighters at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
Party Animals Drew Gillespie (28) pitches during the Bananas Baseball game between the Party Animals and the Firefighters at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
Firefighters’ Lamar Sparks (0) gets the winning hit during the Bananas Baseball game between the Party Animals and the Firefighters at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
Firefighters’ Lamar Sparks (0) gets the winning hit during the Bananas Baseball game between the Party Animals and the Firefighters at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
The Calendar Crew pose during the intro for the Firefighters during Bananas Baseball game against the Party Animals at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
The Party Starters dance crew and the Party Crashers perform during the Bananas Baseball game between the Party Animals and the Firefighters at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
Firefighters Ga’von Wray (25) wears a crown during the Bananas Baseball game between the Party Animals and the Firefighters at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
The crowd mimics the dance moves of a young fan, during the Bananas Baseball game between the Party Animals and the Firefighters at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
Party Animals’ Garett Delano (777) pitches during the Bananas Baseball game between the Party Animals and the Firefighters at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
A young fan smashes wihip cream pies into her parents’ faces for a game during the Bananas Baseball game between the Party Animals and the Firefighters at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
Firefighters Armando Becerra (30) hits the ball during the Bananas Baseball game between the Party Animals and the Firefighters at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
Firefighters Jared Donalson (21) pitches during the Bananas Baseball game between the Party Animals and the Firefighters at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
Party Animals’ Mark Smith (40) celebrates his team scoring during the Bananas Baseball game between the Party Animals and the Firefighters at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
The Firefighters defeat the Party Animals during the Bananas Baseball game at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
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