Black Athletes in the Spotlight: HBCU Sports & Local Highlights
- Raucous, interactive atmosphere during the Banana Ball Championship League: Savannah Bananas led dancing, yellow wigs, autograph lines, confetti, golden banana hunt.
- Colorful halftime-style spectacle from Man Nanas, Banana Nanas, Banana Band and Party Animals, turning baseball into a full-on variety show.
- Players and personalities, including Jackson Olson, delivered acrobatics, dancing coaches, mascot stunts, and close fan interactions throughout the playoff match.
Oct. 2, 2026, 5:06 a.m. ET
Savannah Bananas owner Jesse Cole and the Man Nanas parade through the stands during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
Savannah Bananas infielder and Dancing with the Stars contestant Jackson Olson talks with a fan during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
Party Animals outfielder Jake Skole signs an autograph during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
Party Animals mascot Pharty signs an autograph during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
The Savannah Bananas Reese Alexiades talks with a fan during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
Savannah Bananas infielder and Dancing with the Stars contestant Jackson Olson talks with fans during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
Savannah Bananas infielder and Dancing with the Stars contestant Jackson Olson talks with fans during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
A fan holds baseballs with signatures during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
The Man Nanas perform as backup singers for Princess Potassia during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
The Man Nanas perform as backup singers for Princess Potassia during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
Fans wait for the gates to open during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
Members of the Banana band during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
A young fan takes a break in a giant baseball glove with a Dunkin Donut during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
The Banana Nanas perform during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
Savannah Bananas players parade through the crowd during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
The Savannah Bananas parade through the crowd during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
Savannah Bananas player Ty Jackson interacts with a young Party Animals fan during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
Savannah Bananas owner Jesse Cole leads the “Hey Baby” dance during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
Savannah Bananas players dance to “Hey Baby” during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
Savannah Bananas mascot Split fires a confetti cannon during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
A Savannah Bananas fan is covered with confetti during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
Savannah Bananas owner Jesse Cole greets fans during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
Fans stop at the Dunkin area during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
The Young Professor interacts with the audience during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
A Savannah Bananas fans concentrates as he slides along the railing during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
A cameraman gets all of the angles as dancing base coach Maceo Harrison performs during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
Members of the Banana Nanas relax during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
Fans are decked out with yellow wigs during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
Savannah Bananas catcher Bill LeRoy and Party Animal Tanner Thomas play Banana in the pants during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
A fan catches a flying banana in a pair of oversized pants during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
A Man Nana high fives a young fan during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
The Party Crashers dance with the Banana Nanas during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
The Party Crashers sign an autograph for a fan during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
Dancing Umpire Vincent Chapman takes a break on a table during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
The Man Nanas perform during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
Savannah Bananas owner Jesse Cole high fives a young fan before the first peel during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
A fan searches for the golden banana during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
Players from the Savannah Bananas race onto the field during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
Robert Anthony Cruz and Maceo Harrison show off their acrobatic skills during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
Party Animals mascot Pharty joins some of the players as they watch the Savannah Bananas warm up during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
Fans in the outfield use an umbrella to help block a little sun during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
The night’s Banana Baby is lifted into the air during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
The Party Animals jump of the outfield wall during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
The Party Animals race onto the field during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
Savannah Bananas players lie on the ground as the Party Animals perform during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
The Party Animals perform during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
Fans attempt to block the sun so they can see the action on the field during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
Fans watch the action during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
The Banana Band leads a parade through the stands during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
The Party Starters dance their way through the stands during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
Party Animals mascot Pharty high fives fans during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
Savannah Bananas mascot Split bounces his way through the stands during the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League playoff game on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
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