The Banana Ball World Tour stop at Coastal Carolina University
brought a different kind of baseball experience to Conway this weekend. It felt more like a festival than a traditional game.
Hours before first pitch, the area around TD Sports Complex was already filled with energy. Fans walked through rows of food trucks, music played throughout the concourse and families gathered to take in the atmosphere. What is usually a game-day setting became more of a community event.
Inside the stadium, that same energy carried over. Known for their funky rules and dancing players, between innings the game had constant movement as players danced, interacted with fans and kept the crowd engaged.
Banana Ball’s rules keep the games under two hours for fast-paced play and entertainment focused on the fan experience. The fast-paced environment drew attention in multiple directions.
Banana Ball does not allow bunting and strays away from traditional run counts, resulting in more foul ball swings for fans catch for an out. After an inning the team with the most runs earns one point. Instead of the traditional ball four walks, the batter must sprint to first while the defending team tries to get them out.
First-time attendee Marcel Bras, a junior marketing major, said the
overall Banana Ball experience stood out immediately.
“This is my first time being out here, so I didn’t really know what to expect, but it’s way bigger than I thought,” Bras said. “It’s not even
just baseball, it feels like a whole event with the music, the crowd and everything going on. I’m glad I came out for it.”
What began as a smaller concept has expanded into multiple teams
traveling across the country, turning each stop into an event of its own. As an organization that blends sports with entertainment, the Banana Ball expansion was evident throughout the weekend.
Loco Beach Coconuts player Jordan Brewer said experiencing this growth firsthand is something players value highly.
“It is truly unbelievable to see what we have,” Brewer said. “Growing up, this is insane to see how far we have come from just two teams to six teams. Now we all have different tours, and we’re all over the country right now.”
In addition to adding teams, Banana Ball has also opened their
rosters to women. At Brooks Stadium, infielder and catcher Denae Benites played for the Loco Beach Coconuts against Party Animals’ second baseman Ashton Lansdell.
While the event continues to grow, the connection with fans is still a central theme. Brewer said moments like this go beyond just playing the game.
“It means everything,” Brewer said. “I just want the kids to see that
there’s love and peace and happiness everywhere you go. No matter what sporting event it is, there’s always going to be happiness.”
For former Chanticleer and 2016 College World Series champion,
Anthony Marks, the weekend brought back memories. He said playing in front of a Conway crowd again was special.
“Man, it means everything being back here,” Marks said. “Coastal is
where a lot of those memories started for me, especially that 2016 run. Just being back in Conway, seeing the fans and being on this field again, it’s a full-circle moment I don’t take for granted.”
As the night went on, the energy stayed high and the crowd stayed
locked in.
A new spin on a traditional, community-adored sport kept that same love for the game, just in a new way.
