Record Crowd Watches Win Number 30!

Updated August 06 2016
SAVANNAH, GA

In front of the largest crowd in franchise history (4329), the Bananas down the Florence RedWolves 5-2, clinching the number one seed in the Coastal Plain League West Division.

Left hander Colby Weaver dazzled into the seventh inning for the Bananas, surrendering two runs on just five hits.

For the second straight home game, the Bananas pounced early putting up a crooked number. After both Clay Dungan and Clint Hardy were retired to start the bottom of the first, Savannah used some two out thunder to get on the board. Following Jameson Hannah’s single, cleanup man in the order Garett Nelson pelted an RBI triple into deep right center field making it 1-0 Bananas. The next batter, Rylan Bannon, promptly deposited a base hit up up the middle, cashing in Nelson fresh after his triple stretching the Banana lead to 2-0.

Savannah’s offense was then kept in check for the next five innings, as six foot five inch right hander Jason Goe linked together five straight scoreless innings.

With his team leading, Colby Weaver sat down 13 straight RedWolves, before surrendering a one out single to Kody Ruedisili in the top of the fifth inning. Ruedisili was able to get into scoring position after stealing second base on a bang bang play. Third basemen Trey Jacobs then sent a weak come backer back to Weaver, who threw the ball in the dirt to first basemen Nelson, leading to RedWolves first run.

Jacobs was in the thick of it two innings later, when he produced a game-tying RBI single in the top of the seventh. This spelled the end of Weaver’s night, when Beau Sulser relieved the lefty and registered a strikeout of Bryson Conner, stranding the go-ahead run.

The Bananas pulled all the right strings in the bottom of the seventh, plating three runs on three hits. Lefty Cable Wright took over on the mound for Florence, who gave up two hits on the first two pitches he threw. Nick Choruby drove in what turned out to be the game winning run, after he worked a bases loaded walk scoring Dungan. Manger Sean West pulled the right strings calling on right hander Christian Hollie to pinch hit for Connor Stephens, as Hollie produced a two RBI single into right field.

Tempers flared in the top of the eighth inning after Clay Dungan singled to lead off the frame. The following pitch right hander Brett Porter plunked Clint Hardy with amfastball up around the shoulder. Hardy hit a grand slam last weekend in Florence and took his time rounding the bases, leading to potential retaliation tonight. Porter was ejected immediately after hitting Hardy, as the Florence bench approached the fringe of the grass.

Beau Sulser closed out the game, striking out five batters in his two and one third innings of work. The Bananas (30-20) will have a home playoff game on Wednesday night. Tickets are available, but will go fast.

The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s premier summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 22nd season in 2018, the CPL features 16 teams playing in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The CPL has had over 1,450 alumni drafted and 111 of those – including 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young winner Justin Verlander – make their Major League debut; while another notable alum – Russell Wilson – won Super Bowl XLVIII. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com and follow us via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat @CPLBaseball..

Contact:

Jake Young

Phone:

912 712 2482