SAVANNAH, Ga. – Athletx Sports Group, a youth baseball and softball event company, has inked a partnership with The Savannah Bananas, a professional baseball team.
The highlight of this partnership is the official launch of the Youth Banana Ball Tournament, a competition that aims to engage young athletes in the world of Banana Ball. Banana Ball, a unique and dynamic version of baseball, has gained popularity for its fast-paced nature and entertaining gameplay.
Jesse Cole, founder of The Savannah Bananas, has brought to life his vision of “the greatest show in sports,” through the creation of Banana Ball. “We are proud to bring the game of Banana Ball to the youth level,” says Cole. “We’ve seen countless videos of kids performing trick plays, celebrating, and having fun on the field in pure Banana Ball style. This is great for the game, and I can’t wait to see what the youth teams bring to this tournament.”
The Bananas play their version of baseball called Banana Ball, a fast-paced style of baseball with rules that include no bunting, a two-hour time limit, fans catching foul balls for outs, batters stealing first base, and a one-on-one tiebreaker showdown at the end of the game if the game is tied.
Athletx co-founder/CEO Jim Haddaway says, “We are humbled and thrilled to be partnering with the Savannah Bananas in bringing to life the first official Youth Banana Ball tournament. Partnering with the Bananas is a tremendous opportunity to incorporate a playful and fun style of play from a completely different vantage point to players and fans across the country.”
The inaugural Youth Banana Ball Tournament will take place Aug. 7-10, 2024, at Victory Sports Park in Cleveland, Ohio. Baseball teams from across the country are invited to participate in the event. The tournament will feature entertainment-based competition including a four-game guarantee, instructional camps led by Savannah Bananas players and coaches, tickets for teams and families to game between the Bananas and the Party Animals at Progressive Field, and a first-time opportunity for young athletes to experience playing Banana Ball.
Athletx Sports Group and The Savannah Bananas will work collaboratively on various initiatives aimed at promoting sportsmanship, teamwork, on-field entertainment, and community engagement with a “focus on fostering a positive and inclusive environment for youth athletes to develop their skills and passion for Banana Ball.”
The Youth Banana Ball Tournament will include meet-and-greets with Savannah Bananas and Party Animals players, interactive games, access to official merchandise, and onsite activities and giveaways.
The Savannah Bananas play their home games at historic Grayson Stadium, and they take the show on the road on their Banana Ball World Tour. The team has been featured on ESPN, Wall Street Journal, CNN, CBS Sunday Morning, Today Show, and Good Morning America.
The team has been known as TikTok’s favorite team with more than 8 million followers. The Bananas have been featured across the globe for everything from playing a game in kilts, using a dancing first base coach, the first ever baseball player to wear stilts, players backflipping while catching fly balls, and more.
Athletx Sports Group is a sports marketing and event management company. Since its foundation in 2012, Athletx Sports Group has brought together multiple brands under one banner. Collectively, the Athletx Sports Group brands represent more than 600 team-based and individual-player events across the nation, featuring over 15,000 teams, 194,000 players, 38,000 coaches, and 371,000 spectators.
