David Cepelnik and his family have frequently made the short drive from Rocky Mount to Salem Memorial Ballpark to watch Minor League Baseball games for the last 20 years. Those trips to the ballpark have allowed them to watch young talent develop and hone their craft.
The opportunity to see a different style of baseball 鈥 Banana Ball 鈥 was one Cepelnik and his family couldn鈥檛 pass up. They were among the 4,000 fans who arrived nearly four hours before Friday鈥檚 first pitch to take in all of the pregame festivities and then watch the Firefighters and Texas Tailgaters play for the first time in Salem.
鈥淓verybody says it鈥檚 a great show, so we鈥檙e looking forward to seeing a great show,鈥 Cepelnik said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 something totally different to watch and see how it is, and hopefully enjoy it as a family,鈥 he added.
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Another local family, the Stephens from Riner, watched a Banana Ball game for the fourth time Friday night. David Stephens and his wife have taken their three young children to see the family-friendly entertainment in Greensboro, Charlotte and Richmond, and Friday marked the first time the family has been to Salem for a game.
The Stephens attend Pulaski River Turtles games at Calfee Park in the summer.
鈥淭he kids, especially, if they鈥檙e just watching straight baseball, they get bored really easy,鈥 Stephens said. 鈥淏ut watching the extras makes it really interesting and stuff.鈥
Salem Red Sox general manager Allen Lawerence told The 麻花视频 that games on Friday and Saturday will be at the 6,500-fan capacity to watch the two newest teams in the four-team Banana Ball league. Lawrence and his staff joined forces with the Banana Ball staff on Friday to help make entry into the pregame festivities and into the ballpark as easy as possible.
The Firefighters鈥 Liam Spence does 鈥淭he Worm鈥 dance as he crosses home plate to score the first run of the evening against the Texas Tailgaters during a Banana Ball game Friday at Salem Memorial Ballpark.
Friday鈥檚 pregame party featured several merchandise tents and spots where members of the Firefighters and Tailgaters signed autographs and interacted with fans before taking the field later in the evening.
鈥淪o far, it鈥檚 been great. Everybody鈥檚 been nice, everybody鈥檚 been amazing,鈥 Firefighters coach Corey Dye said of Salem. 鈥淚鈥檓 sure the crowds are going to be incredible and all that good stuff. I鈥檓 super excited. I鈥檓 ready to see what we鈥檙e going to be able to do over the next couple of days.鈥
The Firefighters鈥 Liam Spence climbs a fire ladder propped against the backstop fence during a Banana Ball game Friday at Salem Memorial Ballpark.
Both the Firefighters and Tailgaters arrived at the ballpark at 10 a.m. and spent four hours taking batting practice, going through fielding drills and getting used to the field.
The players and coaches put on uniforms and were ready to interact with fans 90 minutes later.
鈥淗onestly, that鈥檚 what Jesse (Cole, the Savannah Bananas owner) has kind of built. Our brand is fans first entertainment, so it鈥檚 all about the fans,鈥 Pye said. 鈥淲e get here at 10 just to get our baseball stuff done by 2 o鈥檆lock. From 2 o鈥檆lock till 7 o鈥檆lock, it鈥檚 kind of like game on to put on a show for the kids.鈥
Wearing his iconic yellow tuxedo and bowler hat, Banana Ball owner and founder Jesse Cole sits in the dugout prior to Friday鈥檚 Firefighters-Tailgaters game at Salem Memorial Ballpark.
Pye said he wasn鈥檛 told the Salem Fair was taking place at the same time as the two Banana Ball games. He and several players walked into the fair after practice to see the setup and what was being offered.
Utility player Mason Maxwell even joked that the Ferris wheel located outside of the main gate into Salem Memorial Ballpark could serve as one of the best seats for those at the top of the ride.
Firefighters head coach Val Perez visits with, from left to right, Landry and Kennedy Willis and Paisley Windle prior to Friday鈥檚 Banana Ball game at Salem Memorial Ballpark.
鈥淲e were saying earlier someone鈥檚 going to have to delay this thing so some people can watch the game for a couple of minutes,鈥 Maxwell said.
The Firefighters played the Savannah Bananas in front of 37,000 fans at Fenway Park last weekend. Maxwell said he appreciates playing in front of smaller crowds at Salem Memorial Ballpark because it allows the players to 鈥渞eally connect with somebody.
鈥淪maller crowd, more personal, I think it鈥檚 awesome,鈥 he added.
Members of the Texas Tailgaters perform a do-si-do dance between innings during a Banana Ball game Friday at Salem Memorial Ballpark.
One of those interactions came before the pregame festivities began.
Maxwell stopped what he was doing and walked up to a family to interact with a young girl in a wheelchair near the main gate. He knelt down and spent several minutes talking with her. He showed her how to grip a baseball and then signed her prosthetic knee before giving her a hug.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 awesome first off just the fact that this whole company is based off of fans first,鈥 Maxwell said. 鈥淲e want to make the fans have the best experience possible here, put on a show for them, and just really care about them. One simple comment to somebody can make somebody鈥檚 whole life, could change somebody鈥檚 life, and that鈥檚 a big thing I think we take in here.鈥
Photos and video: From Banana Ball's debut in Salem
The Firefighters鈥 Liam Spence does 鈥淭he Worm鈥 dance as he crosses home plate to score the first run of the evening against the Texas Tailgaters during a Banana Ball game Friday at Salem Memorial Ballpark.
The Firefighters鈥 Liam Spence climbs a fire ladder propped against the backstop fence during a Banana Ball game Friday at Salem Memorial Ballpark.
Members of the Texas Tailgaters perform a do-si-do dance between innings during a Banana Ball game Friday at Salem Memorial Ballpark.
Texas Tailgaters shortstop Jorden Hussein is tagged out at home.
Firefighters coach Dakota McFadden signs autographs during Friday game at Salem Memorial Ballpark. The Rocky Point, N.C., native was joined by his parents when made the drive to watch the game.
With temperatures in the 90s Friday, Firefighters ball dog Chief wears boots to protect his feet from getting burned at Salem Memorial Ballpark.
Firefighters head coach Val Perez visits with, from left to right, Landry and Kennedy Willis and Paisley Windle prior to Friday鈥檚 Banana Ball game at Salem Memorial Ballpark.
Texas Tailgaters players line dance prior to Friday's game.
Fans file into the Salem Memorial Ballpark to meet Banana Ball players hours before the game.
Wearing his iconic yellow tuxedo and bowler hat, Banana Ball owner and founder Jesse Cole sits in the dugout prior to Friday鈥檚 Firefighters-Tailgaters game at Salem Memorial Ballpark.
