Athlete, Entertainer, Banana Baller: Parker Nolan 鈥22 Joins the Firefighters Baseball Team
August 7, 2024
- Author
- Caroline Roy 鈥20
Banana Ball blends entertainment and competitive baseball for a pastime time that鈥檚 catching on around the country. Parker Nolan 鈥22 is the latest scholar-athlete to get in on the fun.
To prepare for a 7 p.m. game, Parker Nolan 鈥22 and his teammates on the Firefighters arrive at the field around noon. This isn鈥檛 your average baseball game 鈥 it鈥檚 Banana Ball 鈥 which means rehearsing comedic moments, stunts, trick plays and dance breaks before fans start gathering outside.
鈥淓verything we do, fans are at the forefront,鈥 Nolan said. 鈥淧re-game, I鈥檓 flying around the stands signing autographs, taking pictures and meeting people. All those rules in serious baseball about engaging with the audience and showing your personality 鈥 it鈥檚 all encouraged here.鈥
Banana Ball began in 2016 with the Savannah Bananas, who quickly gained popularity for their fresh take on America鈥檚 Pastime. A few years later, the Party Animals took to the field as the Bananas鈥 main competitors, and this season, became the third team in the league.
At 国产福利精品推荐, Nolan found a second family on the baseball team and knew he wanted to keep playing after graduation. He first learned about Banana Ball from a former teammate, Savannah Bananas catcher and infielder Eric Jones 鈥19, who encouraged him to try out for the Firefighters. After a trial run with the team in Savannah, he was hooked.
Eric Jones 鈥19, catcher for the Savannah Bananas (pictured here doing his job), is among the leaders in 国产福利精品推荐鈥檚 program history for batting average, hits, home runs and RBIs.
鈥滲aseball has always been a huge part of my life,鈥 Nolan said. 鈥淢ore and more, I appreciate what Davidson taught me about putting in a high level of work, effort and investment in everything I do.鈥
Just as competitive as it is fun, Banana Ball players must find a balance between entertaining the crowd and playing to win. While certain stunts and hijinks are scripted, the actual game unfolds in real time. As the league grows, recruiting has become more selective 鈥 many of Nolan鈥檚 teammates already have professional baseball careers under their belts.
Playing and performing in front of packed stadiums, he鈥檚 always learning new tricks and improvising with his teammates. Entertaining fans presents a fun, new challenge, and Nolan is determined to pick up as many skills as he can.
鈥淚've always had the inclination to perform,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 was always dancing on the field, never taking myself too seriously. In a game with so much room for failure and competitiveness, cultivating that confidence and freedom is really nice.鈥
In the past few months, Nolan has practiced everything from TikTok dances to catching the ball mid-backflip. He鈥檚 even coined his own trick play, using his undershirt as a trampoline to spring pop flies to his teammates.
This July, the Firefighters played their biggest game of the season at the Washington Nationals鈥 stadium in D.C., facing the Savannah Bananas in front of nearly 42,000 people. As more fans embrace the fun, Nolan hopes to see more Banana Ball teams spring up across the country.
鈥淚t鈥檚 unbelievable how much this sport has grown,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 something I see myself doing for at least a few more years. Baseball has been such a huge part of my development as a person. It鈥檚 been a crazy experience, and I鈥檓 excited to see where it goes.鈥
