SUMMER SPECTACLE

It’s an hour before the game and the parking areas closest to 93-year-old Grayson Stadium are filling up. Just before the game, the Savannah Bananas’ pep band marches onto the field. By the first inning, seats are scarce as team owner Jesse Cole, sweating through one of his seven canary-yellow tuxedos, roams the stands at the stadium, shaking hands and posing for photos.

The Bananas sell out every home game, as they have since early in their inaugural season. The fans come to be entertained, and the Bananas, who are but college players honing their craft for free in the Coastal Plain League, don’t disappoint.

The Bananas have a first base coach, Maceo Harrison, who break dances. There’s the Savannah Nanas, a senior women’s dance team, the Savannah Man-Nanas, male cheerleaders with dad-bods, the pep band and bizarre between-inning promotions. The