The Savannah Bananas might not be part of Major League Baseball, but they’re one of the hottest teams in the baseball world, and for good reason.
As part of the Banana Ball League, the Bananas are known for their fun, upbeat games that feature some baseball but mostly dancing, singing and flips.
For players David “DR” Meadows and Reese Alexiades, playing for the team is a blessing they didn’t expect.
“When I was playing pro ball, the Bananas approached me about going to a tryout, possibly being on the team, and I knew very little about it,” Alexiades told Woman’s World last week.
“Now being here, what really stood out was this idea of being fans first and doing for one what you could do for many. Being able to see the impact our yellow jersey really has is pretty cool,” he emphasized. “My favorite memory was in my first year. I did a whole walk-up where I went on skis in a full ski outfit and ski boots and ended up hitting a home run.”
Meadows played outfield at Columbus State University and shortly made the Bananas after college.
Related: Savannah Bananas Baseball Player Urges Fans ‘Keep God in Your Life’
“I used to play for their collegiate summer league team back when they were playing real baseball, and they asked me if I wanted to go on tour with them to play Banana Ball. I was done with college, so I was, like, ‘Absolutely.’ And five years later, we’re still here. It’s been so much fun; it still feels like year one to me,” Meadows shared in the same interview.
“Just the joy it brings to myself, and that carries over to bringing joy to others. And like Reese was saying, being fans first is super special, but also getting out of our comfort zone and opening up our shell, and not being afraid to do things or talk to people or dance,” he continued. “I’m not a very good dancer. I used to hate dancing, but now I’m comfortable doing it in front of people. And probably one of my favorite memories is doing the first backflip catch in an MLB stadium, and just hearing the roar in the crowd — it was just on another level.”
Their teammate RobertAnthony Cruz, also known as Coach RAC, also said that Banana Ball wasn’t his original plan, but God had other ideas.
“First time a college coach ever came to watch me play, I had the worst game of the year,” Coach RAC admitted in a video shared on Instagram. “Biola University came out to watch me play. I went 0-for-3 and made an error in the field. But just a few days after this bad game, UC Riverside came out to watch me play, and I had the best game of the year. I hit two home runs, and they basically offered me a scholarship on the spot.”
He went on to play his freshman year at UC Riverside. Those struggles, including a rough freshman year, taught him how much he needed community, ultimately leading him to transfer to Biola University with a clearer sense of purpose and a major in Christian ministry. Looking back, he credits that difficult stretch, sparked by one bad high school game, as the path that eventually led him to the Bananas.
“I never would have known that that was what I was passionate about unless I struggled so much my freshman year finding purpose,” he revealed. “If you know my story, I would then go on to get signed by the Nationals and then get cut very quickly. And I thought, ‘Man, what was all of that for?’ I by no means mean to say that I have arrived, but I am currently standing at Wrigley Field.”
Whether through joy, community or hard-fought struggle, Meadows, Alexiades and Coach RAC each found their way to the Bananas through paths that taught them purpose runs deeper than the game itself.
Read Next: Savannah Bananas Bring Upcoming ‘Banana Bowl’ to This Streamer
Questions or comments? Please write to us here.
