see you next year, tanner

Tanner Thomas had told me at the luncheon that this was most likely his last night as a Savannah Banana.
Like Mason Miller, he needed to get back to campus and be ready when Virginia Tech resumes.
I'm glad the entire South Effingham High School Marching Band had turned out for this game, to give us their spirited and fabulous rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner"!
Go, team, go!
I mean, play ball!!!

Tanner Thomas had a whopping five times in the batter's box, but his first and fifth ones were practically magical.
On his first at-bat, in the first inning when he was the fifth batter, he singled and Gabe Howell, the first hitter of the night, came home for the first run for the home team.
What an auspicious start for Tanner!
Then came the eighth inning.
Tanner comes up to the plate for the final time...
and smacks the first pitch!

It goes to the left of first base and is grabbed at...
but the first-baseman misses it!
Too late the pitcher and second-baseman head for it...
and Tanner breezes past them to an unguarded bag!
He then turned toward his teammates, big grin and hands spread in the air...
just magical!
(smile)

So, is this runner our man #4?
No, the Bananas didn't score in that 8th inning, but they didn't need it.
This is from the 5th inning, with Jake Sullivan coming in for the seventh run of the night and the second run of four scored during that mid-game inning.
That's right, by the end of the fifth, the home team had a blistering nine runs on the board.

What about the Florence Redwolves?
Well, they had certainly started strong.
Brandon McIlwain smacked one over the left field wall in the first inning, to make sure folks were paying attention.
The team could not get through the Savannah pitchers, though, until Jack Gowen and Sam Spadafore each gave the visitors another two runs.
Those were in the 7th and 8th innings, but the total of five runs was not enough.

What a good game...
and what a beautiful night for baseball in Savannah!
i thank You, God!