Banana ball and cerebral palsy (CP), at first glance the two seem to lack overlap. Well, besides Firefighters player Lamar Sparks and his sister Jency enjoying their viral moment where the two recreated a childhood memory with Jency giving her brother a ride to home plate on her wheelchair (and the storybook moment which came after). Other than that, there appears a stark contrast. Banana Ball features a player, Dakota “Stilts” Albritton, who plays the fan focused faster pace baseball game on literal stilts! Meanwhile, CP could make simply walking an adventurous task.

Then you will find Robert Anthony Cruz, known better to the Banana Ball fanbase as Coach RAC, doing back flips as he catches balls in the outfield! Back flips while catching a ball!!! Truly impressive! All the while I impress myself if I am able to catch my balance and prevent a fall. Again, there exists a stark contrast!

Now with all that said, Banana Ball does offer valuable takeaways which transcend sports and entertainment into everyday life. Even life with cerebral palsy! This became evident reading Banana Ball founder Jesse Cole’s book Banana Ball the Unbelievably True Story of the Savannah Bananas. The book details Cole’s journey from college pitcher with Major League ambitions to enthusiastic showman known for his yellow tuxedo, top hat, and daring audacity to name a baseball team after fruit!

Along the way, in chapter 8 “The Mentors,” Cole mentioned reading books about Walt Disney and then, “I did book reports on the key things that were written about him. Repeat: book reports. I did these as an adult who wanted to absorb information, not as a student who was trying to get a good grade.”

Inspired by these book reports, I decided to write my own covering Banana Ball the Unbelievably True Story of the Savannah Bananas, concentrating on the life lessons which transcend to the cerebral palsy community. Lessons that if implemented will leave you swinging hard and connecting with your best possible life. At this point, to get us going only two more words need to be stated.

Play ball!

Or perhaps I should say, “Read blog!”

Team Effort

Much like baseball or Banana Ball, you get the best results in life when you work as a team. Your support system acts as your metaphorical teammates. You will find multiple examples demonstrating this throughout Banana Ball the Unbelievably True Story of the Savannah Bananas. For instance, Cole recalls in Chapter 11 “Changing the Game,” “My dad was a big-time baseball traditionalist. He was my first confidant. We exchanged ideas about how to move the game faster and make it more fun.”

By going to somebody in his support system, his father, Cole took an idea and started developing a focus on how to execute and turn that idea into reality. Beyond Banana Ball, Cole and his wife Emily serve as foster parents. A pursuit discussed in chapter 12 “Family.” The process involved needing a strong support system, both professionally and personally. Professionally, Cole suddenly could not give his growing business the same attention that he had prior. Yet he notes, “But it gave Jared Orton, our president, an opportunity to probably grow and take the reins of our Bananas organization.”

Similarly, with cerebral palsy the team effort shows up various places. You may feel tempted to try a leisurely activity. Perhaps seeing your favorite band in concert or participating in a recreational sport. Then hesitancy paralyzes you. What if the crowd at the concert gets rowdy? Or, what if someone ridicules you because your performance with the sport leaves room for much improvement?

Enter your support system! That one friend with keen awareness, who helps get a close spot to the stage while also ensuring you avoid getting caught up in a mosh pit or other concert rough housing. That person who will meet you at your skill level and find a way to turn a potential boring game into a fun memory. The same person who will tell off the bystander who dares to offer ridicule.

Please do not mistaken these examples as vague and random. Rather, I am citing my firsthand experiences with CP. Experiences which parallel further alongside Banana Ball’s origin story.

One Step at a Time

In chapter 7, “Marrying Emily,” Cole recounts the day he and Emily received the keys to Savannah Banana’s home field Grayson Stadium. Upon entering the stadium Cole shares, “We quickly realized that everything had been taken out of the stadium.” Telephone and Internet lines cut out by scissors. The video board equipment gone as well. In fact, Cole details, “There were no desks in the offices or anywhere, no chairs, nowhere to sit and work.”   

He, Emily, and two more believers in what the Savannah team could become under Cole’s leadership, stood around “shell-shocked.” Extraordinarily challenging circumstances which could understandably derail the new management. Instead, one commented about “‘we are going to need someplace to sit.’” Emily responded by noting they saw a picnic table outside the stadium. So, the four went out, dragged the picnic table into their new office, and used their cellphones to get to work.

Such an approach entails a one step at a time mindset. Controlling what you can control along the way. For Cole’s group, they brought in the picnic table to fulfill their need for someplace to sit. Correspondingly, although more self-inflicted, I encountered extraordinarily challenging circumstances when I decided, “I’m going to walk 26.2 miles and become a marathoner!”

At first, the goal seemed “unreasonable.” With my balance, the nickel sized calluses on my feet formed from my daily movements, and how I’m prone to fatiguing faster? Not to mention my slower pace! Obstacles galore surrounded me. At one point, I even compromised and decided a half marathon would need to suffice as my top physical accomplishment.

Then though, somebody in my support system showed up and out for me. My friend James encouraged me to tackle the full marathon, even agreeing to join me on the course. All those aforementioned issues still existed. I just started addressing them one by one. Controlling what I could control along the way. The entire journey from “unreasonable” to crossing the finish line captured in-detail within my own book Slow and Cerebral.

Well, That’s Different

Those words, “Well, that’s different,” fittingly describes my marathon journey. I used a cane to help with my balance. To make the opportunity possible, I arranged an extra early start time with the race organizers. Even then, I still finished last! Day of the race the local newspaper, The Plain Dealer, ran an article about my ambitious pursuit.

There existed a time where such attention would embarrass me. I stuck out, contradicting what seems like human nature to blend in and remain one within the crowd. People tend to shudder and resist that label, “Different.” Over time I learned better. Realizing sticking out actually meant standing out. When you stand out, you excel! Hence why I end my content with the call to action, “Don’t blend in. Blend out!”

In Banana Ball the Unbelievably True Story of the Savannah Bananas Cole reinforces my belief in this statement. Mentioning his personal slogan in chapter 16, “Entertainers.” “Stop standing still. Start standing out.” A slogan Banana Ball players take to heart. For example, Zak Whalin, who Banana Ball fans will know as “the flaming-bat guy.”

Also in chapter 16, Whalin provides insights, reflecting on his flaming bat trick by saying, “I couldn’t even fathom this happening in MLB. If you tried it in a minor-league game, they’d probably eject you and you’d be ostracized.” Further noting, “With the Bananas, it’s fun. People like to see other people having fun.”

When you embrace your differences and find a way to have fun, others attract to you. In 2025 I received an invite to participate in Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities’ Mobility Fair. I went all in on standing out and embodying my Cerebral Palsy Vigilante moniker. Wearing a neon pink shirt I designed. Topping the wardrobe off with a green cape and matching green masquerade mask.    

While explaining to one family how I went from shy and just wanting to blend in to where I am now, the father stated to his son, “And now look at him! He doesn’t give a truck!” Just with a different word which rhymes with truck.

Batter Up!

Time for you to step into the metaphorical batter box. By applying the lessons I outlined here today in this Banana Ball the Unbelievably True Story of the Savannah Bananas book report, you will swing hard at life the same way Jesse Cole’s father encouraged him to swing hard at the plate.

Realize no one succeeds alone and rely on your support system for assistance. Go after your goals one step at a time, controlling what you can control in the process. Then fully embrace your differences, learning to love standing out. You do all that and you will surely connect with your best life. Going beyond blending in to blend out!

-Zachary       

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