Going bananas? What to know if you plan to head to Banana Ball at PNC Field

The unhinged, fast-paced and wildly viral world of Banana Ball invades Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this weekend as the newly minted Banana Ball Championship League rolls into town. PNC Field in Moosic, home of the RailRiders, hosts a two-game series Friday and Saturday between the Loco Beach Coconuts and the Firefighters.

The events are sold out, but for those holding the golden ticket to this spectacle, surviving the madness requires some game-day strategy. Here’s your official playbook to navigate the chaos.

Game-goers should be prepared for a unique experience, with rules that have been tweaked and twisted to ensure the day will not be simply about competition, but adventure.

Fans might want to bring along their own baseball mitt and have it at the ready during the game. In this competition, “fans make the outs,” so if they catch a foul ball in the stands, the batter is out.

Even scorekeeping comes with a twist during the game. Instead of compiling runs for nine innings, each inning acts as its own mini-game worth 1 point. The team that scores the most runs in that inning gets the point.

Win the inning? Get the point!

Unlike a traditional baseball game with nine innings, Banana Baseball has a hard two-hour time limit. No new innings can begin after an hour and 50 minutes has elapsed.

Other rules also add color and adventure to the game: Batters must stay in the batter’s box, and stepping out results in an automatic strike; bunting is prohibited; no stealing first base on any pitch; no walks and, on ball four, the batter sprints while every single fielder must touch the ball before that runner can be tagged out.

The game also includes the opportunity for selected fans to challenge umpire calls on the field.

And should the game result in a tie, there is a sudden-death showdown, where a lone pitcher faces a hitter with limited fielders.

From the no-walks rule to the point-per-inning system, every aspect of Banana Ball is designed with one goal in mind: to entertain the fans.

It’s baseball reimagined.

Parking

The following parking options are available to those attending:

• Lot A is the far left field lot.

• Lot B is the left field lot.

• Lot C is the right field lot.

Motorcycle parking is available in designated areas in front of the main entrance to the ballpark.

Disabled parking is located in the front of Lot B; valid tags required.

Vehicles dropping off fans will be directed up the middle driveway, then exited out the back left field exit.

COLTS service to the field

For ticket-bearers who want to skip the traffic, County of Lackawanna Transit System is providing an affordable option to get there without the hassle.

The special COLTS CrowdMover service is crafted specifically to get fans to the game quickly, affordably and stress-free.

The CrowdMover runs directly from the Lackawanna Transit Center in downtown Scranton to PNC Field, beginning at 2:30 p.m. each day, with service every hour on both days of the event.

“Ride together, make memories, let’s go bananas,” the bus system said in a flyer announcing the service, which costs only $1.75.

Bag policy

• Clear bags will be permitted, including clear backpacks.

• Small purses, cross-body bags or wristlets measuring 9 inches long by 7.5 inches wide by 6 inches high or less are permitted.

• Fans may bring medical bags or diaper bags of any size into the ballpark this season. All bags will be searched and tagged prior to entry.

• Umbrellas are permitted into PNC Field but may not have a pointed end.

• Lawn chairs are not permitted.

• Portable stadium cushions (with or without seat backs) are permitted.

No firearms, knives, pepper spray or weapons of any kind are allowed within the ticket areas or parking lots of PNC Field. This includes off-duty law enforcement officers.

Game day schedule, weather info

The Plaza area of the stadium opens at 3:30 p.m. for pregame “Before the Peel” activities, for ticket holders. Gates open at 5:30 and the game/show starts at 6:30.

When it comes to weather, organizers describe “rain” as a four-letter word, but admit it’s always a concern.

Friday afternoon will begin with temperatures near 70 degrees before dropping to about 60 degrees at game time, according to AccuWeather forecasts. Saturday’s forecast, however, will be less amenable to gamegoers, with forecasts of a nearly 100% chance of rain starting at noon and continuing throughout the day.

Organizers say that although the ballgame is likely to go on, attendees should keep a careful eye on the Banana Ball social media sites for information about any rain delays or cancellations, including the organization’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/officialbananaball.

“Even if it’s wet – We always closely monitor the weather, and do everything humanly (and Bananaly) possible in order to play games as they are scheduled,” the organization says on its website.

Organizers indicate that nine out of 10 times, the game will go on once the weather clears. And short of that, attendees will still enjoy “a heck of a show.”

“Best thing you can do is plan to be at the ballpark ready to rock, as we anticipate everything to start on time! Should things change, we will communicate via email as well as post on our social media accounts,” organizers said.

More information about the event can also be found on Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/swbrailriders.

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