Dugout Size-Up: Inside Banana Ball with Zach Staton, The Voice of The Firefighters

Zach Staton takes us through his journey to becoming the voice of The Firefighters and how his father-in-law, who has been a volunteer firefighter for over 40 years, deepens his connection to his work.

Ryan Baker

Nov. 12, 2026

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The Dugout Size-Up: Inside Banana Ball has featured the head coach of The Firefighters and players, but this time Firehouse's Ryan Baker chats with Zach Staton, The Firefighters' play-by-play commentator.

Staton takes us through his journey of being laid off from his television station job and how he took a chance on trying out for the entertainment side of Banana Ball. He discusses elements from his tryout in Anaheim, CA, and where his head is at a year and a half into his time with the team.

Staton touches on some of his favorite calls, his connection to the fire service through his father-in-law, who has been a volunteer firefighter for more than 40 years, and the need to recognize volunteer firefighters more.

About the Author

Ryan Baker

Associate Editor

Ryan Baker is a writer and associate editor with prior experiences in online and print production. Ryan is an associate editor for Firehouse with a master's degree in sciences of communication from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He recently completed a year of teaching Intro to Public Speaking at UW-Whitewater, as part of his graduate program. Ryan acquired his bachelor's degree in journalism in 2023 from UW-Whitewater, and operates currently out of Minneapolis, MN. Baker, also writes freelances for the Ultimate Frisbee Association (UFA) in his free time, while also umpiring baseball for various ages across the Twin Cities Metro Area.

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