A bride wants this structure for her wedding on may 30th. instead of this specific design she wants it baseball theme. obviously i would make the ball into a baseball. But i have never done anything like this. How would i go about supporting the top tier. i thought I would make the ball out of either rice krispie treat and then cover in poured fondant (another first for me) and then put a dowel rod through it but as far as stacking the top tier i am clueless. Please help!!
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option 1 -- the top tier is a foam dummy -- light enough to not dent the cake

option 2 - there is a square plate of plastic or similar on the top of the second tier that is supported by dowels or similar and the top tier is balanced on that so as to not sink into the second tier. In this case, wouldn't be at all surprised if dowel through ball actually started inside stop tier, going through its board and then down in to rest of cake to help hold it in place.

So if the top tier is real how do you keep it from sliding?

I have no idea if this is the "proper" way to do it but I would make the ball out of styrofoam, run a dowel straight down thru the ball and bottom cake then tilt the top tier and run a dowel sideways thru the top tier and the ball. I don't know how sturdy it would be but its a thought. I hope you post a photo and explain how you did it when it is done! Good Luck!

Looks like they dowel the top twice - and then if you look at the ball it is not completely center and it is doweled as well. interesting concept.

Thank you all for your tips and ideas on how to support that last cake. Well this same bride wants a second wedding cake as well. This one's a doozy!!! Please help. I think I shouldn't have a problem building the cake, I use the SPS method (I think that's what they are called) and then just do it in reverse (hope that will work) but as far as supporting the bottom tier, I'm kinda clueless. I was thinking of maybe supergluing the bottom cake cardboard to a more stable, larger cake board, but not sure if that will work! Please help ASAP because I need to start ordering everything because the wedding is on May 30th. Thanks!

you are not the first to be asked to make this one.

see this old thread:

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-580918-support.html

I am interested in how this cake is made as well. I saw the other thread about how it is done, but I still have a question about stacking. How are the black supports not making indentations into the top tier because I know the SPS system the plates on top of the cakes are you doing the same thing?? And then what goes on the bottom of the bottom tier to keep it from getting smushed??