Thank you to the SMBA volunteers who served as scoring evaluators: Brett Schneider, Anthony Phillips, Amy Westermann, Courtney Schawo, Heather Rooney McBride, Joshua Baker, Jenna Homeyer, Cameron Casad, Kim Pulley and Jason Brown  and Judges Greenwade, Ankrom, Poppen, Fuhrman, Palmietto and Hosmer.

The tournament is presented by the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Foundation with grant funding from the Missouri Lawyer Trust Account Foundation.  Information on helping start a team is available at this link.

Corporate

• Rachael Dockery, Missouri State University

Public Service

• Jacqueline Ledezma-Ruelas, Greene County Prosecutor’s Office

• Judge Kirsten Poppen, 31st Judicial Circuit

Transactional

• Lillian Sweeney, Neale and Newman

Mentor

• Charity Elmer, Cox Health

Woman of the Year

• Betsy Ledgerwood, Clerk of the Court, Missouri Supreme Court

Elizabeth Fax, Greene County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office

Camber Jones, Spencer Fane

Robert Temple, Kembell Woods and Martinsen LLP

The awards event will take place April 8 at the Oasis Convention Center. 

• 20 x 30 $250
• 24 x 36 $350

An image of the composite can be viewed at this link and a sample will be available at the February monthly lunch.  Orders must be placed by March 20.  To order, email info@springfieldbar.com.

February 4, 2026

Lawyers Install New Leadership

Brown to serve as 100th President of Springfield Bar

________________________________________

SPRINGFIELD, MO – The Honorable Jason Brown was sworn in as the 2026 President of the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association (SMBA) Friday, January 23,  2026 at the 52nd SMBA Banquet and Installation of Officers.  Judge Brown retired from the 31^st Judicial Circuit in 2022 and is now with Jay Daugherty Mediation and Arbitration.   He is the 100th president of the local bar association which was founded in 1903. The SMBA is the largest professional networking group in Southwest Missouri, serving more than 800 attorneys.  Brown follows 2025 President Matt Russell.

Facebook Photo Gallery

• 2025
• 2026

Sign up as a 2026 SMBA Sustaining Member.

The Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association (SMBA) held its annual Law Day Luncheon on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at Hickory Hills Country Club.

The theme for this year’s Law Day was “E Pluribus Unum – Out of Many, One.” The keynote address was delivered by Tony Simones, whose inspiring remarks reflected on history, unity, and civic responsibility.

Following the address, awards were presented in four categories: Distinguished Attorney, Judicial Excellence, Equal Access to Justice, and the Liberty Bell Award.

Curtis Garner received the Equal Access to Justice Award, which recognizes individuals who provide significant pro bono services to clients of Legal Services of Southern Missouri. Since 2012, Garner has accepted 224 cases, helping low-income residents across southern Missouri meet their legal needs.

Springfield Police Chief Paul Williams was honored with the Liberty Bell Award. This award is presented to a non-lawyer who has made outstanding contributions to the administration of justice. Williams was recognized for his high level of community engagement and his efforts to promote collaboration, efficiency, and respect for the legal system.

Judge Douglas Harpool received the Judicial Excellence Award. The SMBA’s Judicial Excellence Award honors judges who exemplify the highest legal and ethical standards and who serve the community both within and beyond the courtroom. In presenting the award, Judge Michael Cordonnier highlihted Harpool’s lifetime of public service, noting, “Judge Harpool’s service as a State Representative and his exemplary performance as a District Judge make him uniquely qualified for this award.”

Richard Schnake was presented with the Distinguished Attorney Award, the highest honor bestowed by the SMBA. In his nomination, Schnake was praised for his professional excellence, mentorship and contribution to the improvement in the administration of justice. “Neale & Newman is very proud of Rick for receiving the Distinguished Attorney Award,” said Managing Partner Daniel Wooten. “Rick has been recognized many times for his high achievement in appellate and intellectual property law, but I know that receiving this award is especially meaningful because it comes from the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association.”

This year’s theme, “E Pluribus Unum,” also inspired nearly 70 entries in the SMBA Law Day Poster Contest. An awards ceremony and exhibit opening to celebrate the young artists was held on October 17, 2025, at the Library Center.

Links

2025 Sponsors – Thank You!

2025 Law Day Program

Photo gallery - Poster Contest Ceremony

The project launch will reach 876 students in five area schools. Thank you to our sixteen volunteers:

Kaylee Comer

Debbie Dodge

Jim Robinette

Felicia Von Holten

Stephanie Stenger

Crista Hogan

Kristen O' Neal

Judge David Mercer

Abe McGull

Jarica Oeltjen

Emily Shook

Gabriela Lopez-Gardner

Henry Sivils

David Ransin

Courtney Schawo

Elizabeth Fax

We will be hosting a hospitality room in the Old Glory meeting room of the Hilton Promenade Hotel both Wednesday and Thursday nights after the regularly scheduled Annual Meeting events (usually starting around 9-10 each night). This is a very relaxed atmosphere complete with free beverages (alcoholic and non) and snacks and is a great opportunity to network in a social setting with attorneys from across Missouri.

On Thursday night, we will also be hosting a social event at Andy B’s Bowling on the Branson Landing (405 Branson Landing Blvd) from 8:00 to 10:00 PM. Five lanes have been reserved for anyone who desires to bowl for free, and drinks and appetizers will be available for free (until the YLS-sponsored tab runs out). This will be another friendly networking event with many attorneys attending.

With heavy hearts, we share that John passed away following his brave battle with cancer. His life, though far too brief, was defined by integrity, hard work, and love for his family, friends, and community. We invite you to join us in celebrating John’s life and legacy through a casual gathering with food, soft drinks, and laughter—just as John would have wanted. Please help us spread the word to anyone who knew and loved him. If you have any trouble RSVP’ing, please text Danny (314)225-7827.

Hosted by: THE HERRIES FAMILY

Date: Saturday, October 11

2:00PM – 4:00PM CDT

Address: The Commons

14885 Clayton Rd, Chesterfield MO 63017

July 1, 2025 – Little Free Library Field

Cue the music and crack the bats—it's time for the first-ever SMBA Home Run Derby! The stakes are high, the fences are short, and the walk-up songs are absolutely critical.

Rules:
Each batter gets 10 outs—not over the fence/wall counts as an out. Swing big or go home.

Round One – Let’s Do the Math

Five sluggers step up. One will go down - leaving four to fight it out head-to-head.

First up: Alec Martinez, repping Stare Decisis is for Suckers, strolls up to “Your Love” by The Outfield. First three pitches? Gone. He ends his round with five big bombs and some serious swagger.

Next: Cameron Beaver, captain of the DOJ Turkeys, cranks “Gonna Make You Sweat” and does exactly that. Six towering homers and one memorable shot off the wall. Respect.

Turkey teammate Casey Clark takes his turn to “Low Rider,” bringing the crowd to life with two High Tree specials—straight through the branches and over the fence—plus two more. Four total and style points for drama..

Ty Harden makes an entrance with “They Not Like Us.” While everyone checks their phones to see if they missed a headline he sneaks out two homers.

Brian Risley brings the boom (literally) with “Boom” by BOP. Four balls leave the yard with force and flair.

Round One Count

• Beaver – 6
• Martinez – 5
• Risley – 4
• Clark – 4
• Harden – 2

Ty Harden is eliminated but walks off with the 2025 Congeniality Award. He brought the fun, the friendship, and just the right amount of chaos. We salute him.

Round Two – Showdowns

• Beaver vs. Risley
• Martinez vs. Clark

The Turkeys are toast—Risley and Martinez advance to the final round.

Championship Round – Risley vs. Martinez

Risley keeps booming, adding a couple more to his total. But Martinez goes all in—one shot pings off the Commissioner’s truck, another lands in the poison ivy. Big hits. Big energy. Peak performance. May need new team name.

And the winner is...

Alec Martinez – 2025 SMBA Home Run Derby Champion!

Your Homerun Derby Playlist

Some of our homerunners couldn’t make it—jury trials, downed power lines and whatnot.  But we want you to have ALL the jams to relive the joy and glory of the entire season!

• Your Love – The Outfield (Alec Martinez)
• Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) – C+C Music Factory (Cameron Beaver)
• Low Rider – War (Casey Clark)
• They Not Like Us – Kendrick Lamar (Ty Harden)
• Boom – BOP (Brian Risley)
• Mr. Blue Sky – ELO (Doug Reynolds)
• September – Earth, Wind & Fire (Dylan Dunbar)
• Brick House – Commodores (Judge Kaiti Greenwade)
• What You Know – T.I. (Taylor White)

The final night of the season took place back at the storied “Little Free Library Field” behind Mother's Brewery—just as the West Central Neighborhood Potluck Picnic was getting underway on the adjoining grounds.  And like any great finale, it came with high stakes, bruised balls, battered egos and at least one outfielder dodging stray picnickers in deep right. 

Game 25 – Semifinal: Motion to Strike v. DOJ Turkeys

Top of the First - Bryan Wade stepped to the plate and opened the game with a surprisingly chill HOME RUN.

Bottom of the First - Pitching for Motion to Strike, Dylan Dunbar kept things quiet. No runs, and no major injuries.

Top of the Second - Captain Danielle Reid popped one to center, only to be denied by a slick Randy Eggert snag. Wade followed with a solid drive, but Casey Clark said “nope.” Still no runs.

Top of the Third- Jessica Johns and Lauren Haskins ripped a couple of line drives—both swallowed up by Christine Schlegl, who coolly fielded them while navigating around a picnicker with a crockpot.

Bottom of the Third - Cameron Beaver fired things up with a double. Reid attempted a slide but earned only dust and admiration. Clark followed with a double and RBI, putting the Turkeys on the board. Motion to Strike 1, Turkeys 1

Top of the Fourth - Laura Vales led with a triple. Reid doubled her home. Wade said “I can do that too” and drove in another. Two runs scored. Motion to Strike 3, Turkeys 1

Bottom of the Fourth - Clark continued his bid for MVTurkey with another RBI. Motion to Strike 3, Turkeys 2

Top of the Fifth - Lauren Haskins delivered a line drive to left—snagged by Clark. Dunbar followed with a beauty to right—caught by Eggert. Down to the wire.

Bottom of the Fifth - Hopes for a walk-off by the Turkeys were stuffed. Motion to Strike plucked victory from the DOJ team and closed out their season, feathered and finished.

Final Score: Motion to Strike 3, Turkeys 2

Batting Order

Motion to Strike
Danielle Reid, Bryan Wade, Abby Craigmyle, Jessica Johns, Lauren Haskins, Dylan Dunbar, Laura Vales

DOJ Turkeys

Hannah Lucas, Stephanie Wan, Christine Schlegl, Cameron Beaver, Casey Clark, Randy Eggert

Game 26 – Semifinal: McGlovens v. Let Freedom Swing

Top of the First - Jason Johnson on the mound. Nothing doing.

Bottom of the First - Joseph Reid pitching. Scoreless.

Top of the Second - Bryan Delleville on the mound.  Stray pitch hits the Commissioner of Wiffle Ball’s gear.  Second stray pitch hits the Commissioner.  Charges not filed as of press date.

Still no runs.

Bottom second and only five minutes into this incredibly fast game. Scott Pierson walks. Cole Robert cracks a big hit, subtly caught by Grant Walters. Delleville doubles. Still no runs

Top of the third - Reid pops one… snagged by Pierson

Bottom of third - Roberts hits again – looks like it might go over and…. Caught.  By Walters. Delleville joins the “caught by Walters” club. Johnson squeaks one under the sawhorse. Still.  No runs.

Top of the Fourth - Taylor White swaps bats and immediately triples. Walters follows up with a hit that sends Pierson sliding for the catch like he’s at confession. Any prayers for a score in this game remain unanswered. Still no runs.

Bottom fourth - Expectations waning, crowd listless and melting in the heat – Roberts with a wake up call – HOME RUN. Let Freedom Swing 1, McGlovens 0

Top of the Fifth - Reid hits a triple, Walters bats him in. White delivers a towering shot deep into the tree - everyone thinks it’s gone—until Roberts plucks it from oblivion.  Tied Game, 1-1

Bottom of the Fifth - Two outs, no one on. Roberts up. And just like that—HOMER #2. Let Freedom Swing walks off with the win and into the finals.

Final Score: Let Freedom Swing 2, McGlovens 1

Let Freedom Swing

Scott Pierson, Cole Roberts, Bryan Delleville, Jason Johnson

McGlovens

Joseph Reid, Grant Walters, Taylor White, James Jeffries

Game 27 - Championship

Let Freedom Swing v. Motion to Strike

Crushed balls, crushed dreams, and one very fortuitous awning.

As the sun dipped behind the Little Free Library Field and the scent of charred hot dogs drifted in from the Westside Neighborhood Potluck Picnic, two teams stood on the brink of wiffle immortality. One would leave as champions. The other... with a little trauma and a lot of grass stains.

Top of the First - Motion to Strike came out composed and ready. Dylan Dunbar took the mound and delivered a quick, clean inning—three up, three down. Calm. Efficient. All business.

Bottom of the First - Captain Danielle Reid led off with a pop fly straight into the sure hands of Freedom’s Captain Cole Roberts. Bryan Wade followed with a sharp hit—snagged by Scott Pierson, who barely broke a sweat. Abby Craigmyle kept hope alive with a single, but that was all Motion could manage. Still scoreless.

And then…

What happened next may go down as the most dramatic half-inning in SMBA Wiffle Ball history.

Jason Johnson kicked off the top of the second with a clean single.

Then came the chaos.

Lefty Scott Pierson with a swing so fierce the bat slipped through his grasp and launched skyward.  The crowd gasped then watched in stunned silence as the plastic rocket sailed seventy-five feet over the heads of the spectators and directly toward the unsuspecting Westside Neighborhood Potluck Picnic. 

HEADS UP!!!!!!!!!

And… relief.

The bat landed, miraculously, on the awning above the picnic pad.  No potato salad was harmed.  One spectator murmured, “I’m going to remember this for the rest of my life.”

Pierson didn’t score, but he lit a fuse and Let Freedom Swing was officially on fire.

Roberts stepped up and delivered a two-run homer, which, in any other game, would’ve been the headline.

Cue the rally:

• Bryan Delleville: single
• Johnson: double + RBI
• Pierson: hit-by-pitch that echoed
• Roberts: also plunked
• Delleville: single + RBI
• Johnson: single + RBI
• Roberts: base-clearing triple + 3 RBI

By the time the adrenaline wore off eight runs had scored, and Let Freedom Swing had essentially carved their names into the trophy.

Aftermath

The remaining innings were a mix of valiant defense and mercifully quiet bats. The scoreboard didn’t budge.

Final Score: Let Freedom Swing 8, Motion to Strike 0

Congratulations to the 2025 SMBA Wiffle Ball Champions Let Freedom Swing:
Scott Pierson, Cole Roberts, Bryan Delleville, Jason Johnson

And thats a wrap!

The 2025 SMBA Wiffle Ball season kicked off in mid-May with 155 hopeful lawyers, judges and summer associates donning team shirts and swinging plastic bats with surprising sincerity.  The league’s third year will be remembered fondly as the perfect mix of comedy and competition.  The 2025 season delivered everything we could’ve hoped for: dramatic comebacks, unexpected heroes, one airborne bat, and at least a dozen players who learned the hard way that wiffle sliding is a choice. Over seven weeks, sixteen teams battled it out through 27 games, proving that lawyers can hit bombs, catch pop flies and make new friends, more or less at the same time.  Huge thanks to our team captains and all the players who brought their best for a wildly entertaining season.

Until next year—keep your eye on the ball, your foot on the base, and your bat out of the potato salad.

June 17, 2025: Fast, Fun & Possibly in Violation of Local Noise Ordinances. 

Night six of the 2025 SMBA Wiffle Ball Season was extra special. Big thanks to the Chamber for letting us crash your Summer Soiree—nothing like a little wiffle chaos to spice up your charcuterie and Amy Winehouse cover band.

Game 21: BARbarians v Let Freedom Swing

So much hustle, we barely noticed the low scores, five-inning run drought and TWO extra innings.

Top of the 1st: Captain Kenny Beck pitched like he was trying to close a deal—tight,  efficient, and no runs allowed.

Bottom of the 1st: Jason Johnson also brought the heat. Bases loaded for Jacob Haskins, who delivered a shot straight into the sure hands of Cole Roberts. No runs. Gritty.

Top of the 2nd: Roberts said “enough of this” and knocked in the first run of the game.

Bottom of the 2nd: Summer Associate Ella Reicherd with a double, followed by a Beck single and Haskins getting beaned. Kyle Harmon took a stroll to first—RBI walk to tie it up.

From there, it was a 1–1 deadlock that lasted longer than jury instructions.

Highlights Reel:

3rd: Scott Pierson made a highlight-worthy grab that got actual applause.

4th: Delleville hit one over the fence.  Foul but Fantastic.

5th: Roberts again made a solid hit, only to be nabbed by the lightning-fast reflexes of Beck.

Bottom of the 5th, Harmon on base. Two outs. Reicherd up. Crowd tense. CRACK!—caught by Delleville. Extra innings, here we come.

Sixth Inning:  A HBP that parted Robert’s hair but spared the scalp—a league first.

Top of the 7th: Let Freedom puts the “extra” in extra innings. Delleville with a clutch triple into the tree, scoring two.  FINALLY – broke the deadlock. LFS 3, BARbarians 1.

Bottom of the 7th: The Reicherd duo with the rally—Randy with a double, Ella with a solid hit—but Pierson’s outfield hustle shut down the hit, hopes and game. 

• Final Score: Let Freedom Swing 3, BARbarians 1
• MVPs: Kenny Beck & Jason Johnson — because pitching wins championships (and low-scoring wiffle games).

Batting Order

BARbarians

• Ella Reichard
• Kenny Beck
• Austin Fax
• Kyle Harmon
• Randy Reichard
• Jacob Haskins

Let Freedom Swing

• Scott Pierson
• Cole Roberts
• Bryan Delleville
• Jason Johnson

Game 22: McGlovens v Appealables

Judgment Day for the Appealables

Top 1st: Judge Fuhrman pitching like he's trying to uphold precedent. Taylor White = triple. Colin Elliot = double and RBI.  McGloven’s take an early lead.

Bottom 1st: Judge Taylor walks on a HBP. Judge Poppen swings with conviction—only for Reid to snag it like he briefed the case.

Top 2nd: Summer Associate Grant Walters shows why he's summering here with a double.

Bottom 2nd: Judge Palmietto gets on base with a clean single.

Top 3rd: White sends one into orbit—only for Judge Christensen to transcend gravity and catch it. Gasps and smattering of applause. 

Bottom 3^rd, Top 4th: Quiet. Everyone was still recovering from that Christensen catch.

Bottom 4th: Judge Carrier smacks one right at White. Diving catch at expense of at least one shoulder. Icepacks and commendation recommended.

5th Inning: Time to finish it. Reid delivers a triple + RBI. White adds another. McGlovens pad the lead. Appealables can’t close the gap.   Sorry to see you go, judges.  See you (and your matching t-shirts) next season.

• Final Score: McGlovens 3, Appealables 1
• MVPs: Judge Fuhrman & Joseph Reid

Special Shoutout: T.W., age 6— best ball retriever and brilliant smile.

Batting Order

McGlovens

• Joseph Reid
• Grant Walters
• Taylor White
• Collin Elliot

Appealables

• Josh Christensen
• Nathan Taylor
• Kirsten Poppen
• Kaiti Greenwade
• Margaret Palmietto
• Ron Carrier
• John Lukachick
• Jerry Harmison
• Phil Fuhrman

Game 23: Motion to Strike v Lacks Appeal

Motion to Strike gives new meaning to Points Relied On!

Top 1st: Mike Risberg pitching. Bryan Wade cracks a double, followed by a walk (Abby Craigmyle) and HBP (Jessica Johns). Dylan Dunbar drops a clean RBI single. Charity Elmer pops one up—Blake Shier catches it like he meant to.

Bottom 1st: Shier returns fire with a double. Captain Danielle Reid attempts a heroic catch. Knees are sacrificed. Leadership.

Top 2nd: Reid and Wade with singles, this time at the expense of Judge Hamner’s knees.  Bases loaded, no outs. Jessica Johns with a pop, and caught out by Hannah Jackson. All eyes on Dunbar as he steps up to the plate and SMASHES  a triple into the chain link fence so hard it broke into song. Cleared the bases, 3 RBI. Crowd swooned.

Bottom 2nd: Hamner and Shier doubles trouble.  Lacks chalks a run.

Top 3rd: Reid, Wade, and Craigmyle string hits. Johns walks in a run. Hamner responds with two stone cold catches.

Bottom 3rd: Judge Becky West makes her season debut with a respectable single.

Fourth Inning – Scorching (sun) Scoreless (yeah)

Top 5th: Shier at the mound shows off his five-tool status with two flyout saves.

Craigmyle smashes a foul ball into the playground. No one injured.

Bottom 5th: Allison Garrett gets on base with her signature crossbody bag and signature impossible-to-catch single.  Alas, this case was styled for Motion.  Lacks Appeal- we salute you (and find you quite appealing).   Come back next year, possibly with a new name.

• Final Score: Motion to Strike 7, Lacks Appeal 1
• MVPs: Dylan Dunbar & Judge Hamner

Batting Order

Motion to Strike

• Danielle Reid
• Bryan Wade
• Abby Craigmyle
• Jessica Johns
• Lauran Haskins
• Dylan Dunbar
• Charity Elmer

Lacks Appeal

• Blake Shier
• Allison Garrett
• Hannah Jackson
• Mike Risberg
• Matt Hamner
• Becky West

Game 24: Prior and Persistents v DOJ Turkeys

Wherein the Turkeys do the slaughtering.

Top 1st: Blink and you missed it. A shutout so quick it needed a slow-mo replay.

Bottom 1st: Hannah Lucas, Christine Schlegl and Stephanie Wan (HBP) load the bases. Casey Clark sets the tone for this match with a base clearing triple. Randy Eggert follows with an RBI. Wan gets beaned AGAIN. Beaver walks in a run. Clark gets another via HBP. Run tally: 6. Momentum: Turkeys.

Top 2nd: P&P’s Huffman with a nice hit—snatched midair by Beaver. Mercy. Otherwise another super-fast half-inning,

Bottom 2nd: Lucas and Schlegl leading off again with a double and single. Beaver cleaning up this time with a triple, 2RBI.  Clark on base with hbp and Eggert brings them home with a triple 2RBI. Turkeys widen their lead 10-0

Third inning – Crazy fast, a few hits, a lot of outs and zero runs.

Top 4th: P&P taking this battle to the mat. Kristin Jones with a double then Brian Risley with a chain-link clearing TWO-RUN HOMER that made the fence feel inadequate. Stacie Bilyeu with a beauty of a hit, caught by Clark. Score: 10–2.

Bottom 4th: In which the Turkeys come home to roast.

Eggert triple. Wan gets beaned (again again). Schlegl brings them home with a triple. Beaver triple and another RBI, all building up to Clark dropping a bomb of a TWO-RUN HOMER. Back to the beginning of the batting order -  Lucas, Wan and Schlegl load the bases – Beaver and Clark bring them home.  In case you’ve lost count, that’s eight more runs.  Our math is correct. Our recap is … correct enough. Run rule invoked.

Top 5th: P&P loads the bases—Risley, Bilyeu, Huffman.  The sun was setting.  The band went home.  They persisted to the end.  The DOJs Turkeys head to the semis (think finals not processing plant)

• Final Score: DOJ Turkeys 18, Prior and Persistents 2
• MVPs: Kristin Jones & Casey Clark

Batting Order

Prior and Persistents

• Brady Musgrave
• Kristin Jones
• Brian Risley
• Stacie Bilyeu
• Stuart Huffman

DOJ Turkeys

• Hannah Lucas
• Stephanie Wan
• Christine Schlegl
• Cameron Beaver
• Casey Clark
• Randy Eggert

Let’s just say June 17 was one for the books: walk-offs, fence-clearing homers, at least three sacrificed knees, and the first ever hair-grazing HBP.  Come out June 24 for the semis and championship games —bring ice packs and maybe a helmet.

June 24 Game Times:

• 5:30 Motion to Strike v. DOJ Turkeys
• 6:15 Let Freedom Swing v McGlovens
• 7:00 Championship Game

2025 SEASON HOME RUN CLUB

There is no charge to participate, but when you select your photo for the composite you will view your proofs and can purchase photos if you wish to do so.

Schedule your appointment by calling 512-266-8921 or online at www.goJRussell.com.  Just click “schedule appointment” and follow the instructions. If you do not schedule an appointment JRussell will follow up with a reminder.

JRussell is the nation’s leading executive portrait studio. They produced our two previous composites and are great to work with. They recommend professional attire in dark and/or bold colors for lawyers and judges are usually photographed in their robes.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

The fifth night of 2025 SMBA Wiffle Ball featured scorching heat, dazed and confused summer associates, fans wielding signs a new field locale in Mother’s Brewery Back Yard. 

Game 17: Prior and Persistents v. Court Jesters

“A homer, a sawhorse injury, and three bean balls walk into a brewery…”

It was the first night on the brand-new field behind Mother’s Brewery, and Prior and Persistents and Court Jesters came ready to christen it — with hits, hustle, and some league firsts.

Top of the 1st: P&P opened strong: Musgrave opened with a hit, Jones got plunked (the first of many), and Huffman made it rain with a 2-RBI triple. Boom. 2–0.

Bottom of the 1st:  Cantwell up to bat for the Jesters, HBP.  Hodges and Olive lobbed solid hits but Huffman and Risley were hustling in the outfield – no runs scored.

Top of the 2nd: Here’s where it gets dramatic. Huffman tripled. Musgrave tripled. Risley RBI’d. Then Huffman launched the new field’s  first homer to the deep outfield. Fireworks may or may not have gone off. P&P tacked on four more.

Bottom of the 2nd: Pause for sawhorse maintenance (yes, this is a real sentence). Then Peebles tripled. Cantwell took another pitch to the body. Preston popped one… caught. Jesters: all promise, no points.

Top of the 3rd: The Jesters were done clowning around. Jones took a base but never made it home. Commendable hits by Risley and Huffman – both shut down by Peebles No runs scored by P & P.

Bottom of the 3rd: Hodges tripled into shrubbery, Peebles and Cantwell doubled in runs. Cantwell was hit again (third time!) Four runs scored.  Ladies and gentleman – we have a game      

Top of the fourth Decent hits by P & P + exceptional fielding by the Jesters = no runs scored. 

Bottom of the fourth: Preston triple into deep center.  Olive on base and Hodges with the RBI. Preston took a hit by pitch, loading the bases, but alas, stranded.  Jesters add one run to their tally, tightening the gap.  P & P – 6, Jesters 5.

Final inning: Musgrave and Risley with P&P insurance runs. The Jesters pushed back with doubles, hustle and DoorDash deliveries — but couldn’t close the gap.

• Final Score: Prior and Persistents 8, Court Jesters 6
• MVPs: Stuart “Slugger” Huffman & Brett “Shrubbery Slammer” Hodges

Prior and Persistents

• Brady Musgrave
• Kristin Jones
• Brian Risley
• Stuart Huffman

Court Jesters

• Justin Cantwell
• Brett Hodges
• Jay Preston
• David OIive
• Andy Peebles

Game 18: Vicarious Trauma v. Motion to Strike

“Five innings. Four hours. One league-mandated tape measure.”

This one had everything: scorching sun, grass-stained t-shirts, a field reconfiguration, and a rulebook reading mid-game. But also, very few runs.

Top of the First: Motion to Strike opened with a bang (and a bonk): Brian Wade smashed a line drive into the tree, only for gravity — and Adam Woody — to intervene in spectacular, Plinko-esque fashion. Jessica Johns followed up with a perfectly arched pop fly… also vacuumed up by Woody, who seemed to be everywhere and possibly wearing magnets.

Bottom of the First: Vicarious Trauma responded like any seasoned criminal defense team would. They came back swining. Ty Harden casually knocked in two RBIs, possibly while chanting Miranda rights.

Second Inning: Haskins delivered a tidy single for Motion to Strike, while Jessica Johns earned a highlight reel catch on defense — a full-body, grass-stained lunge to snatch a Russ Dempsey hit. Style points were provided. Dry cleaning was not.

Third Inning: Haskins once again fired off one of her signature “impossible-to-field” singles. Meanwhile SMBA President Matt Russell took a below the belt hit by pitch.  Not Vicarious. Definitely traumatic.

Cue a Commissioner Timeout.  Pitching distance too close for comfort, literally. Tape measure invoked.  Batting backdrop moved. Back to play.

Top of the Fourth: Team Captain Danielle Reid fired a double impossibly under and through the sawhorse. Johns added a double and RBI, and Abby Craigmyle tacked on another. Motion granted. Tied game 2-2.

Bottom of the Fourth: Ben Stringer took a hit by pitch like the champ he is. Sadly his teammates left him hanging like a case under advisement.

Top of the Fifth: With the score locked and fans aging visibly, Johns and Dylan Dunbar took first base the hard way — by getting beaned. Reid, undeterred and probably fueled by ibuprofen, knocked a double that brought in the go-ahead run. Motion to Strike led, 3–2.

Bottom of the Fifth: Summer associate and Motion pitcher Dunbar played 4D chess and walked Stringer to open. Dempsey on base with a single despite Reid’s daring and apparently painful attempt to catch “that hurt”.  Next up Woody and this catch and out by Reid.  Painful poetic justice. Russell up- runners of 1st and 2nd with two outs.  Mercifully, he’s out and so are we. 

• Final Score: Motion to Strike 3, Vicarious Trauma 2
• MVPs: Ty Harden & Dylan Dunbar

Vicarious Trauma

• Ty Harden
• Adam Woody
• Matt Russell
• Ben Stringer
• Russ Dempsey

Motion to Strike

• Danielle Reid
• Bryan Wade
• Jessica Johns
• Lauren Haskins
• Dylan Dunbar
• Abby Craigmyle

Game 19: Ballers v. Lacks Appeal

"One Fan Sign, Five Summer Associates, 18 runs and Boundless Enthusiasm"

The third game of the night was between the Husch Blackwell “Ballers” and the Southern District’s “Lacks Appeal.”  Judge Hamner and the clerks of the Southern District brought the hits and a fan with a sign reading “Guilty of being the best wiffle ball team ever.” Husch brought two associates and five summer hires who were pretty confused as to why they were there.

Slow start with no runs in the first inning.

Top of the second Lacks Appeal at bat and bases loaded – Allison Garrett came through with an RBI single, then Kyle Skopec with another.  Two runs scored

Bottom of the second, Baller summer associates got into the groove with Parker Westhoff (triple) Maverick Lewis (single) and Claire Carlson (triple RBI) – turning up the heat as the sun went down. Three runs scored.

Top of the third. Lacks Appeal launched a coordinated assault…on the sawhorse, first Blake Shier with a double then Judge Hamner with a single.  Garrett loaded the bases with a single setting the stage for some excitement. Thwack – Skopec bats a clean-up triple 3RBI. Shier and Hamner tally RBIs and the inning ends with Garrett popping a fly capably caught by Baller Summer Associate Claire Carlson.  The bottom of the third was uneventful and the inning ends with Lacks Appeal taking a decisive lead 7-3.

Top of the fourth. Some league firsts.  Bases loaded and Shier at bat – scores with a bean ball RBI.  Next at bat Hamner with a hit by pitch RBI.  Not the most appealing way to score, but three more runs on the board and the lead becoming a canyon 10-3.

Top of the fifth: Déjà vu!  Shier takes ANOTHER bean ball RBI followed by Hamner with an RBI via walk. Garrett slices a double that rolls Baller summer associate Maverick Lewis like a tumbleweed in his impressive, albeit failed, attempt to catch.  Game paused to collect and refill the bucket of balls. By the time the inning ended with a Skopec pop caught by summer associate Stephen Tate, Lacks Appeal racked four more runs. 

Bottom of the fifth: A Baller was overheard to ask a teammate what the score was.  “We only need twelve runs to win.”  Exhibiting the kind of tenacity every team needs, the Ballers never gave up.  Jake Addington with a commanding triple, Stewart with a single.  They added one run and walked off remarkably cheerful, slightly dazed and still confused.

• Final Score – Vicarious Trauma 14, Ballers 4
• MVPs: Maverick Lewis and Blake Shier

Ballers

• Anna Stewart
• Stephen Tate
• Claire Carlson
• Jake Addington
• Ethan Schroeder
• Parker Westhoff
• Maverick Lewis

Lacks Appeal

• Mike Risberg
• Allison Garrett
• Kyle Skopec
• Hannah Jackson
• Blake Shier
• Matt Hamner
  

Game 20: DOJ Turkeys v Defenders

“Thanksgiving came early. And the Turkeys brought pies and triples.”

Another slow start with no runs scored in the first inning and a half, but Turkey Casey Clark made his first appearance of the season and he was strutting his stuffing both at bat and on the field.

Bottom of the second. Defenders at bat with notable hits by Luke Dainty (double) Scott Skocy (triple, RBI) and honorable mention to a smash by Sara Meier, deftly caught by Turkey Captain Cameron Beaver

The top of the third came on like a truck load of, well, turkeys.  Clark leading off with a triple setting the stage for Beaver and a majestic three run homer over the chain link fence and out of the park.  Clark followed, finding the hidden ball shrine in the vines, pausing the game for an easter-egg Esque search. Turkeys trot in three runs scored.

Bottom of the third. The Defenders did what they do best – they fought back. Blake Buchard with a single and Jeff Woods with a Triple and an RBI. Still anyone’s game. Turkeys 3, Defenders 2

4th Inning. More of the same, plus someone googled “What is a sawhorse?”

Top of the fifth. Hannah Lucas clocked a hit. Randy Eggert got robbed twice by Skocy with ESPN-worthy catches. Clark tripled again. Beaver tripled again.  Blah Blah Blah, Etc. Etc.

Bottom of the fifth. Defender Darlene Villalobos hit her best ever — straight to Clark. Dainty doubled, but the comeback was not to be. Defenders, you were fun to watch.  See you next season.

• Final Score: DOJ Turkeys 6, Defenders 2
• MVPs: Casey Clark & Luke Dainty

DOJ Turkeys

• Hannah Lucas
• Stephanie Wan
• Christine Schlegl
• Cameron Beaver
• Casey Clark
• Randy Eggert

Defenders

• Blake Burchard
• Darlene Villalobos
• Jeff Wood
• Luke Dainty
• Sara Meier
• Scott Skocy
• Matt Campbell
• Daniel Newell

2025 Homerun Count

Game 1

Cameron Beaver (Grand Slam)

Game 5 (unofficial “just for fun”game due to forfeit, but homeruns still count)

Judge Kaiti Greenwade

Brady Musgrave

Game 6

Doug Reynolds (2)

Alec Martinez (2)

Taylor White

Collin Elliott

Game 7

Judge Kaiti Greenwade (Grand Slam)

Game 8

David Olive

Game 9

Ty Harden

Game 15

Taylor White

Game 17

Stuart Huffman

Game 20

Cameron Beaver

The matchups for night four of the 2025 season were the winners of their first games – so win or lose, we will see these teams again in our modified double elimination framework.

Game 13 DOJ Turkeys v BARbarians

Brief, Blustery, and Beck’d Up

A humid haze settled over the field as the DOJ Turkeys gobbled up an early lead with a first-inning RBI from Captain Cameron Beaver. The score held like a sealed indictment until the third, when another Turkey run ruffled feathers.

The BARbarians stirred with a Randy Reichert triple, and then—in a plot twist no one saw coming (mostly because of wind and poor visibility)—they reversed the game in the fourth with two surprise runs.

The Turkeys couldn’t peck out any more points, and in the bottom of the fifth, Captain Beck strutted in with a dramatic walk-off triple. Game. Set. Verdict delivered.

• Final Score: BARbarians 3, Turkeys 2
• MVPs: Cameron Beaver & Kenny Beck – for leading their flocks fearlessly.

DOJ Turkeys

• Hannah Lucas
• Stephanie Wan
• Christine Schlegl
• Cameron Beaver
• Randy Eggert

BARbarians

• Ella Reichard
• Jared Aldrich
• Kenny Beck
• Randy Reichard
• Colby Hall

Game 14: Let Freedom Swing v. Defenders

“You Have the Right to Remain Scoreless”

Game 14 was a battle between two teams that in their natural habitat are on the same side – the (public) Defenders v. Twibell Pierson’s Let Freedom Swing

Scott Pierson led off for LFS with a triple, followed by a single from Jason Johnson, but the Defenders locked it down when Scott Skocy dove for a  breathtaking (literal) catch.

The second and third innings racked up lots of stranded runners and zero runs scored.

Then, in the bottom of the fourth, LFS busted out with a Johnson RBI triple and a 3-RBI bomb by Cole Roberts. It was magical. It was majestic. It was mercifully decisive. The inning finally shut down with a transcendent run around the sawhorse catch by Skocy.

• Final Score: Let Freedom Swing 4, Public Defenders 0
• MVPs: Quentin Michel and Cole Roberts

Defenders

• Scott Skocy
• Darlene Villalobos
• Luke Dainty
• Sara Meier
• Quentin Michel
• Blake Burchard
• Matt Campbell

Let Freedom Swing

• Scott Pierson
• Cole Roberts
• Bryan Delleville
• Jason Johnson
•  

Game 15: McGlovens v. Prior and Persistents

The Court of Ruthless Efficiency

In game 15 reigning Champs McGlovens lost the coin toss (spoiler – that was all the losing they were going to tolerate for the evening.) Team Captain Taylor White set the tone cracking a triple in the first pitch of the game.  Teammates Joseph Reid and rookie/ summer associate Grant Walters tallied their own RBIs churning out triples. The first inning was a McGloven hit parade that tallied five runs, despite P&Ps valiant attempts at fielding, most notably a Superman dive by Brian Risley, In the bottom of the first, P&P Kristen Jones got on base but that was the end of the action.  The half inning shut down with five runs scored and reigning champs McGlovens showing more Glove than Loven and a score of 5-0.

The top of the second had the scorekeeper scrambling for a calculator and inhaler. White tallied a 2-run homer, Reid tripled and Walter got at least one run - the hits came so fast the hitters were a blur.  The McGlovens scored five more runs and the inning ended with a score gap of 10-0.

Third inning: in a reminder of what they are made of (and that their name incudes the word “persistent” P&P player Stacie Bilyeu reminded her team and anyone else listening “hey we didn’t let them score in that inning.” 

Buoyed by Bilyeu’s pep talk, P&P team captain Stuart Huffman heroically put his team on the board with a fourth-inning RBI triple. It was a Disney movie underdog moment – without the Disney ending.

The McGlovens retaliated in the top of the fifth with TEN more runs and would probably still be out there pummeling wiffle balls had the mercy rule not been invoked.  

Bottom of the fifth and in their final at bat P&P, refused to concede even with a 20 point gap.  They loaded the bases but alas, failed to score.  Prior and Persistent we salute you.  You demonstrated that brand of persistence that defines the profession of law. “Even when we don’t win, we always persist .”

• Final Scorch: McGlovens 21, Prior & Persistents 1
• MVPs: Reid (relentless) & Risley (resilient)

Batting order

Prior and Persistents 

• Brady Musgrave 
• Kristin Jones 
• Brian Risley 
• Stacie Bilyeu 
• Stuart Huffman 

McGlovens 

• Joseph Reid 
• Taylor White 
• Grant Walters 

Game 16: Appealables v. Court Jesters

In Re: Little Free Library

Game 16 was an action-packed production with high scores, attempted appealables to the the umpire, and the judges of the 31^st debuting new t-shirts sporting their division numbers on the back.  Adding to the excitement was the awkwardly timed deconstruction and relocation of the little free library in right field.

Top of the first and top of the batting order, Appealables Judge Jerry Harmison presided over a single. Judge Nathan Taylor followed with a double and

Judge Kaiti Greenwade knocks them in with a triple.  By end of half inning the Appealables are on the board with three runs scored.

Bottom of the first with Judge Phil Fuhrman pitching. Jester Jay Preston started things out with a triple.  A record number of hits by pitch loaded the bases then Preston with the message “we aren’t clowning,” another triple, this time with 3 RBI. Five runs for the Jesters before the Appealables closed court and the little free library removed from its post.

Top of the second. Commissioner John Lukachik with single quickly punctuated by a Triple and an RBI by Judge Josh Christensen. Team Captain Judge Ron Carrier managed a solid pop, foiled with a clean catch by Jester Andy Peebles. Harmison scored an RBI followed by Taylor with a crazy hard hit to right field crazily caught by Preston.  Who knew a wiffle ball could scorch.

Bottom of the second. Jesters Nadia Molloy started the batting order with a fascinating and impossible to stop line drive right into the sawhorse. Justin Cantwell followed with a solid hit on the line to left, overruled when snagged by Lukachick.  Preston with an RBI then Jesters’ Captain David Olive with a powerhouse hit to far center field, breathtakingly caught by Greenwade.  Just in time, maintenance relocated to far center field with post hole digger, foreshadowing answers to the question “what will become of the little free library.”

Top of the third. Oral argument by the appealables when a Greenwade hit/ out was declared a “questionable call” - questioned only by her honorable teammates.  Judge Margaret Palmietto got in the game with a single followed by Lukachick and a double, Christensen brought them home, 2 RBI. Captain Carrier followed with an RBI. Harmison hit to respondent Olive with a gymnastic diving shoulder roll catch.  Appealables in the lead with three more runs scored.

Bottom of the third. Molloy with a double, a Cantwell pop caught by Lukachik, Preston hit with a slow roll catch and out by pitcher Furhrman. No runs scored but some pretty exciting gameplay

Top of the fourth starring the lady Appealables. Judge Kirsten Poppen made her mark on the game with a single. Greenwade hit her stride with a triple and RBI that seemed to sing “this is how we do it.” And Palmietto gets on base with a hit by pitch single.  For all those many players enduring hit by pitch this season – we appreciate your sacrifice.

Bottom of the fourth. Peebles on first with hit by pitch to shoulder followed by Molloy with one of those sneaky singles. Cantwell with a hit by pitch to ankle.  Preston tried for one of his signature triples but beautiful pop was caught by Christensen.  Bases loaded. Olive single RBI. Bases still loaded.  Peebles pop in orbit, posthole digging paused, EVERYONE looking up.  Where is it and will Taylor catch it? Yes! Inning ends with Jesters gaining a little ground and post for little free library installed in center field.  Appealables 9 to Jesters 7 going into the final inning,  Fans began to buzz – by the end of this game who will win and will the little free library be restored

Top of the fifth. Appealables in their grove, or as groovy as a team of judges can be. Christensen snagged a single. Carrier suffered a hit by pitch to his leg. Poppen miraculously hit a single – miraculous because she wasn’t even facing the pitcher. Taylor picked up the pace, decimating a three-run triple into right field wall right where the little free library used to be.  Was this intentional? A message? An Omen?  Fuhrman followed with a double and RBI and the Appealables finished with four more runs in an inning so exciting the little free library carpenter stopped working to either watch or to let the cement dry.

The bottom of the fifth. Twilight crept in, darkening the field and the Jesters’ hope. No runs scored.  The fate of this game is in the books, but as to the little free library – you will have to check back next week.

• Final Score: Appealables 13, Court Jesters 7
• MVPs: Judge Phil Fuhrman and Jay Preston

Batting Order

Appealables

• Jerry Harmison
• Kirsten Poppen
• Nathan Taylor
• Kaiti Greenwade
• Phil Fuhrman
• Margaret Palmietto
  
• John Lukachick
• Josh Christensen
• Ron Carrier

Court Jesters

• Justin Cantwell
• Jay Preston
• David Olive
• Andy Peebles
• Nadia Molloy

2025 Homerun Count

Game 1

• Cameron Beaver (Grand Slam)

Game 5 (unofficial “just for fun”game due to forfeit, but homeruns still count)

• Judge Kaiti Greenwade
• Brady Musgrave

Game 6

• Doug Reynolds (2)
• Alec Martinez (2)
• Taylor White
• Collin Elliott

Game 7

• Judge Kaiti Greenwade (Grand Slam)

Game 8

• David Olive

Game 9

• Ty Harden

Game 15

• Taylor White

Games 9, 10, 11, 12

The third night of play was supposed to take place Tuesday May 27.  Clad in chest waders and unhappiness the commissioner “no continuous will be granted” met game nine teams Dragon Slayers and Vicarious Trauma on a flooded field and finally called the games for the evening. Stubborn much?  

Game Nine – Dragon Slayers v. Vicarious Trauma

Back at it the following evening the Dragon Slayers won the toss and took the field with Patterson pitching.  The first few plays were a walkathon – including the first bean ball walk of the season going to Ty Harden.  Idle threats to charge the mound resuscitated the team and things got more interesting when Vicarious Trauma recruit Ben Stringer clocked a two RBI triple.  Vicarious Trauma was on a roll – sort of – with impressive hitting, but thanks to the even more impressive fielding by Dragon Slayer Kaitlin Frazier no more runs were scored in the top of the first. If game nine had a theme it was “Stop Hitting To Frazier” The half inning closed with a solid hit by Stringer intercepted by a stop drop and catch by Patterson.

Harden took the mound for Vicarious Trauma and hit Patterson with his inaugural pitch.  Payback as a form of justice?   No runs scored.

The top of the second started off with a “controversial call” when Vicarious Trauma player and SMBA President Matt Russell hit a triple into the beer cups adoring the chain link fence.  Fair play or executive privilege run amok?  Ultimately irrelevant.  It was the only excitement in a no run inning. 

After a slight pause to accommodate a child perusing the little free library in right field, the third inning got off to an exciting start when Harden hit a triple so hard-en  even Frazier couldn’t stop it.  Later in the inning, fourth in the batting order, Ben Stringer found all his teammates on base and all eyes on the batter – and SMASHED a bases clearing triple. Vicarious Trauma scored four before the top of the third shut down with a double flip ninja catch by Patterson.

Bottom of the third and top of the fourth.  Not interesting.

Bottom of the fourth – starring Kaylee Comer and an RBI with supporting roles from teammates Patterson, Frazier and Josh Harrell, who all managed to get on base.

In the top of the fifth, Harden slugged the first home run of the evening.  Teammate Adam Woody rocked the ball but, sad for him, to the melancholy tune of “stop hitting to Frazier.”

The Undaunted Dragon Slayers faced a six-run deficit going into their final at bat – bottom of the fifth.  Frazier got on base despite Hardens head over heels rolling catch- attempt.  Patterson knocked off an almost- triple, caught then recaught by Woody.  Those juggling lessons eventually pay off.  The lady slayers did their part, with a triple by Frazier and a double by Comer, managing two more runs. But alas, too little, too late.

• Final Score – Vicarious Trauma 7, Dragon Slayers 3
• MVPs – Ty Harden and Kaitlyn Frazier

Batting Order

Dragon Slayers

• Dan Patterson
• Katelynn Frazier
• Kaylee Comer
• Joshua Harrel

Vicarious Trauma

• Matt Russell
• Ty Harden
• Adam Woody
• Ben Stringer

Game Ten – Motion to Strike v Pour but Lawful

Leave your suits and ties at home, game ten was all about team t-shirts when both sides showed up in coordinating screen prints.

Pour but Lawful won the coin toss and took the field with Clayton Ballard taking the mound. Motion to Strike Captain Danielle Reid wasted no time setting the tone, cracking a triple in the first at bat of the game. Bryan Wade with a triple and the first run of the game.  And the only run of the inning.

Bottom of the 1st: Nothing. Not so much as and objection over ruled. 

Top of the second: Reid, living rent-free in the outfield's nightmares, another triple, Wade drew a walk, and summer associate Dylan Dunbar took a hit-by-pitch like a future hire.  One run scored.

Bottom of the second: In the sweetest single of the night, Alli Greenwade earned a base and a high five from her son. Teammate Rina Edge followed with a fantastic pop fly – fantastically caught by Dunbar. No runs scored.

Top of the 3rd:

Reid, Wade, and Jessica Johns came out swinging — three doubles, two RBI, and a whole lot of swagger.

Bottom of the 3rd: Nothing to see here.

Top of the 4th: Reid smacked another double. Someone knocked her in. The scorekeeper was distracted.

Bottom of the Fourth: Still nothing.

Top of the 5th: Wade hit another double, Dunbar singled one straight into the chest of the pitcher who we hope is a CoxHealth patient. Johns followed with a single. No runs scored.

Bottom of the 5th: Greenwade hit a beautiful pop-up, beautifully caught by Ballard. But teammate Amanda Pearl wasn’t done yet, delivering an uncatchable single that whispered “hope” as it rolled to a stop mere feet from the batter.

• Final Score Motion to Strike 5, Pour but Lawful 0
• MVPs:  Dylan Dunbar and Alli Greenwade

Batting Order

Motion to Strike

• Danielle Reid
• Bryan Wade
• Lauren Haskins
• Dylan Dunbar
• Jessica Johns

Pour but Lawful

• Rina Edge
• Clayton Ballard
• Jill Patterson
• Knial Piper
• Alli Greenwade
• Amanda Pearl

Game Eleven – Ballers v. Stare Decisis

• Ballers win by Forfeit

Game Twelve: Lacks Appeal v Bad News Barristers

The Barristers came out swinging Barrister rookie and summer associate Kaitlin Knetzke opened with a no-doubt triple, and second year summer associate Carson Fink punctuated with a single. Bases were loaded with hope... until three swift outs slammed the brief shut. No runs scored, but the associates were on board — at least metaphorically.

Bottom of the 1st: Lacks Appeal Blake Shier launched a certified zinger, only to have Knetzke say “Not in my court” with a clutch catch. No runs, but excitement was building for a well matched game.

Top of the 2nd: Nate Dunville popped one into the grasp of Pitcher, Team Captain and Judge Matt Hamner, who plucked the catch with the calm of someone who's ruled a time or two. Knetzke lobbed her second triple of the day, but the Barristers once again stranded the argument — and the runners.

Bottom of the 2nd: Five tool player Hamner helped his own cause with a triple, and Allison Garrett followed with a single that brought in the game's first run. Shier did his best to add to the board but Barristers summer associate Josie Fleishmann snagged it like a brief you could write in your sleep.

Top of the 3rd: Dunville took a pitch for the team, Hamner fielded like a man on a mission, and Knetzke delivered again — a triple with an RBI putting the Barristers on the board.

Bottom of the 3rd and top of the 4th, A big ol’ blank. Nothing to write about. Like a redacted document.

Bottom of the 4th:  Oops. While the scorekeeper was grabbing a Kombucha two runs crossed the plate for Lacks Appeal. The inning shut down when Hamner sent a hit to the fingertips of Fink in a captivating grab that appealed to everyone but the opposing team.

Top of the 5th: Fleishmann appealed with a triple, but it wasn’t enough to swing the decision. Rumor has it that the Barristers have the associates working on a motion to forget this game ever happened.  

Quote of the Game: "The scorekeeper disappeared, and so did our lead." – A Barrister, off the record.

• Final Score: Lacks Appeal 4, Bad News Barristers – 1
• MVPs: Kaitlin Knetzke and Allison Garrett

Batting Order

Lacks Appeal

• Allison Garrett
• Blake Shier
• Kyle Skopec
• Adam Li
• Mike Risberg
• Matt Hamner

Bad News Barristers

• Lilly Sweeney
• Alden Smith
• Kaitlin Knetzke
• Carson Fink
• Josie Fleishmann
• Nate Dunville

2025 Homerun Count

Game 1

• Cameron Beaver (Grand Slam)

Game 5 (unofficial “just for fun”game due to forfeit, but homeruns still count)

• Judge Kaiti Greenwade
• Brady Musgrave

Game 6

• Doug Reynolds (2)
• Alec Martinez (2)
• Taylor White
• Collin Elliott

Game 7

• Judge Kaiti Greenwade (Grand Slam)

Game 8

• David Olive

Game 9

• Ty Harden

Game Five -  Prior and Persistents (Criminal Defense Cohort) v Ballers (Husch)

Game Six -  McGlovens (Kutak) v Stare Decisis (Spencer Fane)

Game Seven -   Appealables (31st Circuit Judges) Lacks Appeal (Court of Appeals)

Game Eight -  Court Jesters (Carnahan) v Bad News Barristers (Neale Newman)

Game Five: Prior and Persistents (Criminal Defense Cohort) v Ballers (Husch)

Prior and Persistents win by Forfeit

Game Six:  McGlovens (Kutak) v Stare Decisis (Spencer Fane)

The evening’s first official match was more exciting than courtroom drama, featuring high scores, home runs and rookies making a name for themselves.  Stare Decisis was first at bat with new associate Doug Reynolds launching the very first pitch outta the park and into the parking lot. Henry Sivils followed with a triple, and Alec Martinez brought the gavel down with a home run. Stare had the McGlovens seeing stars, racking three runs against the defending champs.

The McGlovens, come-back kids from the 2024 season, retaliated with two runs, proving they hadn’t lost their championship form.

In the second inning, Sivils and Martinez padded Stare’s score with two more runs. McGloven rookie Collin Elliott responded with a solo run of his own, subtlety setting the tone for what was to come (spoiler: a lot of him).

Then came the third inning—also known as The Great Reversal. Stare, perhaps true to their name, stared blankly at the field, scoring zero. Meanwhile, the McGlovens apparently found their loophole-in-physics.  James Jeffries kicked things off with a 2-RBI double, Elliott knocked in another run, and team captain Taylor White launched a towering homer adding two more. With nine runs on the board the mercy rule was in draft form but mercifully did not have to be invoked.

Stare rallied in the fourth, with Reynolds smacking a triple, followed by RBIs from Sivils, Ben Shantz, and Martinez. Teamwork made the dream work, if only briefly. In the bottom of the fourth, Taylor White took it out on the tree with another triple followed by Elliott racking up four RBIs and a home run like they were billable hours. The McGlovens added seven more runs before pitcher Shantz channeled his inner Spider-Man and ended the chaos with two acrobatic pop fly catches.

Final inning. Stare went down swinging—literally. Reynolds launched another homer (with bonus bat flip), Sivils added two runs, and Martinez chipped in one more. Four runs total. A valiant effort and a fantastic game all around.

Final Score: McGlovens 19 – Stare Decisis 14

Game MVPs: Collin Elliott and Doug Reynolds

Rumor Mill: Word on the street is that law firm recruiting now includes a mandatory wiffleball tryout. Someone call HR.

Batting order

McGlovens

• Collin Elliot
• Taylor White
• James Jeffries

Stare Decisis

• Doug Reynolds
• Henry Sivils
• Alec Martinez

Game Seven:  Appealables (31st Circuit Judges) Lacks Appeal (Court of Appeals)

Following the high-octane madness of Game 6, Game 7 came in with the energy Monday morning's docket. The first two innings were a masterclass in... well, nothing happening. But what they lacked in runs, they made up for in style: Appealables pitcher Judge Phil Fuhrman put on a fielding clinic, while Judge Kirsten Poppen’s batting stance had all the grace of Swan Lake — minus the tutus.

The action finally showed up like a late filed brief in the third inning. Lacks Appeal captain Judge Matt Hamner cracked the game’s first RBI, followed by a 2-RBI hit from clerk Kyle Skopec. Three runs - not bad for our league's newest team.

Then came Poppen’s leadoff single for the Appealables, punctuated by what we can only describe as a happy dance. Judges Carrier and Greenwade each knocked in RBIs, shrinking the lead and boosting morale. At the end of the third: Lacks Appeal 3, Appealables 2. Game on.

Top of the 4th? Blink and you missed it — three outs faster than an overruled objection.

But the bottom of the 4th - something magical (or kombucha-infused) happened.  The Appealables turned the tide like they were used to reversals.  Judge Stockard bravely took a hit-by-pitch like a seasoned warrior, or the mother of a toddler.  Commissioner Lukachick followed with a booming triple, and Judge Andy Hosmer set a new precedent – delivering a single RBI while holding bat in one hand and brew in the other. Carrier added a conventional albeit tidy double to the chaos... then with all eyes on the field, Greenwade joined the GRAND SLAM HOMERUN club, bringing the fans to their feet like jurors headed to lunch – only with clapping.  Just like that, the Appealables were up by five, leaving Lacks Appeal scrambling for a rebuttal that never came.

Final Score: Appealables (8) Lacks Appeal (3)

MVPs: Allison Garrett, Kaiti Greenwade

Special Commendation: Alec Martinez for umpiring a game packed with judges who get PAID to have the final say. Exhausting.

Batting order

Appealables

• Kirsten Poppen
• Andy Hosmer
• Ron Carrier
• Phil Fuhrman
• Kaiti Greenwade
• Joshua Christensen
• Derek Ankrom
• Jodi Stockard
• John Lukachick

Lacks Appeal

• Kyle Skopec
• Allison Garrett
• Adam Li
• Blake Shier
• Mike Risberg
• Matt Hamner

Game Eight Court Jesters (Carnahan) v Bad News Barristers (Neale Newman)

Game Eight kicked off late—credit (or blame) split evenly between a Barristers player stuck in traffic and a Jester found loitering in the taproom, clearly strategizing over hops rather than hits. Priorities, dudes.

The Jesters took the opening at-bat, with Nate Dunville on the mound for the Barristers. Newcomer Justin Cantwell immediately made it clear he missed no memos, cracking a double. Jay Preston drove in a run before Dunville clutched up and caught Andy Peebles’ pop fly like it owed him money.  Barristers captain Lilly Sweeney entered the chat with a thunderous triple, followed by an RBI from Alden Smith – and an RBI by Sweeney.

But then... the second inning happened. The Jesters overruled the Barristers with a deluge of RBIs. Nadia Malloy, Preston, and Peebles each padded the stats sheet, setting up team captain David Olive for a 2-RBI homer – ending their at-bat with seven runs.

The second half of the second inning and the top of the third were about as exciting as a three-day deposition. Then in the bottom of the third, Smith reappeared casually slapped another run on the board. Teammate Dunville marked the inning both with a hit by pitch single and a bunt in a performance that screamed, “real men do TOO eat quiche.”

Rumor has it both teams overheard the commissioner arguing with the umpire about calling the game early due to the weather—or possibly dinner plans—and suddenly, everyone remembered how to play.

Top of the fourth: the Jesters struck back like a sequel. Olive launched a triple with Cantwell and Peebles following suit, the Jesters added six more runs to their account.

But Alden Smith wasn’t done yet. The man hit three triples in a single inning, dragging his team back into the fight one heroic dash at a time.

The Jesters cooled off in the top of the fifth - perhaps taking a moment to admire their lead. The Barristers, still clinging to hope like it was legally binding, eked out two more runs thanks (again) to Alden Smith.

Final Score: Court Jesters (13) Bad News Barristers (8)

MVPs: Lilly Sweeney and Justin Cantwell

Batting order

Court Jesters

• Justin Cantwell
• Nadia Malloy
• Jay Preston
• David Olive
• Andy Peebles
• Brett Hodges

Bad News Barristers

• Lilly Sweeney
• Alden Smith
• Nate Dunville

2025 Homerun Count

Please (and we know you will) report any inaccuracies to the commissioner of wiffle ball chogan@springfieldbar.com

Game 1

• Cameron Beaver – grand slam in 2nd Inning

Game 5 (unofficial “just for fun”game due to forfeit, but homeruns still count)

• Judge Kaiti Greenwade
• Brady Musgrave

Game 6

• Doug Reynolds (2)
• Alec Martinez (2)
• Taylor White
• Collin Elliott

Game 7

• Judge Kaiti Greenwade (Grand Slam)

Game 8

• David Olive

The 2025 SMBA Wiffle Ball Season opened on a hot and sunny Tuesday May 13th with the first four games of the year.  Forty-two players plus dozens of friends, family and fans filled Mother’s Brewery Backyard for a festive and fun evening.

Shout out to our evening’s umpires Danielle Reid, Jacob Haskins and Cameron Beaver.

Game One

The season opened with a battle of the prosecuting attorneys. The Greene County Dragonslayers and DOJ Turkeys squared off with no runs scratched across in the opening frame. But the quiet didn't last long.

The Dragonslayers struck first, plating a lone run in the top of the second taking a short-lived lead. In the bottom half, the Turkeys trotted in six runs, capped by a grand slam courtesy of team captain—and newly minted husband—Cameron Beaver. Congrats all around.

The Dragonslayers fought back in the third, sparked by an animated triple from Jacqueline Ledezma-Ruelas. Moments later, Kaylee Comer slammed an RBI triple-into-the-tree, bringing the crowd (and a few squirrels) to life.

Alas, the Dragonslayers rally failed to slay, the Turkeys gobbling up hope of a comeback with five more runs in the bottom of the third.

Final Score: DOJ Turkeys11, Dragonslayers 6

MVPs: Hannah Lucas and Katelynn Frazier

Batting order

Dragonslayers

Chris Lebeck

Danielle Pitera

Kim Pulley

Jacqueline Ledezma Ruelas

Kaylee Comer

Josh Harrell

Dan Patterson

DOJ Turkeys

Hannah Lucas

Stephanie Wan

Cameron Beaver

Casey Clark

Randy Eggert

Game Two

You had to be there.  This 2-2 game was as deadlocked as a hung jury.  Two extra innings! The score belies the exciting ball play and excellent fielding of well-matched teams.  However, all good things must come to an end.  Just when the umpire was starting to talk “rock paper scissors” to wrap it up, Randy Reichard stepped to the plate and launched a hit so solid that it couldn’t be stopped even by Ty Harden’s valiant and gymnastic head-over-heels attempt.  We really should get some video footage of these games. 

Final Score: BARbarians 3, Vicarious Trauma 2

MVPs: Randy Reichard and Ty Harden

Batting Order

Vicarious Trauma

Matt Russell

Russ Dempsy

Adam Woody

Ty Harden

BARbarians

Austin Fax

Alex Hockman

McKinley Groves

Kenny Beck

Randy Reichard

Emma Reichard

Game Three

The Defenders came out swinging, putting up two quick runs in the top of the first inning. But Motion to Strike wasn't about to roll over, holding them scoreless through the next two frames. In the bottom of the fourth, Motion cracked the scoreboard, narrowing the gap and reigniting the energy on both sides.  That spark lit a fire under the Defenders, who responded with (plastic) bats blazing and a four-run rally.   The Defenders won the game but Motion to Strike won the “best dressed team” award with their matching lavender t-shirts.

Final Score: Defenders 6, Motion to Strike 1

MVPs: Darlene Villalobos and Abby Craigmyle

Batting Order

Motion to Strike

Abby Craigmyle

Danielle Reid

Bryan Wade

Jessica Johns

Lauren Haskins

Laura Vales

Defenders
Blake Burchard
Darlene Villalobos
Luke Dainty
Sara Meier
Quentin Michel

Game Four

What can we say? Sometimes the Wiffle gods just hand you a tough draw. Let Freedom came out swinging, unloading ten runs in the top of the first inning—enough to make the umpire pause the game and call for a consult with the Wiffle Ball Commissioner to decide just how many innings this drubbing should last.

Pour but Lawful, not ones to back down (especially when there’s a legal loophole to be found), overheard the deliberation and pushed to keep playing. “Let Freedom only scored five in the second,” they argued. “That’s a 50% improvement. We’re gaining on them!” Classic lawyer math.

After six more runs in the top of the third, the game was finally called—partly due to an unofficial mercy rule, partly due to fading daylight, and partly because the Commissioner had a Walmart curbside pickup waiting.

To Pour but Lawful: we salute your team spirit, your legal tenacity, and your fantastic t-shirts. You may not have taken the win, but you definitely won our hearts.

Final Score: Let Freedom Swing 21, Pour but Lawful 0

MVPs:  Jason Johnson and Jill Patterson

Batting Order

Let Freedom Swing

Scott Pierson

Bryan Delleville

Jason Johnson

Pour but Lawful

Rina Edge

Clayton Ballard

Steve Kellogg

Jill Patterson

Knial Piper

Alli Greenwade

2025 Homerun Count

Game One - 

Cameron Beaver – grand slam in 2nd Inning

Members will be photographed at the SMBA office by JRussell Photography beginning June 2, 2025.

There is no charge to participate, but when you select your photo for the composite you will view your proofs and can purchase photos if you wish to do so.

Schedule your appointment by calling 512-266-8921 or online at www.goJRussell.com.  Just click “schedule appointment” and follow the instructions. If you do not schedule an appointment JRussell will follow up with a reminder.

JRussell is the nation’s leading executive portrait studio. They produced our two previous composites and are great to work with. They recommend

professional attire in dark and/or bold colors for lawyers and judges are usually photographed in their robes.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

• Cory Collins, Husch Blackwell LLP
• Douglas L. Healy, Healy Law Offices LLC
• Dan Patterson, Greene County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
• Joseph D. “Chip” Sheppard III, Carnahan Evans PC

Woman of the Year

• Mary Fox, Missouri State Public Defenders Office

Corporate

• Katherine Thompson, City Utilities

General Practitioners

• Jessica  Burns, Burns Law Office

Innovation & Technology

• Penny Speake, Healy Law Offices

Litigation

• Kristen O’Neal, Spencer Fane

Public Service

• Hon. Laura Johnson, 38th Judicial Circuit Court
• Emily Shook, Greene County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office

Transactional Practitioner

• Nicole Lindsey, Stubblefield Law
• Melanie Myears Smith, Ozarks Elder Law

Thank you to the SMBA volunteers who served as judges and scoring evaluators: Brooke Downing, Cole Roberts, Matt Russell, Kristen O' Neal, Debra Gullett-Johnson, Matt Campbell, Catherine Reade, Courtney Schawo, Kris Barefield, Kimberly Pulley, Elizabeth Fax, Parker Rahman, Gray Malkmus and Judges Myers, Greenwade, Ankrom, Poppen, Taylor, Fuhrman, Palmietto and Hosmer.

The tournament is presented by the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Foundation with grant funding from the Missouri Lawyer Trust Account Foundation.  Information on helping start a team is available at this link.

SMBA members in the 2025 group of honorees are:

Brittnee L. Hill, Douglas, Haun & Heidemann PC

Brynna Lindner, City of Ozark

Ryan Olson, Husch Blackwell LLP and Maxon Fine Jewelry

Katherine Thompson, City Utilities of Springfield

The award winners will be celebrated at an event March 25, 2025 at the White River Conference Center.  

January 27, 2025

Lawyers Install New Leadership

Russell to serve as 2025 Springfield Metro Bar President

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SPRINGFIELD, MO – Attorney Matt Russell was sworn in as the 2025 President of the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association (SMBA) Friday, January 17, 2025 at the 51^st SMBA Banquet and Installation of Officers.  Russell, partner at MRD Lawyers, is the 99th president of the local bar association which was founded in 1903. The SMBA is the largest professional networking group in Southwest Missouri, serving more than 800 attorneys.  Russell follows 2024 President Debbie Dodge.

The full slate of 2025 SMBA officers and directors is Matt Russell, president; the Hon. Jason Brown president-elect; Courtney Schawo, treasurer; Lillian Sweeney, secretary: and Debbie Dodge, past-president.  Directors are Andy Peebles, Gregg Groves, Ben Shantz, the Hon. Jennifer Growcock, Lauren Haskins, John Kail, Joel Block, Jon Gold, Cameron Beaver, Katherine Thompson, Jacob Lewis and Scott Smith. Presiding Judge Jerry Harmison and SMBA Executive Director Crista Hogan also serve, ex officio.

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Facebook Photo Gallery at this Link