On Diamond Days, Donovan Plays

Q&A with Donovan Schmude, Fitness Coordinator

Let’s rewind to the beginning—how did the idea for Wiffle Ball come about?

Wiffle Ball was kind of a shot in the dark—just me trying to find a fun way to help team members decompress a bit and create something residents would genuinely enjoy. Baseball is one of those sports that people naturally understand. You don’t necessarily need an announcer to follow what’s going on.

Well, turns out we did need an announcer—but more on that later.

Another big motivator for me was simply getting people outside. Not just residents coming out to find a seat, but team members helping them get there. It became a subtle but meaningful way to bring more movement into everyone’s day.

I pitched the idea during a Life Enrichment meeting and everyone was on board. At the time, I had never done anything with that team before, but they were incredibly supportive and jumped right in.

What I loved most was the autonomy of it—the ability to take an idea, think through the process, and see it come to life. Wiffle Ball is a perfect example of that working out in the best way.

You’re on the Fitness Team, so of course you love movement. But why did this matter to you beyond that?

It goes back to that idea of just incorporating a little more physical activity into everyone’s day. Even the folks who just came to watch had to walk out there. It counts.

I also didn’t expect it to be so competitive! I thought it would be more low-key, just for fun. But man—we realized quickly that BRC has a lot of people who like to win. That competitiveness drove a lot of buzz around campus.

It was a fun, engaging way to promote activity and connection.

What was the initial buy-in like? Were folks immediately on board, or did it take some warming up?

I started by posting the sign-up information on Workplace (BRC’s internal communication platform at the time). Originally, I wanted teams to be mixed across campus—like someone from dining playing with someone from marketing. But it didn’t quite pan out like that. Team members started forming their own Wiffle Ball teams, and sign-ups took off. Ten people, then 15, then 20. In total, over 50 team members signed up.

Honestly, it kind of blew my expectations out of the water. We had just the right number of teams. Any more, and the season might have dragged on. Any fewer, and we would’ve ended up playing the same teams repeatedly.

Walk me through the behind-the-scenes planning. What did it take to pull this off?

We had a good starting point: bats, balls, and the Oasis. I measured everything out and worked with the Grounds Team to get lines painted. I owe a big shoutout to Grounds Supervisor Mike Bragg for making that happen.

At first, I thought we’d save snacks for the championship, but once I saw the energy at early games, I realized we needed classic ballpark snacks every time. Pretzels, popcorn, lemonade, it became part of the experience. The dining team was awesome and very supportive. Danielle Fulk deserves a special shoutout for always being out there helping and checking in.

We scheduled two games each week, on Wednesdays and Thursdays. That left us three other weekdays for rain delays or rescheduling. We ended up needing that flexibility more than once, but it worked out.

The best part? Teams started practicing. I’d walk residents out by the Oasis and see The Grandslamberts, Wiff It Good, or Wiffle While We Work out there warming up. It was hilarious. And awesome.

What kind of feedback have you received—on or off the field—from team members and residents?

Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Residents thought it was fun and exciting. Team members loved the energy, the competition, and the connection with residents. I heard so many people say how cool it was to see residents getting into it—cheering, laughing, and even trash-talking their favorite team players.

You didn’t just run the show—you grabbed the mic! How did you end up as the official announcer?

We realized residents were a little confused about some of the rules and plays. So, I grabbed a mic and started calling the games. And… it was amazing. They loved it!

The All-Star Game added some extra flair—how did that come together?

That was Laura Spicer’s idea. She pitched it with a Savannah Bananas vibe for BRC Fest. It evolved into an All-Star Game where each team nominated a player, and they faced off against the leadership team.

Spoiler alert: I knew leadership wasn’t going to win.

Looking back, is there one moment that stands out—or a memory you’ll always carry from this season?

There were a lot! Rodney Alderfer getting ejected during the All-Star Game was hilarious (all in good fun). But really, my highlight was seeing all the unexpected standouts. Like Kasey Ansell from Wiff It Good—she was a powerhouse. Sarah McAllister (BRC Birddogs) hit three home runs in one game. Ethel Kimmell (Wiffle While We Work) was out there making plays. So many players just wowed their teams and the crowd. That joy—those reactions—that’s what I’ll remember.

Let’s talk about Robert Foerster—how did he get recruited to be the umpire, and what made him a standout in the role?

Robert was a resident in Tranquility House, and I had him on a list of people I thought would make a great umpire. When I asked, he said yes—and he crushed it. He showed up, took it seriously, and had fun with it.

After the championship, he told us, “This has been so much fun. I’m so thankful I had the opportunity to do this. This was a great game to end it on. Thank you guys so much.”

The Village Choir singing the National Anthem was such a special touch to the championship—how did that partnership come to be?

Robin Spitzer from the Resident Services Team sang the National Anthem at most games, and she did an amazing job. But for the championship, I wanted to do something special. I saw a post on Wellzesta (BRC’s resident engagement app) about the Village Choir and figured I’d ask.

I ran into a resident from the choir in the fitness center and she connected me with Choir Director Wil Nolan. I caught him in the gym one day, and he was totally on board. They sang for the championship and absolutely knocked it out of the park.

If you had to sum it all up, what are your reflections on the 2025 Wiffle Ball season?

It was just so cool to watch it grow. The resident buy-in was incredible. When a resident knows the schedule and reminds their favorite team member, “You’ve got a game Wednesday!”—and it’s only Monday—that really means something. That’s what makes it all worth it.

At the end of the day, I feel lucky to be part of something that brought so many people together.

What’s next? Any big dreams or plans for a tournament in 2026?

Bigger and better. This year I pulled it all together in less than a month. I’ll have time over the next year to plan with dining, grounds, and other teams across campus. I think more people will want to play, and I’m excited to see how far we can take it.

Why is BRC the right place for you? What makes this community so meaningful to be part of?

The people. 100%. My goal in life is to make people smile and help them stay active. Here, I get to do both. I work across the entire continuum, and if I can make someone’s day by helping them feel involved—especially when they might not be able to attend a pro ball game anymore—that’s everything.

Seeing residents light up and say, “Hey, that’s my nurse out there hitting home runs!”—you just can’t beat that. It doesn’t feel like work when you’re doing what you love.

Q&A with Robert Foerster, Umpire & Former Tranquility House Resident

What inspired you to step into the role of umpire for the tournament, and how would you describe your style behind the plate?

BRC approached me—and I’m a big fan of sports. I had just gone on trips to see the Washington Nationals and the Harrisonburg Turks, so I was all in. My style? Fair, firm, and a little bit fun. I took it seriously, but I had a great time with it.

Tell me about the infamous call on President Rodney Alderfer during the All-Star Game.

He got in my way while I was trying to make the call, so I ejected him. He had to go, and that was my way of telling him to hurry up! It was all in good fun.

What were some other standout moments from your vantage point?

The camaraderie between teams—it was incredible. I saw people walking down the hallways debating calls, laughing, joking—no hard feelings. That’s what made it special. Also, the flag ceremony: seeing our veterans hold the American flag each game—that was a tearjerker.

And the crowds! We had great turnout—even for makeup games. That kind of energy? You can’t fake that.

How did it feel to be part of the action in this way?

It was wonderful. I was at BRC for eight months, and every day I was treated like a prince. When I first arrived, I was very sick—I was even on hospice. But you all brought me back. I truly believe the care I received gave me a second chance. Getting to be part of this was the icing on the cake.

What did you enjoy most about your time as the tournament’s official umpire?

The camaraderie between the teams, by far. It made me feel alive again.

From the swat of the bat to the cheers from the crowd, BRC’s 2025 Wiffle Ball Tournament brought out the best in everyone—team spirit, laughter, teamwork, and a whole lot of heart. And if the glowing reviews from Tranquility House are any sign (where apparently, every resident is a sports fan!), we’d say this event was a home run.

Congratulations to The Grounds Team for taking home the championship title—but hats off to the BRC Birddogs, who didn’t go down without a close fight.

Here’s to a new tradition—and swinging even bigger in 2026!