America's Most Playful Ball Club
A HUGE THANK-YOU TO THE 645 OF YOU FOR ENTERING THE APPLICATION JOURNEY AND THE 114 WE INVITED TO MAGICAL TRYOUTS!
The News Buzz Extends to Miami & Manila
TV: WSVN, 5Chicago, CBS, F32, NBC, FOX, WAND | Online: Block Club, Yahoo Sports, TimeOut, Stadium Journey, The Record
Print: Journal & Topics, Telegraph, Intelligencer, Journal-Courier, Daily Herald, Manila Times | Radio: WGN, Q98.5, WBBM
Countdown to our May 3 season opener at Kerry Wood
Help us create our first million smiles!
Chicago Snowballs is pro baseball's first co-ed sportstainment experience – bringing entertainment, circus arts, and America's pastime together in one electric, two-hour show! Season opener May 3rd, 2026 at Kerry Wood Field.
We're not looking for typical baseball players to try out; we're hiring multi-talented athletes with other skills: the shortstop who plays the tuba… the pitcher who does gymnastics… the outfielder who juggles. If you can play baseball and entertain a crowd, you're our kind of player. If you missed out on Savannah Bananas or Women’s Pro Baseball League, this may be your golden opportunity.
This is professional baseball reimagined: equal pay for men and women. Based in Chicago, touring the Midwest. Players earn salary plus profit share. Perform for packed crowds of thousands of fans. We’re building partnerships with exciting community organizations like the Jesse White Tumbling Team! Among the incredible organizations that we support are The Base Chicago, Lost Boyz Inc, and Radcliffe Youth Sports.
Fan Ticket Waitlist
Join thousands of others to receive our 2026 schedule and come see the Midwest's newest game
Entertainers + Others
We're also looking for special people with umpire, DJ, announcer, circus stunts, antics, and other "wildcard' experience!
Press/Sponsor Inquiries
Be part of the next big thing to hit Chicagoland --fun first, inclusive, family entertainment
Happy to discuss our unique offering of fun-first, inclusive, family entertainment and equal pay, equal play.
Leadership
Cherie Travis
CEO and Co-Founder
Cherie is a Chicago attorney and real estate investor as well as an Adjunct Professor at the DePaul College of Law and instructor at the Chicago Police Academy. She is deeply invested in the Chicago community and volunteers for charitable causes involving animals, the environment and youth sports through the Radcliffe Youth Sports Organization, ZeroLandfill Chicago, Friends of the Children and the Chicago Animal Law Students Initiative.
Paul Travis
CMO and Co-Founder
Paul (brother) is a tech-marketing veteran, having consulted and worked with dozens of startups. Following a B.A. degree from UIUC, he studied Brand Management Meaning at the Harvard Business School Executive Program. His eclectic career includes leading marketing for publicly traded Net Nanny Software, launching a vegetarian fast-food restaurant chain in Seattle, and software development at Microsoft.
Mike Napoleon
Head Coach
Mike spent 39 years as a high school head coach, building a program defined by excellence, consistency, and a deep love of the game. Inducted into the IHSBCA Hall of Fame in '01 and Illinois Sports Hall of Fame in '25, he went on to become the winningest baseball coach in Illinois history, reaching 1,000 victories. His teams collected 2 state championships, along with 2 second-place finishes, one third, and one fourth, cementing his place as a cornerstone of Illinois high school baseball.
Todd Sawyer
Chief Revenue Officer
Todd spent 15 years as a fintech and payments leader at Visa and MasterCard, driving global revenue growth, scaling innovative payment solutions, and negotiating major commercial partnerships. He built high-performing teams, led multinational product and loyalty programs, integrated API-based solutions, and delivered measurable results across embedded finance, cross-border payments, and regulated markets.
Kristen Adamiak
Project Manager
Kristen spent 20 years in healthcare administration, thriving in fast-moving environments where precision, teamwork, and execution matter most. A natural organizer, she keeps complex projects on track while supporting the people behind them. Rooted in her hometown and passionate about animal advocacy, Kristen brings heart, hustle, and a commitment to making a real impact — on and off the field.
Emannuel McGhee
Tumbling Coach
Emmanuel is the head coach for the Jesse White Tumbling Team, blending precision, performance, and deep community impact. A state compliance professional, he’s mentored over 1,000 young people while performing on national stages. Emmanuel embodies Snowballs spirit-discipline, showmanship, and Chicago pride — proving that athletic artistry can change lives and strengthen communities.
Allie Lacey
Baseball Coach
Allison brings 25+ years of diamond-sports experience spanning marketing, community engagement, and athlete development. A former Big West Championship softball player at California State U, Northridge and LSU alum, she founded Ball Girls Baseball to expand opportunities for girls. A former LA Dodgers ball girl and AAGPBL Players Assoc. leader, Allison champions fundamentals, fun, and the future of the game.
Pierre Lockett
Dance Coach
As Exec. Dir. of Forward Momentum Chicago, Pierre brings a creative heartbeat to the Snowballs. A celebrated dancer and tireless youth advocate, he’s empowered 35,000+ CPS students. Pierre champions joy, discipline, and possibility—showing how movement, mentorship, and arts access can uplift a city and inspire the next generation of performers and fans.
Dan Kusinski
Baseball Coach
Dan brings decades of leadership across every level of college baseball. Currently with North Park University, he helped guide the Vikings to a 2024 league title. A longtime head coach at College of DuPage, award-winning pitching coach at UIC, and former MLB scout, Kusinski is respected for developing players, winning programs, and teaching the game the right way.
Tonya Radcliffe
Cheer Coach
Tonya is a longtime Chicago-based youth sports coach/ organizer, recognized for her passionate leadership with Radcliffe’s Youth Sports Org (RYSO). A cheer/dance coach w/ 20yrs experience, she recently led her team to a national championship victory, reflecting her commitment to excellence, mentorship, and empowering young athletes through community-based sports.
Christopher Crater
Chris brings purpose-driven leadership and equity to the Snowballs community. At the Obama Foundation, he leads My Brother’s Keeper Chicago, advancing evidence-based strategies that uplift boys and young men of color. A recognized change-maker, Chris mobilizes communities, schools, and partners to create lasting opportunity, inclusion, and positive futures across Chicago.
Mike Dee
Mike is the architect of one of the Midwest’s most consistently elite college baseball programs. Since 1999, he’s built UIC into a perennial contender, developing over 50 professional players, producing a three-time MLB All-Star in Curtis Granderson, winning 12 Horizon League titles, and earning 10 Coach of the Year honors. Dee’s legacy blends championship culture, player development, and sustained excellence.
Trey Frahler
Trey is President of Illinois Baseball Academy, serving 5,000+ youth annually. Former All-Patriot League pitcher at Bucknell and Wheaton College pitching coach, he led teams to record-low ERAs while developing all-conference and professional pitchers. Passionate about fundamentals and character development, he partners with communities to grow baseball and develop tomorrow's leaders.
Ameera Haamid, MD
Ameera is a nationally recognized emergency medicine/ EMS physician advancing equity-driven leadership across emergency care systems. An academic physician at UChicago Medicine, she provides regional EMS oversight, authors national CPR guidelines with the AHA, and leads innovative education, policy, and research initiatives that elevate clinical excellence, community trust, and system-wide impact.
Abdullah Pratt, MD
Abdullah is an Emergency Medicine physician and Assistant Professor at UChicago Medical Center. Raised on Chicago's South Side after losing his brother to gun violence, he now leads community-focused efforts improving health literacy, emergency preparedness, and trauma response in underserved neighborhoods through hands-on training and mentorship.
Ernest Radcliffe
Ernest is Head Baseball Coach at Triton College, named in 2024 after a 16-year tenure at Morgan Park High School where he compiled a 244-170 record. The only Public League coach to win a state trophy this century (4th place, 2015), he's an Illinois Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame inductee with five decades of playing and coaching experience across youth, high school, and collegiate levels.
Jesse White
Jesse is a legendary Chicago leader, educator, and youth advocate, and the founder of the world-renowned Jesse White Tumblers. A former Illinois Secretary of State and lifelong champion for young people, he has dedicated decades to discipline, opportunity, and excellence through athletics and performance. As a member of the Frost Advisory, Jesse brings unmatched credibility, inspiration, and community trust to the Snowballs’ mission.
The Snow Pawtrol
Showcase of canine support behind the scenes of America's Most Playful Ball Club!
Wooqui, 3yo Baja Special
Pepper, 13yo Schnoodle
Captain, 7yo Labrador Retriever
In The Press
