Perseverance pays off for HLV graduate

​        Meredith Schnebbe, a 2020 HLV graduate, is shown working in the Savannah Banana merchandise tent at a recent game. She was hired in January as a merchandise stand lead for the organization. Submitted photo.

​by J.O. Parker
 
       An HLV graduate is having the time of her life at her new job. 
    Meredith Schnebbe, daughter of A.J. and Randy Schnebbe of rural Victor, was hired in January as a merchandise stand lead for the Savannah Bananas organization. 
      The Savannah Bananas are a popular, circus-style exhibition baseball team based in Savannah, Ga.often called the "Harlem Globetrotters of Baseball." They play a fast-paced, high-energy version of the game called "Banana Ball," featuring choreography, fan interaction, and unique rules—like recording an out if a fan catches a foul ball—designed to maximize fun.
        Schnebbe’s journey started a couple years ago when she was attending Kansas State University. 
       “I was looking for a summer internship in tour logistics and the Savannah Bananas organization ads kept popping up on my social media feeds,” said Schnebbe. “I thought that was cool, so I applied.”
        The internship required four rounds of interviews.
      “I learned a lot from the interview process,” said Schnebbe. “There were so many steps including test drives and little assignments to see if you were prepared for the internship. It was a very cool experience. I made it to the last round but didn’t make the final cut.”
        “I applied again last fall and this time they said that they weren’t going to give me the internshipbecause they thought I would be good for the merchandise stand lead job,” added Schnebbe.
        Schnebbe, who graduated from Kansas State in December 2024 with a degree in marketing, specializing in sports and entertainment with a minor in hospitality management, was officially offered the job in January 2026. She attended orientation in Savannah in February where she learned about the Fans First mission.
      The Savannah Bananas' mission is Fans First. Entertain Always. This philosophy centers on making baseball fun, prioritizing fan experience over short-term profits, and creating unforgettable, inclusive moments for everyone.
         “I worked my first game on March 13 in Round Rock, Texas,” said Schnebbe, who now resides in Kansas City. “I have also traveled to Sacramento, Calif. They schedule based on availability. They do everything. They have a whole travel logistics team who takes care of housing and most of our food. They take really good care of us.” 
         Banana Ball has six teams. Each game has two teams playing each other. In 2026, the season started at the end of February and will go until the end of September. They will play a 50-game regular season plus the championship games in 75 different stadiums. They also maintain over 30 home games in Savannah totaling dozens of high exhibition games across the country. The tour will span 45 states and include 14 MLB stadiums.
        “Wherever we go, I will be selling merchandise for one of the teams,” said Schnebbe. “We have gameday teammates who are people from the local community who sign up to work. I lead the stand and help train gameday staff for working POS, inventory and managing the flow of people traffic.”
        The organization was founded in 2016 by Jesse and Emily Cole after they acquired the rights to a coastal plain league summer collegiate team. They unveiled the Savannah Bananas name in February 2016 and played their first game at Grayson Stadium in Savannah in June 2016.
       When asked what her favorite part of her job is, Schnebbe said, “My favorite parts are the culture, the people and the community. Everyone is welcoming and caring. It’s truly fans first. The whole company makes sure every fan has an amazing experience, and everyone is taken care of. They focus on the little things like saying each other’s names and addressing you by first name. It’s a great atmosphere to be in. It makes my heart happy because it’s very heartwarming.”
Bananas Coming to Iowa
        The Savannah Bananas will play the Firefighters in Iowa City at Kinnick Stadium on July 3 and 4 starting at 7 p.m. both days. With their Fans First mission, the Bananas want to keep their tickets affordable. The biggest misconception is that their tickets are “so expensive” but official Banana Ball tickets won’t be more than $60. Secondary markets will hike up the prices to make their own profits and many are scams. The Bananas created their own secondary ticket marketplace this year to try to avoid these issues. Tickets are available exclusively at gobananas.fansfirsttickets.com.