Elizabethton River Riders General Manager Maya Mathis stands in front of one of Northeast Community Credit Union Ballpark’s newest renovations, a relocated bullpen that creates a short port on the right field wall.
Elizabethton River Riders General Manager Maya Mathis excited to welcome the community back for another baseball season
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Story and Photos by Nic Miller
I attended the University of Tennessee where I played collegiate softball, and then transferred to ETSU where I continued to play the sport and complete my college education,” she said. Her initial goal was to attend physical therapy school and pursue a career in that field, but she switched things up when working on her master’s degree, graduating with a master’s in sports management. “Before becoming a part of this organization, I worked at Bristol Motor Speedway doing ticket sales, then at an elementary school, and then became a part of the River Riders as the assistant general manager,” Mathis said. “After Brice left, I was promoted to general manager and here we are.” Mathis said that while working at an elementary school, she was still attending ETSU as a graduate student, and
he River Riders are starting the season with a fresh team and a new general manager at the helm. Maya Mathis replaces Brice Ballentine, who left for Iowa after last year’s season. Mathis brings experience as a collegiate athlete and an excitement to the helm of the Appalachian League team. “Elizabethton is such a tight knit community, something that I personally love because it gives me an opportunity to get to know our fans and become involved within the community,” said Mathis, a graduate of ETSU. “You get to know all of the local businesses and become close with the community as a whole.” Mathis began working for the River Riders last season as the assistant general manager. “I am from Chattanooga, Tennessee, and had played softball my whole life. 18
