EDITOR'S NOTE: Due to the forecast of inclement weather on Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, Northeast's First Pitch Mingle has been rescheduled. This story has been revised with the new date and start time.
BOONEVILLE, Miss. - The new skipper from one of our local NCAA Division I institutions will join the Northeast Mississippi Community College baseball and softball teams to celebrate the start of the 2024 season.
Matt Riser, who was hired last June to direct the University of Memphis (Tenn.) baseball program, will be the keynote speaker for Northeast's annual First Pitch Mingle on Thursday, January 25 at Booneville's First Baptist Church.
"We're really excited about coach Riser coming in and speaking to us," said Tigers head baseball coach Richy Harrelson. "They've got a lot of things going in his first year with upgrades to facilities."
Tickets for the First Pitch Mingle, which begins at 7 p.m., and its accompanying meal are on sale for $25. Businesses and individuals that are associated with Northeast's Diamond Club will receive complimentary admission.
For more information about joining the Diamond Club or to purchase tickets for the First Pitch Mingle, contact either Harrelson at 662-720-7344 or by email at rwharrelson@nemcc.edu or softball headman Jody Long at 662-720-7305 or by email at jwlong@nemcc.edu.
Success has followed Riser throughout his baseball journey as both a student-athlete and an instructor. He spent the last 16 years as part of the coaching staff at Southeastern Louisiana University.
Riser was elevated to the position of head coach in 2014. Southeastern Louisiana captured three Southland Conference (SLC) titles and made four NCAA Tournament appearances over the next decade.
Their first such berth came at the end of Riser's inaugural campaign in charge. Southeastern Louisiana defeated Bryant (R.I.) University by a score of 2-1 in the Baton Rouge Regional for their first NCAA Tournament triumph in over 20 years.
He was the SLC Coach of the Year in 2015 after setting a new school record for wins with 42. That Southeastern Louisiana team also broke the mark for most SLC regular season victories by any league member after finishing at 25-5.
Riser and the Lions returned to the NCAA Tournament one year later by winning another 40 games, including a school record 14 in a row, and finishing as the SLC runner-up. It was the first at-large bid in program history.
His 2022 club became known as the "Cardiac Cats" with 14 come-from-behind victories, including seven walk-off thrillers. They battled through the seventh most difficult non-conference schedule in the nation with wins over powerhouses like the University of Arkansas and future national champion the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss).
Their offense led the way with 70 home runs, which was fourth most in a single season in school history. Southeastern Louisiana set or tied 14 SLC Tournament records on the way to beating McNeese State (La.) University in a best-of-three series for the championship.
The Picayune native was named in December 2018 as one of the top coaches under the age of 40 by Baseball America. Riser left the Lions with 320 victories, which is the second most in program history.
Among the outstanding players that starred under Riser is Jameson Fisher, who finished second in the country with a .424 batting average during the 2016 campaign. He was recognized by six different publications with All-American honors and was a semifinalist for the Dick Howser and Golden Spikes awards.
Riser mentored 22 All-Americans, including nine freshman All-Americans, along with 10 postseason player or pitcher of the year recipients from the SLC. He developed the Lions' all-time hits leaders in Cass Hargis and Ty Summerlin.
A total of 26 standouts were selected in the Major League Baseball (MLB) First-Year Player Draft under the watch of Riser, including right-handed pitcher Andrew Landry from his final Southeastern Louisiana team last spring.
Riser wrapped up his playing career at Tulane (La.) University. He participated in 44 contests during the Green Wave's sensational 2005 campaign that concluded with a trip to the NCAA Men's College World Series (MCWS) at historic Rosenblatt Stadium.
He helped Tulane reach the title game of the Oxford Regional as a senior. Riser made 57 starts in the outfield for the Green Wave that season with three home runs, 37 RBIs and 16 doubles.
Riser is a product of the Mississippi community college system as well. He was the 2004 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 23 Defensive Player of the Year for conference champion Pearl River.
He was inducted into the athletic halls of fame at Pearl River in 2017 and Tulane in 2015 as part of its special "Katrina Class." He was also presented with the Green Wave's prestigious Billy Slatten Award.