Near the shores of the Watauga, the Elizabethton River Riders set to take the field in 2021

This year, Elizabethton will celebrate 48 years of baseball being part of the city. That anniversary brings a new name as part of the Appalachian League’s transformation from a farm team system to developmental squads for USA Baseball.

League leaders unveiled the new team as the Elizabethton River Riders. That label comes from the team’s stadium location adjacent to the Watauga River and the waterway’s historic tourist draw as a trout fishing destination.

In the coming days, the league will announce the new names of teams in Kingsport, Bluefield, Danville, Greeneville, Pulaski, and Princeton.

(IMAGE: Boyd Sports / Appalachian League)