A crack of the bat echoes across the empty stands of the Bill Aker Baseball Complex in Highland Heights. Amid the hum of pre-season drills, the coaches stand near the dugout analyzing the players. As the team prepares for the long season ahead, no one is more ready for the first pitch than Ryan Mavriplis.

Mavriplis, otherwise known as “Mav,” serves as a special assistant to the head coach for NKU baseball, working alongside Head Coach Dizzy Peyton. Peyton and Mav have known each other for over a decade, first meeting in a place no more suitable than in the dugout.

“He came up to the field and said, ‘Hey, I’m going to be your head team manager.’ And I said, ‘All right, sounds good to me,’” Peyton said.

Over their time coaching together, Peyton and Mavriplis became close friends, rooming with each other on road trips and even attending each other’s weddings.

“He’s been traveling with us for a long time. Eventually, his parents and all of us felt comfortable taking him because he was doing such a great job,” Peyton said.

“And so we said, ‘All right, this is a regular thing.’ I can’t remember when he started, it’s been that long,” Peyton said.

Mavriplis has Down syndrome, which makes certain things difficult for him, but he has never let that stop him from doing what he loves.

“I’ve loved baseball all my life, and I want to be a part of the team,” Mav said.

After a decade, Mavriplis’ hard work paid off, and he was recognized for his extensive contributions to the NKU baseball program.

In 2022, Peyton was named head coach, replacing Todd Asalon, who announced his retirement at the end of the 2021 season, capping off a 20-year career. Without hesitation, Peyton called Mav with good news.

“He put in the time and put in the work for all those years, and that was actually the first thing that I wanted to do when I got named the head coach was to change his title from head team manager to special assistant to the head coach,” Peyton said.

After being promoted over the phone, Mavriplis said to Peyton, “Oh man, I’m getting emotional,” which, in Peyton’s eyes, meant he made the right decision.

Mav continued to show his dedication and hard work even after receiving the promotion, only missing a handful of games since being elevated to his new position over four years ago.

As special assistant to the head coach, Mav tries to get involved as much as he can, getting the players and fans fired up, picking up players’ bats and setting the bases.

“In this program, whether it’s me or anyone else, we’re not just playing the game of baseball. We’re playing for a greater purpose, to leave a legacy,” Peyton said.

“This whole program’s built on growth, development and love, and he just kind of magnifies that,” Peyton said.

In 2025, NKU finished second place in the Horizon League during the regular season with an overall record of 31-25 and a conference record of 18-12.

The resiliency NKU sustained throughout the 2025 season is credited to Mavriplis’ personality and presence in the clubhouse, as the Norse obtained multiple comeback wins that propelled them to success. However, his impact in the clubhouse holds more value than just in the game of baseball.

“Even if we’re getting our butts kicked, he always has the juice. He’s always positive,” said graduate student second baseman Tyler Shaneyfelt.

Mavripils embodies his role as the heart of the dugout and ensures he treats everyone with the same respect and acceptance that he was treated with when he first joined the NKU baseball program many years ago.

“He represents our core values and he’s part of our family. He treats us all like his brothers,” Shaneyfelt said.

Mav is credited with the phrase, “If you’re juiceless, you’re useless,” which refers to the energy players show during their games. He always brings the juice, using the phrase to encourage the team to be just as passionate and energized as he is.

In the clubhouse and the Northern Kentucky area, many people view Mav as a role model and as someone they look up to. 

When asked how that made him feel, he responded by saying, “Feels good. I’ve been accepted here.”

Mavriplis has also found personal success by focusing less on his disability and more on his hard work and determination throughout his involvement with the NKU baseball program.

“We don’t treat him any differently. We worry about his ability, not his disability,” Peyton said.

The NKU baseball program emphasizes the importance of not just improving as a player or coach, but also learning to become a better person. They focus on belonging, collaboration, commitment, innovation and integrity; the core values that are displayed on banners, hanging all around the NKU Athletics facility.

“It’s not just baseball, it’s more about the life lessons that this game teaches us,” the head coach said.