As the 2025 baseball season came to a close, West Virginia Black Bears’ General Manager Leighann Sainato, reflected on the season with pride and passion for the team’s continued commitment to providing fans with a great experience at affordable prices.
The Black Bears’ 2025 pursuit resulted in the team’s third MLB Draft League Championship title in four seasons. While that kind of dynamic on-field success is exhilarating, Leighann noted that it is only meaningful to fans if they can afford to fill the ballpark to enjoy games.
“Our primary goal will always be to deliver great value to our fans,” confirmed Leighann. “We strive to be a place where the people in and around Morgantown want to spend their time, confident they’ll have a worthwhile family-friendly experience without breaking the bank.”
Delivering a memorable and impactful fan experience extends beyond the field and into the community where the Black Bears are recognized as an ally to those in need.
“West Virginia is a small state, and our communities are tightly knit,” said Leighann. “Therefore, our community efforts are very grassroots. We try to stay as connected as possible to the needs of our neighbors, working alongside and supporting the efforts of other organizations rather than competing with them.”
Recently, Leighann witnessed just how impactful their community campaign has been when she joined Cooper, the Black Bears’ mascot, at a hospital meet-and-greet. Some 500 children lined up to shake hands with their beloved Bear. The recognition reinforced the importance of connecting with fans and neighbors as part of a comprehensive community engagement effort.
This season alone, the WVBB made $15,000 in donations to local charities and raised money for families and businesses that suffered damages from the heavy rains and flash floods that devastated some local communities in June 2025.
Having joined WVBB in 2017 as a community relations assistant, Leighann’s dedication to the districts surrounding the ballpark remains at the core of her role as General Manager. Since assuming the GM position in 2023, Leighann has continued to prioritize the fan experience and community engagement, while nurturing her thirst for knowledge and growth.
“I think the goal was inevitably to be in a leadership position,” recalls Leighann of her aspirations upon joining the Black Bears organization. “I am a naturally curious person, and I like learning and seeing what is happening in all areas of the business. In my role as GM, especially in such a small organization, I have the benefit of seeing and understanding operations at a very high level, but also the ability to get down to each departmental level and know exactly what’s happening on the ground.”
In her path to leadership, Leighann noted that she has had immense support from other leaders who willingly step up to the plate as a resource and sounding board for questions and ideas.
“I’ve never not felt supported in my growth at Rich’s, which is a wonderful feeling,” remarked Leighann.
Here are some other highlights from our conversation with Leighann:
REG: Tell us about your first job and what you learned from it.
LEIGHANN: I interned with a family lawyer on a court rotation during law school. The experience taught me that I did not want to practice law, and that I needed to find something that would make me happy. Thankfully a law degree is applicable to so many things, but that experience changed my career trajectory. And I have no regrets.
REG: What are some of the most important/impactful lessons you have learned during your time at REG?
LEIGHANN: What I have witnessed in all my interactions with people in Rich Baseball Operations and throughout Rich’s, is that they put people first. I have learned, especially from Mike Buczkowski, how important it is to be a good person and care about the people who work not just with you, but for you.
REG: What is your “Why”? What gets you up in the morning?
LEIGHANN: I am very goal-oriented, and I love having variety in my work and having a hand in everything. I love the people I work with. I am very fortunate to have been able to hand-pick everyone that works for the Black Bears. Aside from just really enjoying my job, I really do like seeing the people I work with succeed.
REG: What has been a key to success in your role?
LEIGHANN: Listening. I think that’s an important skill. You don’t have to act on everything you hear, but I think a good leader listens to the people, and not just the ones saying yes. That commitment to listening goes beyond my team. In my role as GM, I am the one who reads every customer review, which inevitably includes some complaints. I think everyone, especially someone who has had a negative experience, just wants the opportunity to be heard, and I make a point of listening.
To wrap things up, we presented Leighann with the same “first reaction” questions we ask all our REG leaders in this series. Here are her responses:
- Describe WV Black Bears baseball in one word? GUTSY
- Describe WV Black Bears fans in one word? LOYAL
- What is one attribute you look for when hiring an associate? ADAPTABILITY & INITIATIVE
- What is the one word you want visitors to say about WV Black Bears baseball? GREAT VALUE
- In three words or less, describe what it takes to be successful? BEING ON TIME
- What is the one word that you believe has the most power in the English language? NO (Leighann says that learning and setting boundaries is extremely important in life and work)
To learn more about other members of the Rich Entertainment Group (REG) leadership team, check out our interviews with REG President Joe Segarra, Mike Buczkowski, President of Rich Baseball Operations, Beth O’Donnell, Co-President of The Travel Team, and Denise Coffey, General Manager of Glen Iris Inn, Kevin Parkinson, Vice President, Operations & Finance, REG, and Luke Thomas, Co-President of The Travel Team. Stay tuned for future editions of our Leadership Roundtable series.