Twins gear for home opener
Elizabethton STAR Family Night at O'Brien Field

from staff reports

   Tonight at Joe O'Brien Field, the Elizabethton Twins will open the curtain for their first home game of the 2002 season.
   In addition, it will be "Elizabethton STAR Family Night" at the ball park as the Twins begin a three-game series against the Pulaski Rangers, with game time set for 7.
   The STAR-sponsored event includes free admission, ice cream and Sheriff John Henson giving away a used car.
   Elizabethton started the new year with three-game sets at Johnson City and Princeton, recording a 2-4 record.
   On Sunday, 'Betsy fell in an 8-0 hole against Princeton and was unable to recover, dropping a 10-4 decision.
   Daniel Marin turned in a sound performance offensively for the Twins, batting 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs, while Dusty Gomon went 2-for-3, doubled and scored three times in a productive effort.
   Elizabethton's Chad Pylate did a good job of pitching in relief, tossing two scoreless and hitless frames.
   On Saturday night, the Twins fell on the short end of a thrilling 11-inning affair, which Princeton won by a 9-8 score.
   Elizabethton was cruising along with a 5-1 lead, but after plating a run in the sixth, the Devil Rays put together a five-run burst in the eighth to take a 7-5 advantage.
   'Betsy retaliated with two runs in the ninth, though, to force extra frames.
   The two teams scored a run apiece in the 10th, making for an 8-8 game.
   Gomon was a big contributor in this contest as well, collecting three hits in four at-bats. He had a homer, a triple, three RBIs and two runs.
   Trent Oeltjen made his presence felt with a 3-for-5 showing that included a pair of RBIs.
   Edgardo Lebron and Doug Deeds chipped in two hits apiece for the Twins.