ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. — The Appalachian League defending champion Elizabethton Twins held Burlington to three hits and one run, defeating my hometown Royals 6-1 to open the season Tuesday night in the first of a three-game series at Joe O’Brien Field.

Despite the loss, 19-year-old starter Charlie Neuweiler made a respectable debut for Burlington allowing four hits for two earned runs over five innings. Elizabethton starter Pedro Garcia booked the win; he walked five batters.

Burlington's one run came courtesy of Angel Medina with an RBI single in the third inning. Andy Cosgrove led Elizabethton’s offense with a single and a two-run homer in the eighth inning to give the Twins their 6 to 1 lead.

For baseball purists, the Appalachian League in general and Elizabethton in particular present real-time relics of baseball history. Elizabethton skipper Ray Smith, a backup catcher for the Minnesota Twins in the early 1980s who himself debuted at Elizabethton in 1977, has managed this Twins advanced rookie affiliate for more than two decades, amassing a winning record north of .600 and six league championships.

Although its 1,500-seat stadium offers minimal comforts and the concession stand doesn’t serve beer, minor league baseball is a big deal in this East Tennessee town of 14,000 where local churches take turns feeding the players before games. More than 120 major leaguers including the likes of Twins stars Kirby Puckett and Kent Hrbek got their start here on the banks of the Watauga River where the mountains of the Cherokee National Forest fill the outfield skyline.

Stay tuned. I plan to follow the Burlington Royals around the Appalachian League throughout the season. --Matt