Twins gear up for 1st playoff

TEXARKANA, Texas - The Texarkana Twins have reached the Texas Collegiate League postseason for the first time in the program's three-year history and will play Saturday night at George Dobson Field.

While the opponent for the Twins is still to be determined, as the regular season wraps up today, the local team is preparing to make a run at the TCL championship.

Game time is 7:05 p.m., and admission is free on a first-come, first-served basis. Gates open at 6 p.m.

"It looks like it's going to come down to the last game (to decide Texarkana's playoff opponent)," Twins head coach Bill Clay said. "I don't want to put too much pressure on us; we've come this far and I want our guys to continue to have fun and play to our ability. Whatever happens happens. This is another ballgame, and I want our guys to go enjoy playing in a playoff atmosphere."

The Twins were 22-23 and in third place entering Thursday night's opener of a series against league regular leader Brazos Valley, which took a 9-game win streak into the series versus the Twins.

Texarkana will face the Victoria Generals or the Brazos Valley Bombers in the best-of-three series this weekend after tonight's season finale.

The Twins go on the road for the second playoff game.

"Going into Year 3, we put some depth and experience behind us compared to the first two seasons," Twins general manager Michelle Citty said. "Having some local presence in the management has been helpful, and bringing in Coach Bill Clay has made a difference. He's been amazing for this team.

"These guys came in and rallied for this town and have fought hard. We're down to less than a full roster, but they're still fighting to get to the top."

In Wednesday's home finale for the Twins, Texarkana rallied from a 7-1 deficit to tie the game in the ninth inning before falling to the Generals, 9-7 in 10 innings.

Down 7-1 through seven, JJ Flores singled to start a rally. He scored on a double by Harrison Engstrom, and Reese Durand drove in two with his shot to right-center, advancing to third on the play. Durand scored on a fielder's choice.

Ryne Randle's RBI single in the ninth got the Twins to within a run, and Flores' single to left plated Randle to force the extra inning.

Victoria plated two on an error, and Texarkana was unable to keep its offense going in the bottom of the frame.

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