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2026 Pulaski River Turtles preview: Home opener vs Johnson City, deep D‑I mix
The River Turtles kick off the Appalachian League season at Calfee Park against Johnson City, setting the tone for a summer built on continuity and depth across the diamond [1].Manager Bill Kinneberg returns to the dugout with six players back from the 2025 club and four Virginia natives on the 2026 roster, a group pulled from 11 Division I programs highlighted by Virginia Tech, Ole Miss, Alabama, Boston College, West Virginia, and Oklahoma State [1]. The core arrives with pedigree and a recent track record behind it, as Pulaski enters 2026 off four top‑three finishes in five seasons in the Appy League East [1].Since adopting the River Turtles identity in 2021, the brand has leaned into a family‑friendly New River Valley look and feel, a fit for summer nights at Calfee Park [2].