Rangers eager for good start against Redcliffe

BASEBALL: A confident Toowoomba Rangers unit will be out to make an early 2019 statement when it resumes its GBL Division Three campaign at Commonwealth Oval tomorrow.

Rangers make a long-awaited return to home soil where they greet Redcliffe Padres in a top-four clash.

The game will have a crucial bearing on Rangers’ push for a finals’ berth in March.

They currently sit fourth on the competition ladder but with teams around them having games in hand still to be played, Rangers are eager to consolidate their position with a win against a team above them on the ladder.

Rangers will be without Lewis Codd and Brian Hipps until January 27 but welcome back gun pitcher Daniel Luchterhand in his return to the club.

Codd is on national softball duties while Hipps in holidaying in the United States.

“It’s going to be tough, especially without Lewie and Hippsy, but the boys are pretty keen,” coach Darryl Luchterhand said.

“We played an inter-squad game last Sunday to help prepare us after the Christmas break and the way we swung

the bat was pretty impressive.

“The big plus for us is having Daniel back.

“Along with Sam McNeice, that gives us two quality pitchers which is a great position to be in.

“What we lose in batting we make up for on the hill.

“I’m very confident we have the pitching to hold any club to five runs.

“That makes our goal each game to score at least six runs.

“We have the players to do it and if we can swing the bat like I know we can and back up our throwing then we are going to make it tough for any team to beat us.”

■ TOMORROW’S clash starts at 11.45am while games will be played throughout the day from 9.30.