Twist to Rangers’ baseball season
Toowoomba Rangers’ GBL competition journey takes another twist this season when the club lines up in Division Three.
One season after earning a place in the Division One competition, Rangers have been forced out of the state’s major league after taking a financial off-season hit.
The loss of a major sponsor has left the Toowoomba club on a tight 2018-19 budget and with little option but to forfeit its Division One status for the upcoming season.
Rangers’ club president Darryl Luchterhand said the financial sums simply didn’t add up to Toowoomba continuing in Division One.
“It’s disappointing not to be lining up again in Division One, but it is what it is,” Luchterhand said yesterday.
“We have lost a major club sponsor which has set us back $12,000.
“It costs $11,500 to put a team on the park for the year so we have little choice but to step back for this season.
“Divisions One and Two are linked which places us in Division Three.
“It’s forced us into a rethink on our season plans.
“We can’t expect imports to come and play for us this season for nothing, but there might be some light at the end of tunnel in that regard.
“A couple of Canadians are still keen to come out and play some Australian baseball for a club, not city-based, so we are hopeful of getting them, although neither of them is a pitcher.”
Rangers have lost coach Tony Tarca for the season because of work commitments but they welcome the return of several players to the club.
“I expect Division Three to still be a tough league and I’m confident we will be competitive. Our aim now is to go out and win it,” Luchterhand said.
■ RANGERS hold their next come-and-try and signon day at Commonwealth Oval on Sunday from 10am.