Rangers take crucial road win
BASEBALL: A strong start gave Rangers enough breathing room to maintain their spot in the GBL Division Three top four at the weekend.
Toowoomba picked up a hard-fought 6-4 win over Pine Hills Lightning, keeping them in third on the ladder.
Player-coach Daryl Luchterhand said the side felt comfortable despite a late fightback from the home side.
“We came out early and scored three in the first with Brenton Althaus hitting a tworun home run,” Luchterhand said.
“We had another two runs in the second and then went to sleep for a bit and didn’t score again until the seventh innings.
“In that time they had one in the fourth, two in the fifth and one in the sixth to get it back to 5-4.
“We still seemed to have the game in control though. Sam (McNiece, pictured) threw great for us and he was a real standout.
“Laurie Taylor swung the bat really well also.”
The victory takes Rangers to 6-3 for the season as they prepare for a crucial encounter with Wests (6-1) on Sunday, and Luctherhand said they will go in undermanned.
“It would be a big boost for us before the break,” he said.
“It would be a tough task with a full-strength side, but we’re going to have to try and find a way to get it done.
“Our short stop Sean Rodgers is out for a few weeks with a hand injury, and he’s one of our best hitters.
“If we can start strong, Sam is going to be able to do a job for us on the mound, it will just be a matter of keeping the bats going.”
Sean Teuma