Rangers desperate to beat wet threat

Toowoomba out to keep minor premiership hopes alive.

Brent Locke on second base for Rangers against Narangba Demons at Commonwealth Oval earlier this month. Picture: Nev Madsen

BASEBALL : Sunday shapes as a make-or-break day for Toowoomba Rangers, desperate to beat the week’s wet weather with a return to the Commonwealth Oval diamond.

Rangers are scheduled to meet Redcliffe Padres White in a vital GBL Division Four match-up.

But with Toowoomba Regional Council fields remaining shut due to wet conditions, Rangers are hoping they will be reopened today to allow play on Sunday.

Rangers are still an outside chance of toppling ladder leader Wests for this season’s minor premiership, but a cancelled match on Sunday virtually sinks their hopes.

Toowoomba coach Luke Ardill said last weekend’s washed-out round had no effect on team ladder movements but this week is a different story.

“Fingers crossed the grounds are opened today and we can get out there on Sunday,” Ardill said.

“Wests have a bye this weekend and so we need a win on Sunday to stay in touch with them and then hope Southern Stars can beat them in a couple of week’s time.

“If we don’t play our chances of catching them are virtually zero.”

But while having one eye on Wests, Ardill will remind his players on Sunday their finals’ fate is still in their hands.

“Redcliffe is still a hope of making the top four, so they will come up here hungry,” Ardill said.

“We weren’t able to train last night but when we meet on Sunday I’ll be asking my players to begin hitting the accelerator with only four weeks to finals,” Ardill said.

“Now is when we need to start playing at 100% to ensure we are ready for finals baseball regardless of where we are on the ladder.”

Sunday’s game is due to start at 11.30am after the 9.30 Division 5 game featuring Rangers and All Stars Black.