Rangers pair ready to pitch in for Sam

Toowoomba to face Indians in search of eighth straight win.

Luke Ardill safe at second base for Rangers against Beenleigh. Picture: Nev Madsen.

BASEBALL : Toowoomba Rangers will turn to Jonathan Ditchburn and Laurie Taylor to share the pitching duties when they host Indians Mano in their round-11 Division 4 clash tomorrow at Commonwealth Oval.

Ace pitcher Sam McNeice threw the entire game last week against Padres and will be rested this week by coach Luke Ardill as part of a rotation strategy.

Rangers have been dominant in defence while piling up seven straight wins this season, and Ardill believes it is becoming the team’s most potent weapon.

“It’s always nice to be swinging the bat as well as we have been and scoring plenty of runs,” Ardill said.

“But I think our defence is proving to be a high point for us this season.

“In our nine games so far, we’ve been able to hold the opposition to only one run in five of those.

“They are good numbers, but there is always room for improvement which is a good thing.

“You don’t want to be peaking too early in the competition, and we’re confident we can keep building from here.

“Indians are the only team we haven’t played yet, so after this week we’ll have come up against everyone, and we’ll know what’s ahead of us in the second round.”

Tomorrow’s game starts at 11.45am with the B-grade game against Pine Rivers starting at 9.30.