Rangers set to crank up ahead of finals’ tilt

Toowoomba on the road to Carina in semi-final dress rehearsal.

Brent Locke on second base for Rangers against Narangba during the Commonwealth Oval game last month. Picture: Nev Madsen

BASEBALL : Toowoomba Rangers plan to slip into finals gear two weeks early when they wind up their 2019-20 fixture season on the road to Carina tomorrow.

Rangers complete their regular GBL Division 4 season against Carina Redsox Red.

But while the game will have no bearing on the make-up of this season’s top-four finals positions, coach Luke Ardill is eager to see his team turn up the intensity ahead of its finals campaign.

Wests will finish minor premiers, with Rangers holding second ladder spot, Southern Stars third and Carina Redsox Red fourth.

The competition takes a break next weekend before Wests host Rangers in the qualifying semi-final and Stars and Carina meet in the elimination game.

“Nothing will change going into the finals, regardless of what happens this weekend,” Ardill said.

“We have a weekend off after Sunday and then face the Bulldogs at Wests.”

Ardill will roll out his finals team tomorrow in what shapes as a semi-final dress rehearsal for Rangers.

“We see Sunday as the start of the finals for us and we’ll be fielding our strongest team,” Ardill said.

“This will be a pretty good chance to show the other finals team what we’ll bring to the table during the finals.

“Sam McNeice will be leading our pitching and the other boys are all on standby should we call on them in the finals.”