Rob Laidlaw

WITH a goal to play finals baseball, Gawler Rangers will open the 2020/21 division two season and kick off warm-weather sports in the region on Sunday at Karbeethan Reserve from 12.30pm against Golden Grove Central Districts.
Gawler coach Mike McClarty has been concentrating on the players’ fitness through the pre-season and is confident his charges are ready to meet the challenge.
“We have been emphasising the physical fitness side and the players have been working hard, which augurs well,” McClarty said.
“Our aim is to win as many games as possible to reach our goal of playing finals baseball, starting with this week’s clash against the Dodgers.”
Veteran Josh Lands has been slated to start on the mound for the Rangers, with teenage catcher Noah Okeil to be his battery mate.
Former player Liam Holland, who has been out of the game for several years, has returned to the club and will play first base.
The rest of the infield will be made up of regulars from last season, with Rhys Argent at second, Nathan Schreier at third and Ben Strong at shortstop.
Ben Nottle will make a return to the A-grade side in the outfield, alongside Jake Rodda and Blaze Hurst.
Hurst is one of the club’s most improved players following his rookie season last year, after training the house down over the past month.
Gawler has lost pitcher Rick Leonard, who has returned to the Dodgers, while Jon Morton and Troy Chamings are currently injured.
A potential long-term replacement is waiting in the wings as exciting young prospect – 15-year-old pitcher Damien Thomas – will make his debut with the club when he starts on the mound for the division three team.
Helping McClarty in the coaching ranks, Tim Strong will lead the B-grade team this season, while Lands has been a big factor in the strong fitness level of the players.
It’s a big weekend for the club with most sides playing at home which should see Karbeethan Reserve full of action if the weather allows it.
On Saturday the division seven team hosts Glenelg from 10am, while the division two (12.30pm) and three (10am) sides face the Dodgers on Sunday.
The juniors also have three teams at home, with the Junior League (1.30pm) hosting Woodville-WT, Little League (11am) is up against West Torrens, and Minor League (9am) is being challenged by Indians.
In the Intermediate League (1.30pm), Gawler will share a team with North and play Southern Districts at North.