Rangers make a successful Pan Pacific Games Debut

For the first time in it’s 18 year history, Rangers Baseball Club entered it’s own team in the over 40’s division of the Pan Pacific Masters games held on the Gold Coast this past November. A bi-annual event, this years competition saw more than 13,000 competitors flock to the Gold Coast competing in a variety of events with Rangers sporting 15 baseballers over the week long games. Club President Stephen Anderson making his customary trek with the Sydney Tide, Rick Yeates with the Boomers, whilst Jeff Watts and Steve Graham pulled double duty between Rangers and the over 50’s division.

As seems to be the way with Rangers luck of the draw, the over 40’s drew by far the toughest pool, having to square off against the eventual Gold, Silver and Bronze medalists in the round robin, with the opening game pitting us against the two time defending champions the Gold Coast Cougars who sported no less than 5 ex Australian players. Undeterred Rangers posted one of the most memorable victories in the club’s history coming back from a 6 run deficit in the bottom of the last innings to snatch a gritty victory on the back of a very spirited team effort. Hayley Bell establishing her credentials early with a clutch hit during a crucial at bat to setup the win on the back of a strong team performance at the dish and Brad Rockwell’s exceptional full game toeing the rubber.

Day two saw Rangers take on the Diamond Dogs and despite turning several double plays and two out of the park home runs from Adam Hilton-Butt, Rangers fell 10-14 in a game played in the true spirit of the competition. Once again it was a gallant comeback with Rangers outscoring the Diamond Dogs over the latter half of the game, but proved to be too little too late with the Dimond Dogs too strong in the end.

After a rest day Rangers squared off against the eventual gold medalists from Japan who would go on to win the event in what was a baseball master class from the visitors. Rangers actually took the early lead despite some exceptionally strong Japanese pitching, however, the tourists were all class and eventually downed Rangers 7-17.  Needless to say, Japan would go become tournament favourites, playing the game in with exceptional spirit and also providing Rangers would a swag of gifts post-game.

Day four saw one of the more intriguing games of the series as Rangers faced the Illawarra Pirates jumping out to a quick 7 run lead on the back of some strong work at the plate. The Pirates hung in tough and mounted a very spirited comeback of their own, eventually outscoring Rangers and requiring just one more out before time elapsed. Representing the final out of the ballgame, Hayley Bell once again mounted the rescue effort for Rangers compiling a near 10 minute at bat with two outs in the innings before time was called and the result reverted in Rangers favour. A 120 pitch effort from the mound by Grant Lacey a herculean effort to also get Rangers over the line. After four very tough games and a 2-2 record, Rangers needed to rally to keep their finals chances alive and did so by beating the Northern Aces 11-5 in another good spirited outting between the two teams.

With Rangers needing a last round victory to have any shot at the medal round, luck would have it we drew the pool leading Canberra Senators in our one game versing the other side of the draw. Just like the Cougars, Canberra had come to win and in a see-sawing contest that saw 33 runs scored Rangers had pulled ahead with a narrow 1 run lead and very little time to secure victory before time ran out. Sacrificing their final two batters Rangers took the field hoping to set down the Senators in order, however, it was not to be with Canberra securing the winning run at the death leaving Rangers 1 game short of the finals and an eventual 3-3 record.

Despite not making the medal round, it was an exceptionally enjoyable competition against some tough competition. Stephen Anderson and the Tide played off for the Bronze and despite not coming home with a medal, everyone I think would agree it was an exceptionally well run competition and we’d certainly like to commend the Pan Pacific Games and all the ground, catering, medical and organisational staff at Benowa and Nerang for their efforts. A special mention goes out to Jeff Watts for getting a Rangers team to a tournament for the first time since the 2009 World Masters games and to Rick Yeates and Adam Hilton-Butt for volunteering their services as umpires.