Rangers Eye Comeback From NBC Series Debut

Making their first appearance in the National Baseball Congress World Series, the Valley Rangers played Monday night on artificial turf for the first time. The result was yet another first--a 12-2, five-inning shellacking at the hands of the Hays (Kan.) Larks before 1,000 fans, with the Rangers spared further embarrassment because of the 10-run rule.

The Rangers, who had not lost by the 10-run rule all season, will try to avoid an early exit from the double-elimination tourney today, when they return to Lawrence Dumont Stadium in Wichita, Kan. The Rangers will play at 8 a.m. PDT against the Palm Beach (Fla.) Bulldogs, who lost Tuesday night to the San Diego Stars, 10-6.

“The story for us is that we have been loose all year and we were real tight (Monday),” Ranger Coach Frank Des Enfants said. “We made mental and physical mistakes. I don’t think the kids will be tight (today).

“We’ll either win or lose. No excuses.”

The Rangers are the first Valley team since the 1987 Valley Dodgers to have earned an NBC World Series berth.

Four Ranger errors contributed to 10 unearned Lark runs, including six in the fifth inning. That made the score 12-2, and when Valley was unable to score in the bottom of the inning, the game was over.

Des Enfants used four pitchers in the fateful fifth, and they combined to walk five batters. The walks and two doubles, a single and an error turned the game into a rout.

Steve Trainor ended the outburst when he came on to strike out No. 3 hitter Todd Jerrich with the bases loaded.

Ranger designated-hitter Eric Vargas had two doubles, the first of which started a two-run rally in the third inning that made the score 3-2.