Valley Team to Begin Play in NBC Event
The Valley Rangers will open play tonight in the California Central State National Baseball Congress tournament in Santa Maria, a qualifying event for the NBC World Series in five weeks.
The Rangers (13-3) open the eight-team, double-elimination tournament against the host Santa Maria Indians at Elks Field at 7:30.
The champion of the tournament, which will conclude July 4, receives an automatic berth to the World Series, Aug. 3-20 in Wichita, Kan.
Right-hander Mike Rooney (1-0) will start for the Rangers.