2021-22 REVIEW: Top 10 moments of the year - No. 1 Rhinos win first championship with doubleheader baseball sweep

Gaston College's first championship in its athletic restart came in an April 20 doubleheader against Cleveland Community College with a pair of dramatic victories.

In the opener, Gaston College trailed 3-1 after 7 1/2 innings before scoring once in the eighth and twice in the ninth - the game-winner on Enrique Wood's two-out walk off RBI single that drove in Ahmir Cournier. Chandler Riley had led off the inning with a game-tying home run that tied the score.

In the nightcap, Christian Baker, Marlowe Iorio and Konni Durschlag combined on a three-hit shutout that made J.D. Yakubinis' first-inning, two-run home run stand up for the win. The sweep clinched the West Division regular season championship for the Rhinos; Gaston College would finish 41-9 overall and 30-6 in its division.

"Obviously when you achieve a goal that's as lofty as our was, I think there was a sense of elation," Doty said. "And there also was a sense of, 'We want to get this done and get it done at home.' So there was a sense of urgency there."

At season's end, Konni Durschlag (.396 average, 45 RBIs), Riley (.382 average, 43 RBIs), Cournier (.351 average, 53 RBIs), Yakubinis (.341 average, 63 RBIs), Kelly (.331 average, 37 RBIs) led the offense and Gus Hughes (8-1 record, March 26 no-hitter), J.D. Everett (7-0 record), Baker (6-2 record with 3 saves), Marlowe Iorio (5-0 record), Zach Zedalis (4-0 record) and Durschlag (1-1 record with 5 saves) led the pitching staff.