No. 14 Gaston College throws pair of shutouts against potential future playoff opponents

No. 14 Gaston College's baseball team extended its winning streak to seven ame with a pair of shutout victories against potential future playoff opponents on Friday afternoon at Carolina Bank Field in Florence, S.C.

Noah Zimmerman and Clayton Sherwood combined on a five-hitter in a 6-0 victory over Monroe University of New York in the opener and Conner Frail pitched a two-hitter in a 10-0 win over Harford Community College of Maryland in a game shortened to five innings by the mercy rule.

Both teams are possibly opponents in the May 9-11 East District tournament that will be hosted by the winning of the Region 10 tournament earlier in May.

"We played two teams that we'll have a chance to play again if we can win our tournament in May," Gaston College coach Shohn Doty said of the double shutouts. "Honestly, it's the two best games we've put together so far this season."

The wins improve the Rhinos to 7-3-1 on the season.

"From a pitching standpoint, you can ask anymore from Noah," Doty said. "He's been lights out in his last two starts. And Conner was very efficient.
"Offensively, We got big hits and did the things that we needed to do. So I'm very encouraged about where we are."

Zimmerman pitched six shutout innings with 11 strikeouts before Sherwood finished with two strikeouts in his inning of work in the opener and Frail threw a complete game two-hitter.

Offensively, Joey Nicholson had two hits including a double with two RBIs in the opener and added three more hits including a triple with a RBI in the second game.

Other top offensive performers in the two victories were Jackson Toberman (3 hits, double, 4 RBIs), Jackson Berini (2 hits, 1 RBI), Koy Swanson (2 hits, 1 RBI) and Daniel Parris (1 hit, double, 2 RBIs)

Gaston College returns to action on Sunday at 2 p.m. for a doubleheader against Pro Stock Royals at Gastonia's Sims Legion Park. The Rhinos then host Caldwell Tech on Tueday at 2 p.m. before opening their Region 10 Division I schedule at No. 8 Florence Darlington Tech with a three-game series that begins with Feb. 22 doubleheader at noon and concludes with a single game at 1 p.m. on Feb. 23.