Gaston College sweep 4-game weekend series

For the fourth time in the last five years, Gaston College is off to a long unbeaten start to its season following a four-game sweep of Pelissippi State Community College of Tennessee on Saturday and Sunday at Gastonia's Sims Legion Park.

The Rhinos, who received voted in the National Junior College preseason poll, increased their record to 9-0 after doubleheader sweeps on Saturday and Sunday.

On Saturday, Gaston College rolled to 15-5 and 13-2 victories in a pair of games shortened to five innings by the mercy rule.

And on Sunday, the Rhinos rallied twice to take a 3-2, 8-inning victory in the opener and 4-3 win in the nightcap.

"It was two different days for sure," Gaston College coach Shohn Doty said. "If you're going to win the league, Sunday is more conducive to what we're going to have to see.
"Saturday, with the wind blowing out, the offense was really, really good. But on Sunday we had to use the formula, which is pitching and defense and I was happy to see that work well for us."

Doty said he thought shortstop David Nicks, third baseman Logan Ponnett and left fielder Koy Swanson all made exceptional defensive plays.

The Rhinos' previously had long unbeaten starts to open seasons in 2022 (19-0), in 2023 (4-0) and in 2024 (5-0).

In the weekend sweep, an offense that scored 35 runs and banged out 37 hits was led by Ponnett (6 hits, home run, 2 RBIs), Swanson (6 hits, double, 4 RBIs), Joey Nicholson (5 hits, home run, 5 RBIs), Caden Davidson (4 hits, home run, 4 RBIs including walkoff single in Sunday's opener), Gabe Simmons (4 hits, double, home run, 3 RBIs), Macon Leppert (3 hits, 2 doubles, 1 RBI), Kandan Zollo (3 home runs, 9 RBIs)

On the mound, starter Drake Purvis (2 innings, 4 strikeouts) won Saturday's opener, Cross Clayton (4-hitter, 3 strikeouts) won Saturday's nightcap, reliever Ryan Brinkley (2 2/3 innings, 4 strikeouts) won Sunday's opener and reliever Daniel Parris (4 innings, 3 strikeouts) won Sunday's nightcap.

"I was pleased that we won by coming from behind in both of the Sunday games," Doty said. "That showed some grit. They're not all pretty but you have to find a way to win.
"We've got one more week to try and get ready for conference play, which is a whole different animal."

Gaston College looks to improve upon its unbeaten start on Tuesday in a 1 p.m. game against Catawba Valley Community College at Gastonia's Sims Legion Park. Then after a four-game home series against Sussex County Community College from Friday to next Sunday and a Feb. 18 home game against Wake Tech, the Rhinos hosts two-time defending champion (and No. 8-ranked) Florence-Darlington Tech in a three-game Region 10 series Feb. 21-22.