Gaston College wins series over No. 8-ranked team, gets 200th victory for Rhinos head coach

Gaston College's baseball team completed a series victory over Florence Darlington Tech this weekend and accomplished a program and coaching milestone in the process.

The Rhinos edged the No. 8-ranked Stingers 9-8 in Friday's opener, dropped Saturday's opening game of a doubleheader 5-2 and won the nightcap 4-3 at Gastonia's Sims Legion Park.

The victories improved Gaston College to 17-1 overall and 2-1 in Region 10 play while also giving coach Shohn Doty his 200th head coaching victory.

Formerly an assistant coach at Pratt Community College in Kansas, Indiana State, UNC-Wilmington, Old Dominion, Arkansas Fort Smith and Charlotte, Doty worked at a baseball academy in Arkansas before being hired as Gaston College's head baseball coach as the program restarted for the first time in 50 years when he was hired in the 2021-22 school years.

In his five season, Doty has guided the Rhinos to a national top 10 ranking by at least one poll each season including No. 1.

In Friday's opener, Caden Davidson's two home runs, Kandan Zollo's home run, Logan Ponnett's RBI triple and Joey Nicholson's RBI single accounted for the runs as the Rhinos rallied from a 7-2 deficit after 5 1/2 innings for the victory.

In Saturday's opener, Davidson hit another home run but the visiting Stingers scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a 5-2 victory.

And in Saturday's nightcap, Logan Ponnett hit a two-run double in the third inning and Kandan Zollo a two-run home run in the sixth and reliever Drake Purvis picked up his second save of the series by wriggling out of a ninth-inning jam.

"Really the most important thing to take out of this weekend is we won a series against a really good team," Doty said. "Offensively, we've been electric all year long. That kind of dried up on us this weekend and pitching really answered the bell.
"The good news that I'm seeing is our ability to improve. I can see where we are and where we want to go. And I really believe we can get there."

Doty's record is now 200-45-1 in his five-year career at Gaston College.

"As far as the 200 wins, that credit goes to every player that has ever played here," Doty said. "Four years and a month ago when we re-started this program, if you had told me we'd be 200-45 and going strong, I don't know that I would've believed that.
"But it's a testament to everybody that's ever played here. It's also humbling and exciting to be thought of today and now I'm looking to win 100 more."

The Rhinos return to action at Cleveland Community College on Tuesday at 1 p.m. then returns to Region 10 action against USC Sumter for a three-game series at Sims Legion Park on Friday for a 1 p.m. doubleheader and Saturday for a 1 p.m. game.