It took lots of work, but Gaston College is now ready for its historic first-ever softball team

When Gaston College announced it would be adding an athletic program for the first time in 50 years last summer, new softball coach Mike Steuerwald knew he would be starting from scratch.

After all, while the school had previously fielded basketball and baseball programs, it never had a softball program.

It meant that when Steuerwald was officially hired in June 2020, he had no assistant coaches, no players, no schedule and no home field.

With the 2022 season fast approaching, Steuerwald has each of those in place as the Rhinos prep for their debut on Feb. 19 against USC Union at the school's current home softball field at Gastonia's Martha Rivers Park.

"It's definitely been challenging," Steuerwald said. "It's been unique finding ways to tap into kids that would be interested in playing. And there's the added layer of the timing of my coming in to coach and the hiring of my staff, which made it a unique challenge."

Steuerwald hit the recruiting trail in July 2021 to find players and coaches.

He hired veteran college coach (and former professional player) Lani Ries, former Guilford College player Jessica Beck and former Charlotte 49ers player and assistant coach Bethany Doty to form his first coaching staff.

Steuerwald and his staff then began filling out their roster.

"Once word started getting out that we were having a program, it helped," said Steuerwald, who has 17 years of collegiate coaching experience, 11 years of professional coaching experience and is currently working with Team USA's national softball program. "Between myself and the coaches that were brought on board, our reputations and connections that we had in the area helped us a great deal.
"Then we ran a couple of camps in the fall and that helped us fill out a team."

The first player was Emma Sattison from Butler High in Matthews that Steuerwald was able to find due to his connections in th area; A 2020 Butler High graduate, Sattison will pitch, catch and play third base for the Rhinos.

Steuerwald and his staff later added their most experienced player in pitcher-outfielder Raynee Redington, who transferred from four-year William Peace in Raleigh.

"She's a big add for us," Steuerwald said of Redington. "She'll be our best outfielder. She'll play center when she's not pitching and she'll be our No. 1 pitcher. And she'll probably hit leadoff or top three for us. She's definitely our most athletic player on the roster.
"Having someone who's played a four-year school is always beneficial."

Another standout should be freshman shortstop Serena Yalich from Parkwood High School and Waxhaw.

"Serena Yalich is a quiet one but she leads by example," Steuerwald said. "Rarely do I ever have to check to see if she's doing the right thing both on the field and in the classroom. She's always the one I can count on to do extra."

The rest of the team is comprised of Point University transfer (catcher-second baseman Emily Matthews), first baseman-outfielder McKenzie Plaskin of Pompano Beach, Fla., and local products Gracie Frazeur (Ashbrook pitcher), Kaylyn Byrd (East Gaston outfielder), McKenzie Gates (Bessemer City Community Christian Academy outfielder), Morgan Maltba (Gastonia homeschool infielder), Kayleigh Dockery (Hunter Huss infielder) and Kaylah Hannibal (Piedmont Community Charter outfielder).

"From a coaching staff standpoint, I'd love to have eight to 10 more players but having enough to fill out a team is exciting for us," Steuerwald said. "And these players have worked hard for this season."

Steuerwald said he used the historic startup in his pursuit of players.

"What we said in recruiting was, 'Come here and be a part of history,'" Steuerwald said. "If you're the first pitcher, you have a chance for the first win in school history. Somebody will hit the first home run in school history. You know, the first day we celebrate a win as a team will be historic.
"I'm not sure our girls are fully aware of what they're a part of yet. But give them five or 10 years down the road and they'll have a better understanding of the impact they've made and will keep making."

The program already is building for the future - and that will show tangible results soon as a new stadium will be built in the parking of the Sims Legion Park baseball facility; That project won't begin until after renovations and upgades are completed on the baseball field.

"There's a lot to be excited about with this program," Steuerwald said.