Gaston College drops doubleheader to Cleveland Community College

Untimely errors that lead to big innings for their opponents continue to derail Gaston College's hopes of softball success.

The Rhinos, a first-year program, suffered those situations again on Saturday in back-to-back doubleheader losses to Cleveland Community College in the National Junior College Athletic Association Region 10 Division II openers for both teams at Gastonia's Martha Rivers Park.

Gaston College committed three errors and allowed a nine-run second inning in a 14-4 loss in the opener, then made six errors and allowed a 13-run fourth inning in a 21-6 loss in the nightcap.

"Today showed kind of the story of the whole year," Gaston College coach Mike Steuerwald said. "We're playing with teams all game except for an inning or two and usually it's an inning where errors or misplays keep that inning going.
"I was proud that we competed in both games and scored some runs."

Raynee Redington had two hits in each game, Emily Matthews had three hits total and Kaylyn Byrd, Emma Sattison, Serena Yalich, McKenzie Plaskin, Gracie Frazeur, McKenzie Gates and Morgan Maltba also collected hits.

On the pitcher's mound, Yalich, Redington and Matthews combined for 14 strikeouts in the doubleheader with Redington leading the way with 10.

Gaston College plays again on Monday against Monroe, N.Y., in a doubleheader that starts at noon at Gastonia's Martha Rivers Park.

"We're playing a team from New York that probably hasn't had a lot of time on the field and they're coming down during their Spring Break," Steuerwald said. "We have to look at it as an opportunity to continue to improve."