Gaston College softball set to close out historic first season

Sophomores Emily Matthews and Kaylah Hannibal, two building blocks of the first softball team in Gaston College history, make their swan song with the program in Saturday's season-ending doubleheader at Florence-Darlington Technical College. The action starts at 1 p.m.

Matthews, who hails from Harlem, Ga., has played catcher and second base for the Rhinos in the program's inaugural season. Matthews takes a .436 batting average with one home run and eight RBIs into her final game.

As for Hannibal, she is a hometown product who played high school softball at Piedmont Community Charter in Gastonia. She has seen action in the outfield this spring.

In other softball developments:

- Head coach Mike Steurerwald announced the addition of North Lincoln graduate Olivia Wagner, listed as a sophomore outfielder, to the roster for Saturday's season finale.

- The Rhinos(4-14) return to action for the first time since a March 26 doubleheader at Pitt Community College. Injury issues and roster depletion forced the cancelation of several games during the month of April.

- Even though the team was idle, Steurerwald had a gratifying personal endeavor earlier this month when he ran the Boston Marathon on April 18. He raised $8,000 through pledges to benefit the Gillian Reny Stepping Strong Center of the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. On the experience of navigating the famed 26.2-mile course, Steurerwald said: "It definitely beat me up, but I was excited to be able to finish, and the crowds and atmosphere were incredible. I was excited that my wife was able to be up (here) with me to chase me around and celebrate with me."