Goals have changed as Gaston College softball team has climbed to the top of the Region 10 standings

Gaston College's 2023 softball team is proof positive that low seasonal expectations mean nothing.

Coming off a 4-16 record as a club team the previous season, only the most ardent Rhinos' supporter could've imagined pursuing a title in Division I or Region 10, much less have a commanding lead in the league race as the final month of the regular season begins.

Yet, here we are with coach Mike Steuerwald's team atop the Region 10 standings at 9-1 with a 32-6 overall record and comfortably ahead of second-place USC Union (15-12, 7-5), third-place Spartanburg Methodist (16-20, 3-5), fourth-place Florence-Darlington Tech (16-15, 4-8) and fifth-place USC Sumter (2-18, 1-7).

That starts Thursday with a 4 p.m. doubleheader against Florence-Darlington Tech at Gastonia's CaroMont Health Park. The final four league games are April 14 at 1 p.m. in a home doubleheader against USC Sumter on Sophomore Day and April 22 in a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Spartanburg Methodist.

"We've talked about it as a coaching staff, but this is the first time I think we've conceded that winning a regular season title is close and we just need to keep doing what we've been doing," Steuerwald said of his team's title pursuit.

Thursday's doubleheader will come after a 6-day break which marks the Rhinos' longest break since they began their season on Feb. 6.

"I think these days off comes up at a good time for us," said Steuerwald, whose team swept Florence-Darlington Tech 2-0 and 5-3 last Friday in its most recent contests. "We've been grinding and have gotten 38 games in during February and March. The schedule slows a little bit for us.
"But we know we've got FloDar coming to our place on Thursday so we'll get back to work on Monday to get ready."

Freshman Brantleigh Parrott has led Gaston College throughout the season both on the pitcher's mound, at the plate and in centerfield. The former Central Cabarrus who was named National Junior College Athletic Association pitcher of week on March 1 after throwing the school's first no-hitter, Parrott leads the team in batting average (.492) and RBIs (43) and in pitching with a 16-0 record with three saves, 0.42 ERA and 198 strikeouts in 99 1-3 innings while yielding 40 hits and 12 walks.

Other top hitters have been sophomore Asheton Queen (.405 average, 27 RBIs, 22 stolen bases), freshman Haylee Salter (.358 average), freshman Logan Lilly (.341 average, 26 RBIs), sophomore Serena Yalich (.316 average, 36 RBIs), freshman Gabrielle Porterfield (.314 average, 26 RBIs, 30 stolen bases) and freshman Gracie Brown (.256 average).

"We've really been working hard and competing in the moment all year long," Steuerwald said. Last Friday's win "was the first time we talked about how we're got a region title dangling in front of us. And we have a chance if we take care of business to clinch that at home."