No. 12 Gaston College wins Region 10 title, will host NJCAA District tournament May 7-8 in Gastonia

No. 12 Gaston College's softball team won its second Region 10 championship in three years on Saturday with an impressive 15-0 win over Monroe, N.Y.

By virtue of their championship, the Rhinos (58-3) advance to host the best-of-three National Junior college Athletic Association Mid-Atlantic District tournament at Gastonia's CaroMont Health Park on Wednesday and Thursday. Games will be played at 6 p.m. on Wednesday and 2 p.m. on Thursday with another game, if necessary, at approximately 4 p.m. on Thursday.

"I think the group went into the season wanting to win more than just the regional," Gaston College coach Mike Steuerwald said of his team, which is seeking to advance to its second NJCAA World Series in three years if can win the Mid-Atlantic District.

The Rhinos removed doubt about the outcome of the title game pretty quickly on Saturday with three runs in the first and four in the second inning before rain delayed the contest in the top of the third. After the delay, Gaston College kept up the pressure with two in the third and three in the fourth and sixth innings.

In the circle, starter Abigail Brewton went the first two innings before reliever and winner Savanna Mullins closed out the win with five innings and eight strikeouts.

Offensively, Katelyn Brandon (3 hits, double, 2 RBIs), Alayna Patrick (3 hits, double, 2 RBIs), Savanna Mullins (2 hits, home run, 5 RBIs), Phoebe Cole (2 hits, 1 RBI), Skye Harrington (2 hits, double, 1 RBI), Kendall Bradshaw (2 hits), Mary Hinson (RBI double) and Savanna Price (home run) led a 19-hit attack.

Sarah Johnson was named tournament MVP in a postgame awards ceremony with Rhinos' Grace Kealy, Kristyn Ezzo, Patrick, Brandon and Hinson joining her on the all-tournament team.