Gaston College hosts Mid-Atlantic District with record-setting momentum

Two years ago, Gaston College's softball team was a plucky underdog that eventually made a magical run to the National Junior College Athletic Association World Series.

This year, the Rhinos expected to be this far and in a history-making season poised to make even more Wednesday and Thursday when they host the Mid-Atlantic District tournament against Georgia Military at Gastonia's CaroMont Health Park.

Coming off its second Region 10 championship in three years, Gaston College (58-3) will meet Region 17 champion Georgia Military (31-15) in the best-of-three series that sends its winner to the May 20-24 World Series in Yuma, Ariz. Games are slated for 6 p.m. Wednesday and 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. (if necessary) on Thursday.

"Anytime you're at home in the postseason, it's special," Rhinos coach Mike Steuerwald said. "You have to have things go right and our region doesn't always host the district. This group has shown up for two years and won a lot of games. They're 107-12 which is tribute to our sophomore class."

Gaston College's 2025 team set more history on Monday as it was ranked No. 10 in the NJCAA Division I poll - the first time in program history it has been ranked in the top 10.

The Rhinos also have set school history for most wins in a season and in Region 10 Division I history, has set a program record with a current 25-game winning streak. And their 22-0 Region 10 Division I record was the first unbeaten finish since 2016.

"In that (2023) season, we knew we could be competitive and good but with everything being so new, we really didn't know," Steuerwald said of the school's initial playoff advance this far. "And in the region and district tournament, we founds way to squeak out some wins when there were really no expectations. We weren't even in the conversation for national rankings that year.
"So it was fun and exciting and probably something that surprised everyone.
"With this group, they had expectations from the start of the season. This is where we expected to be. We just want to use the next few days to get prepped and ready for the district tournament."

Sarah Johnson (.505 average, 35 extra base hits, 8 home runs, 90 RBIs), Kendall Bradshaw (.479 average, 38 extra base hits, 10 home runs, 72 RBIs), Mary Hinson (.443 average, 16 extra base hits, 1 home run, 54 RBIs), Alayna Patrick (.440 average, 36 extra base hits, 6 home runs, 80 RBIs), Grace Kealy (.436 average, 37 extra base hits, 18 home runs, 84 RBIs), Savanna Mullins (.435 average, 13 extra base hits, 5 home runs, 35 RBIs), Skye Harrington (.403 average, 35 extra base hits, 15 home runs, 79 RBIs), Katelyn Brandon (.396 average, 22 extra base hits, 10 home runs, 57 RBIs), Addison Marr (.394 average, 2 extra base hits, 4 RBIs), Arissa Duff (.385 average, 10 extra hits, 27 RBIs) and Savanna Price (.320 average, 12 extra base hits, 4 home runs, 40 RBIs) lead a powerful offense has a collective .425 batting average and averages 11.9 runs per game.

In the circle, Kristyn Ezzo (21-0 record, 4 saves, 1.36 ERA), Mullins (17-2 record, 2.55 ERA) and Abigail Brewton (16-1 record, 2.92 ERA) lead a pitching staff with a collective 2.21 ERA while yielding just 267 hits in 345 innings with 303 strikeouts.

Steuerwald says the team's biggest strength is extraordinary depth and balance.

"The key has been it's not been just one or two players," Steuerwald said. "We've gotten contributions from players up and down the lineup. Sometimes, we've had to play different players in different spots. The other day in the regional championship, Sarah leaves the game with a sprained ankle and Phoebe Cole comes in and plays right field and steps in to do what was needed to keep us successful."