Region 10 player of the year Patrick has unique bond with Gaston College program

When Gaston College's softball team plays in the National Junior College Athletic Association World Series next week, it'll continue a dream season for a former local high school standout.

And Kings Mountain's Alayna Patrick couldn't be happier.

"It feels amazing," Patrick said. "We have that goal every year in this program. And to actually reach it is just special for the whole team."

Patrick, a second baseman, has been a two-time All-Region 10 infielder and was voted by rival coaches as the 2025 Region 10 player of the year. Patrick hit .452 with 28 extra base hits, 12 home runs and 63 RBIs last season and is hitting .434 with 38 extra base hits, seven home runs and 83 RBIs entering next week's World Series.

"She has been a rock in the middle of our lineup ever since Day One," Rhinos head coach Mike Steuerwald said. "She's started every game for us for two years and exemplifies everything we want from the players in our program."

When Gaston College began its softball program in the 2021-22 school year, Patrick was one of the top players in the area at Kings Mountain High School. So not only was she familiar with what the program was doing, she also was a top recruiting target of Mike Steuerwald and his coaching staff.

"I knew they were a new program and I actually had looked at other schools first," Patrick said.

What changed?

"When I came here, I saw how hard he (Steuerwald) worked with his team and made them get better and better," Patrick said.

Patrick committed to play for Gaston College during the Rhinos' magical 2023 Region 10 title season that ended with a berth in the NJCAA World Series in the program's first season of eligibility.

Gaston College repeated as Region 10 regular season champions before losing in the regional championship game to finish with a 49-9 record.

Last fall, Patrick and other returnees from that squad and a host of newcomers, again set a goal of advancing to the World Series.

"In the fall when we were playing hard against these D1 schools, you could see what was possible," Patrick said. "Our chemistry was strong then and it's only gotten better. It feels good to get to the World Series again but we still have more goals to accomplish."