Top moments of 2024-25: No. 5 - Softball wins district at home while gaining national attention

Gaston College's magical softball team featured its share of highlights - and one of them gained the school national attention for a title won in a game played at Gastonia's CaroMont Health Park that the Rhinos use for their home venue.

Playing in a best-of-three Mid-Atlantic District tournament against Georgia Military, Gaston College defeated Georgia Military 9-0 in five innings and 8-1 to punch its ticket to the National Junior College Athletic Association World Series in Yuma, Ariz.

In that finale, Rhinos standout outfielder Sarah Johnson made a play that gained national attention.

While making the catch for the first out of the top of the seventh inning, Johnson ran into the portable fence in left field for a highlight that was the No. 7 choice of ESPN SportsCenter's daily top 10 highlights of the day.

Making the play more amazing was that Johnson earlier in the week had undergone treatment for an ankle injury that knocked her out of the Region 10 championship game in Spartanburg, S.C.

"Right now I've just got some soreness in my left ankle," Johnson said after the game. "I just stayed off it over the weekend when we got back, did my treatment with (trainer Al Shuford) and got ready to play."