Gaston College softball concludes 2025 fall drills with alumni gathering, honor
Coming off a historic 63-5 season in which it finished fourth in the National Junior College Athletic Association World Series, coach Mike Steuerwald's Gaston College softball program just concluded its 2025 fall drills by honoring the past and showing promise for the future.
"We're in a really good spot right now," said Steuerwald, whose team begins its 2026 schedule on Jan. 23. "We're healthy and excited to see how we come back together in the spring and start with a challenging schedule in Georgia."
Just as importantly, 17 former Rhinos players returned for the Nov. 8 Alumni Day in which the program officially presented 2025 All-American Alayna Patrick with her National Fastpitch Coaches Association Rawlings Gold Glove Award. A second baseman, Patrick is now in her junior season playing softball at nearby Belmont Abbey College.
"We had players show up from every team we've had," said Steuerwald, who coached the inaugural club team in 2022 and has guided the Rhinos to two World Series appearances in three years and Region 10 titles in each of the past three seasons. "It was good to see all of those players back in town. (Current N.C. State junior and 2025 All-American) Sarah Johnson won our annual home run derby and we had a chance to honor Alayna with her Gold Glove from last year."
On the field, the 2025-26 team ended a fall schedule that has seen the Rhinos play against mostly NCAA Division I and Division II competition.
"Every year, you're trying to find chemistry, put people in the best roles and develop depth," Steuerwald said. "It is a year-to-year challenge as a coaching staff.
"This year, we've got seven returners who contributed last year but maybe not in significant roles on the field. So those players are stepping into new roles and we've got a really talented freshman group."
As always, Gsaton College's foundation starts with its pitchers and returnee Savanna Mullins (17-2 record, 2.80 ERA in 26 games last season) and freshman Aidan Ledbetter (21-4 record, 0.83 ERA at Crest High School) have emerged atop the rotation.
"Ledbetter and Mullins are going to be big pieces for us in the circle," Steuerwald said. "I think Aidan has come out of the fall in a really good spot. And Savanna does a nice job with what she's successful with. She's a talented player that is going to be in the lineup somewhere for us."
In the field, returnees Katelyn Brandon (shortstop and second base), Arissa Duff (catcher and infield), Mary Hinson (centerfield and shortstop), Sophia Barone (outfield) and McKenna Jones (first base and catcher) shined while looking to possibly play multiple positions. Barone redshirted last season after injuring her shoulder in 2024 fall drills.
And freshmen Emery Skinner (utility), Miranda Wall (catcher and infield), Alexa Bianchi-Rossi (utility) and Mallie Courson (outfield) have impressed Steuerwald and his coaching staff.
The schedule will be daunting as Gaston College opens on Jan. 23 against fellow 2025 World Series participant Southern Union in a doubleheader at Gordon State and then faces perennial power and event host Gordon State for a doubleheader the following day.
"We'll look to improve even more when we get back after the break," Steuerwald said. "We open with two really tough opponents, so we'll have to be ready to go in January."