Top moments of 2025-26: No. 5 - Softball wins Region 10, Mid-Atlantic district titles

After a fourth-place finish in the 2025 National Junior College Athletic Association World Series, Gaston College's softball team had high expectations entering the 2026 season.

But with only seven returning players and 15 newcomers on their opening day roster, coach Michael Steuerwald knew his team would have to gain experience - and fast.

Did they ever as Gaston College repeated as Region 10 regular season and tournament champions and as Mid-Atlantic district champions.

The Rhinos rolled to the regular season title with a 23-1 league record, then went 3-0 in the Region 10 tournament at Tyger River Park in Duncan, S.C., then 2-0 in the Mid-Atlantic district championship series at Georgia Highlands.

"Winning never gets old," Rhinos coach Michael Steuerwald said after winning the Region 10 title in a 6-1 victory over Monroe, N.Y. "It's so much hard work and this team has done a lot to put themselves in a position to win the Region again."

Freshman Aidan Ledbetter picked up her third straight win of the tournament to finish the weekend with 18 strikeouts in 15 2/3 scoreless innings to earn tournament Most Valuable Player honors.

Gaston College's softball team is heading back to the National Junior College Athletic Association World Series.

Then the Rhinos were more convincing in their district tournament win with 9-2 and 9-1 victories over host Georgia Highlands.

"They were so locked in," Rhinos coach Michael Steuerwald said of his team after the district tourney sweep that increased their winning streak to 23 games. "That's the best we've looked all year."

Katelyn Brandon (4 hits, 2 doubles, 1 RBI), McKenna Jones (3 hits, double, 2 RBIs), Miranda Wall (2 hits, double, home run, 4 RBIs), Adah Bruining (2 hits, double, 3 RBIs), Addison Marr (1 hit, double, 2 RBIs), Alexa Bianchi-Rossi (1 hit, 1 RBI) and Emery Skinner (1 hit, triple) led the offense.