No. 2 Gaston College opens 2024 Region 10 schedule after impressive non-league start
After winning the Region 10 tournament, a National Junior College Athletic Association district title and advancing to the World Series in Grand Junction, Col., in its first year of eligibility, Gaston College coach Shohn Doty has established high goals for his program.
On Sunday at 1 p.m., the Rhinos will begin another phase of their 2024 season as they begin Region 10 Division I league play.
It'd be safe to say the program, currently ranked No. 2 in the national poll, has positioned itself to be ready for this weekend's four-game series against USC Sumter.
"Everything that we've tried to do has prepared us for conference play," said Doty, whose team will meet USC Sumter in 1 p.m. doubleheaders on Sunday and Monday at Gastonia's Sims Legion Park. "We've done everything we can do to get ready for this weekend."
The current resume shows a 21-2 overall record in addition to top 5 national rankings in all NJCAA polls.
That strong start can credit a solid pitching, offensive and defensive combination as 12 of the 21 wins have been shortened by the mercy rule.
On the mound, projected weekend starters Mason Smith (3-0 record, 3.28 ERA), Evan Vandenbosch (3-0 record, 4.43 ERA), Connor Frail (3-0 record, 3.38 ERA) and Wagner Morrissette (2-0 record, 1.80) record) and relievers Landon Carr (1-1 record, 3 saves, 0.87 ERA), J.J. DeVos (2-0 record, 1.08 ERA) and Shane Thorson (3-0 record, 3.20 ERA) have led the pitching staff.
"Mason and Evan and Connor have been the top three guys," Doty said. "We had hoped that, by now, Calvert (Clark) would be healthy but unfortunately he's not. So there's a 'next man up mentality' on the staff and while we like Wagner in that back end of the game role, he proved that when he went five innings the other day that he can be our fourth starter.
"In the bullpen, Thorson's been throwing well, DeVos has been throwing well and when we get to back end of the game, we're really confident with Carr."
Offensively, a group with a collective .347 average and averaging 9.6 runs per game are led by Justin Smith (.533 average), Andrew Muraco (.409), Brandon Crabtree (.403), Seth Christmas (.400), Trent Murchison (.353), Ben Karpowicz (.348), Caleb Estes (.343), Tyler Burke (.325) and Sean Sullivan (.323).
Christmas (28), Karpowicz (27) and Crabtree (24) lead the team in RBIs, Christmas and Karpowicz have five home runs each and Crabtree, Estes and Freddie Oliver have three home runs apiece and Murchison (24), Estes (10), Oliver (10), Sullivan (9), Justin Smith (8) and Travor Lucas (8) lead in stolen bases.
"Sumter is always strong and we want to keep protecting our home field and then going on the road next week against a strong Lancaster team," said Doty, whose team is 20-1 at home so far this season. "I'm happy with our ranking. That's obviously a credit to our players, our college and where we are.
"But as we know, the real season starts now and what is important is what do now that league play has started."