Gaston College softball starts 2023 fall drills with eye on more success in 2024 season

Just a year ago, there was optimism surrounding Gaston College's softball program as coach Mike Steuerwald's Rhinos were preparing for their first official season and first chance to compete for Region 10 honors.

After a dominating season that saw Gaston College win the Region 10 regular season and tournament titles and Mid-Atlantic district championship to advance to the National Junior College Athletic Association World Series, expectations couldn't be higher as the Rhinos begin 2023 fall drills.

"The goal is to make it to the World Series again and go even farther than we did last time," said catcher Gracie Brown, one of six returnees from last year's team that finished with a 43-10 overall record. "Taking two losses there (at the World Series in Oxford, Ala.) was not fun for us. But with the group we have, I believe we can get there again and I'm really confident going into it."

Brown, pitcher Tessa Hunt, infielders Logan Lilly and Kinsey Johnson and outfielders Gabrielle Porterfield and Grace Manning are the returnees from last year's team. And they'll be joined by 18 newcomers, including five who are expected to join Hunt on the pitching staff.

"This year I hope to set a good example for the pitchers coming up because I'm the only returner," said Hunt, who had a 9-5 pitching record in 22 appearances (14 starts) last season. "I'm glad that we've got a lot of pitching this year because it gives us more insurance and we've got a lot of people to choose from."

Brown and Hunt were added to the program after Gaston College had a 4-16 record competing as a first-year club team in the spring of 2022.

Brown had high hopes but wasn't sure what to expect when 2022 fall drills began.

"At the beginning of last year, it was harder to see what we would do," Brown said. "By the time we got to the spring, I knew we could be successful. And I think we can do it again this year."

Fun-loving play at practice and on the field created a team chemistry that Gaston College coaches and players say played a key role in last year's success.

Hunt's paternal grandfather Tony Spivey played a role in the atmosphere by wearing a homemade "Rhinos hat" to many of the team's games.

"We did have a lot of fun," Hunt said. "He did that for my senior year at North Lincoln High School when he made a 'Knight hat.' And then he made a Rhinos hat when I got here. It surprised me when he did it but I really enjoyed it because he had the school spirit that we as a team had."

Lilly (.335 average), Porterfield (.297) and Brown (.270) are the top returning hitters and Hunt will help lead a youthful pitching staff.

Given what the Rhinos accomplished last season, the team also knows more will be expected - by themselves and their opponents.

"A lot of people didn't know what to expect of us last year but they'll probably take us more seriously this year," Hunt said. "And since we accomplished what we accomplished last year, we expect a lot from ourselves and we want to come back and do better."

Brown says she already sees a team chemistry building in early practices that are in preparation of a fall schedule that begins on Sept. 23 at NCAA Division I Queens University of Charlotte.

"Once we got here again, it was an instant connection and everybody gets along really well," Brown said. "I think, as a team, we really bond well again."