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Gaston College pitcher Abigail Gawlinski fires a pitch during the Rhinos' 2023 fall finale at Bessemer City's Stinger Park on Nov. 12.
Gaston College pitcher Abigail Gawlinski fires a pitch during the Rhinos' 2023 fall finale at Bessemer City's Stinger Park on Nov. 12.
Posted: Nov 25, 2023

Gaston College wraps up 2023 fall softball practices with high hopes entering 2024 season

With the fall exhibition season in the books, Gaston College softball coach Mike Steuerwald said he is "pleased with how our fall went" against a schedule packed with formidable competition.

The Rhinos ended the autumn schedule Nov. 12 at Stinger Park in Bessemer City with a doubleheader against the Carolina Curve, an area travel team.

Prior to that, Gaston College played a stretch of four straight games against a mix of NCAA Division I and Division II schools.

"It was very challenging for the team as we scheduled incredibly tough, playing several Division I schools and even Power Five schools," Steuerwald said. "I think it helped show us where we are missing a step but also showed that we are capable of competing at a really high level when we put everything together."

In the season-ender at Stinger Park, Wisconsin-Green Bay transfer Abigail Gawlinski was on the mound in game one versus the Carolina Curve.

Gawlinski has established herself as one of the top two pitchers on the staff heading into January and the 2024 season. After earning Horizon League All-Freshman honors in 2022 at Wisconsin-Green Bay, Gawlinski missed the 2023 campaign after needing ankle reconstruction surgery.

In the aftermath of her rehabilitation from surgery, Gawlinski entered the transfer portal and linked with Gaston College on a tip from her longtime pitching coach, who knew Steuerwald from his time as a pitching coach in the National Professional Fastpitch League.

Other pitchers on a staff deeper than last year include Abigal Brewton, sophomore returnee Tessa Hunt (North Lincoln), and freshmen Emma Ghorley, Emily Pruett and Phoebe Cole.

In addition to Hunt, veteran returnees include catcher Grace Brown, infielder Kinsey Johnson and outfielders Gabrielle Porterfield and Grace Manning.

Hunt fashioned a 9-5 record in 22 appearances last season as the Rhinos captured the Region 10 regular season and tournament titles and Mid-Atlantic district championship before advancing to the National Junior College Athletic Association World Series.

Porterfield (.297) and Brown (.270) are the top returning hitters on a roster that boasts better depth than 2023, when 11 of the 14 players on the roster played 31 or more games with only three players managing all the mound duties.

"Based on our fall, if we can stay healthy, then I think we have an opportunity to compete at a high level again this spring," said Steuerwald said, whose team opens its 2024 season on Jan. 27 against Patrick & Henry Community College at Gastonia's CaroMont Health Park.