Gawlinski getting stronger as Gaston College softball team heads down home stretch

When Abigail Gawlinski agreed to join the Gaston College softball program, she knew the Rhinos were coming off a 43-10 season in which it made the National Junior College Athletic Assocition Division I World Series.

She also had heard of Gaston College coach Mike Steuerwald's reputation for developing pitchers.

As the Rhinos' 2024 regular season comes to a close, Gawlinski has played a role in the school's continued success as she has an 18-4 record, 2.15 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 124 innings covering 23 appearances (22 starts). Her year has been highlighted by a perfect game she threw last Sunday on the school's "Sophomore Day" in its final home date at Gastonia's CaroMont Health Park.

"Abby G has been throwing really well lately and, really, she's had good games all season long," Steuerwald said of the sophomore from Des Plaines, Ill., who transferred to Gaston College from the University of Green Bay. "She's throwing well and giving us a chance to win every time she's in the circle."

At 40-6 overall and 11-1 in Region 10, the Rhinos are bearing down on a second straight Region 10 regular season title with a pair of league road doubleheaders left on the schedule; Gaston College visits second-place Florence-Darlington Tech (26-11, 9-3) on Friday at 1 p.m. and ends its regular season on April 27 at 1 p.m. at fifth-place USC-Sumter (6-21, 1-7).

Gaston College needs just one win in the last two league doubleheaders to wrap up a share of the title and two more wins would clinch the title outright.

The Rhinos also face a pair of ranked NJCAA Division III schools in non-conference doubleheaders - at No. 5-ranked Surry Community College (18-14) at 3 p.m. on Monday and at No. 3-ranked Caldwell Tech (23-15) at 3 p.m. on Wednesday.

"We just have to bring the same energy," Gawlinski said of her team's pursuit of road victories. "You just have to approach everybody the same and respect your opponent. We just have to keep executing our game plan in every game we play."

Gaston College completed its home slate with a 29-3 record and is 11-3 on the road entering the four season-ending doubleheaders.

"FloDar is a huge series for us on Friday," Steuerwald said. "It'll give us a chance to push ahead in conference or even clinch conference. From there, we've got Surry and Caldwell who are very good and ranked as well. And we close out with USC Sumter.