Seven Rhinos named to All-Region 10 softball team

Seven Gaston College softball players have been honored on the All-Region 10 team for 2024 after the Rhinos won their second straight regular season title.

Abigail Brewton (pitcher), Grace Kealy (infield), Gabrielle Porterfield (outfield) and Emma Ghorley (utility) were named to the first team with Skye Harrington (catcher), Alayna Patrick (infield) and Kendall Bradshaw (outfield) named to the second team.

Porterfield becomes the school's first-ever two-time All-Region 10 honoree as she also was a first team outfield selection in 2023 when the Rhinos won their first Region 10 regular season title in their first official season.

Gaston College went 47-7 overall and 14-2 in Region 10 in the regular aseason and received votes in the National Junior College Athletic Association poll for nine of the last 10 weeks.

Brewton, a freshman from Candler and a 2023 Enka High graduate, went 22-1 with two saves and had a 1.56 ERA with 176 strikeouts in 139 1/3 innings in the regular season.

Kealy, a freshman from Bloomington, Minn., and a 2023 Maranatha Christian Academy graduate, hit .397 with 16 home runs, 79 RBIs and nine stolen bases.

Porterfield, a sophomore from Lexington, S.C., and a 2022 White Knoll High graduate, hit .407 with two home runs, 36 RBIs and 34 stolen bases.

Ghorley, a freshman from Gastonia and a 2023 Highland Tech graduate, hit .370 with eight home runs and 52 RBIs and had a 4-1 pitching record, 4.14 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 25 1/3 innings.

Harrington, a freshman from Marshville and a 2023 Piedmont High graduate, hit .394 with six home runs, 50 RBIs and 10 stolen bases.

Patrick, a freshman from Kings Mountain and a 2023 Kings Mountain High graduate, hit .471 with 11 home runs, 61 RBIs and 31 stolen bases.

And Bradshaw, a freshman from Cary and a 2023 Apex High graduate, hit .446 with two home runs, 45 RBIs and 18 stolen bases.

Since Gaston College won the league by two games, coach Mike Steuerwald had expectations of more honorees from his team.

"We talked about it as a group," Steuerwald said. "We're thankful for those who were honored but a little disappointed for a team that was 47-7 overall and 14-2 in conference to have four first team picks.
"I just told them, 'Let's go take care of it on the field this weekend because that's what it's about.'"

The Rhinos are currently competing for the Region 10 tournament title they won last year.