Gaston College moves up in one poll, remains top 8 in all three polls

After winning two games by the 10-run mercy rule last weekend over USC Lancaster, Gaston College's baseball team moved up in one poll and remain in the top eight in all three National Junior College Athletic Association Division II polls.

The Rhinos (23-1) moved up from No. 6 to No. 5 in the PBR JUCO poll and remained No. 4 in the www.theJBB.net poll and remained No. 8 in the NJCAA poll.

Gaston College has the best winning percentage among NJCAA Division II teams and the Rhinos' 23 wins are tied for first with Palm Beach (23-8) for most victories in NJCAA Division II.

The Rhinos are scheduled to return to action on Wednesday at 4 p.m. at NJCAA Division I opponent Louisburg before hosting Wake Tech this weekend in a Region 10 West Division series; Gaston College will host grand re-opening ceremonies at Gastonia's Sims Legion Park before Saturday's 3 p.m. doubleheader and the series closes with a noon game on Sunday.

At 14-1, Gaston College has a five-game lead over Catawba Valley Community College and Patrick & Henry Community College (9-6) in the West Division of Region 10.

The Rhinos have been sparked by impressive hitting and pitching this season as they have a collective .338 batting average and 10.8 runs per game and a collective 4.33 ERA with 234 strikecouts in 181 innings.

Chandler Riley (.434 average, six home runs, 29 RBIs, 20 stolen bases), Konni Durschlag (.404, three home runs, 28 RBIs), Pierson Gunnell (.393 average, three home runs, 19 RBIs), J.D. Yakubinis (.375 average, four home runs, 41 RBIs), Ahmir Cournier (.361 average, one home run, 32 RBIs, 12 stolen bases) and Wade Kelly (.326 average, three home runs, 22 RBIs, 18 stolen bases) leads the Gaston College offense.

And J.D. Everett (5-0 record, 4.46 ERA, 40 strikeouts), Zach Zedalis (4.0 record, 2.41 ERA), Gus Hughes (3-0 record, 2.33 ERA), Marlowe Iorio (3-0 record, 3.27 ERA), Tyler Parks (3-0 record, 6.62 ERA), Christian Baker (2-0 record, 1.04 ERA) and Durschlag (3 saves, 0.00 ERA) lead the pitching staff.