Gaston College baseball No. 2 in 2 polls, No. 3 in another

After another 4-1 week on the field, Gaston College's baseball team is ranked among the top three Division II teams in the country of all three National Junior College Athletic Association Division II polls.

The Rhinos, who are 33-3 overall and 23-2 in the West Division of Region 10, remained No. 2 in the www.thejbb.net poll, moved up from No. 4 to No. 2 in the PBR JUCO poll and moved up from No. 4 to No. 3 in the NJCAA poll.

Gaston College had never been ranked in a NJCAA poll in any sport until this year's Rhinos' team gained a national ranking in the www.thejbb.net poll on March 1.

Coach Shohn Doty's team has featured a balance of hitting, pitching and defense this season to rack up the most wins among NJCAA Division II teams.

The offense which has a .324 team batting average and has scored 9.7 runs per game has been led by Konni Durschlag (.388 average, six home runs, 35 RBIs, 10 stolen bases), Chandler Riley (.379 average, 6 home runs, 36 RBIs, 27 stolen bases), Pierson Gunnell (.378 average, 4 home runs, 26 RBIs), J.D. Yakubinis (.373 average, 4 home runs, 50 RBIs, 13 stolen bases), Ahmir Cournier (.372 average, 2 home runs, 41 RBIs, 14 stolen bases) and Wade Kelly (.345 average, 3 home runs, 30 RBIs, 26 stolen bases).

The pitching staff which has a 3.78 ERA with 342 strikeouts in 266 innings has been led by J.D. Everett (7-0 record, 3.83 ERA), Gus Hughes (6-0 record, 2.11 ERA), Marlowe Iorio (4-0 record, 3.28 ERA), Zach Zedalis (4-0 record, 2.08 ERA), Tyler Parks (3-0 record, 7.47 ERA), Christian Baker (3-1 with 2 saves, 0.39 ERA) and Durschlag (1-0 with four saves, 1.45 ERA).

The Rhinos return to action with a 2 p.m. game at Cleveland Community College on Wednesday.