GASTON COLLEGE RECORD BOOK: A look at the school's unprecedented baseball title run and all-time record book
(Part 10 of a 10-part series)
Gaston College most likely set an all-time U.S. college athletics history record last spring with its baseball conference title run in the school's return to athletics for the first time in 50 years.
Though records aren't complete for all U.S. college athletic teams, it's believed that no school has ever extended a streak of consecutive conference titles after shutting its program down. That's particularly true for a program that disappeared for 50 years.
Yet, that's exactly what Gaston College's baseball program did when it extended its streak of consecutive conference titles to five seasons with its Region 10 West Division title in 2022.
What it means is Gaston College is a perfect five for five in baseball in pursuing a conference championship.
That started when Dean Burroughs guided a school then-nicknamed "Rebels" and "Warriors" to four straight N.C. Community College Conference titles from 1969 to 1972.
Burroughs, who became the school's athletic director in the 1971-72 school year, guided Gaston College to 59-46 overall record and 32-3 in conference games in those four seasons.
Here's a look at the school's record book. And please submit any clarifications, corrections or additions to walker.richard@gaston.edu:
What's in a name?
Gaston College has now had four nicknames in its athletic history. The school was called "Raiders" in the 1964-65 school year, "Rebels" from the 1965-66 school year to 1968-69, "Warriors" from the 1969-70 school year to 1971-72 and was re-christened "Rhinos" in August 2021.
Who have been the head coaches?
Former University of North Carolina football star Sid Varney was the school's first athletic coach when he guided the school's initial basketball team in 1965. Other basketball coaches have been Jim Garrison (1965-66), Pete Brooks (1966-67 to 1970-71), Charlie Warren (1971-72) and David "Dickey" Nutt (2021-22).
Former Cherryville American Legion Post 53 and Lenoir-Rhyne College baseball star Hugh "Buzz" Peeler coached the first baseball team in 1968. Dean Burroughs (1969-72) and Shohn Doty (2022) also have been baseball coaches.
And Jamie Rosser (women's cross country), Mike Steuerwald (softball) and Rachel Noreika (beach volleyball) were start-up program head coaches in the 2021-22 school year.
Gaston College also had men's golf, men's track and men's cross country teams in the late 1960s, early 1970s.
Who are the record-holders?
Here's the known records that are available, with basketball having the most complete records due to the diligence of former Gaston College basketball and athletic director Pete Brooks.
BASKETBALL
(All-Conference players)
-N.C. Community College Conference
1969 Charles Hamilton, Larry Reid, Beirut Wall
1970 Jimmy Crume, Barry Faith, Charles Hamilton, Beirut Wall
1971 Jimmy Crume, Barry Faith
1972 Julian Miller, Joel Ransom
-Region 10
2022 Jaylen Bates
1,000-point scorers
1,533 - Barry Faith (68 games from 1969-70--1970-71)
1,310 - Charles Hamilton (64 games from 1968-69--1969-70)
1,185 - Beirut Wall (61 games from 1968-69--1969-70)
1,074 - Jim Turpin (50 games from 1966-67--1967-68)
1,051 - Jimmy Crume (65 games from 1969-70--1970-71)
971 - Leonard Hamilton (50 games from 1966-67--1967-68)
Top seasonal scorers
782 - Barry Faith (1970-71 - 21.7 average in 36 games)
718 - Jim Turpin (1967-68 - 21.1 average in 34 games)
709 - Larry Reid (1968-69 - 22.2 average in 32 games)
678 - Charles Hamilton (1969-70 - 20.4 average in 33 games)
673 - Leonard Hamilton (1967-68 - 19.8 average in 34 games)
632 - Charles Hamilton (1968-69 - 20.4 average in 31 games)
625 - Beirut Wall (1969-70 - 20.8 average in 30 games)
560 - Beirut Wall (1968-69 - 18.0 average in 31 games)
509 - Jimmy Crume (1969-70 - 17.6 average in 29 games)
503 - Julian Miller (1971-72 - 19.3 average in 26 games)
30-point games
54 - Leonard Hamilton (Montreat-Anderson 1-30-1968)
53 - Jim Turpin (Montreat-Anderson 1-30-1968)
43 - Jimmy Crume (Montreat-Anderson 12-15-1969)
42 - Jim Turpin (at Charlotte Business College 1-5-1968)
42 - Barry Faith (Montreat-Anderson 12-15-1969)
42 - Charles Hamilton (Cleveland Tech 2-4-1970)
40 - Jim Turpin (Mitchell 2-3-1968)
40 - Barry Faith (Cleveland Tech 12-18-1969)
39 - Charles Hamilton (Kings 12-4-1968)
39 - Charles Hamilton (Sandhills 2-21-1969)
38 - Gary Cress (Rowan Tech 1-31-1969)
38 - Charles Hamilton (Clemson freshman 1-15-1970)
37 - Jim Turpin (Southeastern 1-5-1967)
37 - Beirut Wall (at Sandhills 2-15-1969)
36 - Charles Hamilton (at The Citadel freshman (12-2-1968)
36 - Larry Reid (at Davidson County 1-8-1969)
36 - Charles Hamilton (Kings 2-11-1970)
36 - Jaylen Bates (Hosanna Bible College 2-28-2022)
35 - Jim Turpin (at Isothermal 1-9-1968)
35 - Beirut Wall (Cape Fear 2-26-1970)
35 - Julian Miller (South Carolina freshman at Belmont Abbey 12-13-1971)
34 - Cookie Stewart (at Mitchell 1-29-1966)
34 - Charles Hamilton (Cape Fear Tech 12-6-1968)
34 - Jody Long (Western Piedmont 2-11-1969)
34 - Beirut Wall (Wingate 2-14-1969)
34 - Dee Merriweather (Caldwell Tech 2-24-2022)
33 - Larry Reid (Kings 1-23-1969)
33 - Jody Long (Rowan 1-31-1969)
33 - Larry Reid (Wingate 2-14-1969)
33 - Barry Faith (Fayetteville 1-12-1970)
33 - Barry Faith (Sandhills 2-7-1970)
33 - Charles Hamilton (Wayne 2-23-1970)
32 - Jim Turpin (Carolina Military 1-10-1967)
32 - Jim Turpin (Southeastern at Sandhills 12-29-1967)
32 - Larry Reid (Rowan 1-31-1969)
31 - Jim Turpin (Isothermal at Sandhills 12-28-1967)
31 - Leonard Hamilton (at Southeastern 1-6-1968)
31 - Jim Turpin (Brewton-Parker 1-20-1968)
31 - Charles Hamilton (Southeastern 12-7-1968)
31 - Beirut Wall (Orlando 12-19-1968)
31 - Charles Hamilton (Southeastern 1-5-1970)
31 - Jimmy Crume (Fayetteville 1-12-1970)
31 - Julian Miller (Lenoir 12-10-1971)
31 - Jaylen Bates (GaddisWatts 1-8-2022)
30 - Jim Turpin (Carolina Military 1-10-1967)
30 - Leonard Hamilton (College of the Albemarle 2-4-1967)
30 - Beirut Wall (Montreat-Anderson 1-10-1969)
30 - Larry Reid (Southeastern 1-18-1969)
30 - Gary Cress (Gardner-Webb 2-4-1969)
30 - Jody Long (Sandhills 2-10-1968)
30 - Charles Hamilton (Duke freshman 1-3-1970)
30 - Beirut Wall (at Fayetteville 1-12-1970)
30 - Barry Faith (at Clemson freshman 1-15-1970)
30 - Barry Faith (at The Citadel freshman 1-24-1970)
30 - Beirut Wall (Cape Fear 2-21-1970)
30 - Beirut Wall (Wayne 2-23-1970)
30 - Julian Miller (USC Aiken 12-18-1971)
Most rebounds career - 1,041 Charles Hamilton (1968-69--1969-70)
Most rebounds season - 583 Charles Hamilton (1969-70), 458 Charles Hamilton (1968-69)
Most assists season - 118 DaMarco Watson (2021-22), 106 Bob Burkett (1966-67)
Most made field goals season - 299 Larry Reid (1968-69)
Most made free throws season - 259 Jim Turpin (1967-68)
Most rebounds game - 30 Charles Hamilton (vs. Clemson freshman, 1-15-1970); 23 Robert Marziano (vs. Montreat-Anderson 1-30-1968); 20 Lewis Webber (vs. Mitchell CC, 2-8-1968); 19 Leonard Hamilton (vs. Friendship, 2-17-1967); 13 Kalil Camara (11-10-2021 vs. Lincolnton Combine Academy)
Most assists game - 16 Lloyd Taylor (vs. Montreat-Anderson, 1-30-1968); 13 DaMarco Watson (vs. Hosanna Bible College, 2-28-2022); 11 Bob Burkett (vs. Montreat-Anderson, 12-9-1966)
Most made field goals game - 22 Jim Turpin/Leonard Hamilton (vs. Montreat-Anderson, 1-30-1968); 14 Jaylen Bates (vs. Hosanna Bible College, 2-28-2022)
Most made free throws game - 18 Jim Turpin (vs. UNC Charlotte freshman, 1-5-1968); 11 Damon Davis (vs. Pitt Community College 11-14-2021)
Most made 3-pointers game - 9 Dee Merriweather (vs. Caldwell Tech, 2-24-2022)
Rosters:
1964-65
33 Larry Armstrong, Stanley
11 Larry Brown
13 Walter Cox, Gastonia Ashley
35 Terry Ghorley, Gastonia Ashley
41 Lamar Hice
25 Archie Huffstetler
23 David Kafitz, Gastonia
20 Jerry Mace, Tryon
21 Jay McNamara, Gastonia
15 Woody O'Neal, Clover, S.C.
45 Tony Parker, Cramerton
1965-66
33 Larry Armstrong, Stanley
54 Eli Bassinger, Salisbury
42 Calvin Beam, Dallas
11 Walter Cox, Gastonia Ashley
34 Elvin Hayes
22 John Hunter, Gastonia
20 Jerry Mace, Tryon
24 Nick Nichols
45 Tony Parker, Cramerton
50 Charles "Cookie" Stewart, Gastonia Ashley
30 Tony Taylor, Gastonia Huss
32 Jackie Teague, Granite Falls
1966-67
50 Bob Burkett, Hildebran
11 Clarence Denton, Gastonia Ashley
54 Lindsey Eakes, Dover, Del.
24 Leonard Hamilton, Gastonia Highland
44 Robert Marziano, Asheboro
42 Cookie Stewart, Gastonia Ashley
30 Tony Taylor, Gastonia Huss
52 Jackie Teague, Granite Falls
22 Larry Thompson, Gastonia Highland
32 David Trivette, Cramerton
40 Jim Turpin, Gastonia Huss
34 Ira Wagoner, Durham
1967-68
42 Dickie Armstrong, Stanley
13 Jimmie Blackman, Mount Holly
Jody Brockman, Bessemer City
52 Clarence Buchanan, Stanley
11 Clarence Denton, Gastonia Ashley
54 Larry Floyd, Stanley
34 Leslie Gates, Beckley, W.Va.
32 Alan Gray, Lexington
24 Leonard Hamilton, Gastonia Highland
10 Jody Long, Bessemer City
Mike Lotz, Mount Holly
44 Robert Marziano, Asheboro
20 Willie McDowell, Shelby
55 Bobby Murray, Gastonia Highland
00 Warren Perkins, Gastonia Highland
Terry Stroupe, Cramerton
30 Lloyd Taylor, Lowell
22 Larry Thompson, Gastonia Highland
40 Jim Turpin, Gastonia Huss
15 Ray Warren, Dunn
50 Lewis Webber, Shelby
1968-69
Gary Cress, Salisbury
Ronnie Davis, Stanley
Mike Figgs
Charlie Hamilton, Paducah, Ky.
Eddie Kirkland
Paul Kopp
Jody Long, Bessemer City
Terry Parker, Maiden
Larry Reid, Gastonia Highland
Beirut Wall, Paducah, Ky.
1969-70
22-33 Jeff Blackwell, Gastonia Ashley
Jerry Clark
14-15 Jimmy Crume, Clinton, Ky.
24-25 Barry Faith, Calvert City, Ky.
52-53 Charlie Hamilton, Paducah, Ky.
30-31 Gary Johnson, Tryon
20-21 Emmanuel Kirkland, Lincolnton
50-51 Ernest Merritt, Cherryville
40-41 Bobby Roberts, Tryon
34-35 Lloyd Taylor, Newark, N.J.
44-45 Beirut Wall, Paducah, Ky.
12-13 Mike Wilson, Gastonia
42-43 Jewell Williams, Louisville, Ky.
54-55 John Withers, Dallas
1970-71
22-21 Jeff Blackwell, Gastonia Ashley
14-14 Jimmy Crume, Clinton, Ky.
52-53 Raley Downing, Prosperity, S.D.
24-25 Barry Faith, Culvert City, Ky.
54-55 Gary Johnson, Tryon
12-13 Emmanuel Kirkland, Lincolnton
34-35 Gary McNair, Tryon
30-31 Ronald Michaux, Fayetteville
20-11 Julian Miller, New York, N.Y.
40-41 Bobby Roberts, Tryon
44-45 Ray Watson, Shelby
42-43 Jewell Williams, Louisville, Ky.
32-33 Fred Wooley, New York, N.Y./Laurinburg Institute
1971-72
34-35 Billy Benner, Newport, Ky.
50-51 Gary Brown, Macon, Ga.
54-55 Raley Downing, Prosperity, S.C.
10-11 Ronnie Faith, Calvert City, Ky.
22-23 Art Haney, Gastonia
44-45 Julian Miller, New York, N.Y.
20-21 Ed Pipes, Cincinnati, O.
52-53 Joel Ranson, New York, N.Y.
42-43 Ben Rozzell, Calenia, N.J.
... Stinson
24-25 Bruce Trujillo, Lincolnton
32-33 Fred Wooley, New York, N.Y./Laurinburg Institute
2021-22
2 Naysean Baisy, Seattle, Wash.
13 Jaylen Bates, Atlanta, Ga
5 Kalil Camara, New York, N.Y.
4 Damon Davis, Atlanta, Ga.
20 Lenz Dupont, Montreal, Canada
12 Jared Funderburk, Charlotte
14 Dedrick Givens, Charlotte
0 Zavion Jackson, Little Rock, Ark.
1 Joshua Johnson, Atlanta, Ga.
3 Dee Merriweather, Memphis, Tenn.
11 Da'marco Watson, New York, N.Y.
24 Kirk Scoggins, Dallas
23 Dylan Stewart, Dallas
BASEBALL
(All-Conference players)
-N.C. Community College Conference
1969 Wade Beam, Gary Cress, Gary Edwards, Mike Shehan, Mickey Heafner
1970 Wade Beam, John Colvard, Mike Dean, Rocky Goforth, Mickey Heafner, Al Hill
1971 Jim Barber, Mike Dean, Barry Faith, Lamar Hill, John Colvard, Alan Lindsay
1972 Ken Beaty, Jerry Dalton, Terry Dalton, Mike Hoover, Sam Rumfelt
-Region 10
2022 All-Region- OF Konni Durschlag, IF Chandler Riley, DH J.D. Yakubinis, RP Chandler Baker; All-Defense- Konni Durschlag; All-West Division- First team: OF Konni Durschlag, IF Chandler Riley, DH J.D. Yakubinis, RP Chandler Baker, Second team: IF Ahmir Cournier, OF Wade Kelly, SP Gus Hughes
Coach of the year
2022 Region 10 Division II- Shohn Doty
Career records:
Most strikeouts- 156 Alan Lindsay (1970-71)
Single season records:
Highest batting average- .492 Mike Hoover (1972)
Most RBIs- 63 J.D. Yakubinis (2022)
Most stolen bases- 37 Chandler Riley (2022)
Most wins- 9 John Colvard (1971)
Most strikeouts- 100 Alan Lindsay (1971)
Single game records:
Most hits- 5 Miller St. John (3-19-2022 at USC Lancaster)
Most home runs- 2 Konni Durschlag (4-27-2022 at Cleveland CC)
Most RBIs- 6 Wade Kelly (3-6-2022 at SW Virginia), 5 Wake Kelly (3-9-2022 vs. Louisburg), 5 Pierson Gunnell (4-27-2022 at Cleveland CC)
Most SBs- 3 Wade Kelly (2-13-2022 at Wake Tech), 3 Chandler Riley (3-6-2022 at SW Virginia)
Most strikeouts- 19 Alan Lindsay (5-8-1971 at Lenoir CC), 15 Alan Lindsay (4-29-1971 vs. Surry CC), 14 Gus Hughes (3-26-2022 vs. Wake Tech), 13 Alan Lindsay (5-4-1971 vs. Lenoir CC), 11 Gus Hughes (4-2-2022 vs. Patrick & Henry CC), 10 Gus Hughes (4-9-2022 at Guilford Tech), 10 J.D. Everett (3-26-2022 vs. Wake Tech)
No-hitter- Gus Hughes (7 innings, 3-26-2022 vs. Wake Tech)
1-hitter- Alan Lindsay (7 innings, 4-29-2022 vs. Surry CC, 6 2-3 no-hit innings), Ken Beaty (5 innings, 4-14-2022 vs. Lenoir CC, 4 2-3 perfect innings)
Rosters:
1968
Danny Abernathy, Rock Springs
Danny Austin, Gastonia Huss
Jimmy Cook
Gary Edwards, Belmont
Willie Gillispie, Gastonia Highland
George Jenkins
Buddy Jones, Stanley
Jody Long, Bessemer City
Rick Martin, Mount Holly
Greg Paysour, Cherryville
Mike Shehan, Rutherfordton
Mike Shelby, Mount Holly
Bobby Smith, Lincolnton
Robbie Spearman, Gastonia Huss
Larry Thompson, Gastonia Highland
1969
Wade Beam, Cherryville
Chuck Bralley, Shelby
Gary Cress, Salisbury
Bo Davis, Bessemer City
Ronnie Davis, Stanley
Gary Edwards, Belmont
Buddy Jones, Stanley
Mickey Heafner, Gastonia Huss
Danny McDowell, Kings Mountain
Paul Millwood
Gene Putnam, Kings Mountain
Sam Scoggins, Dallas
Mike Shehan, Rutherfordton
Mike Shelby, Mount Holly
Bobby Smith, Lincolnton
Bobby Summey, Gastonia Ashley
1970
Steve Barkley, Belmont
Chuck Bralley, Shelby
Wade Beam, Cherryville
John Colvard, Lincolnton
Mike Dean, Gastonia Ashley
Rocky Goforth, Kings Mountain
Mickey Heafner, Gastonia Huss
Al Hill, Gastonia Ashley
Alan Lindsay, Cherryville
Tony Loftin, East Lincoln
Seerley Lowery, Kings Mountain
Richard Maynard
Wayne Mullinax, Kings Mountain
Johnny Seagle, Lowell Holbrook
Tommy Seagle, Lowell Holbrook
Randy Summitt, Lowell Holbrook
1971
Jim Barber, Gastonia
Rick Cherry, South Point
John Colvard, Lincolnton
Gary Dalton, Rutherfordton
Jerry Dalton, Marion
Terry Dalton, Marion
Mike Dean, Gastonia Ashley
Bobby Ethridge, Kings Mountain
Barry Faith, Calvert City, Ky.
Harvey Groner, Gastonia Ashley
Al Hill, Gastonia Ashley
Lamar Hill, Gastonia Ashley
Alan Lindsay, Cherryville
Tony Loftin, East Lincoln
Seerley Lowery, Kings Mountain
Richard Maynard
Gary McNair
Ron Moody, Asheboro
Sam Rumfelt, South Point
Dan Whitener, Belmont
1972
Jim Barber, Gastonia
Sammy Beard, Clover, S.C.
Ken Beaty, Gastonia Ashley
Tim Brown, Stanley
Chris Childers, York
Bill Costner, Gastonia Ashbrook
Rick Cupp, Gastonia
Gary Dalton, Rutherfordton
Jerry Dalton, Marion
Terry Dalton, Marion
Mike Hoover, South Point
Gary Jacobs, Gastonia Huss
Danny Lee, Gastonia
Bobby McCarter, Clover, S.C.
David Rayfield, Lincolnton
Mark Robinson, Lincolnton
Sam Rumfelt, South Point
2022
1 Ahmir Cournier, Jackson, N.Y.
2 Xavier Swann, Gastonia Huss
3 Chandler Riley, Concord Cox Mill
4 J.D. Yakubinis, Charlotte Providence
5 Myles McGovern, Mooresville Lake Norman
6 Logan Russell, Belmont East Gaston
7 Miller St. John, Waxhaw Marvin Ridge
8 Austin Raynor, Granite Falls South Caldwell
9 Patrick Hogan, Cypress, Tex.
10 Enrique Wood, Charlotte North Meck
11 David Sande, Raleigh Leesville Road
12 Tyler Grady, Concord Robinson
13 Hayden Brandon, Charlotte Christian
14 Dusty Sanderlin, Fort Mill, S.C.
15 Wade Kelly, Massapequa, N.Y.
16 Konni Durschlag, Charlotte Mallard Creek
17 Hunter Shew, Bostic Chase
19 Peyton Idol, Kernersville West Forsyth
21 Dakota Aspinwall, Mooresville Lake Norman
22 Brayden Franse, Fort Mill, S.C.
23 Zach Zedalis, Concord Cox Mill
24 Alex Hall, Mount Airy
25 Christian Baker, Rolesville/Raleigh Pro 5 Academy
26 Gus Hughes, Greensboro Grimsley
27 J.D. Everett, Hickory St. Stephens
28 Tyler Parks, Sicklerville, N.J.
29 Pierson Gunnell, Fayetteville, Ark.
31 Jaren Woodcock, Charlotte Myers Park
32 Hayden Myrick, Clayton
33 Arnav Ghuliani, Cary Green Hope
35 Trenton Snyder, Jacksonville, Fla.
37 Matthew Dobson, Durham Voyager Academy
42 Marlowe Iorio, Chapel Hill
44 Logan Rose, Margate, Fla.
SOFTBALL
(All-Conference players)
-Region 10
2022 none
Records
Single season records:
Highest batting average- .438 Emily Matthews (2022)
Most RBIs- 15 Emily Matthews (2022)
Most stolen bases- 12 Raynee Redington (2022)
Most pitching wins- 4 Raynee Redington (2022)
Most strikeout- 67 Raynee Redington (2022)
Single game records:
Most hits- 5 Serena Yalich (3-25-2022 at Wake Tech)
Most home runs- 1 (7 times)
Most RBIs- 4 Emily Matthews (2-19-2022 vs. USC Union), 4 Raynee Redington (3-18-2022 vs. Camp CC)
Most SBs- 3 Raynee Redington (2-23-2022 at William Peace)
Most strikeouts- 11 Raynee Redington (2-24-2022 vs. Johnson C. Smith)
No-hitter- none
1-hitter- none
Rosters:
2022
2 Gracie Frazeur, Gastonia Ashbrook
3 McKenzie Plaskin, Pompano Beach, Fla.
11 Olivia Wagner, Lincolnton North Lincoln
12 Kaylyn Byrd, Stanley East Gaston
13 Raynee Redington, Cameron Chatham Central
17 Emily Matthews, Harlem, Ga.
18 Emma Sattison, Matthews Butler
19 Tiffany Burch, Dallas North Gaston
21 McKenzie Gates, Bessemer City Community Christian
24 Serena Yalich, Waxhaw Parkwood
25 Morgan Maltba, Gastonia home school
27 Kayleigh Dockery, Gastonia Huss
35 Kaylah Hannibal, Gastonia Piedmont CC
WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Rosters:
2021
Serena Jean Bailey, Cramerton Christian
Maghan Hunt, Gastonia Forestview
Rein Norton-Small, West Islip, N.Y.
Victoria Perez, Gastonia Highland Tech
WOMEN'S BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Rosters:
Stephanie Mason, Quincy, Cal.
Kendall McCarter, Dallas
Summer Meeks, Bessemer City
Mahayla Shaw, Dallas
Tiffany Burch
Kristina Harris