Gaston College baseball starts 2022 fall drills
After winning a championship in its inaugural season, Gaston College has returned to the baseball diamond to begin preparation for the 2023 season.
The Rhinos play a fall schedule that begins with a showcase at Lenoir-Rhyne University and Hickory High School on Friday.
"I'm excited about coming out here," said Gaston College head coach Shohn Doty, whose team went 41-9 in last season's program restart. "Last year, we had only two or three practices and I wasn't quite sure we were ready to go."
The Rhinos' program will have a lot to live up to after the school's first National Junior College Athletic Association ranking - they climbed to as high as No. 2 in one poll during the season - and winning the Region 10 Division II West Division regular season title.
Gaston College will also play fall exhibition games at four-year schools Gardner-Webb, Campbell, USC Upstate and High Point in addition to hosting games at Sims Legion Park.
Doty says being a second-year program will create some consistency for him and his assistant coaches Jacob Rand and K.J. McAllister.
"I think that will help with the learning curve," Doty said. "Last year, everything that we put in was new to every guy on the field. This year, we've got some guys that kind of lead the way on what we do and how we do it. So it's nice to have some returning guys."
Fifteen players return from last year's championship team, among them All-American and All-Region pitcher-outfielder Konni Durschlag and All-Region 10 designated hitter J.D. Yakubinis and outfielder Wade Kelly.
And Doty and his staff have added 28 newcomers, including 12 players who previously were a part of NCAA Division I programs and three others with previous commitments to NCAA Division I programs, to the program.
"We like our team," Doty said. "In junior college, you're going to have at least half of a new team every year. So it's a little different than the four-year school where you may have three-year starters or things of that nature.
"Every year we're going to be turning over at least half the roster. We've got to do a good job of teaching and then cut 'em loose and let them go play."
Durschlag and Yakubinis will be held out of fall action to rehab injuries and a couple of the newcomers will be as well.
Other returnees are pitchers David Sande, Dusty Sanderlin, Hunter Shew, J.D. Everett, Tyler Parks and Brandon Franse, catcher Pierson Gunnell, infielders Miller St. John, Enrique Wood and Matthew Dobson and outfielders Hayden Brandon and Trenton Snyder.
The best news for the Rhinos is that after being unable to participate in national competition as a first-year program last year, Gaston College has moved to Region 10 Division I status and is fully eligible to qualify and even host national tournaments.
"This year, if you win the region regular season title, you host the district," Doty said of a tournament whose winner advances to the NJCAA World Series in Grand Junction, Col. "Our goal is to win the Region 10 title so we can host the district.
"It's exciting for us. Last year, as much fun as that was, it was bittersweet not being able to play for something. I couldn't be more excited about this group and where we want to go."