Gaston College opens 2023 season with high hopes for another successful season
After having one of the best startup season in college baseball history, Gaston College is back for an encore in 2023.
Even after going 41-9 last season to win Region 10's Division II Western Division regular season title, the expectations are just as high for the Rhinos.
It's because Gaston College returns 15 players from that title team and is now motivated by the prospect of competing for postseason this year.
"I'm just excited to get going," said Rhinos head coach Shohn Doty, whose team opens its season on Sunday with a noon doubleheader against Roane State, Tennessee, at Gastonia's Sims Legion Park. "We're a very, very talented group. But it's like I've said to our young men: There's a difference between being talented and being good."
Gaston College has moved up from National Junior College Athletic Association Division II to Division I this season.
And after being ranked as high as no. 2 in national polls last season, the Rhinos are ranked No. 21 in the preseason PBR Juco poll and received the second-highest number of votes to just miss a ranking in the NJCAA top 20.
Doty is happy to receive national attention but also knows rankings or attention won't win any games.
"How fast we come together and learn to play together is important," Doty said. "We know we have a lot of returners but we also have a lot of newcomers and we have to create our own success."
A pair of All-Region 10 selections from last year - outfielders Konni Durschlag and Wade Kelly - led the group of returnees that also include six other full-time or part-time starters in addition to seven pitchers from last year's pitching staff.
Durschlag, who had offseason shoulder surgery, returns after hitting .396 with eight home runs and 45 RBIs at the plate and going 1-0 with five saves and a 2.95 ERA in 12 pitching appearances (four starts).
Kelly hit .331 with four home runs and 37 RBIs in 48 games.
Other returnees to the everyday lineup include catcher-designated hitter J.D. Yakubinis (.341 average, 6 home runs, 63 RBIs in 50 games), infielders Miller St. John (.289 average, 23 RBIs in 38 games) and Enrique Wood (.244 average, 3 home runs, 27 RBIs in 47 games), catcher Pierson Gunnell (.302 average, 5 home runs, 36 RBIs in 36 games) and outfielders Hayden Brandon (.213 average, 1 home run, 10 RBIs in 35 games), outfielder Trenton Snyder (.278 average, 5 home runs, 21 RBIs in 24 games) and infielder Matthew Dobson, who redshirted last season.
The other returning pitchers are J.D. Everett (7-1 record, 4.22 ERA in 13 appearances with 12 starts), David Sande (3-0 record, 4.10 ERA in 13 appearances with 2 starts), Hunter Shew (3-1 record, 3.72 ERA in 19 appearances with 4 starts), Tyler Parks (3-0 record, 6.62 ERA in 5 appearances with 4 starts) and Brayden Franse, who redshirted last season.
In the fall, Everett (UNC Wilmington), Kelly (Gardner-Webb) and Wood (North Carolina A&T) signed with four-year colleges as did three of the newcomers - infielder Preston Hall (Gardner-Webb) and pitchers Jaxson Mangum (Lenoir-Rhyne) and Nolan Straniero (Elon).
Entering the opening series, Everett and Straniero are the probable starters with Pierson, Yakubinis and Christmas the candidates at catcher, Hall and newcomer Freddie Oliver at first base, St. John, Wood, Dobson and newcomers Christmas, Andrew Muraco and Adam Quintero candidates in the infield with Durschlag, Kelly, Brandon and newcomers Trey Truitt and Brandon Pettigrew the candidates in the outfield.
"It's about getting everybody on the same page as quick as we can and improving game-to-game," Doty said. "And the game plan changes this year.
"There were times where we probably could've given some guys some breaks last year. But we wanted to win as many games as we could knowing that we weren't able to go to postseason play.
"The goal isn't necessarily to win 40 games even though I think we're capable of that. The big thing we've said all along is that since this is the Region 10's year to host the district, if we win the regular season we get to host the districts and somebody is coming to your place in a four-team tournament and you've got a chance to go to the World Series."
Defending Region 10 champion Florence-Darlington Tech is No. 14 in the NJCAA preseason poll and one of the eight teams the Rhinos will face in conference play this season; Louisburg, Spartanburg Methodist, USC Lancaster, USC Salkehatchie, USC Sumter and USC Union are the others.
"Right now it's about seeing what we've got," Doty said. "How do we respond? Hopefully the weather will cooperate and we get some games in and we'll talk again on Monday, evaluate some guys and see where we're at moving forward."