Gaston College outfielder-pitcher commits to High Point

Gaston College pitcher-outfielder Konni Durschlag has committed to sign a NCAA Division I college scholarship with High Point University.

A top hitter and pitcher for the Rhinos' eighth player to sign with a four-year school and joins two Gaston College players - pitchers Christian Baker and Gus Hughes - who were Durschlag's teammates a year ago.

"High Point's a good place," said Durschlag, a sophomore from Charlotte's Mallard Creek High School. "We've got two guys up there and they absolutely love it. All I've heard was good things and I really like the coaches."

Last November, pitcher J.D. Everett (UNC Wilmington), first baseman Preston Hall (Gardner-Webb), outfielder Wade Kelly (Gardner-Webb), pitcher Jaxson Mangum (Lenoir-Rhyne), pitcher Nolan Straniero (Elon) and shortstop Enrique Wood (North Carolina A&T) signed with four-year schools.

This semester, Durschlag and David Sande (Radford) also have committed to four-year schools.

A year ago when the Rhinos went 41-9 in their first season of baseball in 50 years, Durschlag was a third team All-American and All-Region 10 selection after hitting .396 with eight home runs, 45 RBIs and 12 stolen bases and going 1-0 with five saves and a 2.95 ERA in 12 appearances (4 starts). Durschlag's pitching win came on April 6 when he no-hit Cleveland Community College for 8 2-3 innings before being relieved in a 4-0 victory.

In the offseason, doctors discovered a shoulder injury that required surgery and knocked Durschlag out of action for the summer and fall drills. He's yet to pitch in 2023 - he hopes to be back on the mound later this year - and is hitting .400 with one home run, 18 RBIs and 8 stolen bases in 14 games.

At High Point, Durschlag hopes to compete for a starting outfield job and regular pitching duties.

"They wanted me to pitch," Durschlag said. "Mainly, they wanted me for outfield but they knew I can pitch too. They talked wanting a positional guy that can come into games to pitch whenever they need it. They see me as being a guy that can do some closing or relief work.
"I'm hoping and I'm pretty confident that when I get there and my arm starts feeling better that I'll be able to get myself into a starting (pitching) role."