Gaston College's Truitt among nine postseason college commitments to give Rhinos 19 4-year signees off 2023 team
Whenever a team advances to the National Junior College Athletic Association World Series in Grand Junction, Col., it seems pretty obvious the squad had talented players capable of moving on to 4-year schools.
In Gaston College's case, this year's fifth-place World Series finisher had 19 players (so far) who have committed to play at four-year schools in the future.
That includes nine since the regular season ended - infielder-outfielder Adam Quintero to Appalachian State, pitcher Evan Lewis to Delaware, infielder Miller St. John and pitcher Tyler Parks to Lenoir-Rhyne, pitcher Hunter Shew to Lynn, Fla., pitcher Darrell Johnson to Memphis, outfielder Trenton Snyder to Rollins, outfielder Trey Truitt to UNC-Greensboro and Pierson Gunnell to Oakland, Mich.
They join 10 previous commitments from pitcher Derek Vartanian to Campbell, catcher-infielder J.D. Yakubinis to East Tennessee State, pitcher Nolan Straniero to Elon, outfielder Wade Kelly and first baseman Preston Hall to Gardner-Webb, outfielder-pitcher Konni Durschlag to High Point, pitcher Jaxson Mangum to Lenoir-Rhyne, shortstop Enrique Wood to North Carolina A&T, pitcher David Sande to Radford and pitcher J.D. Everett to UNC Wilmington.
That group helped head coach Shohn Doty's team to a 50-13 record and Region 10 and NJCAA East District titles before finishing fifth in the 10-team World Series.
Truitt is choosing UNC-Greensboro to play with his younger brother Brantley (a 2023 East Mecklenburg High graduate) after also considering Clemson, Rice, South Carolina and Western Kentucky.
"Right now, me and my brother are working out every day at 8 in the morning and trying to get in shape and improve our games," said Truitt, a All-Region 10 outfielder who hit .324 with 15 home runs, 68 RBIs and 18 stolen bases in 61 games this season. "I'm really excited for the chance to play with him."
At Gaston College, Truitt got a chance to play after two years off due to a hamate injury in his right hand. He had played at N.C. State and East Carolina before playing for the Rhinos.
"It was truly a blessing after being at two different schools and not being able to play due to injury," Truitt said. "It was nice to just get on the field and find some coaches that trusted me and my talents and allowed me to play the game that I love."
For the Rhinos, Truitt was a top fielder and power hitter.
"I always like to say that God puts you in places when you need to be there," Truitt said. "Looking back on it, Gaston College seemed like a place that was good for me and I was there for a reason. The coaches not only helped me get a chance to play but gave me a chance to call this place my home."
Quintero, who was named honorable mention NJCAA All-American and Region 10 player of the year, led the Rhinos in batting average (.399) and was second on the team in home runs (10) and RBIs (64).
Lewis, who returned from arm surgery in April, had 1 save, a 9.35 ERA and nine strikeouts in 8 2/3 innings in 8 appearances (1 start).
St. John, a two-year starter for the Rhinos at second base and shortstop, hit .289 with 23 RBIs in 38 games in the 2022 and hit .274 with 1 home run and 29 RBIs in 58 games this season.
Parks, a two-year member of the Rhinos' pitching staff, went 3-0 with a 6.62 ERA in 5 appearances (4 starts) in 2022 and had 1 save and a 5.06 ERA with 5 strikeouts and 5 1/3 innings in 5 appearances this season.
Shew, a two-year member of the Rhinos' pitching staff, went 3-1 with 3.72 ERA in 19 appearances (4 starts) in 2022 and 4-1 with a 6.60 ERA in 20 appearances (4 starts) this season.
Johnson had a 0-0 record with a 9.53 ERA in 8 appearances this season.
Snyder, a two-year member of the program, hit .278 with 5 home runs and 21 RBIs in 24 games in 2022 and didn't play this season.
Gunnell, also a two-year member of the program, hit .302 with 5 home runs and 36 RBIs in 36 games in 2022 and hit .241 with 5 home runs and 28 RBIs in 33 games this season.