Gaston College softball returnees begin 2024 fall drills with high expectations for 2025
By Richard Walker
Gaston College continued building its softball program and comes off a 49-9 season in which coach Mike Steuerwald's Rhinos set school records for wins, winning percentage and by earning votes in the National Junior College Athletic Association poll for eight weeks.
This fall, eight returnees are back with high hopes of continuing the progress Gaston College's program has made in its brief history, among them All-Region 10 honorees Abigail Brewton, Grace Kealy and Kendall Bradshaw.
"We definitely want to have fun and have energy in every game," said Kealy, an infielder who was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American team over the summer. "We want to compete, win and go as far as we can go. I want that to be in the World Series."
The Rhinos, who advanced to the NJCAA World Series in 2023 in their first year as a full program, came up just short last season when they finished as Region 10 runner-up.
Over the summer, Brewton, Kealy, Bradshaw and two other All-Region 10 returnees (Emma Ghorley and Alayna Patrick) are back along with a group of newcomers in hopes of making that World Series return.
"Last year was really fun," said Brewton, who went 22-2 with two saves and a 1.67 ERA in 30 appearances (27 starts) on the mound. "But we had a rough ending. We just fell short at the end."
This offseason, the 2023 Enka High graduate worked on improving even more.
"I was in the gym focused on getting stronger," Brewton said. "I threw twice a week."
Bradshaw, a 2023 Apex High graduate, spent the summer working at Raleigh's "Baseball Rebellion" indoor baseball and softball facility.
"I worked on softball day-to-day and got my batteries recharged," said Bradshaw, an outfielder who hit .430 with two home runs and 45 RBIs in 58 games last season.
Bradshaw looks at the ongoing fall drills as a continuation of last season's success.
"We left for three months and now we've got the family back together," Bradshaw said. "It's good to have the returnees and the newcomers together. We're working to build that chemistry that helps you win."
Kealy, a 2023 Maranatha Christian Academy graduate from Bloomington, Minn., spent her summer coaching youth softball.
"I was in Minnesota with the Minnesota Renegades club team," said Kealy, a third baseman who hit .398 with 17 home runs and 84 RBIs in 58 games. "I coached the 13U team.
"It was good to see the other side of softball and not playing it. And I hit the weight room and worked to get back to where I was last year."
Kealy was named All-American during the summer.
She's using that award to motivate her and the Rhinos for this season.
"I was very surprised, honored and blessed," Kealy said. "But I'm excited to get back after it this year because everything's 0-0 now. So we just have to get refreshed and get back to it."