Gaston College concludes competitive fall schedule eager to compete for Region 10 title in the spring

Coming off back-to-back Region 10 regular season titles, Gaston College softball head coach Mike Steuerwald's team was eager to get back to work this fall as it prepared for the 2025 spring season.

After a fall schedule against challenging NCAA Division I and Division II competition, Steuerwald thinks his Rhinos will be prepared for the upcoming season that begins Jan. 24 at Gastonia's CaroMont Health Park.

"We're excited about where we're at and we're mostly healthy," Steuerwald said of the recently-completed fall drills. "A key for us is that all the freshman who played last season have a year under their belts and they were a lot more comfortable playing the difficult fall schedule.
"Last year, we were probably overwhelmed in some of those situations. This year, I think we competed really well."

Heading into the spring, only sophomore shortstop Dakota Marshall will be nursing an injury and Steuerwald expects her to return "early in the season."

Marshall's injury also gave other players unexpected fall playing time and, according to Steuerwald, helped develop a lot of depth that should benefit his team when it pursues another Region 10 title.

"Throughout the fall, our top players were really competitive in games with D1 competition in just about every situation," Steuerwald said. "We're alot more athletic at every single spot which means we can move people around should we suffer injuries."

Pitcher Abigail Brewton, infielder Grace Kealy, catcher Skye Harrington, infielder Alayna Patrick and outfielder Kendall Bradshaw are returning All-Region 10 players and Kealy also earned All-American honors.

Brewton, Mars Hill transfer Kristyn Ezzo and freshman Savanna Mullins are projected to handle much of the pitching chores.

"On the doubleheader days, we're looking at starts from two of them and (relief pitching) from the other one," Steuerwald said. "We also have depth with Phoebe Cole coming back and a couple of our freshman, Courtney Grimmer and Jordan Freeman and Mary Hinson, are growing and developing."

In the every day positions, Steuerwald is most excited about his outfield with sophomore Sarah Johnson is in left field, Hinson in center and Bradshaw in right.

"Those three have all received Division I interest and all three have elevated their games throughout the fall," Steuerwald said.

In the infield, Kealy and Patrick are back though Kealy has moved from third base to first base and Patrick remains at second base.

In Marshall's absence at shortstop, freshman Katelyn Brandon and Savanna Price are competing for playing time at shortstop with freshman Arissa Duff and Price slated to play at third base.

Behind the plate, sophomore Skye Harrington comes off a solid season as a backup last spring and has shown the ability to limit opposing running games. Price and freshman McKenna Jones also are expected to see time at catcher.

"Continuing to stay healthy will be a big key for us," Steuerwald said. "But we've also set ourselves up to be in the mix for an at-large and not just only if we win our region because of our schedule.
"We had trips down to Georgia and Alabama and Tennessee will help us. If we handle our business, we can put ourselves in the talk nationally for an at-large berth."