Hendrickson and Simmons thankful for all three seasons they've been a part of Gaston College program
When Chris Hendrickson and Gabe Simmons cast their lot with the Gaston College baseball program, the Rhinos were in the midst of a historic advance to the National Junior College Athletic Association World Series in Grand Junction, Col.
That was three seasons ago.
On Tuesday when the No. 2 Rhinos host Rockingham Community College at 3 p.m. at Gastonia's Sims Legion Park, Hendrickson and Simmons are members of a 25-player sophomore class that is celebrating the school's best regular season record in school history.
"Coming here, I knew this was a top JUCO program and I wanted to be here," said Hendrickson, who hasn't decided on his four-year college yet. "I just kept trusting the process and I'm happy to be a part of this team and how everything has worked out for me."
Added Simmons, who recently committed to play for College of Charleston: "It's definitely been a unique journey but I couldn't be happier. It's been great playing for (Gaston College) coach (Shohn) Doty and being around everybody here. It's changed me into a better player and a better person."
During their careers, both have had to overcome injuries and endure redshirt seasons. And both have used that adversity to improve their games enough to become four-year college prospects.
Hendrickson redshirted while Simmons was a semi-regular infielder during the 2024 season in which the Rhinos went 51-8 overall and were ranked No. 1 for four weeks in the national NJCAA poll.
A year ago, Hendrickson was a second team All-Region 10 selection while Gaston College went 41-15-1 and ranked as high as No. 14 in the NJCAA poll before finishing as Region 10 runner-up before missing 23 games this season with a broken ankle.
The duo has helped power an offense this year that leads the nation in scoring (692 runs) and fourth in batting average (.393).
Simmons is second on the team in batting average (.451) with Hendrickson fifth at .397.
"Right now, we're just taking it game by game," said Hendrickson, whose team this weekend tries to keep its season alive in the Region 10 championship tournament in Lexington, S.C. "May is coming up and we're preparing for it. We keep our eyes open for the next game and take it from there."
Simmons says the team's mentality is shaped by that of its head coach.
"Recruiting was a little slow for me," he said. "All of us are here to win games, get recruited and move on to the next level. So I stuck to my process and, like coach Doty always says, control only the things I can control.
"And it's worked out for me."
Other sophomores who will be honored on Tuesday are Jake Casey, Cross Clayton, Holden Cooper, Ty Corbin, Nick Diehl, Dalton Hazlett, Brayden Hill, Carter Jessen, Terry Kaler, Talan McConnell, Jack Newell, Joey Nicholson, David Nicks, Daniel Parris, Cade Pilgrim, Logan Ponnett, Drake Purvis, Travis Smith, Ethan Suchenski, Koy Swanson, Jack Tomas, Sean Williams and Kandan Zollo.