No. 16 Gaston College advances to Region 10 title game

No. 16 Gaston College is one win softball victory away from advancing to the National Junior College Athletic Association Mid-Atlantic District tournament following Friday's 2-0 win over Monroe, N.Y., University.

The Rhinos improved to 57-4 with the Region 10 tournament victory that advances them to a fourth straight region championship game.

It's the longest streak of championship game appearances in Region 10 since Spartanburg Methodist went four straight years from 2012 to 2015.

"It speaks volumes for how our players have carried on with all of the expectations we have," Gaston College head coach Michael Steuerwald said. "There's always pressure in the postseason but when every team before you has made it to the championship game, there's a little bit more because you don't want to be the first team to not make it to the championship game."

The Rhinos have two chances at a title since they are the last remaining unbeaten team in the six-team event.

Saturday's championship game is slated for 1:30 p.m. (weather permitting) against the winner of Saturday's 11 a.m. Monroe NY-Florence Darlington Tech loser's bracket final. Should the Rhinos lose at 1:30 p.m., the same teams would meet at 4 p.m. in a winner-take-all contest.

"We're obviously in a good spot but we'll see what weather looks like for tomorrow as far as any delay," Steuerwald said in reference to weather reports calling for rain on Saturday.

To stay unbeaten on Friday took a seven-hit shutout effort with 10 strikeouts from freshman Aidan Ledbetter and a pair of back-to-back RBI doubles from Alexa Bianchi-Rossi and Mary Hinson in the fourth inning that snapped a scoreless tie.

Ledbetter's ninth shutout of the season improved her seasonal record to 21-1.

"She did a great job," Steuerwald said of Ledbetter. "They are a very tough lineup. They had a lot of speed and push you, which is a different look for us.
"She did a great job of getting leadoff outs and the defense executed really well behind her."

The Region 10 tournament results and schedule at Tyger River Park in Duncan SC:

(Thursday, April 30)
Game 1- No. 4 USC Union vs. No. 5 USC Sumter - USC Union 2-0
Game 2- No. 3 Monroe NY vs. No. 6 USC Salkehatchie - Monroe NY 12-4 in 5
Game 3- No. 1 Gaston College vs. USC Union - Gaston College 6-5 in 9
Game 4- No. 2 Florence Darlington Tech vs. Monroe NY - Monroe NY 8-4

(Friday, May 1)
Game 5- USC Sumter vs. Florence Darlington Tech - Florence Darlington Tech 4-2
Game 6- USC Salkehatchie vs. USC Union - USC Union 4-0
Game 7- Gaston College vs. Monroe NY - Gaston College 2-0
Game 8- Florence Darlington Tech vs. USC Union - Florence Darlington Tech 6-1

(Saturday, May 2)
Game 9- Monroe NY vs. Florence Darlington Tech, Field 1 at 11 a.m.
Game 10- Gaston College vs. Game 9 winner, Field 1 at 1:30 p.m.
(if necessary) Game 11- Field 1 at 4 p.m.