JohnPaul Rodio will become the latest Orange baseball player to start his next chapter at Gaston College.
Last week, Rodio committed to play for the Rhinos starting in August 2027. Gaston College plays in Region X of the National Junior College Athletic Association.
Rodio transferred to Orange during the 2025-2026 academic year after starting his career at Northern Durham, where his father was an instrumental part of the Knights’ football dynasty. Paul Rodio was an assistant coach during Northern’s run to the 1993 4A State Championship under head coach Kenny Browning. Rodio was one of the top lieutenants for Gary Merrill, who replaced Browning as head coach when he left to become part of Mack Brown’s staff at North Carolina in 1994. Paul Rodio became the head coach of Northern in 2004 and led them to its last conference championship.
Rodio made his first impression against Orange when he faced the Panthers on March 3, 2025. Rodio replaced Knights starter Koby Owens in the fourth inning and threw four shutout innings. He recorded eight strikeouts and allowed just one hit. Rodio also had Northern’s opening hit in an 6-0 Orange win.
When he arrived at Orange, Rodio’s presence was needed immediately. Shortstop and leadoff batter Kayden Bradsher was still recovering from injuries during football season and wouldn’t be available for the first half of the season. Rodio stepped in and served in both roles for the opening six weeks. In the first game against Riverside, Rodio scored the game-tying run in the seventh inning on a ball dropped in right field, hit by Oliver Van Tiem. Cam Brown, trailing Rodio, followed for the game-winning run in a 6-5 Orange walkoff win.
In his first season with Orange, Rodio started all 25 games. He was tied for second on the team with 28 hits, finishing with a .346 batting average. Only Van Tiem, Bradsher and Bullard had higher averages. He led the squad with 33 runs scored. He was second on the team with seven doubles. Even as the leadoff batter, he was tied for third with 18 RBIs.
On the mound, Rodio was 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA. He earned a win over Voyager Academy at the Hilltop Invitational in Hillsborough, throwing three relief innings. He struck out four and allowed one unearned run.
Against Walter Williams on March 6, Rodio reached base in all four plate appearances, scoring twice and driving in a run off a bases-loaded walk in a 5-3 victory. Rodio also earned the win on the mound, throwing three-plus innings of scoreless relief, striking out six of the eleven batters he faced. He allowed just one hit.
Rodio earned the save in Orange’s 6-5 win at Jordan on March 18. Facing a former conference rival, Rodio stroked a two-run single to punctuate a three-run fourth inning, which turned out to be the game-winning hit. Rodio worked the final two hits and struck out three. After the Falcons had reduced a 6-1 Orange lead to 6-5, Rodio retired the Falcons in order in the seventh to save the win for starter Ryan Sawyer.
At Carrboro on March 24, Rodio went 3-for-4 with three runs scored in a 10-7 Orange win in six innings. Rodio scored off a two-run double from Wren Hash in the sixth. The game was stopped due to darkness.
Over the last three years, Orange has had two products move on to Gaston College. Former shortstop Jackson Berini played for the Rhinos for one season. He is now at the College of Charleston, playing alongside former teammate Ryan Hench.
Former Orange pitcher Cross Clayton spent two years with the Rhinos. In two years, Clayton compiled a 6-1 record with a 5.67 ERA. Last year, Clayton had 27 strikeouts with five walks. Clayton is now enrolled at North Carolina A&T.
