Cavaliers counting on experienced players in 2024

By Rob Gantt

Special to The HSSR

MONCKS CORNER - The St. John’s Christian baseball team is off to a 3-1 start on the diamond.

The Cavaliers count experience as a strength for the 2024 season, returning seven players who saw substantial action last spring. In 2023, St. John’s Christian finished 15-7 after falling in the opening round of the SCISA playoffs to eventual state champion Patrick Henry.

“I think we’ve got a chance,” Cavaliers coach Stewart Pierce said. “We’ve just got to put a lot of pieces together. Pitching is my biggest concern. We have some pretty good pitching, but is it enough?”

The Cavaliers bring back three of their better hitters: junior infielder Sumter Moorer, senior infielder Shane Rusch and junior infielder Landon Chipman. Moorer batted .311 and knocked in 12 runs as a sophomore. Rusch batted .288 and Chipman scored a team-high 21 runs as a sophomore.

On the mound, the Cavaliers return experienced hurlers in Moorer, junior Tyler Black, junior Mason Ritter and senior Leonard Huxford.

Black posted a 3-1 mark in 2023.

“You’ve got to have a different mindset if you’re going to be the No. 1 or No. 2,” Pierce said. “It’s looking like they will accept the role. We’ll see what happens.”

Both had strong first outings this spring. The Cavaliers blanked First Baptist 4-0 and Thomas Sumter 2-1 in their first two games Feb. 22 and Feb. 23.

Ritter fanned nine batters over six innings of two-hit ball to garner the win on the mound versus First Baptist and drove in three runs. Huxford knocked in the other run.

Black struck out nine batters over five innings against Thomas Sumter. Reliever Reese Allen hurled the final two innings, becoming the winning pitcher when Rowdy Langdon pushed across the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth on a sacrifice play.

The Cavaliers were short-handed in a game at Holly Hill Feb. 27, and lost in a slugfest, 13-12.

Huxford was 2 for 5, knocked in five runs and scored three in the loss. Sophomore catcher Will Rusch added two hits and scored twice. Sophomore outfielder Isaiah Antley chipped in two RBIs, and sophomore infielder Jacob Glover scored twice.

The Cavaliers edged Holly Hill, 11-10, on Feb. 29. Shane Rusch and Will Rusch combined for five RBIs. Shane Rusch lifted a fly ball to the outfield to push across the winning run in the bottom of the eighth.

They open SCISA Region 1-AA play March 5, at Clarendon Hall. The Cavaliers step out of region play at home against Williamsburg Academy March 7, before Clarendon Hall visits Moncks Corner March 8.