SJCA turns focus to summer preparation for fall sports

By Rob Gantt

Special to the HSSR

MONCKS CORNER – Spring sports seasons came to a close for St. John’s Christian’s baseball and softball teams this past month, but not before both squads fared well in SCISA Class AA.

The baseball and softball teams advanced to the postseason after posting winning records during the regular season, and for their performances a number of Cavaliers standouts earned all-region nods and SCISA North-South All-Star selections.

For baseball, Sumter Moorer, Leonard Huxford, Mason Ritter and Tyler Black garnered all-region recognition. In softball, Lily McKnight made all-region.

Huxford, Black and Moorer were named North all-stars for the SCISA all-star baseball game and McKnight an all-star in softball.

Moorer batted over .350 with a team-high seven doubles and team-high 23 runs. Huxford was also over .350 with a team-high 20 RBIs, 22 runs and three triples. Ritter batted over .300 with 10 RBIs.

On the mound, Black was 4-3 with a 2.39 earned-run average and Ritter 4-2 with a 1.39 ERA. Moorer saved two games.

With spring in the books, the focus of St. John’s Christian sports shifts to summer preparation for the school’s fall sports: football, volleyball and cross country. In 2023, football and volleyball made the playoffs, with sophomore Chandler Cumbie earning region player of the year honors and eighth-grader Joanna Villeponteaux making first-team all-region in volleyball.

The boys cross country team will be aiming to defend its state championship this fall: Last year, seventh-grader Hunter Brunelle and sophomore Donnie Giron were second and ninth to lead the Cavaliers to the team crown. The lone senior in the top five, Isaiah Dennis, is headed to Erskine. The Cavaliers also counted times from freshman Jackson Jord and seventh-grader Aiden Armentrout.



Shaun Welch is the school’s football coach, while Brittany Moss oversees volleyball and Tony Stephens cross country.