SJCA turns focus to summer preparation for fall sports

Rob Gantt • June 20, 2024

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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.

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First Baptist Hires New AD and Football Coach

By David Shelton • July 30, 2025

By David Shelton Senior Writer Charleston – First Baptist School has new leadership within its football program and athletic department for the coming 2025-26 school year. Kevin Mapp was hired as the new head football coach in the early spring and Jay Godbolt was hired as the new athletic director at the start of the summer. Mapp has extensive coaching experience on both the college and high school levels while also working in law enforcement. First Baptist is his first head coaching position. Mapp last coached defensive linemen at James Island Charter High and has had coaching stints at James Madison, Hampden-Sydney, Georgetown, Marshall, Missouri State and Coastal Carolina. Mapp graduated from James Madison and was a defensive lineman on the 2004 Division I-AAA (now FCS) national championship team. “Coaching has always been my passion,” Mapp said. “Ever since I was playing, I wanted to be a coach. I have always found a way to coach while working in law enforcement. I’ve been fortunate to have had the opportunities to do both.” Mapp has been with the Charleston County police department for the last 10 years. He took some time away from coaching to start a family. “I felt like First Baptist was the perfect fit for me and my family,” Mapp says. “It’s a great opportunity at a great place. The kids here work hard and there is a lot of support from the administration. I’m excited to be the head football coach at First Baptist.” Mapp has hired coordinators on both sides of the ball. Will McCombs , once the head coach of the program, will call the offensive plays. Chris Hart comes over from James Island as the defensive coordinator. “Our numbers are improving and the kids are working hard,” Mapp said. “I feel like we can be a competitive team. It’s year one of the building process.” Godbolt has been a coach and athletic director in the Charleston area for nearly two decades. As the boys basketball coach at Charleston Collegiate, Godbolt coached three state championship teams. He also has been a coach and athletic director at Lowcountry Leadership Academy. Godbolt has more than 450 career victories as a head basketball coach. Current First Baptist basketball coach Antoine Saunders was Godbolt’s assistant at Charleston Collegiate.