Commercial Roof Repair in St. Stephen, SC

A no-hit win for a Jacksonville baseball team, in the downtown professional ballpark. Northeast Florida fans have waited a long time for that combination.

Sandalwood senior Cooper Whited ended that wait — in a high school game.

Demonstrating his electric arm at the home of the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, Whited pitched the best game of an excellent high school career with Wednesday's no-hitter in the Saints' 2-0 shutout of rival Fletcher.

Whited, committed to Gulf Coast State College, struck out nine and walked only two batters in a rematch of the 2022 Gateway Conference championship. The game was part of a week-long showcase for area high school teams at 121 Financial Ballpark.

The no-no continues an excellent start for the Saints (5-2) and for Whited, who is now 2-0 with an 0.93 ERA, 20 strikeouts and three hits allowed all season. He's also batting .444 with four doubles, a triple and a 1.302 OPS.

For a ballpark that holds 75 Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp ballgames per year, a no-hitter at 121 Financial Ballpark is a surprisingly rare sight.

The last minor league no-hitter at the park occurred on June 14, 2018, when Jackson Generals pitchers Justin Donatella, Daniel Gibson, Kirby Bellow, Kevin Ginkel and Brad Goldberg combined to beat the Jumbo Shrimp 6-0. Other than rain-shortened games, the last no-hitter win for Jacksonville came in the Southern League playoffs on Sept. 8, 2005, a combined no-no from Chad Billingsley and Jonathan Broxton.

And for a complete game no-hitter of seven innings or more by a Jacksonville team at home, it's an even longer trip back in time. That goes back to Kevin Mobley's no-hitter for the Jacksonville Suns against the Tennessee Smokies, 1-0, in the second game of a doubleheader at the old Wolfson Park on Aug. 3, 2000.

Whited's no-no wasn't the only standout performance from a week of action at the ballpark. On Tuesday, University Christian's Austin Pickett pitched to only the minimum number of batters in a 1-0 win over Atlantic Coast. The leadoff batter singled but was immediately caught stealing, and Pickett retired the remaining Stingrays in order.

St. Johns Country Day senior Taliah Scott wins Gatorade Player of the Year

Sharks chomp past Virginia school

The Mid-Atlantic may be the nation's traditional lacrosse hotbed, but Ponte Vedra carried the flag high for the Sunshine State.

Making the trip up the Atlantic coastline, the Sharks' boys squad earned a 16-14 victory on Friday against St. Stephen's and St. Agnes of Virginia.

Maddox Johnson led the attack with eight goals, while Corey Bloss and Canon Hauseman scored three each, Lad Harper won 20 of 31 faceoffs and goalie Jack Pelot stopped 20 shots.

Ponte Vedra went 1-1 on its trip, losing 14-2 on Sunday in light snow to nationally-ranked Potomac (Md.) Bullis. The Sharks' slate of multi-state opposition includes schools from South Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania still to come.

Coachman, Lewis lead Clay County hoops

After a one-loss regular season and a visit to the Florida High School Athletic Association regional semifinals, Oakleaf led the honors in Clay County's annual all-county boys basketball selection, as voted by area coaches.

Center Cameron Coachman, who earned a spot on the national leaderboard with 126 blocks this season, and senior guard Dylan Lewis earned first-team berths for the 24-2 Knights.

Joining them on the first team were Clay's J'Den Golding, Fleming Island's Axel Holmquist, Orange Park's Thomas Faucett and Ridgeview's Kole Whitaker.

Second-team choices were Clay's Xavier Longmire, Fleming Island's Ethan Williams, Keystone Heights' Seth Gagnon, Middleburg's Aidan Farber, Orange Park's Archieve Triggs III and Ridgeview's Calen Wiggins.

Singletary selects Razorbacks

Former Riverside cornerback Jaheim Singletary is taking his five-star talents across the SEC, transferring from Georgia to Arkansas.

Singletary, the Times-Union's All-First Coast defensive player of the year in 2021, transferred after one season at Football Bowl Subdivision champion Georgia. He appeared in three games as a true freshman.

He intercepted 14 passes during four seasons at Riverside, which was still known as Lee when he enrolled.

Arkansas previously added another Northeast Florida transfer over the winter when former Suwannee offensive lineman Joshua Braun transferred from Florida.

Frechette hits 400-point milestone

Welcome to the 400-point club for Ryann Frechette.

After only two-plus years of high school girls lacrosse, the Bartram Trail junior attacker reached the milestone last week in Friday's 21-11 victory against Oviedo. The Bears (8-1), ranked seventh in the South by USA Lacrosse Magazine, also defeated Creekside 18-7 during the week.

The Florida-committed Frechette has scored 278 goals and 124 assists, despite an ACL injury that cut short her freshman season. With 63 goals and 19 assists this season, she ranks fourth in scoring in the 2023 national MaxPreps list, although many states begin play later than Florida.

She's also kept up her scoring pace in spite of other challenges this year, including injuries to teammates and an FHSAA appeal over a potential Name, Image and Likeness contract with Maryland-based equipment manufacturer STX. The FHSAA board of directors ultimately denied that appeal last month, ruling that Frechette may not sign the NIL deal under the association's bylaws.

Frechette still has a long way to go to challenge the state and national record, though. Caitlyn Wurzburger, now a senior at North Carolina, scored 1,027 points (503 goals, 524 assists) at Delray Beach American Heritage from 2014-19, although Wurzburger's record was compiled over six years and is not certified by the National Federation of State High School Associations record books.

Maddox pacing Golden Eagles flag squad

Two decades of football at Fleming Island have produced plenty of stars. Add MyKayla Maddox to that list — but this time, it's flag football.

Already a state semifinalist in 2022, the senior has led the Golden Eagles to a 4-0 start that's sparking early hopes of a return trip to the FHSAA tournament in May.

Maddox delivered one of the performances of the season in Thursday's 32-0 win over previously-unbeaten White. She rushed for 88 yards and four touchdowns, and threw for 145 yards and a fifth score.

That effort came after a similarly dominant outing in a 40-0 rout of Mandarin: 71 rushing yards (two touchdowns), 133 passing yards (four touchdowns) and two interceptions on defense.

Despite outscoring opponents 111-0 this year, the Golden Eagles don't own Northeast Florida's highest point differentials. Paxon (5-0) has rolled over its foes by a combined 234-12, and Stanton (5-0) has rolled up 155 points while allowing none.

Also worth watching: Bradford. Winner of only four games in 2022, the young Tornadoes have whirled to a 6-0 start. Sophomore Nichelle Brown is up to 20 touchdowns on the year, while freshman Arnaysia Griffin has passed for 995 yards and rushed for 486 with 14 offensive touchdowns.

After audible, Riles heads for ECU

University Christian edge rusher Desirrio Riles committed Monday to East Carolina, six weeks after signing with Indiana on National Signing Day. He announced his move on Twitter.

Riles, who played quarterback, tight end and edge rusher at different stages of his four-year career at UC, is planning to line up at tight end for the Pirates. As reported first by 247Sports, he received his release from his letter of intent with Indiana after his February signing.

At East Carolina, he would join Creekside graduate Shane Calhoun at the tight end position. Riles caught 17 passes for 280 yards and four touchdowns this year, after shifting from quarterback upon the emergence of sophomore Dwayne Stuckey.

Around the area

Baldwin receiver King Grant signed with Webber International football. … Episcopal running back Calvin Jasey committed to St. Mary-of-the-Woods football. … Stanton shortstop Cole Durham committed to Tallahassee Community College baseball. … White named Derrick Scott as its new boys basketball head coach. … Former First Coast pitcher Justin Lawrence collected the save in Panama's 12-5 win over Taiwan, the nation's first-ever victory at the World Baseball Classic. … Bartram Trail freshman Ava Myers cleared 10 feet, 6 inches at the Lake Highland Invitational to tie the school record in the girls pole vault. … Kolbe Sexton broke Bishop Kenny's school clean-and-jerk record for the 219-pound division in boys weightlifting, lifting 315 pounds. … Bishop Kenny's Ka'Myya Haywood ran 2:09.92 to place seventh in the girls 800 at the New Balance Indoor Nationals in Boston. … Ribault took the top spot in both boys and girls team standings at the Coach Mac & Brown Saints Open. ... The Florida Athletic Coaches Association holds its boys and girls basketball All-Star Classic events at Southeastern University in Lakeland on Friday and Saturday. ... Northeast Florida's traditional all-star game for soccer is scheduled for March 26 at Patton Park. … The FHSAA's Section 1 student athlete leadership seminar is scheduled for July 20 at Pine Forest High School in Pensacola.

Clayton Freeman covers high school sports and more for the Florida Times-Union. Follow him on Twitter at @CFreemanJAX.

A regional restaurant chain that offers Latin and Asian flavors will open a new location in the heart of downtown Lexington.

TakoSushi is planning a new restaurant on the property at the northwest corner of West Main and Church streets in Lexington. That’s a site that was once being considered for the Navy Yard Biergarten and Restaurant, before that project was called off last year.

James Williams, president of TakoSushi’s ownership group, said the restaurant is aiming for a summer opening in Lexington.

If looking at the property from Main Street, TakoSushi would occupy the brick building in the back corner of the property, separated from the larger main building that is on the corner of the site at 102 West Main.

This is the second business in recent months that has announced plans to open at the property at West Main and Church. Wine bar Molto Vino, which currently has a spot in Forest Acres, said in December that it would develop a location at the Lexington site.

The Lexington Chronicle first reported the TakoSushi Lexington plans.

TakoSushi currently has locations in Columbia, Greenville, Aiken and the Augusta area. The restaurant has a menu that offers sushi and other Asian dishes, as well as tacos, nachos and other Latin-inspired favorites.

“We’ve got a great, diverse menu,” Williams said. “We’ve even got a cheeseburger on the menu. We have a lot of stuff that is really approachable and makes it really easy. We have great children’s options, as well. It’s great for families. That’s part of why we love the concept.”

Williams said TakoSushi will have indoor and outdoor dining in Lexington.

The site at West Main and Church streets in Lexington was in 2021 part of a contentious debate between the then-planned Navy Yard Biergarten and neighboring St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church. The beer garden would have been a multi-faceted facility that would have occupied 11,000 square feet of outdoor dining and 8,000 square feet for indoor dining, with weekend brunches and an outdoor stage.

St. Stephen’s formally protested the alcohol licenses for the beer garden, and the issue was heard in administrative law court. Judge Shirley Robinson eventually ruled in December 2021 that the beer garden could get its alcohol licenses. However, in April 2022, officials with the Navy Yard called off the project at the Main Street location, citing inflation, rising costs and supply chain issues.

The additions of TakoSushi and Molto Vino to Lexington’s Main Street will continue the trend of a culinary corridor for the area. Other restaurants very close by include Keg Cowboy, Nicky’s Pizzeria, Craft Axe Throwing, O’Hara’s Public House, Bodhi Thai Dining and Alodia’s, among others.

“We love it,” Williams said. “We want some density of options nearby. I don’t want you to come eat at TakoSushi seven days a week. But, if you come see us one day a week and go to the other places on other days, then that’s great. We want to be part of the rotation. We think having that density there is an advantage to all of us.”

This story was originally published February 22, 2023, 5:30 AM.

Her calming tone and demeanor create a space for her students that makes them feel loved, and safe, and helps them thrive. It’s part of what makes St. Stephen Elementary School teacher Mrs. Kimberley Whitaker our Cool School Teacher of the week.

Mrs. Kimberley Whitaker’s relationship with her students melts the heart and gives students an appetite for knowledge. The class starts every day with affirmation at the Leader in Me School.

The Army War veteran who has been a teacher for 20 years describes her teaching style as an empowering coach, offering ways for students to grow through questioning, demonstrations, and interactive lessons.

Students talk through their strategies and feel comfortable admitting to mistakes. “We make this a safe space, so we’re able to grow and not have that fear of math or anything that sometimes students have. We work cooperatively here,” explained Whitaker.

“Her tone is very soft, and she’s always calm so that’s what makes us feel comfortable,” said fourth-grade student Kyleigh Wright.

Whitaker uses her own personal affirmation with her students, as she urges them all to be like hot cheese, meaning the absolute best.

“Hot Cheese is something that’s personal to me. It’s a model I share with my class. When you think about the things that you like with cheese on it, if you like macaroni, you want that cheese hot. If you have nachos, you want that cheese hot. If you have a grilled cheese sandwich, you want that cheese hot. So every time usually when you’re having cheese, you want that cheese hot, so in here we are always striving to be ‘Hot Cheese.’ We’re doing our best at all times.”

Her students are biting into this state of mind, a feeling of greatness within themselves.

“One thing I try to strive with my children, we speak success into ourselves,” said Whitaker.

Fourth-grade student Tyler Weaver says, “I think Mrs. Whitaker is a great teacher, and she’s like family to me.”

Mrs. Whitaker has spent twenty years in education, four here at SSE. Assistant principal Erica VanBeek says, “I love Mrs. Whitaker. She’s an awesome teacher. You can see that, but what makes her stand out above everybody else as you can tell by her students is the relationships she builds with her kids. When they’re sick, she goes to their house. She calls them all on Christmas day and tells them Merry Christmas. If they’re misbehaving on the bus, she rides the bus home with them. She builds strong relationships that last not just one-hundred-eighty days, they last well past the school year. She volunteers for bus duty every year because she says I’m going to be out at those busses to make sure my babies are being good.”

Whitaker says she’s blessed to call herself a teacher and became emotional when talking about her students.

“My hope for them is that when they leave here they know I wanted them to be here. I tell them every day, even when they do something that I might not have been happy with that Mrs. Whitaker loves them no matter what,” she said. “For me, I hope when they leave here they not only remember the lessons I taught them, they not only remember we talked about adjectives or nouns, that they know they are a part of me and I always want them to be their best, not just when they’re here, not just when they’re in my class, but always.”

If you would like to nominate a Cool School or educator, send an email to Octavia Mitchell at omitchell@wcbd.com.

Dismissing the application filed by Stephen’s seeking interim relief, a bench of Justices Ajay Rastogi and C T Ravikumar said, “We have heard the parties for quite some time for grant of interim relief prayed for by the petitioner… The substantive question raised for consideration was whether the admissions to the open category seats could be made purely on the basis of the CUET or, in addition to it, discretion has to be left with the college/institution for the purpose of preparing the final list for admission to the open category seats. After taking into consideration the judgment impugned before us, we find no reason at this stage to stay operation of the judgment. Consequently, the application for interim relief as prayed for is dismissed.”

The college had decided to follow a 85:15 formula — 85 per cent weightage to the CUET score and 15 per cent to its own interview.

Setting the matter for a detailed hearing in March next year, the bench clarified that “whatever be the action taken pursuant to in the admission process shall remain subject to the final outcome of the present petition”.

The HC in its September 12 order said St Stephen’s cannot conduct interviews for admission of undergraduate students belonging to “non-minority category” and directed it to admit such candidates solely based on the CUET results

Appearing for the college, senior advocate Kapil Sibal argued that it was not ignoring merit but only conducting the interview additionally. “We are taking students from CUET. So we are not ignoring merit,” he said, citing a judgment by a bench presided by Justice D Y Chandrachud which said merit should be socially contextualised.

When the bench asked if it was said in the context of admissions, the counsel clarified that it was stated in the context of OBC reservation.

“If your lordships equate marks with merit, my Article 30 rights are lost,” said Sibal, adding that over and above merit, the college has a right to decide which candidate should fit into the institution. “That’s my right.”

Appearing for DU, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta urged the court not to stay the ruling, saying it would have pan-India ramifications.

The bench asked if the university can trust the college with exercising the discretion of awarding marks in an interview for candidates from minority category, why can’t the same be applied to non-minorities? Mehta said in a lighter vein that the university will be happy to introduce it for both categories if the court so directs.

The counsel appearing for the University Grants Commission pointed out that the SC had in the landmark T M A Pai case said an aided minority institution does not have the same discretion as an unaided minority institution.

The HC in September had asked the college to withdraw its admission prospectus in accordance with DU instructions and issue a public notice declaring the amended admission procedure. After the SC rejected St Stephen’s plea, the college removed its admissions prospectus that had announced that it will give 15% weightage for interviews to all candidates. The prospectus had been up on the website since May.

New Delhi: Supreme Court judge Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul on Monday recused from hearing the petition filed by St Stephen’s College challenging the admission criteria laid down by the Delhi University.

A bench comprising Justices Kaul and Abhay S. Oka said: “One of us (Sanjay Kishan Kaul, J.) has been an alumni of the college and given the current environment, it would be difficult for this court to take up the matter which raises a constitutional issue. List before a bench of which one of us (Hon. Sanjay Kishan Kaul, J.) is not a member.”

On September 12, the Delhi High Court asked St Stephen’s College to issue a fresh prospectus giving 100 percent weightage to Common University Entrance Test (CUET) 2022 score for non-minority candidates applying to under-graduate courses, affirming no interviews for the admissions. The college moved the apex court challenging the high court order.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the college, pointed at a judge who did not recuse from hearing a case related to minority educational rights, though he was an alumnus of the college.

The bench replied that times are different now and the environment has been vitiated to an extent where it becomes difficult for it.

Sibal submitted that the university, at 5 p.m., was to decide on the admission process and added, what will we do and sought a direction to the university to not take any precipitative steps.

SC junks plea to declare cow as national animal; fines petitioner

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted that the Delhi University would not take any precipitative action till the court hears the matter.

During the hearing, the apex court noted that it is a niche constitutional point — whether in a minority institution, could there be different norms for people arising from the minority community and non-minority community.

The top court, in its order, said: “In view of the fact that counsel for the petitioner submits that there may be aggravating circumstances by tomorrow itself, Solicitor General states that no precipitative action would be taken till the matters come up for hearing. Place the matters before Chief Justice of India for appropriate orders urgently.”

St Stephen’s College moved the high court against the Delhi University order to withdraw its admission prospectus and allow admissions through the Common University Entrance Test (CUET).

In the order, the high court directed the college to withdraw its admission prospectus and issue a public notice declaring the amended admission procedure, saying the aided minority educational institutions that are affiliated with the university must follow its norms and procedures.

It was also said, in the ruling, that the DU cannot insist upon a single merit list for admission of candidates belonging to the Christian community regardless of any denomination, sub-sex, or sub-activities within the community.

The prospectus issued by St Stephen’s for admissions 2022-23 states that students from all categories, including general/unreserved seats, will be admitted on the basis of an 85:15 ratio. While 85 per cent of weightage would be given to the CUET, 15 per cent weightage would be given to interviews.

However, this decision goes against the Delhi University guidelines issued for admissions to the new academic session which led to a row between Delhi University and St Stephen’s College.