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as well as immense gratitude for the time we had with him
we are saddened to announce that Richard Keith Rocklin passed away from this life on January 2
by many as Rabbi Rocklin and by his family as Abba or Sabba
living above his father’s neighborhood grocery store
and was surrounded by a large and engaging extended family
playing as many sports as time would allow
loved roaming around the city with his best friend and first cousin
and loved playing practical jokes whenever the opportunity arose.
he was hit by a car while crossing the street
Richard connected with a tremendous teacher
who ultimately became his mentor and role model
Kovel taught Richard the beauty of humility
embraced those characteristics and spent his life exemplifying them
he decided to become a rabbi and thereafter undertook the steps to accomplish that goal.
he spent two years studying religion in Chicago and then attended the University of Minnesota and studied philosophy
He served as the president of his fraternity and the president of Hillel
he moved to New York to attend the Jewish Theological Seminary
His studies brought him to Jerusalem for a year
where he fell in love with the State of Israel and spent his life devoted to
He also became a father during that year when his first daughter
He then returned to New York and completed his studies
During the first years of his career in the rabbinate
Using his remarkable ability to connect with people and his gentle nature
Richard served as a guiding light and a source of comfort in the lives of many during his 15 years as a rabbi in Charlotte
His passion for serving others was evident in every interaction he had
every wedding he officiated and every lesson he proffered
making each individual feel important and special
he moved to Colorado to be with his family and considered those the best days of his life
Richard’s consistent response to “how are you” was “this is the best day of my life.” Richard eventually resided at the Carillon (later the Pearl)
where he connected and engaged in a meaningful way with his fellow residents and with the staff
Richard was essentially the rabbi at the Carillon
leading the celebration of holidays and lending a helpful ear when needed
there was nothing more important to Richard than spreading kindness
whether he had known you for years or just met you
but one’s religion should be KINDNESS
There could be no better way to honor Richard than to carry out that sentiment – make your religion kindness
He adored his dog Yofi and took Yofi everywhere he went
he had at least four dogs named Yofi!) He would never harm a fly
He donated to every animal charity he could find
Richard’s family was his greatest joy and his greatest happiness
He always put their needs first and they were always in his thoughts
by his three “step” grandchildren
Laurel and Joshua and by his two “de-facto” daughters
Richard’s legacy will live on in the hearts of his family
and all those who had the privilege of knowing him
He truly was one of the greatest people you could ever meet
leaving behind a world that is better for having had him in it
He will be deeply missed but lovingly remembered by all whose lives he touched
If you’d like to make a donation in his honor
the Rocklin family suggests the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keensurg
CO (https://www.wildanimalsanctuary.org/visit-us) or American Friends of Magen David Adom (https://afmda.org/)
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2025Steven HardestyAssistant Scouting Director
The 2025 California high school baseball season is quickly approaching and
Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and
there are some very talented players and teams across California
Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in their respective CIF Section Championship Game
but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality
We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview these individual programs across California
We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews
eventually releasing our Preseason Power 25 rankings
Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across California
Each week we will be releasing our Power 25
Our 2025 preseason coverage continues today with a preview of the Rocklin Thunder.
High School: Rocklin ThunderHead Coach: Brian BillingsCIF Section: Sac-Joaquin SectionDivision: Division 1 (2024)2024 Record (Playoff Finish): 24-11 / 11-4 League Champions (CIF-SJS D1 Runner Up) Key Players Lost: Tucker Baird
Returning Pitchers: 4+ Team Strengths: Pitching
+ '25 LHP Jeramiah Barrett Sierra College Commit
+ '25 SS Cash Brennan Arizona Commit
+ '25 CF Ethan Brown
+ '25 INF Nick Coleman
+ '25 LHP Joey Lorenzini Arkansas Commit
+ '25 RHP Kai Lorenzo William Jessup Commit
+ '25 RHP Daniel Panteloglow San Diego State Commit
+ '25 C/UT Mason Paranick Butte College Commit
+ '25 INF/OF Colby Pudge William Jessup Commit
+ '25 3B/OF/RHP Troy Ueltzen
+ '25 2B/OF Ahren Verma
+ '27 Colby Cobb
+ '27 Andrew Hancock
+ '27 Ryan Lujan
+ '27 Luke Szakacs
With plenty of experience and depth in their SR
class the Thunder has a talented group returning from a very successful 2024 squad
The arms we can roll out on the mound will be difficult matchups for any squad on our schedule with 2 of the 3 holding D1 commitments and the 3rd previously holding an Arizona commit
Our starters on the offensive side are very strong
but the depth top to bottom on that side of this team is going to be a big stength if we need to utilize matchups in-season
With loads of potential if we can play to that level we should be a very successful squad in 2025 - Coach Billings
Rocklin comes in as one of the better teams in the area
and they bring back a bunch of talent from last years squad
Joey Lorenzini (Arkansas) & Daniel Panteglow (San Diego State) will be the arms leading the charge this year
Kai Lorenzo (William Jessup) will also contribute to that rotation
I like the infield with Troy Ueltzen and Cash Brennan (U of Arizona) on the left side
Tons of underclassmen are going to help this very talented Rocklin team
I believe Rocklin has enough depth at every spot to take that league title
especially if the bats are going and the defense comes together
The SFL is one of the toughest leagues around
+ Follow Rocklin on X: @RHSThunderBB+ Find more team previews on the Prep Baseball California Season Previews homepage
+ Prep Baseball California on X+ Prep Baseball California on Instagram+ Prep Baseball California on Facebook+ Prep Baseball California on YouTube
the Board of the Rocklin Unified School District voted 4-1 to retain the Liberty Justice Center to defend its parental notification policy in an appeal from a recent ruling by the Public Employees Relations Board (PERB)
the Rocklin Unified School District amended its administrative regulations to require parents to be notified if their child (1) requests to be identified as a gender other than the child’s biological sex; (2) requests to use a name that differs from their legal name or use pronouns that do not align with the child’s biological sex; or (3) requests access to sex-segregated school programs
or changing facilities that do not align with the child’s biological sex
PERB’s Office of General Counsel issued a complaint on behalf of the Rocklin Teachers Professional Association (RTPA) union on October 11
in an attempt to force the District to revoke the amended regulations
After a PERB Administrative Law Judge ruled in favor of the union, the Rocklin Unified School District appealed that decision to the PERB Board
The PERB Board affirmed its judge’s ruling and ordered the District’s Board to rescind the amended regulations on January 28
the Rocklin Unified School District appealed PERB’s decision to the California Third District Court of Appeals
the District’s Board voted to retain the Liberty Justice Center to defend its parental notification policy in court
“We are proud to once again take a stand for California families by defending the Rocklin Unified School District’s parental notification policy, at no cost to the District or to taxpayers,” said Emily Rae
Senior Counsel at the Liberty Justice Center
“We remain committed to ensuring clarity and fairness in our policies,” the Board of the Rocklin Unified School District stated
“Our goal is to balance our legal obligations with our responsibility to students and families.”
Learn more about the Liberty Justice Center’s work to challenge government overreach, including a recent victory for parents’ rights in California, here
Emily Rae is a Senior Counsel at the Liberty Justice Center
where she litigates cases to protect individual liberties
in the news Press Releases case documents Legal Newsline Liberty Justice Center defends Rocklin school district’s parental notification policy March 10
2025 (Legal Newsline)—The Rocklin Unified School District has engaged the Liberty Justice Center to defend its parental notification policy following a decision by the Public Employees Relations Board (PERB)
the school district’s board voted 4-1 in favor of retaining the legal services of the Liberty Justice Center for..
(Northern California Record)—A Sacramento suburban school district has asked a state appeals court to weigh in on an attempt by the district’s teachers’ union to force the district to rescind a policy requiring teachers and other school staff to notify parents if their children officially ask school staff to use..
(The Center Square)—A California school district board and the state labor relations board are embroiled in a legal battle over whether teachers must notify parents if their child begins transitioning to a new gender at school
The case centers around the question of how much influence teachers unions can have..
(Tampa Free Press)—The Liberty Justice Center (LJC) is stepping up to defend a California school district’s embattled parental notification policy
signaling a new front in the battle over parents’ rights in education
the Rocklin Unified School District Board voted 4-1 to enlist LJC’s pro bono legal muscle..
(The Sacramento Bee)—Rocklin Unified School District has recruited a nonprofit law firm to represent it in its ongoing legal fight with the state surrounding its policy that forces teachers and school staff to out transgender students to their parents
Since the district trustees voted to implement a policy requiring school..
Disclaimer: The materials contained in this website are for informational purposes and are not to be considered advertising or legal advice
This information is not intended to create
and receipt of it does not constitute or create
an attorney-client relationship between the Liberty Justice Center and/or any lawyer with LJC with any reader or recipient of this information and LJC does not make any assertion regarding available attorneys in your jurisdiction
Do not send us confidential information until you speak with us and receive authorization to do so
2024 Annual Report
175-pound quarterback from Rocklin (Calif.) High
committed to the Nevada football team Friday
Slone is the second known commitment in the Wolf Pack's 2026 recruiting class
joining Tulare (Calif.) Union wideout Brayden Stevenson
101 quarterback recruit in his class and 179th-best prospect in California
He is a three-star recruit who also reported a scholarship offer from Utah State
was a defensive end at Utah State last season before entering the transfer portal after recording 49 tackles
10 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks last year
earning second-team All-Mountain West honors
The younger Slone has started the last two seasons for Rocklin
one of the top high schools in Northern California
he's completed 59.3 percent of his passes for 4,539 yards and 43 touchdowns with 12 interceptions in 27 games
He's also rushed for 508 yards and 10 scores
Rocklin went 10-3 overall last season and ranked 38th in California
The Thunder beat Nevada 5A-II state champions Bishop Manogue
Slone completed 9-of-13 for 131 yards and two touchdowns in the win
Slone's commitment gives Nevada an early quarterback pledge in the 2026 class
typically a goal for schools as they build their high school commitment list
Nevada added one high school quarterback in last year's prep recruiting class
The team also has three more scholarship quarterbacks on its spring roster
Verbal commitments aren't binding until athletes sign their national letter of intent
Slone will play his senior season at Rocklin in fall 2025 before joining the Wolf Pack
Nevada officially offered Slone a scholarship in September after he visited the school in August