Sports

Columbia pitcher Harleigh Price gets some encouragement from teammate Alex Collins (14) as Gainesville’s Braylin Cook makes her way around the bases after a home run during Tuesday’s District 2-5A semifinal. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia pitcher Harleigh Price gets some encouragement from teammate Alex Collins (14) as Gainesville’s Braylin Cook makes her way around the bases after a home run during Tuesday’s District 2-5A semifinal. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Gainesville tops Columbia behind 4 HRs in District 2-5A semifinals

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
GAINESVILLE — The fence in dead-center field at Gainesville High School is 224 feet from home plate. GHS catcher Braylin Cook made the case Tuesday to potentially extend that out further.
Columbia right fielder Max Schuler (right) celebrates as center fielder Bynton Edge (7) slides safely into home plate for an inside the park home run against Gainesville during Tuesday’s District 2-5A semifinal. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia right fielder Max Schuler (right) celebrates as center fielder Bynton Edge (7) slides safely into home plate for an inside the park home run against Gainesville during Tuesday’s District 2-5A semifinal. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: Columbia run-rules Gainesville to set up rematch with Lincoln in District 2-5A championship

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
There were no surprises in Tuesday’s District 2-5A semifinal between Columbia and Gainesville. The Tigers went out and took care of business, setting up a showdown in Thursday’s district championship.
Teammates surround Mallory Blue after the Branford first baseman homered during Monday's District 6-1A quarterfinals against Lafayette. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Special to the Reporter)

Teammates surround Mallory Blue after the Branford first baseman homered during Monday's District 6-1A quarterfinals against Lafayette. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Special to the Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Fort White, Branford advance for district title matchup again

CONCEPCION LEDEZMA
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
BRANFORD — Exactly two months have elapsed since Fort White handed Branford two lopsided losses — 9-3 and 12-5 — on consecutive days in a home-and-home series. Now the two teams will meet again for an intriguing third matchup, this time the District 6-1A title will be on the line.
Suwannee’s Rachel Smith slides safely into home plate to score a run against Taylor County during Tuesday’s District 2-3A semifinal. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

Suwannee’s Rachel Smith slides safely into home plate to score a run against Taylor County during Tuesday’s District 2-3A semifinal. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

PREP ROUNDUP: Suwannee softball, Lafayette baseball advance to district championships

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Suwannee’s softball team scored a run in the fourth and another in the fifth before holding off Taylor County for a 3-2 win in the District 2-3A semifinals at home Tuesday night. The No. 2 seed Bulldogs will next host No. 4 seed Florida High in the district championship at 7 p.m. on Thursday.
Columbia's Ava Christie (5) goes to hug pitcher Harleigh Price after Price threw a perfect game against Lincoln during Monday's District 2-5A quarterfinals. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia's Ava Christie (5) goes to hug pitcher Harleigh Price after Price threw a perfect game against Lincoln during Monday's District 2-5A quarterfinals. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Price throws perfect game to lead Columbia past Lincoln in District 2-5A quarterfinals

JORDAN KROEGER
Monday, April 29, 2024
Harleigh Price felt no pressure. The freshman admits she didn’t even know the stakes. So, when left fielder Sakiya Merriex closed her glove for the final out in Monday’s 8-0 win over 6-seed Lincoln, the news was a pleasant surprise as the entire dugout raced out to greet her.
Branford's Jadyn Mosley performs the javelin during the District 5-1A meet on Saturday.

Branford's Jadyn Mosley performs the javelin during the District 5-1A meet on Saturday.

PREP TRACK & FIELD: Suwannee & Branford teams place 2nd; Lafayette boys win district title & girls finish 2nd

JORDAN KROEGER
Monday, April 29, 2024
The Suwannee boys and girls track & field teams both placed second at the District 2-2A meet on Saturday at Godby. Will Wainwright led the boys with three titles in the shot put (15.76m), discus (48.11m) and javelin (58.60m). Paul Gunter also won the pole vault with a throw of 2.
Columbia outfielder Bynton Edge (right) celebrates with Ayden Phillips after scoring a run against Chiles on April 17. The Tigers defeated IMG Academy 1-0 on Friday in extra innings after Edge hit a go-ahead RBI single in the eighth inning. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia outfielder Bynton Edge (right) celebrates with Ayden Phillips after scoring a run against Chiles on April 17. The Tigers defeated IMG Academy 1-0 on Friday in extra innings after Edge hit a go-ahead RBI single in the eighth inning. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: Columbia stuns nationally-ranked IMG Academy in extra innings

JORDAN KROEGER
Friday, April 26, 2024
BRADENTON — One thing is for sure after Friday night — Columbia can beat anybody. That’s a scary thought for the rest of the state heading into the postseason.
Fort White pitcher Kadence Compton hits a pitch against Lafayette on April 16. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Special to the Reporter)

Fort White pitcher Kadence Compton hits a pitch against Lafayette on April 16. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Special to the Reporter)

PREP ROUNDUP: Scores and stats from 4/25/24 & 4/26/24

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, April 25, 2024
BASEBALL — Dixie County 5, Branford 0: Gavin Barnes allowed four runs — one earned — on four hits as the Buccaneers (8-13) fell to the Bears (10-9) on the road Thursday. BHS was held to five hits.