Sports

Columbia pitcher Ayden Phillips celebrates at second base after hitting a 2-RBI double against Chiles on Wednesday. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia pitcher Ayden Phillips celebrates at second base after hitting a 2-RBI double against Chiles on Wednesday. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: Columbia bounces back, knocks off Class 6A No. 4 Chiles

JORDAN KROEGER
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Angry after an 11-0 loss one night earlier to North Florida Christian, Ayden Phillips took the mound for Columbia on Wednesday with some attitude. He set the tone early with his arm, then delivered with his bat, and the Tigers bounced back with a big win.
Suwannee coach Jacob Pitts talks to his team during the District 3-1A championship against Columbia on April 10. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

Suwannee coach Jacob Pitts talks to his team during the District 3-1A championship against Columbia on April 10. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

PREP FLAG FOOTBALL: Florida High shuts out Suwannee in regional quarterfinals

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
TALLAHASSEE — Rachel White ran for a touchdown and threw two more to lead No. 2 seed Florida High to a 27-0 win over No. 7 seed Suwannee on Wednesday in the Region 1-1A quarterfinals.
Columbia's Tryace McKenzie is greeted at home plate by teammates Max Schuler (left) and Ayden Phillips after hitting a home run against Bishop Kenny on Friday. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia's Tryace McKenzie is greeted at home plate by teammates Max Schuler (left) and Ayden Phillips after hitting a home run against Bishop Kenny on Friday. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

FHSAA RANKINGS: Columbia baseball up to third in Region 1-5A, softball still a spot out

JORDAN KROEGER
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Columbia’s baseball team continued to climb in this week’s FHSAA rankings with less than two weeks to go in the regular season. The Tigers (10-11) rose to third in Region 1-5A following a 4-game winning streak that included a win over class 4A No.
Columbia pitcher Harleigh Price winds up to pitch against Trenton on April 9. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia pitcher Harleigh Price winds up to pitch against Trenton on April 9. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP ROUNDUP: Scores and stats from 4/16/24

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, April 16, 2024
BASEBALL — Suwannee 6, Leon 2: Colton Rogers went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and PJ Davis drove in one run on a 2-for-3 night to lead the Bulldogs (12-6-1) past the Lions (8-13) on the road.
Columbia right fielder Max Schuler can’t catch up to a fly ball, which landed for a 2-RBI triple during an 11-0 loss to North Florida Christian on Tuesday. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia right fielder Max Schuler can’t catch up to a fly ball, which landed for a 2-RBI triple during an 11-0 loss to North Florida Christian on Tuesday. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: NFC jumps on McKenzie early, run-rules Columbia

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Trayce McKenzie’s arm is still a work in progress. That was clear in his second start of the season following an offseason elbow injury. Class 2A No.
Columbia pitcher Josie Raulerson pitches against Buchholz on April 4. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia pitcher Josie Raulerson pitches against Buchholz on April 4. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP ROUNDUP: Scores and stats from 4/15/24

NEWS STAFF
Monday, April 15, 2024
BASEBALL — IMG Academy Black 11, Columbia 8: The Tigers (10-10) battled back from a 5-run deficit to take an 8-7 lead, but the Ascenders (16-4) scored two runs in the fifth inning and two in the sixth to snap the Tigers’ 4-game winning streak on their Senior Night.
Columbia catcher Casen Maddox celebrates at second base next to Bishop Kenny second baseman Troy Ancayan after hitting a go-ahead 2-RBI double in the sixth inning of Friday’s 8-7 win. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia catcher Casen Maddox celebrates at second base next to Bishop Kenny second baseman Troy Ancayan after hitting a go-ahead 2-RBI double in the sixth inning of Friday’s 8-7 win. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: Columbia rallies again, knocks off 4A No. 4 Bishop Kenny for fourth straight win

JORDAN KROEGER
Friday, April 12, 2024
Columbia has had an affinity for dramatic finishes in the past week. Friday night was no different against Bishop Kenny. Ayden Phillips struck out Andrew McWilliams for what should’ve been the final out of the game, but catcher Casen Maddox couldn’t hold on to the pitch.
Branford coach Oscar Saavedra celebrates with Cloey Criggall after she scored the game-winning run against Bell on Friday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Branford coach Oscar Saavedra celebrates with Cloey Criggall after she scored the game-winning run against Bell on Friday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Branford walks off Bell in extras on Saavedra's big night

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Friday, April 12, 2024
BRANFORD — Through five innings Friday, Alex Whitfield and the rest of the Buccaneers lineup looked to be tuning up for a postseason run. A sixth-inning rally from visiting Bell forced Branford to focus on the present again.
Suwannee center fielder Brianna Stephens can’t reach a Gainesville home run as it flies over the fence on Friday. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

Suwannee center fielder Brianna Stephens can’t reach a Gainesville home run as it flies over the fence on Friday. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Two home runs enough for Gainesville to top Suwannee

CONCEPCION LEDEZMA
Friday, April 12, 2024
LIVE OAK — Playing with a hobbled knee, Suwannee’s pitcher Gracie Watley displayed the type of gutsy performance that would win the majority of games for the Bulldogs. On Friday, the effort was against Gainesville, ranked No. 6 in Class 5A.