Sports

Branford's Ellie Frierson makes contact with a pitch against Fort White on March 1. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

Branford's Ellie Frierson makes contact with a pitch against Fort White on March 1. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

PREP ROUNDUP: Scores and stats from 3/30/24

NEWS STAFF
Friday, March 29, 2024
BASEBALL — Lafayette 17, Dixie County 6: Trevor Byrd went 2 for 4 with a home run and six RBIs while Noah Lamb finished 1 for 3 with a homer and four RBIs to lead the Class 1A No. 3 Hornets (11-1) past the Bears (5-6) on the road for their fifth straight win.
Columbia lifters Tyson Yaxley (left) and Garrett Shipley (right) celebrate on the podium after placing first and second at the District 3-2A meet on Thursday. (COURTESY)

Columbia lifters Tyson Yaxley (left) and Garrett Shipley (right) celebrate on the podium after placing first and second at the District 3-2A meet on Thursday. (COURTESY)

BOYS WEIGHTLIFTING: Yaxley and Bradley win titles, CHS places third at District 3-2A meet

JORDAN KROEGER
Friday, March 29, 2024
GLEN ST. MARY — With a squad full of freshmen and sophomores, it was a pair of seniors who led Columbia to a third-place finish at the District 3-2A meet. Tyson Yaxley and Javon Bradley both won district titles on Thursday to help Columbia finish third in traditional at Baker County High School.
Columbia pitcher Ayden Phillips pitches against Suwannee on Thursday. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia pitcher Ayden Phillips pitches against Suwannee on Thursday. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: Phillips pitches gem, leads Columbia to shutout over Suwannee

JORDAN KROEGER
Thursday, March 28, 2024
LIVE OAK — Ayden Phillips left Booster Field feeling pretty good about himself. Some might even say spectacular. The Live Oak native was nearly untouchable on the mound, striking out 14 batters and allowing only two hits to lead Columbia to a 5-0 shutout over Suwannee on Thursday night.
Fort White pitcher Kadence Compton celebrates after a strikeout against Branford on March 1. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

Fort White pitcher Kadence Compton celebrates after a strikeout against Branford on March 1. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

PREP ROUNDUP: Scores and stats from 3/28/24

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, March 28, 2024
BASEBALL — Fort White 7, Hamilton County 1: Patrick Kennedy and Elias Byrd each had two RBIs while Carson Capallia drove in another run as the Indians (7-6) beat the Trojans (1-11) on the road in District 6-1A despite only three hits.
Columbia third baseman Ayden Phillips (right) heads to home plate after being congratulated by head coach Chris Howard following a home run against St. Augustine on Tuesday night. The game was postponed in the fourth with the Tigers leading 10-2 due to the lights in the outfield going out. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia third baseman Ayden Phillips (right) heads to home plate after being congratulated by head coach Chris Howard following a home run against St. Augustine on Tuesday night. The game was postponed in the fourth with the Tigers leading 10-2 due to the lights in the outfield going out. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SPORTS: Biggest takeaways from the first set of baseball, softball FHSAA rankings

JORDAN KROEGER
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
When the FHSAA released the first set of playoff rankings Tuesday, Columbia baseball coach Chris Howard was admittedly surprised. Sitting there in the No. 7 seed in Region 1-5A despite a 5-7 start were his Tigers. “I’m really shocked we’re ranked,” Columbia head coach Chris Howard said.
Columbia pitcher Laila Arnold winds up to pitch against Columbia on Feb. 22. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia pitcher Laila Arnold winds up to pitch against Columbia on Feb. 22. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP ROUNDUP: Scores and stats from 3/26/24

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, March 26, 2024
BASEBALL — Lafayette 8, Madison County 7: The Hornets (10-1) had to rally back for a home win with three runs in the bottom of the seventh after the Cowboys (6-4) scored six in the top of the inning.
Columbia catcher Emily Delgado dances down the third base line as he head to ward home plate after hitting a 2-run home run during the Tigers’ 13-run fifth inning against Lafayette on Tuesday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Special to the Reporter)

Columbia catcher Emily Delgado dances down the third base line as he head to ward home plate after hitting a 2-run home run during the Tigers’ 13-run fifth inning against Lafayette on Tuesday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Special to the Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Columbia explodes for 13-run fifth inning to run-rule Lafayette

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, March 26, 2024
MAYO — A relatively close pitcher’s duel quickly turned into a blowout thanks to a monstrous late inning from Columbia.