Sports

Fort White pitcher Kadence Compton celebrates after finishing her complete-game victory over Madison County on Thursday in the Region 3-1A semifinals. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Fort White pitcher Kadence Compton celebrates after finishing her complete-game victory over Madison County on Thursday in the Region 3-1A semifinals. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Fort White rides Compton's arm past Madison County in Region 3-1A semis

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Thursday, May 9, 2024
FORT WHITE — Stuck in their locker room for a half-hour weather delay just two batters into Thursday’s contest, the Fort White Indians decided to fall back on some team building exercises they’d gone through earlier in the season. “Circle sessions,” FWHS head coach Michele Padgett calls them.
Columbia coach Cindy Dansby meets with pitcher Harleigh Price after Middleburg took a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning of Thursday's Region 1-5A quarterfinal. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia coach Cindy Dansby meets with pitcher Harleigh Price after Middleburg took a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning of Thursday's Region 1-5A quarterfinal. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Columbia lets lead slip away again against Middleburg in Region 1-5A quarterfinals

JORDAN KROEGER
Thursday, May 9, 2024
MIDDLEBURG — Harleigh Price was cruising right along. Columbia’s freshman pitcher had a no-hitter heading into the bottom of the sixth inning and had her team headed toward a huge upset of Middleburg in the Region 1-5A quarterfinals.
Branford's softball team celebrates with Mallory Blue at home plate after she scored the game-winning run in extra innings to defeat Aucilla Christian in the Region 3-1A semifinals on Thursday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Special to the Reporter)

Branford's softball team celebrates with Mallory Blue at home plate after she scored the game-winning run in extra innings to defeat Aucilla Christian in the Region 3-1A semifinals on Thursday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Special to the Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Branford rallies twice, edges Aucilla Christian in extras to advance to Region 3-1A finals

CONCEPCION LEDEZMA
Thursday, May 9, 2024
BRANFORD — Branford's Mallory Blue was simply advancing to second base on a routine second-to-first groundout. Instead, an ill-advised errant throw followed and Blue made her way home for the extra-inning, walk-off run as top-seeded Branford survived a scare against No.
Suwannee’s Logan Brooks and Grayson Greene look on at Wakulla’s celebration at home plate following Hayden Klees’s walk-off home run in the Region 1-4A quarterfinals on Wednesday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee’s Logan Brooks and Grayson Greene look on at Wakulla’s celebration at home plate following Hayden Klees’s walk-off home run in the Region 1-4A quarterfinals on Wednesday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: Suwannee falls to Wakulla on walk-off HR in Region 1-4A quarterfinals

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Wednesday, May 8, 2024
CRAWFORDVILLE — The Suwannee bench was ready to rush the field. With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, the players hopped up and down in anticipation of every pitch.
West Nassau’s Lauren Rosepiler beats a throw to Suwannee shortstop Rachel Smith at second base during Wednesday’s Region 1-3A quarterfinal. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

West Nassau’s Lauren Rosepiler beats a throw to Suwannee shortstop Rachel Smith at second base during Wednesday’s Region 1-3A quarterfinal. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Early blunders cost Suwannee in loss to West Nassau in Region 1-3A quarterfinals

CONCEPCION LEDEZMA
Wednesday, May 8, 2024
LIVE OAK — Facing a team with a potent offense, Suwannee’s ace Gracie Watley generally kept West Nassau’s bats in check, especially in the late innings, finishing with nine strikeouts against one walk.
FGC receiver Alexandra Harris runs past Hesston College’s Destiny Ortiz for a touchdown during Game 1 of the NJCAA National Championship series on Wednesday. (COURTESY OF FGC)

FGC receiver Alexandra Harris runs past Hesston College’s Destiny Ortiz for a touchdown during Game 1 of the NJCAA National Championship series on Wednesday. (COURTESY OF FGC)

COLLEGE FLAG FOOTBALL: FGC tops Hesston College 26-13 in Game 1 of NJCAA National Championship series

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, May 8, 2024
ATLANTA — Despite a lead at halftime, Florida Gateway College wasn’t pleased with its performance Wednesday morning in the first game of the NJCAA National Championship series. FGC coach Ricky Hufty said his message to the Timberwolves at intermission was to relax, settle in and play their game.
Lafayette's baseball team celebrates after defeating Madison County on a walk-off balk in Tuesday's Region 3-1A semifinal.

Lafayette's baseball team celebrates after defeating Madison County on a walk-off balk in Tuesday's Region 3-1A semifinal.

PREP BASEBALL: Walk-off balk lifts Lafayette past Madison County in Region 3-1A semis

CONCEPCION LEDEZMA
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
MAYO — Entering the Region 3-1A playoffs with an even 100 strikeouts against just 22 walks all season, Lafayette right-hander Hyatt Richardson may not have pitched to his standards in his six innings against Madison County. But he did well enough to keep the No.
Columbia third baseman Grant Bowers strikes out against Beachside during Tuesday’s Region 1-5A quarterfinal. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia third baseman Grant Bowers strikes out against Beachside during Tuesday’s Region 1-5A quarterfinal. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: Beachside stuns Columbia with shutout in Region 1-5A quarterfinals

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
ST. JOHNS — Both teams had their aces on the mound, and both pitchers looked the part. But while Beachside played clean defense behind Jake Meadows, Columbia made two critical mistakes that led to two runs against Ayden Philips.
Columbia offensive lineman Chase Johnson calls out a defender during Monday's practice. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia offensive lineman Chase Johnson calls out a defender during Monday's practice. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Columbia's O-line showing improvement with addition of Oakleaf transfer Chase Johnson

JORDAN KROEGER
Monday, May 6, 2024
One of the biggest question marks entering every season for Columbia is typically the offensive line. This year, though, the Tigers have experience at all five positions and coach Brian Allen believes it could be one of his stronger units.