Sports

Columbia pitcher Harleigh Price winds up to pitch against Branford on Feb. 22. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia pitcher Harleigh Price winds up to pitch against Branford on Feb. 22. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Price leads Columbia past error-prone Madison County

CONCEPCION LEDEZMA
Wednesday, March 6, 2024
MADISON — There are no regrets now about the tough schedule early in the season, especially after the way Columbia battered a high-tier team like Madison County on the road Wednesday night. After an 0-4 start facing elite teams, the Tigers have won their second in row.
Columbia lifter Chase Johnson performs the bench press while head coach Brian Allen spots him during Wednesday’s meet against Madison County. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia lifter Chase Johnson performs the bench press while head coach Brian Allen spots him during Wednesday’s meet against Madison County. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP ROUNDUP: Scores and stats from 3/6/24

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, March 6, 2024
BOYS WEIGHTLIFTING — Columbia 52, Madison County 37: The Tigers won seven of 10 weight classes to top the Cowboys in a dual meet at home. Chase Johnson lifted a meet-best 615 pounds to win the heavyweight class, while Javon Bradley totaled 600 pounds to win the 238 class for the Tigers.
Branford

Branford

PREP ROUNDUP: Scores and stats from 3/5/24

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, March 5, 2024
BASEBALL — Newberry 7, Branford 3: Dawson Cannon hit a 2-run home run to help the Buccaneers (1-4) tie the game in the top of the sixth inning, but the Panthers (4-1) answered with four runs in the bottom half of the frame to pick up the home win.
FGC pitcher Alexandra Messina winds up to pitch against Lake-Sumter State College on Friday. (COURTESY OF FGC)

FGC pitcher Alexandra Messina winds up to pitch against Lake-Sumter State College on Friday. (COURTESY OF FGC)

FGC NOTEBOOK: Timberwolves’ losing skid continues in softball, flag football wins home opener

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, March 5, 2024
It’s been a rough go of it lately for the Florida Gateway College softball team. After dropping a mid-week doubleheader to Tallahassee Community College, the Timberwolves (12-12) were swept by Lake-Sumter State College in conference play over the weekend to bring their losing streak to six games.
Fort White lifter James Dimauro performs the clean and jerk during Monday's quad meet. (COURTESY)

Fort White lifter James Dimauro performs the clean and jerk during Monday's quad meet. (COURTESY)

PREP ROUNDUP: Scores and stats from 3/4/24

NEWS STAFF
Monday, March 4, 2024
BOYS WEIGHTLIFTING — Fort White 82, Hamilton County 33, Taylor County 24, Oak Hall 9: The Indians topped the Trojans, Bulldogs and Eagles in a quad meet at home behind seven first-place lifters, which included Mathew Koontz in the 119 class (315 total), Wyatt Holton at 129 (320 total), Bryce...
Suwannee's 2024 football schedule.

Suwannee's 2024 football schedule.

PREP FOOTBALL: Suwannee releases 2024 schedule

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, March 2, 2024
LIVE OAK — In a post-season retrospection of the 2023 campaign, Suwannee football coach Kyler Hall felt the early-season slate may have let his team down. Hall determined that would not be a problem repeated in 2024.
Fort White’s Jermauni Byrd celebrates on third base between Branford shortstop Cloey Criggall and third baseman Madyson Sikes on Friday. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the City Reporter)

Fort White’s Jermauni Byrd celebrates on third base between Branford shortstop Cloey Criggall and third baseman Madyson Sikes on Friday. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the City Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Fort White blows past Branford twice in 2 nights

CONCEPCION LEDEZMA
Saturday, March 2, 2024
BRANFORD — The early-season showdown between the two undefeated softball powers from neighboring counties never materialized. Fort White’s Kadence Compton had a big hand in not allowing Branford off the ground during a two-day, home-and-home series.
Columbia third baseman Brett Jones can’t track down a pop up that lands just inside the foul line during Friday’s game against St. Johns Country Day. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia third baseman Brett Jones can’t track down a pop up that lands just inside the foul line during Friday’s game against St. Johns Country Day. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: Columbia gives better effort, but still falls to St. Johns Country Day

JORDAN KROEGER
Saturday, March 2, 2024
Chris Howard asked for a better effort out of Columbia after a 7-2 loss to Suwannee on Thursday. The Tigers gave him one Friday night against one of the best teams in the state, but it unfortunately still wasn’t enough. Errors bit Columbia again against St.