Sports

Columbia first baseman Nolan Slaymaker (17) runs back to the dugout with a smile on his face after hitting a grand slam that drove in Nate Stapleton (22), Abraham Martinez (back) and Madden Mann (2) during the first inning of the Tigers’ 6-2 win over Fleming Island in the District 3-5A championship on Thursday. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: Columbia, Suwannee to open playoffs at home

JORDAN KROEGER

Monday, April 20, 2026

It’s a playoff rematch in the same place and in the same round as a year ago.Columbia drew the No. 6 seed in the Region 1-5A playoff bracket on Monday but will host No. 3 seed Mosley in the regional quarterfinals on Friday at 7 p.m.

The Branford boys and girls both finished second at the District 5-1A meet on Saturday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP TRACK & FIELD: Branford boys & girls finish runner-up in District 5-1A

JORDAN KROEGER

Monday, April 20, 2026

The Branford boys and girls matched each other with a pair of district titles.They combined for a pair of team runner-up finishes too.Both Buccaneer squads placed second at the District 5-1A meet on Saturday at Oak Hall, finishing behind the hosts in both tallies. The Branford boys scored 144.

Suwannee repeated as District 3-3A champs with a 4-2 win over Baldwin on Friday. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: Suwannee edges Baldwin for back-to-back District 3-3A titles

MORGAN MCMULLEN

Friday, April 17, 2026

LIVE OAK — Grayson Greene wasn’t thinking about much of anything in the midst of his ridiculous strikeout streak Friday.The only thing on the junior’s mind?“Just looking for a championship,” Greene said. “…I was just trying to fill it up, that’s all.

Columbia pitcher Kinley King (left) high fives third baseman Josie Raulerson after finishing off an inning against Palatka on Friday. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Big second inning propels Columbia to eighth straight win over Palatka

JORDAN KROEGER

Friday, April 17, 2026

One big inning is all Columbia needed to keep rolling.The Class 4A No. 2 Tigers sent 12 batters to the plate in the second to score seven runs and it proved to be more than enough for them to come away with a 7-1 win against Palatka on Friday in their regular-season home finale.

Columbia repeated as District 3-5A champs with a 6-2 win over Fleming Island on Thursday. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: Columbia repeats as District 3-5A champs despite Howard's 5-game suspension

JORDAN KROEGER

Thursday, April 16, 2026

FLEMING ISLAND — Columbia wouldn’t be denied. Not without its head coach and not when its starting pitcher exited with an elbow injury. Thanks to an early grand slam by Nolan Slaymaker and a combined four-hitter by pitchers Kyler Keen and Tison McCray, the top-seeded Tigers topped No.

Columbia pitcher Ryleigh Stone winds up to pitch against Santa Fe on Thursday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Columbia edges Santa Fe in extras behind Stone's shutout

MORGAN MCMULLEN

Thursday, April 16, 2026

ALACHUA — Ryleigh Stone remembers her prior duel with Rylee Swilley. After all, it was only last month when Swilley got the best of Stone in a 13-2 run-rule win against the Tigers in a game where Stone gave up 10 runs (six earned) in 3 1/3 innings. “They kind of teed off on me,” Stone said.

Lafayette's Kagan Hewett goes down on a called third strike to end the game as Union County celebrates in the District 6-R championship on Thursday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: Lafayette falls to Union County in District 6-R championship

NEWS STAFF

Thursday, April 16, 2026

LAKE BUTLER — Lafayette’s streak is over. Top-seeded Union County scored four runs in the first inning and held on to beat the No. 2 seed Hornets 5-2 at home in the District 6-R championship on Thursday.

Suwannee's Easton O'Quinn hit a grand slam to help propel the Bulldogs to a 10-0 win over Wolfson in the district 3-3A semifinals on Wednesday. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: Suwannee run-rules Wolfson in District 3-3A semis

NEWS STAFF

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

LIVE OAK — Easton O’Quinn went 3 for 3, which included a grand slam in the third inning, to help spring No. 1 seed Suwannee to a 10-0 run-rule win over 4-seeded Wolfson in six innings in the District 3-3A semifinals Wednesday night at Booster Field.

Columbia shortstop Alannah Lord (left) high fives Ryleigh Stone after scoring a run against Buchholz on Tuesday. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Columbia capitalizes on errors to rally past Buchholz on Senior Night

MORGAN MCMULLEN

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

How loose are the Tigers playing down the stretch of the regular season? Silly-string-the-coach-after-yet-another-win-just-because loose. Columbia baserunners took advantage of six Buchholz errors, and Kinley King went the distance in the circle to secure a 3-2 win for the Class 4A No.

Columbia pitcher Nolan Slaymaker pitches against Newberry on March 3. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: Columbia gets some help to shut out Ridgeview in District 3-5A semis

JORDAN KROEGER

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

FLEMING ISLAND — Ridgeview catcher Julio Matta was Columbia’s best friend in Tuesday’s District 3-5A semifinal. Matta made three errant throws, allowing the top-seeded Tigers to score four runs that paved the way for a 4-0 victory over the No. 4 seed Panthers at Fleming Island High School.