Sports

Columbia pitcher/first baseman Josh Fernald is the LCR’s Baseball Player of the Year. (MANDI SLOAN/Special to the Reporter)

Columbia pitcher/first baseman Josh Fernald is the LCR’s Baseball Player of the Year. (MANDI SLOAN/Special to the Reporter)

SPRING ALL-AREA: Columbia pitcher Josh Fernald named LCR's Baseball Player of the Year

JORDAN KROEGER
Saturday, June 17, 2023
It was everything you dream about as a kid playing in the backyard. Bases loaded, tied game, a chance to deliver your team a playoff win. It was all there for Josh Fernald, who stepped to the plate after Columbia scored two runs to tie Lincoln 4-4 in the Region 1-5A semifinals.
The Florida dugout runs onto the field while celebrating their walkoff win against Virginia in their College World Series opener on Friday Omaha, Neb. (JOHN PETERSON/Associated Press)

The Florida dugout runs onto the field while celebrating their walkoff win against Virginia in their College World Series opener on Friday Omaha, Neb. (JOHN PETERSON/Associated Press)

COLLEGE BASEBALL: Florida comes from behind to beat Virginia in College World Series opener

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Friday, June 16, 2023
OMAHA, Neb.— Jac Caglianone scored the winning run on Luke Heyman's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning after Ty Evans and Wyatt Langford homered to tie it, and Florida rallied to beat Virginia 6-5 in the College World Series on Friday night.
Branford’s Jadyn Mosley is the LCR’s Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year. (COURTESY)

Branford’s Jadyn Mosley is the LCR’s Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year. (COURTESY)

SPRING ALL-AREA: Branford's Jadyn Mosley named LCR's Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year

JAMIE WACHTER
Thursday, June 15, 2023
BRANFORD — Jadyn Mosley entered the track season with modest expectations. For good reason. Prior to this spring, Mosley had never competed in track. But the Branford junior was looking for a way to stay in shape for volleyball as well as compete and, hopefully, have some fun.
Florida's Brandon Sproat pitches against South Carolina during the Gainesville Super Regional on June 9. (JOHN RAOUX/Associated Press)

Florida's Brandon Sproat pitches against South Carolina during the Gainesville Super Regional on June 9. (JOHN RAOUX/Associated Press)

COLLEGE BASEBALL: Florida heads to CWS with deepest pitching staff since lone national title

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wednesday, June 14, 2023
GAINESVILLE — Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan sifted through his desk this week in search of decade-old notebooks from previous trips to the College World Series. The pages contain countless reminders about how to handle days, maybe even weeks, in Omaha, Nebraska. Build in downtime.
JOHN RAOUX/Associated Press Florida players and coaches celebrate on the field after defeating South Carolina in the Gainesville Super Regional game on Saturday.

JOHN RAOUX/Associated Press Florida players and coaches celebrate on the field after defeating South Carolina in the Gainesville Super Regional game on Saturday.

COLLEGE BASEBALL: Florida faces Virginia in CWS opener Friday

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tuesday, June 13, 2023
The Florida Gators begin their quest for a second national title this Friday against Virginia in their College World Series opener in Omaha, Nebraska. Here’s a look at both teams before Friday’s contest, which is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Florida pitcher Hurston Waldrep throws against South Carolina in the first inning during Game 2 of the Gainesville Super Regional on Saturday in Gainesville. (JOHN RAOUX/Associated Press)

Florida pitcher Hurston Waldrep throws against South Carolina in the first inning during Game 2 of the Gainesville Super Regional on Saturday in Gainesville. (JOHN RAOUX/Associated Press)

COLLEGE BASEBALL: Waldrep's 13 K's help Florida beat South Carolina, advance to CWS

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Saturday, June 10, 2023
GAINESVILLE — Hurston Waldrep had 13 strikeouts over eight scoreless innings, Colby Halter had three RBIs and Florida beat South Carolina 4-0 Saturday to sweep the best-of-3 Gainesville Super Regional and advance to the College World Series.
Branford pitcher Laila Arnold is the LCR’s Softball Player of the Year. (STUDIO 386 PHOTOGRAPHY)

Branford pitcher Laila Arnold is the LCR’s Softball Player of the Year. (STUDIO 386 PHOTOGRAPHY)

SPRING ALL-AREA: Branford pitcher Laila Arnold named LCR's Softball Player of the Year

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Saturday, June 10, 2023
BRANFORD — Laila Arnold doesn’t recall who exactly she was listening to. With headphones blocking any outside noise, the Buccaneers’ ace stood patiently in the drizzling rain in Clermont ahead of play resuming in the state championship game. She wasn’t listening to music.