Sports

Branford’s Madyson Sikes slides into home plate to score the game-winning run against Suwannee on April 11. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

Branford’s Madyson Sikes slides into home plate to score the game-winning run against Suwannee on April 11. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

PREP NOTEBOOK: Lady Bucs keep finding ways to win, streak now at 9

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, April 18, 2023
Sometimes down but never out, Branford’s softball team keeps finding ways to win. The Buccaneers went 4-0 last week to extend their winning streak to nine games, pushing their record to 18-2 as they near the postseason.
Suwannee’s weightlifting team won the Class 1A state title in the Olympic on Saturday in Lakeland. (COURTESY)

Suwannee’s weightlifting team won the Class 1A state title in the Olympic on Saturday in Lakeland. (COURTESY)

BOYS WEIGHTLIFTING: Suwannee wins 1A title in Olympic, places second in traditional

JAMIE WACHTER
Monday, April 17, 2023
LAKELAND — Another state weightlifting meet, another state title for Suwannee. The Bulldogs captured the Class 1A Olympic team title Saturday at the RP Funding Center, scoring 49 points to easily outdistance runners-up South Sumter and Keystone Heights, which finished with 29.
Columbia’s Waylon Fulford celebrates on third base after hitting an RBI triple against Gainesville on Friday night. It was Fulford’s first career hit. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia’s Waylon Fulford celebrates on third base after hitting an RBI triple against Gainesville on Friday night. It was Fulford’s first career hit. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: Fulford’s RBI triple highlights win for CHS over GHS on Senior Night

JORDAN KROEGER
Friday, April 14, 2023
Waylon Fulford doesn’t typically start in Columbia’s lineup, or even see the field very often. In fact, he had never recorded a hit in his career, going 0 for 7. But as one of seven seniors who got the starting nod on Senior Night, Fulford finally had his big moment in a Tigers uniform.
Fort White seniors Ciara Byrd (from left), Harlee Mills and Madison Brown were honored for Senior Night during Friday’s game against Eastside. (CONCEPCION LEDEZMA/Special to the Reporter)

Fort White seniors Ciara Byrd (from left), Harlee Mills and Madison Brown were honored for Senior Night during Friday’s game against Eastside. (CONCEPCION LEDEZMA/Special to the Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Fort White run-rules Eastside on Senior Night

CONCEPCION LEDEZMA
Friday, April 14, 2023
FORT WHITE — Fort White had a much-welcomed pause from the grind of competition as it celebrated Senior Night. Sure, the Indians still have their sights set on returning to the FHSAA Class 1A finals for the second straight year.
Columbia’s J’Liyn Smith wins the 200m run just ahead of teammate Stacy White at Middleburg’s Bronco Bob Invitational on Thursday. (COURTESY)

Columbia’s J’Liyn Smith wins the 200m run just ahead of teammate Stacy White at Middleburg’s Bronco Bob Invitational on Thursday. (COURTESY)

PREP NOTEBOOK: Smith, Stockton & Whitfield shine on the track; Broxey commits to FGC

JORDAN KROEGER
Friday, April 14, 2023
J’Liyn Smith continued to shine in her freshman year at Columbia by pulling off a quadruple first-place meet at Middleburg’s Bronco Bob Invitational. Individually, Smith won the 200m run (26.51) and the long jump with a leap of 4.70m.
Florida quarterback Graham Mertz (left) throws a pass as he is pressured by edge T.J. Searcy (19) the team's annual Orange and Blue spring game on Thursday in Gainesville. (JOHN RAOUX/Associated Press)

Florida quarterback Graham Mertz (left) throws a pass as he is pressured by edge T.J. Searcy (19) the team's annual Orange and Blue spring game on Thursday in Gainesville. (JOHN RAOUX/Associated Press)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Ex-Wisconsin QB Mertz finding his footing at Florida

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Friday, April 14, 2023
GAINESVILLE — Graham Mertz jogged into the Swamp with the first-team offense Thursday night, wearing the No. 15 jersey made famous by Tim Tebow and harboring no regrets about leaving Wisconsin for Florida.
Columbia left fielder Sakiya Merriex looks up after making a diving catch against Williston on Thursday night. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia left fielder Sakiya Merriex looks up after making a diving catch against Williston on Thursday night. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Williston homers four times to beat Columbia for a third time

JORDAN KROEGER
Thursday, April 13, 2023
The long ball led to a short night and a sweet victory for Williston. It also left Columbia’s pitchers battered and bruised. Four balls left the park, including two home runs by Olivia Davis, to lead an offense that crushed the ball all game long.
Columbia’s Matt Dumas strains as he rounds third base during Wednesday’s 8-5 loss to Chiles. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Special to the Reporter)

Columbia’s Matt Dumas strains as he rounds third base during Wednesday’s 8-5 loss to Chiles. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Special to the Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: Chiles snaps Columbia's 10-game win streak

CONCEPCION LEDEZMA
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
With the game being played a day earlier than originally scheduled, the pitching rotation was drastically disrupted for both Columbia and visiting Chiles.
Columbia pitcher McKenna O’Sullivan celebrates on third after hitting an RBI double earlier in the first inning against Gainesville on Wednesday night. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia pitcher McKenna O’Sullivan celebrates on third after hitting an RBI double earlier in the first inning against Gainesville on Wednesday night. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Columbia's offense feasts in second win over Gainesville

JORDAN KROEGER
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
GAINESVILLE — The last time Columbia played Gainesville, the bats were a little cold. The Tigers managed to squeak out a 2-0 win against the Hurricanes last month despite it, but head coach Cindy Dansby has been preaching to her team the importance of timely hitting.