Sports

Columbia left fielder Addyson Sherman (right) celebrates after center fielder Luisa Taylor (00) makes a diving catch for an out against Branford on Tuesday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia left fielder Addyson Sherman (right) celebrates after center fielder Luisa Taylor (00) makes a diving catch for an out against Branford on Tuesday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Columbia edges Branford in another one-run victory

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
BRANFORD — One-run games have been Columbia’s specialty all season long.Branford was the victim again Tuesday night.The Class 4A No. 2 Tigers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning and then held on for a 5-4 road win over the Class Rural No. 4 Buccaneers to sweep the season series.
Columbia coach Chris Howard looks on during a game against Newberry on March 31. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia coach Chris Howard looks on during a game against Newberry on March 31. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: Suspended Howard calls pitch count violation a 'brain fart'

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Columbia coach Chris Howard called it a “brain fart.”Unfortunately for him, it’s one he didn’t realize until it was too late.Howard is currently in the midst of serving a five-game suspension for a pitch count violation involving sophomore Nolan Slaymaker in last week’s District 3-5A semifinal win...
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)

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 District 3-5A champion Tigers lucked out in the draw as Mosley...
The Branford boys and girls both finished second at the District 5-1A meet on Saturday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

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

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)

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

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)

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)

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.