Sports

Fort White first baseman Hannah Brown tries to hold a Dixie County runner at first base during the Indians’ 2-1 loss Thursday night. (CHRISTINA FEAGIN/Special to the Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Fort White can’t crack Hinkle, falls to Dixie County

CONCEPCION LEDEZMA

Thursday, April 21, 2022

FORT WHITE — Freshman pitcher Kadence Compton displayed the type of gutsy effort that normally would have rewarded her and her Fort White teammates with a well-earned victory.

The Branford girls and boys track teams both won District 5-1A titles at Oak Hall on Wednesday. The title was the first for the BHS girls since 2005, while the boys repeated as district champions. (COURTESY)

PREP TRACK & FIELD: Branford sweeps district crowns, Suwannee girls repeat

JAMIE WACHTER

Thursday, April 21, 2022

GAINESVILLE — There’s a new set of track queens in District 5-1A. Behind five individual titles — three from Nathalia Veal — and points in every event, the Branford High girls ended Oak Hall’s decade of dominance at the district meet Wednesday, totaling 212 points to the host Eagles’ 191.

Tim McCreadie, the driver of the No. 39 car, has raced in previous dirt track events. (COURTESY)

AUTO RACING: High-stakes races coming to Columbia County

TONY BRITT

Thursday, April 21, 2022

Some of the best asphalt and dirt track racers from around the country will be in Columbia County this weekend competing for thousands of dollars at the Florida Dirt Nationals XR Super Series at All-Tech Raceway in Ellisville.

Columbia shortstop Truitt Todd misses the tag on Chiles shortstop Grant Gallagher as he steals second base on Wednesday. ( JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: Columbia 'flat' in loss to Chiles, the fourth in last eight games

JORDAN KROEGER

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Head coach Chris Howard called Columbia ‘flat.’ Hayden Gustavson said the Tigers lacked ‘energy.’ Not a great recipe in a rematch against a top-five team in the state. Class 6A No. 5 Chiles smacked the ball around the yard, tallying together 11 hits in an 8-2 win over Class 5A No.

Evan Neal participates in position drills at Alabama's NFL Pro Day on March 30 in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP File)

NFL: Jaguars could justify drafting offensive tackle at No. 1

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

JACKSONVILLE — Coach Doug Pederson’s first step in rebuilding the woeful Jacksonville Jaguars is clear: Get immediate help for franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence. It’s why Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke added four offensive starters in free agency.

CHS, FWHS, SHS, BHS

PREP ROUNDUP: Results and stats for Tuesday's softball games

NEWS STAFF

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Here are results and stats for Tuesday's softball games in the area: SOFTBALL — Fort White 7, Chiefland 3: Kadence Compton hit a solo home run and struck out eight in a complete-game performance in the circle to lead the Class 1A No. 7 Indians (9-6) past Chiefland (5-13) on the road Tuesday night.

Columbia catcher Brent Howard tags out Buchholz runner JJ Gardner as he tries to score on Tuesday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: Columbia jumps out to early lead, holds on to top Buchholz

MORGAN MCMULLEN

Tuesday, April 19, 2022

GAINESVILLE — Columbia rolled into Gainesville Tuesday night looking to take out an opponent it lost to last season while also bolstering its lead atop the region this year. It wasn’t always pretty. In fact, it rarely was. But a win will always make the bad times go down easier. The Class 5A No.

Fort White guard Jacovya Major (middle) signed her letter of intent to play at Florida State College at Jacksonville on Tuesday. Major is pictured with FSCJ assistant coach Jessica Eaton (left), FSCJ head coach Diane Couch (middle left), Fort White assistant coach Bregay Harris (middle right) and Fort White head coach DeShay Harris (right). (COURTESY)

GIRLS BASKETBALL: Fort White guard Jacovya Major signs with FSCJ

JORDAN KROEGER

Tuesday, April 19, 2022

FORT WHITE — There’s no doubt about it — Jacovya Major left her mark at Fort White. From leading the Indians in scoring to the program’s first district title to the most wins in a season, Major had a senior season to remember. Now she’s turned that into a college career.

Columbia third baseman Ty Jackson throws to first base for an out against Middleburg on April 14. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

FHSAA RANKINGS: 3 baseball teams, 1 softball team in playoff spots as regular season winds down

JORDAN KROEGER

Tuesday, April 19, 2022

Teams are gaining ground on Columbia in the Region 1-5A baseball playoff race. The Tigers (13-4) still hold the No. 1 seed in the region with a 14.539 rating — fourth best in Class 5A — but District 2 leader Mosley (10-9) has closed the gap as the No. 2 seed with a 12.506 rating.

CHS, FWHS, SHS, BHS

PREP ROUNDUP: Results and stats from Monday's baseball games

NEWS STAFF

Tuesday, April 19, 2022

Here are results and stats for Monday's baseball games in the area: BASEBALL — Suwannee 15, Rickards 0: The Class 4 No. 4 Bulldogs (15-4) run-ruled the Raiders (3-12) in four innings at home Monday night behind a 13-run first inning to win their sixth straight.