Sports

Suwannee pitcher Karis Smith (middle) high-fives coaches and teammates as she walks off the field following her perfect game against Columbia on Friday night. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

Suwannee pitcher Karis Smith (middle) high-fives coaches and teammates as she walks off the field following her perfect game against Columbia on Friday night. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Smith throws perfect game to lead Suwannee to win over Columbia

CONCEPCION LEDEZMA
Friday, April 8, 2022
LIVE OAK — It wouldn’t be out of line to say that Suwannee pitcher Karis Smith had the perfect bounce back game against cross-county rival Columbia. Just 24 hours earlier, the senior absorbed a one-run loss at Bradford while yielding a whopping nine hits.
Columbia seniors Ty Jackson (from left), Brent Howard, Truitt Todd, Ty Floyd and Kade Jackson were all honored prior to Friday’s game against Ridgeview for Senior Night. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia seniors Ty Jackson (from left), Brent Howard, Truitt Todd, Ty Floyd and Kade Jackson were all honored prior to Friday’s game against Ridgeview for Senior Night. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: Columbia holds on to top Ridgeview on Senior Night

JORDAN KROEGER
Friday, April 8, 2022
After nine long days since its last loss, Columbia finally got a game in. It wasn’t without its share of drama. The Tigers scored the game’s first six runs only to watch Ridgeview capitalize on two errors for four runs in the sixth inning to crawl right back in it.
Fort White’s Hannah LeBleu turns off of third base toward home plate to score a run against Hamilton County on Thursday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Fort White’s Hannah LeBleu turns off of third base toward home plate to score a run against Hamilton County on Thursday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Fort White squeezes out a win over Hamilton County

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Thursday, April 7, 2022
FORT WHITE — Everyone wearing an Indians uniform knew the deal. Ciara Byrd, standing on third base and squatting in a sprinter’s stance before the pitch, knew exactly what she wanted to do. So did coach Chad Padgett, who stood feet away from her, looking intently down the baseline.
Branford’s Nathalia Veal (middle) was the LCR’s Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year last spring. (COURTESY)

Branford’s Nathalia Veal (middle) was the LCR’s Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year last spring. (COURTESY)

PREP ROUNDUP: Branford's Nathalia Veal named to academic all-state team

JORDAN KROEGER
Thursday, April 7, 2022
BRANFORD — Branford’s Nathalia Veal was named to the FHSAA’s Dairy Farmers All-Academic All-State Team on Wednesday, an honor reserved for 24 graduating student-athletes who excel in both athletics and academics. Veal has a 4.0 grade point average and ranks first in her senior class.
Seth Stockton set a new school record in the triple jump at the Oak Hall mini meet on Tuesday. (COURTESY)

Seth Stockton set a new school record in the triple jump at the Oak Hall mini meet on Tuesday. (COURTESY)

PREP ROUNDUP: Tuesday's results and stats for track & field, softball

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, April 6, 2022
Columbia competed at Oak Hall’s seven-team mini meet on Tuesday, with Seth Stockton setting a new school record in the triple jump with a leap of 14.49m to win first place. Stockton broke Latrell Williams’ mark of 13.77, which he set back in 2014.
Columbia’s Hayden Gustavson celebrates after hitting a double against Suwannee on Tuesday night. The game was called in the third inning due to rain with the Tigers leading 1-0. A makeup date is to be determined. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia’s Hayden Gustavson celebrates after hitting a double against Suwannee on Tuesday night. The game was called in the third inning due to rain with the Tigers leading 1-0. A makeup date is to be determined. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

FHSAA RANKINGS: CHS, SHS still No. 1 in baseball regions, FWHS leaps into playoff field

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, April 5, 2022
There were no changes in baseball for Columbia and Suwannee in the latest FHSAA rankings released on Tuesday. Columbia (10-2) is still ranked No. 1 in Region 1-5A by a large margin with a 15.352 rating, which is third highest in Class 5A and 24th in the entire state.