Sports

Columbia’s Stacy White crosses the finish line in the 4x100 relay at the Creekside Invitational on Saturday. (DYLAN ASPENWALL/Special to the Reporter)

Columbia’s Stacy White crosses the finish line in the 4x100 relay at the Creekside Invitational on Saturday. (DYLAN ASPENWALL/Special to the Reporter)

TRACK ROUNDUP: Columbia competes at Creekside, Suwannee at Capital City Classic

NEWS STAFF
Monday, April 11, 2022
Columbia competed at the Creekside Invitational on Saturday. Leading the boys was Seth Stockton, who placed second in the triple jump with a leap of 13.87m. Jasper White also placed fifth in the 200m (23.15) in the varsity finals and sixth in the 100m (13.
Florida forward Colin Castleton celebrates after making a shot against Arkansas on Feb. 22 in Gainesville. (MATT STAMEY/Associated Press)

Florida forward Colin Castleton celebrates after making a shot against Arkansas on Feb. 22 in Gainesville. (MATT STAMEY/Associated Press)

MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Florida big man, leading scorer Castleton back for 5th year

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Monday, April 11, 2022
GAINESVILLE — Florida big man Colin Castleton is returning for a fifth season, a huge boost for new coach Todd Golden. Castleton, a 6-foot-11 forward from nearby DeLand who transferred to Florida after two years at Michigan, led the Gators in scoring and rebounding last season. He averaged 16.
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.