Sports

Suwannee’s boys weightlifting team celebrates with the Region 1-2A trophy on Saturday. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

Suwannee’s boys weightlifting team celebrates with the Region 1-2A trophy on Saturday. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

BOYS WEIGHTLIFTING: Suwannee edges Baker County by a point for Region 1-2A title; Columbia places 3rd

JAMIE WACHTER
Monday, April 11, 2022
LIVE OAK — When Suwannee junior Brandon Robinson hit his final lift of Saturday’s regional meet, he carried more than the 300 pounds with him. Robinson’s personal best in the clean and jerk also hoisted hardware for the Bulldogs.
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.
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.