Sports

Columbia tennis player Janet Lainez had her senior season cut short due to covid-19. (MANDI SLOAN/Special to the Reporter)

Columbia tennis player Janet Lainez had her senior season cut short due to covid-19. (MANDI SLOAN/Special to the Reporter)

SENIOR SALUTE: Columbia tennis player Janet Lainez

School: Columbia Sport: Tennis, 2-year varsity member Senior Salute: “What I will miss most about playing tennis is the great sportsmanship and the sport itself. Tennis has brought so much happiness to me and strength also. I love giving my teammates some pep talks before a game or at practice.
Columbia forward D’Andre Jefferson turns to drive to the basket against Fort White on Dec. 13, 2019. (THOMAS RICKS/Special to the Reporter)

Columbia forward D’Andre Jefferson turns to drive to the basket against Fort White on Dec. 13, 2019. (THOMAS RICKS/Special to the Reporter)

BOYS BASKETBALL: CHS forward D'Andre Jefferson commits to FGC

D’Andre Jefferson is staying close to home. Columbia’s 6-foot-6 forward verbally committed to Florida Gateway College on Tuesday to continue his basketball career. Jefferson announced his decision in a Twitter post.
Columbia tennis player Ally Mitchell had her senior season cut short due to covid-19. (MANDI SLOAN/Special to the Reporter)

Columbia tennis player Ally Mitchell had her senior season cut short due to covid-19. (MANDI SLOAN/Special to the Reporter)

SENIOR SALUTE: Columbia tennis player Ally Mitchell

School: Columbia Sport: Tennis, 3-year varsity member Senior Salute: “I will miss my teammates most of all, not getting to see everyone at districts. Not getting to be with everyone everyday and no longer having our long car rides together to games.
Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Yoshi Tsutsugo connects for a solo home run in the fourth inning of a spring training game against the Boston Red Sox on Feb. 24, in Port Charlotte. (CHRIS URSO/Tampa Bay Times/TNS)

Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Yoshi Tsutsugo connects for a solo home run in the fourth inning of a spring training game against the Boston Red Sox on Feb. 24, in Port Charlotte. (CHRIS URSO/Tampa Bay Times/TNS)

MLB: Owners approve plan to start season in July

NEW YORK — Major League Baseball owners gave the go-ahead Monday to making a proposal to the players’ union that could lead to the coronavirus-delayed season starting around the Fourth of July weekend in ballparks without fans, a plan that envisioned expanding the designated hitter to the National...
Columbia tennis player Breah Nelson had her senior season cut short due to covid-19. (MANDI SLOAN/Special to the Reporter)

Columbia tennis player Breah Nelson had her senior season cut short due to covid-19. (MANDI SLOAN/Special to the Reporter)

SENIOR SALUTE: Columbia tennis player Breah Nelson

School: Columbia Sport: Tennis, 4-year varsity member Senior Salute: “What I will miss most about playing will be the away matches with the team, and just enjoying the company of those I’ve become close to.

NFL: Jaguars to sign journeyman QB Mike Glennon as backup

JACKSONVILLE — The Jacksonville Jaguars have agreed to terms with journeyman quarterback Mike Glennon, giving them a veteran backup behind Gardner Minshew. Jacksonville also has fourth-year pro Joshua Dobbs and rookie Jake Luton on its roster. Dobbs has never started an NFL game.
Columbia second baseman Cadence Mirra was hitting .304 with six RBIs and two doubles when her senior season was cut short due to covid-19. (JEN CHASTEEN/Special to the Reporter)

Columbia second baseman Cadence Mirra was hitting .304 with six RBIs and two doubles when her senior season was cut short due to covid-19. (JEN CHASTEEN/Special to the Reporter)

SENIOR SALUTE: Columbia second baseman Cadence Mirra

School: Columbia Sport: Softball, 2-year varsity member Position: 2B Senior Salute: “The thing I will miss the most is the full stands and the girls. I’ll miss raking the field after practice, the drills, 21 outs, the dance sessions in the locker room and the pregame lunches.
FGC volleyball coach Richie Tang (left) and FGC basketball coach Charles Ruise (right). (FILE PHOTOS)

FGC volleyball coach Richie Tang (left) and FGC basketball coach Charles Ruise (right). (FILE PHOTOS)

COLLEGE SPORTS: Covid-19 having an impact on recruiting at FGC

Covid-19 has thrown college coaches across sports a curveball and it’s no different at Florida Gateway College. Basketball coach Charles Ruise and volleyball coach Richie Tang have had to adjust to the fallout of the disease when it comes to recruiting.
Columbia shortstop Caroline Lewis was hitting a team-best .667 with 11 RBIs, 13 runs scored, four doubles and a triple when her senior season was cut short due to covid-19. (JEN CHASTEEN/Special to the Reporter)

Columbia shortstop Caroline Lewis was hitting a team-best .667 with 11 RBIs, 13 runs scored, four doubles and a triple when her senior season was cut short due to covid-19. (JEN CHASTEEN/Special to the Reporter)

SENIOR SALUTE: Columbia shortstop Caroline Lewis

School: Columbia Sport: Softball, 4-year varsity member Position: SS/OF Senior Salute: “The things I will miss most about playing at CHS are my teammates, the energy at home games, my coaches and goofing off. The team we had this year formed such a special bond.
Greg Sankey, commissioner of the Southeastern Conference, talks about the decision to cancel the remaining games in the SEC NCAA college basketball tournament on March 12, in Nashville, Tenn. College sports leaders have repeatedly said there can be no college sports without campuses being open to students. And those decisions will be made with guidance from state and local public health and government officials. (AP FILE PHOTO)

Greg Sankey, commissioner of the Southeastern Conference, talks about the decision to cancel the remaining games in the SEC NCAA college basketball tournament on March 12, in Nashville, Tenn. College sports leaders have repeatedly said there can be no college sports without campuses being open to students. And those decisions will be made with guidance from state and local public health and government officials. (AP FILE PHOTO)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEC schools expect campuses to be open in the fall

All but one of the 14 schools in the Southeastern Conference have indicated they plan to reopen their campuses for the fall semester, a step widely believed to be needed to resume football and other sports.