Sports

Suwannee quarterback Thomas Sikes drops back to pass against Godby in Region 1-3A quarterfinals on Nov. 15, 2024. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee quarterback Thomas Sikes drops back to pass against Godby in Region 1-3A quarterfinals on Nov. 15, 2024. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Suwannee adds Hamilton County back to schedule

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, April 11, 2025
LIVE OAK — An old foe is a new addition to Suwannee’s schedule next year. The lone change to the Bulldogs' 2025 slate from this past fall will be Hamilton County visiting Langford Stadium on Sept. 19.
Middleburg third baseman KK Hagan slides under the tag of Columbia catcher Emily Delgado to score the go-ahead run in the seventh inning Thursday. The Broncos scored five runs in the inning to win 8-3. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Middleburg third baseman KK Hagan slides under the tag of Columbia catcher Emily Delgado to score the go-ahead run in the seventh inning Thursday. The Broncos scored five runs in the inning to win 8-3. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Columbia unravels in seventh inning, falls to Middleburg

JORDAN KROEGER
Thursday, April 10, 2025
KK Hagan popped a ball up into foul territory behind third base. Columbia third basemen Alex Collins, shortstop Lillyennne Mayhew and left fielder Sakiya Merriex all ran in to catch it. One of them certainly could have, but all three let it land foul.
Fort White football players Lecosta Byrd (from left), Kiernen Sheehan, Kingston Anderson, and James Dimauro, as well as softball player Hannah LeBleu, share a laugh during their college signing ceremony on Thursday. Byrd will play at Sussex, Sheehan is headed to Stetson, Anderson signed with Fort Valley State, Dimauro inked with Warner, and LeBleu will suit up for Florida Gateway College. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Fort White football players Lecosta Byrd (from left), Kiernen Sheehan, Kingston Anderson, and James Dimauro, as well as softball player Hannah LeBleu, share a laugh during their college signing ceremony on Thursday. Byrd will play at Sussex, Sheehan is headed to Stetson, Anderson signed with Fort Valley State, Dimauro inked with Warner, and LeBleu will suit up for Florida Gateway College. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SPORTS: 5 Fort White athletes sign with colleges

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Thursday, April 10, 2025
FORT WHITE — A handful of Fort White athletes have made decisions on their collegiate futures. Four football players and one softball player inked their letters of intent Thursday afternoon at a signing ceremony at the Fort White High School auditorium.
Fort White guard Zuri Hollie is the LCR’s Girls Basketball Player of the Year. (BREGAY HARRIS/Special to the Reporter)

Fort White guard Zuri Hollie is the LCR’s Girls Basketball Player of the Year. (BREGAY HARRIS/Special to the Reporter)

WINTER ALL-AREA: Fort White guard Zuri Hollie named LCR's Girls Basketball Player of the Year

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Thursday, April 10, 2025
FORT WHITE — Zuri Hollie has an alter ego. She acknowledges as much. The Indians’ hooper is mild-mannered off the court: shy, reserved and unassuming. She’s the kind of student who gets her work done without any fuss and tries not to stand out. But on the court, the sophomore shines brightly.
Fort White pitcher Kadence Compton winds up to pitch against Suwannee on April 4. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

Fort White pitcher Kadence Compton winds up to pitch against Suwannee on April 4. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP ROUNDUP: Fort White tops Baker County for impressive softball win

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Kadence Compton went 3 for 4 with two RBIs and also pitched a complete game in the circle, striking out nine to deliver Class Rural No. 6 Fort White an impressive 7-3 win over Class 4A No. 3 Baker County on the road Wednesday night.
West Nassau's Owen Layfield (8) celebrates with David Treadwell after scoring the go-ahead run in the sixth inning as Columbia pitcher Goose Lord walks back to the mound Wednesday night. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

West Nassau's Owen Layfield (8) celebrates with David Treadwell after scoring the go-ahead run in the sixth inning as Columbia pitcher Goose Lord walks back to the mound Wednesday night. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: West Nassau breaks tie with 3-run seventh to beat Columbia

JORDAN KROEGER
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Columbia coach Chris Howard didn’t want to give Landon Mixon a chance to give West Nassau the lead in the seventh inning. Foster Hatton delivered it instead.
Columbia runner J'Liyn Smith won the girls 400m at the Suwannee Mini Meet #2 on Tuesday. (COURTESY)

Columbia runner J'Liyn Smith won the girls 400m at the Suwannee Mini Meet #2 on Tuesday. (COURTESY)

PREP ROUNDUP: Locals take first at Suwannee Mini Meet #2

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
The Branford boys and girls track and field won the Suwannee Mini Meet #2 on Tuesday, with the boys tallying 122 points ahead of six teams and the girls finishing with 146 points in front of five schools.
Columbia pitcher Harleigh Price high fives coach Joe Saucier as she rounds third base after hitting a home run against Branford on Tuesday. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia pitcher Harleigh Price high fives coach Joe Saucier as she rounds third base after hitting a home run against Branford on Tuesday. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Price throws two-hitter, homers to lead Columbia past Branford

CONCEPCION LEDEZMA
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
BRANFORD — The first time Columbia and Branford met this season, they were in a slugfest with both teams scoring in double figures. This time CHS righthander Harleigh Price made sure it wasn't close. The sophomore pitcher held the Class Rural No.
Columbia pitcher Ayden Phillips pitches against Buchholz on March 14. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia pitcher Ayden Phillips pitches against Buchholz on March 14. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: Columbia picks up big win over Chiles with playoffs looming

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
TALLAHASSEE — It wasn’t the ideal situation to walk into. Chiles had loaded the bases with only one out, threatening to possibly tie or even take the lead. That’s a lot of a pressure for a freshman, but Nolan Slaymaker never caved. He just delivered Columbia a third straight win.
Fort White's Hannah LeBleu slides safely into second base in front of Williston's Grace McDaniel Tuesday night. LeBleu scored three batters later on Morgan Kelly's sac fly. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Fort White's Hannah LeBleu slides safely into second base in front of Williston's Grace McDaniel Tuesday night. LeBleu scored three batters later on Morgan Kelly's sac fly. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Defense shines in Fort White's scrappy win over Williston

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
WILLISTON — Jessica Robinson didn’t even have to be prompted. The Fort White coach had the old truism ready. “A win’s a win, right?” she said. “Isn’t that what they say?” It was a perfect encapsulation of the Class Rural No. 6 Indians’ scrappy 1-0 win over Class Rural No.