Sports

Columbia right fielder Tison McCray lets out a roar at third base after hitting a triple against Bartram Trail on Friday night. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia right fielder Tison McCray lets out a roar at third base after hitting a triple against Bartram Trail on Friday night. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: Columbia holds on to beat Bartram Trail in sloppy affair

JORDAN KROEGER
Friday, February 21, 2025
It was far from Columbia’s best effort. But it was just good enough. The Tigers built an 8-2 lead, then held on for dear life late to hand Bartram Trail its first loss of the season with a 10-8 victory at home Friday night.
Columbia first baseman Max Schuler races to third base during Thursday's game against Bishop Snyder. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia first baseman Max Schuler races to third base during Thursday's game against Bishop Snyder. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: Columbia's lead slips away late against Bishop Snyder

CONCEPCION LEDEZMA
Thursday, February 20, 2025
This may be one of those rare instances where a loss could turn into a coming-out game for Columbia. The Tigers, despite limited pop from the bat, managed to nurse leads of 1-0, then 2-1 for most of the game against undefeated Bishop Snyder.
Fort White pitcher Kadence Compton (24) struck out 13 batters in Thursday's 2-1 extra-innings win over Branford. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Fort White pitcher Kadence Compton (24) struck out 13 batters in Thursday's 2-1 extra-innings win over Branford. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Fort White outlasts Branford in district duel

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Thursday, February 20, 2025
FORT WHITE — In the first of potentially several more matchups, the Indians outlasted last year’s state runners-up. Fort White scored a run each in the first and the last innings Thursday at John Wilson Field, just enough to break its tie with Branford in a 2-1 extra-innings win.
Fort White’s Hayden McCrory performs the clean and jerk during Wednesday’s tri-meet against Columbia and Baker County. (COURTESY)

Fort White’s Hayden McCrory performs the clean and jerk during Wednesday’s tri-meet against Columbia and Baker County. (COURTESY)

PREP ROUNDUP: Columbia & Fort White split tri-meet with Baker County

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Columbia won the traditional event while Fort White won Olympic at a tri-meet with Baker County on Wednesday at CHS. The Tigers totaled 58 points in traditional while the Indians finished with 33 and the Wildcats had 19. For Olympic, FWHS tallied 58 points, BCHS had 39 and CHS had 10.
Suwannee’s wrestling team won their third straight district IBT title on Tuesday, taking home the 2-1A crown. (COURTESY)

Suwannee’s wrestling team won their third straight district IBT title on Tuesday, taking home the 2-1A crown. (COURTESY)

BOYS WRESTLING: Suwannee 3-peats as district IBT champs

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
BRISTOL — Suwannee now boasts an IBT district three-peat. The Bulldogs captured their third straight District 2-1A title Tuesday, totaling 236.5 points behind six individual champions to outdistance runner-up Florida High’s 212 and third-place Wakulla’s 186 at Liberty County High School.
Fort White pitcher Kadence Compton unloads a pitch against Columbia on Monday night. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Fort White pitcher Kadence Compton unloads a pitch against Columbia on Monday night. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP ROUNDUP: Fort White shuts out Williston for first softball win

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
FORT WHITE — Kadence Compton struck out 14 batters and allowed just five hits to lead Fort White’s softball team to a 5-0 shutout over Williston at home Tuesday night. Graceanne Durrance and Adisynne O’Quinn each had two RBIs in the win, with O’Quinn finishing 3 for 4 with a double.
Fort White’s boys basketball players and coaches hold up their Ls after earning a trip to Lakeland with a 54-51 win over Hilliard in the Region 3-R championship on Tuesday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Fort White’s boys basketball players and coaches hold up their Ls after earning a trip to Lakeland with a 54-51 win over Hilliard in the Region 3-R championship on Tuesday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

BOYS BASKETBALL: Fort White tops Hilliard to advance to state Final Four for first time

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, February 18, 2025
HILLIARD — Jayden Jackson collapsed to the floor at midcourt. Elven Sheppard wiped tears from his eyes in between the hugs and high-fives. Then, as the team gathered for a photo, every player and coach threw up an L with their hands. The sign for Lakeland. No.