Sports

Suwannee's girls track and field team finished runner-up at the District 2-2A meet on Thursday. (COURTESY)

Suwannee's girls track and field team finished runner-up at the District 2-2A meet on Thursday. (COURTESY)

PREP TRACK & FIELD: Suwannee girls finish second, boys win three titles at District 2-2A meet

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, April 24, 2026
TALLAHASSEE — Led by four individual titles as well as a relay title, the Suwannee girls track team finished as the District 2-2A runner-up Thursday.Powered by their distance runners, the Bulldogs totaled 132 points to finish behind host Florida High’s 233.
Columbia pitcher Tison McCray celebrates after getting out of an inning during the District 3-5A championship against Fleming Island on April 16. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia pitcher Tison McCray celebrates after getting out of an inning during the District 3-5A championship against Fleming Island on April 16. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: Columbia seeks to knock off Mosley again in Region 1-5A quarterfinals

JORDAN KROEGER
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
The two teams have recent history between them, history Columbia hopes stays on its side when Mosley visits Lake City on Friday.It’s win or go home when the No. 6 seed Tigers and No. 3 seed Dolphins face off in the Region 1-5A quarterfinals at 7 p.m. on Friday.
Columbia pitcher Kyler Keen pitches against Fleming Island during the District 3-5A championship on April 16. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia pitcher Kyler Keen pitches against Fleming Island during the District 3-5A championship on April 16. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: Keen won't pitch for Columbia during playoffs due to elbow injury

JORDAN KROEGER
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
If the Columbia Tigers are going to make a deep playoff run, they’ll have to do so without top pitcher Kyler Keen.Columbia coach Chris Howard said Wednesday that Keen is done pitching for the season due to a slight tear in his UCL.
Columbia left fielder Addyson Sherman (right) celebrates after center fielder Luisa Taylor (00) makes a diving catch for an out against Branford on Tuesday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia left fielder Addyson Sherman (right) celebrates after center fielder Luisa Taylor (00) makes a diving catch for an out against Branford on Tuesday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Columbia edges Branford in another one-run victory

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
BRANFORD — One-run games have been Columbia’s specialty all season long.Branford was the victim again Tuesday night.The Class 4A No. 2 Tigers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning and then held on for a 5-4 road win over the Class Rural No. 4 Buccaneers to sweep the season series.
Columbia first baseman Nolan Slaymaker (17) runs back to the dugout with a smile on his face after hitting a grand slam that drove in Nate Stapleton (22), Abraham Martinez (back) and Madden Mann (2) during the first inning of the Tigers’ 6-2 win over Fleming Island in the District 3-5A championship on Thursday. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia first baseman Nolan Slaymaker (17) runs back to the dugout with a smile on his face after hitting a grand slam that drove in Nate Stapleton (22), Abraham Martinez (back) and Madden Mann (2) during the first inning of the Tigers’ 6-2 win over Fleming Island in the District 3-5A championship on Thursday. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: Columbia, Suwannee to open playoffs at home

JORDAN KROEGER
Monday, April 20, 2026
It’s a playoff rematch in the same place and in the same round as a year ago.Columbia drew the No. 6 seed in the Region 1-5A playoff bracket on Monday but will host No. 3 seed Mosley in the regional quarterfinals on Friday at 7 p.m.
The Branford boys and girls both finished second at the District 5-1A meet on Saturday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

The Branford boys and girls both finished second at the District 5-1A meet on Saturday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP TRACK & FIELD: Branford boys & girls finish runner-up in District 5-1A

JORDAN KROEGER
Monday, April 20, 2026
The Branford boys and girls matched each other with a pair of district titles.They combined for a pair of team runner-up finishes too.Both Buccaneer squads placed second at the District 5-1A meet on Saturday at Oak Hall, finishing behind the hosts in both tallies. The Branford boys scored 144.
Suwannee repeated as District 3-3A champs with a 4-2 win over Baldwin on Friday. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee repeated as District 3-3A champs with a 4-2 win over Baldwin on Friday. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: Suwannee edges Baldwin for back-to-back District 3-3A titles

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Friday, April 17, 2026
LIVE OAK — Grayson Greene wasn’t thinking about much of anything in the midst of his ridiculous strikeout streak Friday.The only thing on the junior’s mind?“Just looking for a championship,” Greene said. “…I was just trying to fill it up, that’s all.
Columbia pitcher Kinley King (left) high fives third baseman Josie Raulerson after finishing off an inning against Palatka on Friday. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia pitcher Kinley King (left) high fives third baseman Josie Raulerson after finishing off an inning against Palatka on Friday. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Big second inning propels Columbia to eighth straight win over Palatka

JORDAN KROEGER
Friday, April 17, 2026
One big inning is all Columbia needed to keep rolling.The Class 4A No. 2 Tigers sent 12 batters to the plate in the second to score seven runs and it proved to be more than enough for them to come away with a 7-1 win against Palatka on Friday in their regular-season home finale.
Columbia repeated as District 3-5A champs with a 6-2 win over Fleming Island on Thursday. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia repeated as District 3-5A champs with a 6-2 win over Fleming Island on Thursday. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: Columbia repeats as District 3-5A champs despite Howard's 5-game suspension

JORDAN KROEGER
Thursday, April 16, 2026
FLEMING ISLAND — Columbia wouldn’t be denied. Not without its head coach and not when its starting pitcher exited with an elbow injury. Thanks to an early grand slam by Nolan Slaymaker and a combined four-hitter by pitchers Kyler Keen and Tison McCray, the top-seeded Tigers topped No.