Sports

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?”
Columbia’s Ayden Phillips races to third base during Friday’s win over Flagler Palm Coast. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia’s Ayden Phillips races to third base during Friday’s win over Flagler Palm Coast. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: FHSAA releases seeding for district tournaments

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
The FHSAA released new rankings Tuesday to seed next week’s district tournaments. Here’s where, and who, the area teams will play and where they sit in their respective playoff races as the season winds down.
Columbia coach Anthony Perry calls out a play to his team during a game against St. Augustine on Dec. 21, 2023. Perry resigned as the Tigers coach Monday following eight-plus seasons at the helm. (FILE)

Columbia coach Anthony Perry calls out a play to his team during a game against St. Augustine on Dec. 21, 2023. Perry resigned as the Tigers coach Monday following eight-plus seasons at the helm. (FILE)

GIRLS BASKETBALL: Perry resigns as Columbia's coach, will focus full time on flag football

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Anthony Perry will focus on a new challenge full time. Perry resigned Monday as Columbia’s girls basketball coach after eight-plus seasons, turning his attention now to building the school’s flag football program.
Suwannee’s weightlifting team placed second at the Region 1-2A meet on Saturday and qualified 14 lifters for the state meet. (COURTESY)

Suwannee’s weightlifting team placed second at the Region 1-2A meet on Saturday and qualified 14 lifters for the state meet. (COURTESY)

BOYS WEIGHTLIFTING: Suwannee places second, Columbia finishes third at Region 1-2A meet

JAMIE WACHTER
Monday, April 7, 2025
LIVE OAK — Suwannee faced a dilemma heading into Saturday’s Region 1-2A meet at SHS. The Bulldogs could go all in on trying to win the region crown at their home gym or, with no week off before Friday’s Class 2A state meet in Lakeland, they could focus on the bigger prize.
Columbia midfielder Cody Bass is the LCR’s Boys Soccer Player of the Year. (MANDI SLOAN/Special to the Reporter)

Columbia midfielder Cody Bass is the LCR’s Boys Soccer Player of the Year. (MANDI SLOAN/Special to the Reporter)

WINTER ALL-AREA: Columbia midfielder Cody Bass named LCR's Boys Soccer Player of the Year

JORDAN KROEGER
Saturday, April 5, 2025
How important was Cody Bass to Columbia’s success this season? “Oh man, that’s easy. We definitely don’t go 10-4-3 without him,” Columbia coach Ed Turner said. Turner isn’t lying. When the Tigers scored a goal this season, Bass usually played a part in it.
Fort White's Lecosta Byrd brings the bar up during the clean and jerk at the District 6-1A meet on March 28. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

Fort White's Lecosta Byrd brings the bar up during the clean and jerk at the District 6-1A meet on March 28. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

BOYS WEIGHTLIFTING: Byrd, Dimauro and McCrory win regional titles for Fort White

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, April 4, 2025
KEYSTONE HEIGHTS — Fort White realized one goal at Friday’s Region 2-1A meet at Keystone Heights. Two team goals, though, slipped through the Indians’ grasp. Fort White senior Lecosta Byrd, one of three Indians to win individual titles at the meet, tied a state record for 219 pounds in the snatch.