Sports

Suwannee first baseman Kyler Watson races home to score a run against Chiles on March 11. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee first baseman Kyler Watson races home to score a run against Chiles on March 11. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP ROUNDUP: Suwannee cruises past Newberry

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
LIVE OAK — Class 3A No. 9 Suwannee surrendered an early run but answered with four runs in the bottom of the first inning before cruising to a 9-3 win over Newberry at Booster Field on Wednesday night.
Branford first baseman Victoria Swain (left) and outfielder Ellie Frierson (middle) embrace pitcher Mallory Blue after Blue's walk-off infield single lifted the Buccaneers to a 6-5 win over Trenton on Tuesday. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Branford first baseman Victoria Swain (left) and outfielder Ellie Frierson (middle) embrace pitcher Mallory Blue after Blue's walk-off infield single lifted the Buccaneers to a 6-5 win over Trenton on Tuesday. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Branford rallies to beat Trenton for second time in four days

CONCEPCION LEDEZMA
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
BRANFORD — Branford took a huge step toward healing from the heartbreak of losing last year's title game to defending state champion Trenton. And it was done in dramatic fashion.
Columbia pitcher Nolan Slaymaker pitches against St. Johns Country Day on March 18. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia pitcher Nolan Slaymaker pitches against St. Johns Country Day on March 18. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: Columbia run-rules Eagle's View, throws one-hitter

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
JACKSONVILLE — It was a business trip for Columbia. A quick one. The Class 5A No. 5 Tigers jumped on Eagle’s View for three runs in the first inning and never let up, scoring in all five frames for an 11-0 run-rule win on the road Tuesday night for their third straight victory.
Williston’s Brooklyn Bertrand slides safely into home plate ahead of the tag from Columbia catcher Emily Delgado in the Tigers’ 11-0 loss Tuesday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Williston’s Brooklyn Bertrand slides safely into home plate ahead of the tag from Columbia catcher Emily Delgado in the Tigers’ 11-0 loss Tuesday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Columbia routed by Williston in first game back from break

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
WILLISTON — The first pitch of the night from Kinley King was sent way over the right field fence by Luna Asencion. The rest of Columbia’s night only got worse from there.
Fort White pitcher Kadence Compton celebrates with teammates and assistant coach Josh Robinson after hitting a home run against Branford on March 10. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

Fort White pitcher Kadence Compton celebrates with teammates and assistant coach Josh Robinson after hitting a home run against Branford on March 10. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP ROUNDUP: Compton's bat & arm lead Fort White past Keystone Heights

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Kadence Compton delivered with her arm and bat — again. The senior homered twice, including a go-ahead two-run shot in the top of the seventh inning, and struck out 10 batters in a complete-game performance to lead Fort White to a 5-1 road win over Keystone Heights on Tuesday night.
Branford catcher Morgan Brennan hits a single against Suwannee on Friday. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

Branford catcher Morgan Brennan hits a single against Suwannee on Friday. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP ROUNDUP: Branford holds on to beat Trenton

NEWS STAFF
Saturday, March 22, 2025
TRENTON — A rematch of last year’s state championship game went to the runner-up Saturday night. Branford scored four runs in the fifth inning to take a 6-3 lead before holding on for a 9-6 road win over Trenton in the first of two meetings over a four-day span.
Branford's softball team greets Ellie Frierson at home plate after Frierson hit a home run against Suwannee on Friday night. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

Branford's softball team greets Ellie Frierson at home plate after Frierson hit a home run against Suwannee on Friday night. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP ROUNDUP: Branford blows past Suwannee behind Frierson's big night

NEWS STAFF
Friday, March 21, 2025
LIVE OAK — Ellie Frierson went 3 for 5 with a home run and four RBIs while Madyson Sikes also hit a two-run homer to help Branford roll past Suwannee 12-2 on the road Friday night.