Sports

Columbia pitcher Ryleigh Stone winds up to pitch against Santa Fe on Thursday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia pitcher Ryleigh Stone winds up to pitch against Santa Fe on Thursday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Columbia edges Santa Fe in extras behind Stone's shutout

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Thursday, April 16, 2026
ALACHUA — Ryleigh Stone remembers her prior duel with Rylee Swilley. After all, it was only last month when Swilley got the best of Stone in a 13-2 run-rule win against the Tigers in a game where Stone gave up 10 runs (six earned) in 3 1/3 innings. “They kind of teed off on me,” Stone said.
Lafayette's Kagan Hewett goes down on a called third strike to end the game as Union County celebrates in the District 6-R championship on Thursday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

Lafayette's Kagan Hewett goes down on a called third strike to end the game as Union County celebrates in the District 6-R championship on Thursday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: Lafayette falls to Union County in District 6-R championship

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, April 16, 2026
LAKE BUTLER — Lafayette’s streak is over. Top-seeded Union County scored four runs in the first inning and held on to beat the No. 2 seed Hornets 5-2 at home in the District 6-R championship on Thursday.
Suwannee's Easton O'Quinn hit a grand slam to help propel the Bulldogs to a 10-0 win over Wolfson in the district 3-3A semifinals on Wednesday. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee's Easton O'Quinn hit a grand slam to help propel the Bulldogs to a 10-0 win over Wolfson in the district 3-3A semifinals on Wednesday. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: Suwannee run-rules Wolfson in District 3-3A semis

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
LIVE OAK — Easton O’Quinn went 3 for 3, which included a grand slam in the third inning, to help spring No. 1 seed Suwannee to a 10-0 run-rule win over 4-seeded Wolfson in six innings in the District 3-3A semifinals Wednesday night at Booster Field.
Columbia shortstop Alannah Lord (left) high fives Ryleigh Stone after scoring a run against Buchholz on Tuesday. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia shortstop Alannah Lord (left) high fives Ryleigh Stone after scoring a run against Buchholz on Tuesday. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Columbia capitalizes on errors to rally past Buchholz on Senior Night

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
How loose are the Tigers playing down the stretch of the regular season?  Silly-string-the-coach-after-yet-another-win-just-because loose.  Columbia baserunners took advantage of six Buchholz errors, and Kinley King went the distance in the circle to secure a 3-2 win for the Class 4A No.
Columbia pitcher Nolan Slaymaker pitches against Newberry on March 3. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia pitcher Nolan Slaymaker pitches against Newberry on March 3. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: Columbia gets some help to shut out Ridgeview in District 3-5A semis

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
FLEMING ISLAND — Ridgeview catcher Julio Matta was Columbia’s best friend in Tuesday’s District 3-5A semifinal. Matta made three errant throws, allowing the top-seeded Tigers to score four runs that paved the way for a 4-0 victory over the No. 4 seed Panthers at Fleming Island High School.
Lafayette's Trevor Byrd (right) taps helmets with teammates after hitting a three-run home run against Branford in Tuesday's District 6-R semifinal. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

Lafayette's Trevor Byrd (right) taps helmets with teammates after hitting a three-run home run against Branford in Tuesday's District 6-R semifinal. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP BASEBALL: Lafayette run-rules Branford in District 6-R semis

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
MAYO — Lathan Garrard went 3 for 3 with four RBIs and three runs scored, Trevor Byrd hit a three-run homer, and Garrett Taylor drove in three more runs to lead No. 2 seed Lafayette to a 14-4 run-rule win over No. 3 seed Branford in five innings in Tuesday’s District 6-R semifinal.
Columbia pitcher Ryleigh Stone rounds first base after hitting a single against West Nassau on Thursday. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia pitcher Ryleigh Stone rounds first base after hitting a single against West Nassau on Thursday. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

VARSITY NOTEBOOK: Freshman duo keep delivering for CHS softball

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
The freshmen continue to stand out for Columbia’s softball team. Shortstop Alannah Lord homered and drove in six runs while pitcher Ryleigh Stone tossed a one-hitter to lead the Tigers to a 9-1 road win over Bartram Trail on Thursday.
Columbia guard Kadrian Wilson rises for a bucket against Leon during the district semifinals this past season. The two teams won't be in the same district the next two seasons. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia guard Kadrian Wilson rises for a bucket against Leon during the district semifinals this past season. The two teams won't be in the same district the next two seasons. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SPORTS: FHSAA releases tentative winter sports classifications for 2026-27 and 2027-28

JORDAN KROEGER
Friday, April 10, 2026
There’s a good chance Columbia’s basketball teams will be playing their district tournaments in Jacksonville next season. The FHSAA released tentative new classifications for the winter sports on Friday for the 2027 and 2028 school years and the Tigers have been moved from Class 5A to 4A.
Columbia left fielder Addyson Sherman slides safely into home plate to score the game-winning run in the ninth inning of Thursday's 2-1 win against West Nassau. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia left fielder Addyson Sherman slides safely into home plate to score the game-winning run in the ninth inning of Thursday's 2-1 win against West Nassau. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Columbia edges West Nassau in extra innings

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Thursday, April 9, 2026
Ryleigh Stone couldn’t tell whether it was cold outside following her appearance in Thursday’s game against West Nassau. Even with the majority of the crowd bracing against harsh gusts with blankets and hoodies, the Columbia freshman didn’t feel a thing outside her own adrenaline.