Sports

Columbia shortstop Alannah Lord (left) celebrates as coach Joe Saucier (right) hoists the Class 4A state championship trophy after the Tigers defeated Lake Wales for the title on May 23. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia shortstop Alannah Lord (left) celebrates as coach Joe Saucier (right) hoists the Class 4A state championship trophy after the Tigers defeated Lake Wales for the title on May 23. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Lord, Saucier earn top honors in Class 4A following Columbia’s state title

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
A state title has earned Columbia shortstop Alannah Lord and coach Joe Saucier top honors in Class 4A.Lord was named the Florida Dairy Farmers’ 4A Player of the Year on Tuesday while Saucier was voted the 4A Coach of the Year following the Tigers’ state championship last month.
Columbia’s softball team celebrates with their cheering fans after defeating Lake Wales to win the Class 4A state title on May 23. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia’s softball team celebrates with their cheering fans after defeating Lake Wales to win the Class 4A state title on May 23. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

COMMENTARY: Columbia’s state title run united Lake City

JORDAN KROEGER
Friday, May 29, 2026
The support for Columbia’s softball team was immense at last Saturday’s Class 4A state championship.Fans lined the fences. Some spilled into Lake Wales’ side of the bleachers. The football team even had its own section, arriving on time despite its bus blowing a tire after leaving CHS at 6:30 a.m.
Columbia seniors Addyson Sherman (from left), Luisa Taylor, Raelyn Wehinger, Ava Christie, Lauryn Lee, Amani Tunsil, Anna Dansby and Emily Delgado wrapped up their careers with a state championship on Saturday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia seniors Addyson Sherman (from left), Luisa Taylor, Raelyn Wehinger, Ava Christie, Lauryn Lee, Amani Tunsil, Anna Dansby and Emily Delgado wrapped up their careers with a state championship on Saturday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

COMMENTARY: Columbia's state title was built on an unbreakable bond

JORDAN KROEGER
Sunday, May 24, 2026
It’s what they’ve always wanted.It was also bittersweet.The seniors at Columbia finally achieved the goal they set out to accomplish when they were freshman — winning a state championship.
Columbia catcher Emily Delgado encourages the CHS student section to get up for her team after scoring a run following her RBI double in the seventh inning of Thursday's Class 4A state semifinal against Seminole. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia catcher Emily Delgado encourages the CHS student section to get up for her team after scoring a run following her RBI double in the seventh inning of Thursday's Class 4A state semifinal against Seminole. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

COMMENTARY: These Tigers never stop fighting

JORDAN KROEGER
Friday, May 22, 2026
The words echoed throughout the season.“Tigers don’t lay down. Tigers fight.”Never was that truer than Thursday afternoon.Columbia, the top-ranked team in Class 4A, was on the ropes in the state semifinals.
Columbia right fielder Marlee Hunt (14) hugs left fielder Addyson Sherman after Sherman hit a walk-off RBI single to defeat Seminole 6-5 in the Class 4A state semifinals on Thursday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia right fielder Marlee Hunt (14) hugs left fielder Addyson Sherman after Sherman hit a walk-off RBI single to defeat Seminole 6-5 in the Class 4A state semifinals on Thursday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Columbia rallies past Seminole on Sherman's walk-off to advance to Class 4A title game

JORDAN KROEGER
Thursday, May 21, 2026
LONGWOOD — Columbia left fielder Addyson Sherman had been there before. Runners on base, her team needing a hit. Only this time, the pressure was ratcheted up to the nth degree. On the line was a berth in the state championship.