Sports | Clay Today

Ridgeview catcher Nicole Deschamps has become the vocal leader of the Panthers after moving from third base to catcher due to injuries and was critical in Panthers 4-2 win over 14th ranked Yulee.

OAKLEAF - Ridgeview High softball coach Angela Agurkis summoned the spirits of her state championship days at Oakleaf High School when she was the catcher for coach Christina Thompson and created a … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 3/21/25

St. Johns Country Day School got two homers from Preston Cole to take out No. 1 ranked Neumann of Naples 9-2 on Thursday at St. Johns.

Wake up! Spartans bats blast four dingers

ORANGE PARK - With four homers coming on their home field, St. Johns Country Day School baseball may have reestablished itself at the top of the Class 1A rankings after a brief spot the number two … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 3/21/25

Oakleaf High weightlifter Christian Rodriguez blasts some energy before winning his 169 pound weight division at the Clay County Championships held Friday at Keystone Heights.

Keystone Heights tops county iron teams

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS - After a decade of dominance as repeat boys state weightlifting champions, the Keystone Heights High boys weightlifting team answered the bell for yet another Clay County … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 3/20/25

Clay High punt returners Tatum Waugh, No. 6, and Yuliana Garcia lose control of ball on Ridgeview punt in Blue Devils' 21-0 win over Panthers.

Holy Moses! Teaghan returns with a flash

GREEN COVE SPRINGS - Clay High flag football quarterback Teaghan Moses returned to action after a long off-year of knee rehabilitation, stood in the pocket and delivered a strike to wide receiver … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 3/20/25

Fleming Island relief pitcher Jaxon Hatten hurls while Clay baserunner LJ Martin heads to second base in Golden Eagles' 5-1 win Friday night.

Fleming Island "almost" gets Clay upset

FLEMING ISLAND - Fleming Island High baseball coach Mike Martino has always been steadfastly optimistic that, at some point, his very young team will find the maturity and enthusiasm to play as well … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 3/20/25

Clay High sophomore pitcher Malia Collins had a career night with an upset win over Fleming Island, 8-5. Clay youth has added hint of unpredictability to coach Matt Lewis season plan.

Soph pitcher fuels Blue Devil upset

GREEN COVE SPRINGS - Clay High sophomore pitcher Malia Collin controlled the bats of the Fleming Island lineup with Brooke Hamilton sprinting to an inside-the-park homer to punch up an 8-5 upset win … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 3/20/25

Orange Park baseball coach George Eldredge has been close for five innings against some of the best teams on his schedule, but must find a way to close the final two innings with a graduation that took 10 seniors from last year's surprise district championship team that beat Clay and lost a 1-0 region playoff game to Final Four finisher Tallahassee Lincoln. In a Wednesday tournament game against 6A Fletcher, Orange Park had the game at just 1-0 into the sixth before losing 2-0.

Raiders to be Cinderella again?

JACKSONVILLE - Orange Park baseball coach George Eldredge has a bit of an optimistic glimmer in his eye when talking about his Raider baseball team that last year stormed the castle with a thrilling … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 3/19/25

St. Johns Country Day School baseball coach Tom Lucas has a dilemma on his hands with a lineup of injured personnel, four losses in a row including an 11-3 blasting against 5A-Columbia with five field errors, and one of toughest schedules in the state; No. 1 Neumann of Naples coming to visit on Thursday against the No. 2 St. Johns Spartans in a clash of the top two teams in Class 1A.

Spartan errors costly prior to No. 1 visit

LAKE CITY - St. Johns Country Day School baseball coach Tom Lucas may be in a sort of lull in his season to defend last year's state champion season, but the optimism must come from the dugout. … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 3/19/25

Rory McIlroy contemplates a putt on the ninth hole in Sunday's rain-delayed final round that ended with McIlroy tied at 12 under with J.J. Spaun to create a Monday morning three-hole playoff (9 a.m., 16,17, 18).

PLAYERS goes into overtime

PONTE VEDRA BEACH - After about a four hour delay due to lightning strikes and rain, the final round of the PLAYERS Championship golf tournament finished up with two guys playing out the final two … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 3/16/25

Clay High quarterback Teaghan Moses returned to the Blue Devil offense with a quick 30 yard pass to Yuliana Garcia en route to a 21-0 win over Ridgeview.

Holy Moses! Teaghan returns with a flash

GREEN COVE SPRINGS - Clay High flag football quarterback Teaghan Moses returned to action after a long off-year of knee rehabilitation, stood in the pocket and delivered a strike to wide receiver … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 3/14/25

Fleming Island senior 150 wrestler Laird Duhaylungsod went into three overtime periods before falling in the Class 2A championships to Somerset High's Tristan Saintz at Saturday's FHSAA state wrestling championships in Kissimmee.

FIHS Duhaylungsod falls in OT final

KISSIMMEE - Clay High wrestling coach Jim Reape, no stranger to state wrestling success, got medals from all six of his athletes led by senior Jacob Bucci snagging a third place medal while … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 3/13/25

Middleburg High senior Cheyenne Cruce's attempt to win three straight titles fell short with her third place finish Saturday in Kissimmee at the FHSAA Girls Wrestling Championships.

No "Three-Peat"; MHS Cruce gets third

KISSIMMEE - Middleburg High 190 wrestler Cheyenne Cruce may have thought she was wrestling in a fog of deja vu as her quest for a third straight 190 state title was halted with a third place finish … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 3/13/25

The boys 1600 meters race gets going at the Panthers Invitational track meet held at Ridgeview on Thursday, March 6. Winner was Keystone Heights' James Thomas in 5:02.95.

Panthers/Bronco track flips at Panther Invite

ORANGE PARK - Ridgeview High's girls track team, led by sprinter Oja Riggs' wins in the 100 and 200 dashes, got big team numbers in their first home meet of the year with a 217.50 point total taking … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 3/13/25

Fleming Island's boys lacrosse, now at 4-6-1, is led by top scorer Ty Teschner who has 23 goals.

Teschner, Thomas lead FIHS lacrosse

FLEMING ISLAND - With lead scorers Ty Teschner and Brylee Thomas knocking in goals for the Fleming Island High boys and girls lacrosse teams, both teams have been playing solid play as teams gear up … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 3/13/25

The infamous 17th hole at The Players Championships at Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach is the one hole that can make or break those who take on the TPC field this week.

Defending champion Scheffler back for a third shot

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida – THE PLAYERS Championship announced today the field for the 2025 event, which returns to THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass from March 11-16. The 144-player … more

Courtesy of The Players Championship | 3/13/25

Panthers/Bronco track flips at Panther Invite

ORANGE PARK - Ridgeview High's girls track team, led by sprinter Oja Riggs' wins in the 100 and 200 dashes, got big team numbers in their first home meet of the year with a 217.50 point total taking … more

Randy Lefko
Sports Editor | 3/13/25

Clay High first baseball Rylan McMahan stretches to get out on St. Johns batter Brayden Harris in Spartans 3-2 win Friday night at Clay High.

Harris 15Ks powers Spartans over Blue Devils

GREEN COVE SPRINGS - In a clash of the two top teams in Clay County; St. Johns Country Day School (10-2, ranked No. 1 in Class 1A and the defending state champion) and Clay High (9-3, ranked No. 3 in … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 3/13/25

Middleburg senior KK Hagan approaches her teammates at h ome plate after blasting a late inning homer in Broncos 2-0 win over Oakleaf in clash of two playoff bound teams in county.

Hagan homer fuels Bronco late surge over Oakleaf

MIDDLEBURG - A solo homer by senior KK Hagan, the first of her senior season, was the tipping point of a playoff-level clash between Middleburg and Oakleaf softball on Thursday, March 6 with the … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 3/13/25

Fleming Island pitcher Caden Swartz exalts after finishing off Middleburg High rally in seventh in for 4-3 Golden Eagles win.

Eagles hold off late Bronco rally

MIDDLEBURG - Just as the Middleburg High softball team was tagging rival Oakleaf with a late inning flurry of runs off a homer and an RBI double, the Fleming Island High baseball team was holding off … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 3/13/25

Representatives of the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office speak with job seekers during THE PLAYERS’ annual Military Job Fair.

PLAYERS Championship hosts military job fair

PONTE VEDRA BEACH — The Patriots’ Outpost tent at TPC Sawgrass was bustling Saturday, March 8, as THE PLAYERS Championship hosted its 14th annual Military Job Fair, an event often hailed as the … more

By Shaun Ryan | 3/13/25

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