Sports | Clay Today

Keystone Heights football's newest coach, Cameron Porch, a native of Interlachen, brings a history turning programs into winners in short time.

Porch hoping to rebuild Indians football lore

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS - Keystone Heights High's newest head football coach, Cameron Porch, has had a career of turning programs around and producing better seasons very quickly. "I got to Bronson with … more

By Randy Lefko, randy@claytodayonline.com | 4/30/26

Fleming Island girls lacrosse senior Kathryn Ward gets bumped by a Bolles defender in the Eagles' 17-2 region playoff loss at Bolles on April 22 to end the season at 11-8.

Steel Mill to host state powerlifting championships on May 2

FLEMING ISLAND - Fleming Island will be the spot for a look at some of the best high school and open powerlifters in Florida as the first project for new gym owners Michelle and Keith Carlascio and … more

By Randy Lefko, randy@claytodayonline.com | 4/30/26

Clay High flag football defensive rusher Emma Nesmith combined with teammate Emma Pu to upset the offensive attack of Baker County's multiple-pass scheme in the Blue Devils' 34-0 district final win. See more coverage, page 28.

Indians dominate (Again)

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS - With five individual champions in Traditional and six in Olympics scoring, the Keystone Heights boys weightlifting team dominated their region 4-1A championship tournament Friday. … more

By Randy Lefko, randy@claytodayonline.com | 4/30/26

Oakleaf High baserunner Jeter Farina goes big air to slide in for a run against Bartram Trail in the Knights' 12-2 region playoff win. The Knights will travel to Gainesville Buchholz for a best of three region semifinal series on Friday and Saturday, May 1-2.

Baseball's three region teams advance to semifinals

GREEN COVE SPRINGS - Oakleaf High's baseball team had the most dramatic season runs blast at the right time with a six run second inning and a four run sixth inning to win their region 1-6A … more

By Randy Lefko, randy@claytodayonline.com | 4/30/26

Clay High second baseman Tyler Gunsaulus turns a nifty double play ball to Ethan Mathis in the Blue Devils' 4-0 region 1-4A quarterfinal win over Wakulla.

4/30/26

Clay High flag football Region roundup

Clay High Flags Region playoff roundup Clay (8th in 2A) v Hernando (7th in 2A) May 4 at Hernando... #2 v #3 ..Clay 14-1...Hernando (10-7, 13th in 4A) 13-3..losses to Lennard 37-12, … more

By Randy Lefko Sports Editor | 4/30/26

Clay High baseball celebrated a second consecutive district title after their 6-0 win over Baker County on Thursday. Clay advances to the region 1-4A quarterfinal playoff play with a home game on Friday, April 24.

4/25/26

Indians dominate region weightlifts; Win two titles

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS - With five individual champions in Traditional and six in Olympics scoring, the Keystone Heights boys weightlifting team dominated their region 4-1A championship tournament Friday. … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 4/24/26

Clay High struggled through a rare two-win season under rookie head coach Jeff Gierke, but senior quarterback Landon Martin will be one of the top signal callers in the area in 2026.

Spring football just a week away

FLEMING ISLAND — With district and region championships ramping up for baseball, track, weightlifting, softball, tennis and flag football, area sports fans are very aware that spring … more

By Randy Lefko, randy@claytodayonline.com | 4/24/26

Middleburg High's Ashton Harp looks to return to the Class 2A state championships as his Broncos will head to Suwannee High on April 25 for the region championships.

Broncos, Blue Devils step into the "buzzsaw" for region weightlifting challenge

MIDDLEBURG —Suwannee High has been a destination for state level weightlifting for the past four seasons with back-to-back-to-back state titles (Class 1A 2022-2024) in both Olympic and Traditional … more

By Randy Lefko, randy@claytodayonline.com | 4/24/26

Womens leaders in the Run to the Sun 5K; Kathy Daniels Pearman, up front, and Kendal Casey make the final turn to the finish line. Casey surged to win the race in 19:44 with Pearman second in 19:46.

Barco-Newton lifeguard wins Run to the Sun 5K

ORANGE PARK — Barco-Newton YMCA lifeguard Luke Klingenberg thought he might be able to break the 16-minute barrier for the Florida Striders' Run to the Sun 5K on Saturday, April 18. With the … more

By Randy Lefko, randy@claytodayonline.com | 4/23/26

Keystone Heights pole vaulter Baylor Ford soars over a bar for the district championship held Friday at Keystone Heights.

Handful of firsts for Indian tracksters

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS - With winning efforts by Baylor Ford in pole vault, Kaylee Park in hurdles and the 1600 from James Thomas, the Keystone Heights boys and girls track teams earned some spots in the … more

By Amber Foley Correspondent | 4/23/26

Oakleaf High shotputter and discus thrower Rayna Autry won both her specialties at the district 1-4A track championships at Oakleaf with the Oakleaf boys taking the team title. Area track athletes will be heading to the region championships on April 24-25 for a shot at state titles at the University of North Florida.

Eagles double titles at track districts

ORANGE PARK — Fleming Island High track teams: boys and girls finished impressively with high point totals to dominate their district 3-3A track and field championships while Oakleaf's boys, … more

By Randy Lefko, randy@claytodayonline.com | 4/23/26

St. Johns Country Day School senior pitcher Brayden Harris completed a 17-strikeout masterpiece in the Spartans' 10-0 district championship win over St. Joseph Academy on Friday. Harris also hit three homers in a 13-3 semifinal win over Christ's Church Academy two days prior.

Harris smokes 17 batters to Spartan title

ORANGE PARK — St. Johns Country Day School pitcher Brayden Harris struck out 17 batters while firing a one-hitter to carry the host Spartans to the FHSAA District 4-1A championship with … more

By Mike Zima, Correspondent | 4/23/26

Fleming Island flag football coach Clint Lyons gives a play to quarterback Daisy Fletcher in the Eagles' 18-13 district win over Orange Park.

Eagles, Indians, Knights win district openers

ORANGE PARK - A pair of interceptions returned for touchdowns highlighted in an 18-13 district 2-2A round one playoff win for the Fleming Island flag football team over Orange Park, but the reward is … more

By Randy Lefko, randy@claytodayonline.com | 4/23/26

Fleming Island sprint specialist Halle Steeves, left, and Ridgeview's sprint specialist Oja Riggs stride shoulder to shoulder to a 1-2 finish in their district 200 meters. Riggs won in 25.66 seconds with Steeves second in 25.76. Steeves won the 400 while Riggs won the 100.

4/23/26

Baseball Districts Schedules/Venues

Baseball Districts District 3-5A Fleming Island, Ridgeview, Columbia, Middleburg Semifinals, Tuesday, April 14 No. 4 Ridgeview (9-14) at No. 1 Columbia (14-10) No. 3 … more

4/18/26

Green Cove Springs Junior High's girls' softball team won a dramatic 4-3 championship match against Oakleaf for the NEFAC championship.

Cougars double up with baseball, softball titles

LAKE ASBURY - Opportunistic baserunners fueled by field errors allowed the Green Cove Springs Junior High softball team to win a dramatic 4-3 Northeast Florida Athletic Conference championship game, … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 4/17/26

Fleming Island High's girls lacrosse is led by junior Meredith Giebeig, in white, who scored in the first 10 seconds of the Golden Eagles' 12-7 district semifinal win over St. Augustine. Fleming Island played at Bolles for the district 3-1A title against Bolles.

Eagles boys/girls lacrosse gets ticket to finals

FLEMING ISLAND — With a four-goal effort from Meredith Giebeig and a five-goal effort from Caden Lopez, the Fleming Island High girls and boys lacrosse teams landed in their respective … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 4/16/26

Clay County's two senior defending state weightlifting champions—left, Keystone Heights' Elijah Mize, and, right, Oakleaf's Noah Shevchook —completed step one of attempting a repeat of their titles with district titles over the weekend. Area programs tested their mettle at Keystone Heights, Nease High and Suwannee highs. Lifters now prepare for region tournaments set for April 24-25 in Flagler Palm Coast (3A), Suwannee (2A) and Keystone Heights (1A).

Area lifters blast through districts: OHS, KHHS, CHS titles

LIVE OAK — Area boys weightlifters hoisted away and got through the first of three big steps to a shot at possible state titles as districts tournaments finished this weekend. Keystone … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 4/16/26

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