Sports | Clay Today

Middleburg has a handful of power hitters; here Emma Ward, that can ignite a Bronco big runs inning at any moment. Broncos ripped for five sixth inning runs in region win over Milton.

Sixth inning heroics puts Broncos against No. 1

MIDDLEBURG - Middleburg High batter Mallory Ficklin hit a sixth inning three-run triple in support of Cloey Ballinger’s no-hitter as host Middleburg rallied late to defeat Milton 5-1 in a Region … more

By Mike Zima, Correspondent | 5/12/25

St. Johns Country Day School shortstop Preston Cole, here making double play throw in Spartans come-from-behind region championship win over University Christian will need stout defense to get a second straight state title for Spartans.

Spartans back in familiar territory (except in 1A)

ORANGE PARK - St. Johns Country Day School baseball coach Tom Lucas stated the obvious big answer about his team making it to the FHSAA Final Four again, but, now in Class 1A, the faces are eerily … more

By Randy Lefko randy@Claytodayonline.com | 5/12/25

Orange Park High discus thrower Jeremiah Hamilton finished 6th in class 3A.

Clay County medalists

Photos by Randy Lefko | 5/9/25

Oakleaf High's Ava Tolbert spins around teammate Jaydyn Beall after scoring winning run in Knights 2-1 region quarterfinal win over BartramTrail on Thursday.

OHS Maddox challenged; delivers walk off blow

OAKLEAF - Bartram Trail High's softball coaches took the risk of putting Oakleaf High senior pitcher Charlotte "Charley" Maddox in the batter's box in a tense bottom of the seventh inning game tied … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 5/9/25

Middleburg High pitcher Cloey Ballinger embraces her catcher Madi Strickland after Ballinger finished off another no-hit inning in Broncos 5-1 region quarterfinal win over Milton on Thursday. Middleburg advances to region semifinal against No. 2 seed Matanzas (22-1) and an 1-0 winner over Ponte Vedra in their quarterfinal.

Ficklin 3RBI triple, Ballinger no-hitter fuel Broncos region win

Mallory Ficklin hit a three-run triple in support of Cloey Ballinger’s no-hitter as host Middleburg rallied late to defeat Milton 5-1 in a Region 1-5A quarterfinal on May 8. The Broncos, now … more

By Mike Zima, Correspondent | 5/9/25

St. Johns Country Day School pitcher Brayden Harris has a handful of double figure strikeouts outings and added to his state leading total with 10 against University Christian in the Spartans 11-1 region 1-1A championship series opener win Monday night. Harris was ranked No. 1 in strikeouts prior to the game with 131; add 10 to 141 now and was ranked seventh nationally.

Spartans dime UC in baseball 1A region

ORANGE PARK - A homer by Madden Williams and 10 strikeouts from pitcher Brayden Harris fueled a workmanlike 11-1 five inning win for the St. Johns Country Day School Spartan baseball team over … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 5/9/25

St. Johns baserunner Preston Cole slides just out of reach of University of Christian catcher's glove to score gamewinner in 8-7 region championship win over University Christian.

Spartans to Final Four; Clay season over

ORANGE PARK - In true championship form, the St. Johns Country Day School baseball team, the defending Class 2A champion, proved their mettle with a scintillating finish in nine innings with a walk … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 5/8/25

Indians track finishes with Thomas double district champion

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS - Keystone Heights High distance runners Ryder Thomas and Hunter Sheppard finished with a late-season flurry with Thomas winning district titles in the 1600 and 3200 and both runners … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 5/8/25

Indians' softball survive district final loss

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS - Middleburg, Clay and Oakleaf high schools all earned softball district titles last week with five of the seven high schools; minus Ridgeview and St. Johns Country Day School, all … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 5/8/25

Fleming Island High singles and doubles tennis player Zach Hyatt

FIHS, SJCDS get to state tennis

ORLANDO - Fleming Island's girls and boys tennis teams' seasons have both ended with top singles Zach Hyatt and Katie Baird both finishing up in the quarterfinal rounds of the singles championship … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 5/8/25

Dreadnaughts get two state titles

The Fleming Island Dreadnaughts football 10-Under and 14-Under football team both won state championships in Daytona Beach recently with the 10-Unders Dreadnaughts team, above, winning 35-0 over … more

5/7/25

Oakleaf High coach Heather Han has four district titles and four region runs with a region final in 2022, but is chasing the legacy of Oakleaf's state title from nearly a decade ago, 2017.

Five of seven area softballs in region playoffs

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS - Middleburg, Clay and Oakleaf high schools all earned softball district titles last week with five of the seven high schools; minus Ridgeview and St. Johns Country Day School, all … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 5/7/25

Three hurdlers capable of state medals will be, from left, Orange Park's Erin Strother, Fleming Island's Meadow Shubert and Middleburg's Mikayla Burns.

Verger, Collins, Underwood, Lawson all region champs

PENSACOLA - In two separate region track championships, a Clay County foursome will be returning home with region championship gold medals as area tracksters work on Friday and Saturday to reserve … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 5/7/25

Oakleaf had one of the more rugged and tough to bring down with one tackler ball carriers in Chris Foy II, who now heads to Edward Waters College and there are plenty of big bodies in the Knights' backfield in week one including C.J. Moses here.

Football is back!! Spring ball begins

GREEN COVE SPRINGS - Apparently, Clay High's newest head football coach has been kind of scouting the Clay County football scene for quite a bit before landing about a month ago at Clay High School. … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 5/6/25

Oakleaf High senior trackster Devin Collins, here in the 100 meters at the recent Don Hall Invite at Orange Park High, won his region 1-4A long jump title on Saturday at Seminole High School and will be in the region 100 as well.

Verger, Collins, Underwood, Lawson all region champs

PENSACOLA - In two separate region track championships, a Clay County foursome will be returning home with region championship gold medals as area tracksters work on Friday and Saturday to reserve … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 5/3/25

Five of seven area softballs in region playoffs

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS - Middleburg, Clay and Oakleaf high schools all earned softball district titles last week with five of the seven high schools; minus Ridgeview and St. Johns Country Day School, all … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 5/3/25

The Devils made them do it

Clay High baseball fans, led by Gabby Bridges up front, react to play on field as Blue Devils won a 2-1 region semifinal game with a dramatic seventh-inning, two-run homer by L.J. Martin to beat … more

5/1/25

Former Oakleaf High offensive tackle Jalen Rivers, here in action with University of Miami, was big part in Hurricanes offense that put up a 536 yards per game offense and 7.4 yards per carry, both tops in the NCAA.

OHS tackle Jalen Rivers selected by NFL Bengals

Former Oakleaf High football standout and track and field state champion Jalen Rivers was selected by the NFL Cincinnati Bengals in the fifth round, the 153rd overall pick. Rivers was a versatile … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline w excerpts from Bengals.com | 5/1/25

Jacksonville area tennis players Michelle Reid, left, and Cindy Haines pushed Fleming Island's Kaite Baird and Stephanie Axne into overtime before losing a 10-8 10 point overtime match in the Tennis4Cancer Womens A division. Reid is a numerous times Tennis4Cancer champion.

Fleming Island teens win Tennis4Cancer crown in OT

EAGLE HARBOR - A "discussed" point and an overtime set proved exciting tennis for two Fleming Island teens who were embarking on a shot at the title at the Tennis4Cancer doubles tennis tournament … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 5/1/25

Clay High wide receiver and defensive back Kirra Dodson, noe of fastest runners on Blue Devils lineup, had two breakaway runs to set up Clay offense in 20-6 win over Orlando Jones in region playoff opener.

Jones scores first, Clay rolls for 20

GREEN COVE SPRINGS - For Clay High's flag football team, putting their 13-0 record in Class 2A was going to be against a host of new faces to face in the upcoming region playoffs. "Our new … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 5/1/25

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