Sports

YHS and WNHS softball faced off in Yulee on Feb. 19. The Warriors beat the Hornets 4-0. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

YHS and WNHS softball faced off in Yulee on Feb. 19. The Warriors beat the Hornets 4-0. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Warriors down Hornets in softball

The Yulee High softball team hasn’t had the opening it hoped for. The Hornets are 0-2 heading into a Thursday night matchup against Beachside at home. The Hornets lost on Feb. 17 at Baldwin 5-3; and again in its home opener last Thursday against West Nassau, 4-0
The Fernandina Beach High School softball team beat Raines on Feb. 17, 22-4. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

The Fernandina Beach High School softball team beat Raines on Feb. 17, 22-4. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Lady Pirates start season with high scoring win over Raines

The Fernandina Beach softball team opened its season with a 22-4 win over Raines. The Feb. 17 game featured tons of highlights for the Lady Pirates, including an inside-the-park homerun from Alivia Brown. Several Lady Pirates put the ball in play.

Sermadevi first Lady Pirate district wrestling champion

Fernandina Beach High School wrestling had a good showing at districts, most notably, the Pirates have their firstever female district champion wrestler, Anjana Sermadevi. “Anjana has done really well this season and is an extremely hard worker in the wrestling room.
The Fernandina Beach and Yulee high school flag football teams faced off Wednesday in Fernandina Beach. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

The Fernandina Beach and Yulee high school flag football teams faced off Wednesday in Fernandina Beach. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Hornets shutout Pirates in flag football

In front of the half-demolished stadium bleachers beside the Pirate’s football field, the Yulee and Fernandina Beach high school’s flag football teams battled in the first match of the season. Two touchdowns, an extra point and a safety led the Hornets to a first-game shutout over the Pirates 15-0.
The Pirates swarm No. 8 Trace Farmer after he hit the game-winning RBI in Friday’s game against Baldwin. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

The Pirates swarm No. 8 Trace Farmer after he hit the game-winning RBI in Friday’s game against Baldwin. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Pirates open baseball season with big win, extra innings RBI

Down 4-3 in the bottom of the 7th inning to the Baldwin Indians, the Fernandina Beach Pirates (2-1) tied the contest a run and followed with another in extra innings to escape with a win. Head Coach Jon Shave said any time a team wins in extra innings and has to come from behind it’s exciting.
Yulee High School tennis faced off against Hilliard on Feb. 12. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Yulee High School tennis faced off against Hilliard on Feb. 12. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Yulee tennis sees growth

Athletes at Yulee High School are finding themselves and their confidence on the tennis court. The head girls and boys tennis coaches say this year’s team is showing “tremendous potential” and clear growth from previous season. “We’ve seen a lot of growth with our team.
The 2026 Yulee High School softball team ahead of its preseason game Tuesday against Bishop Snyder. The Hornets won 6-3. Submitted photo

The 2026 Yulee High School softball team ahead of its preseason game Tuesday against Bishop Snyder. The Hornets won 6-3. Submitted photo

All-around talent: YHS head softball coach anticipates ‘really good’ 2026 season

Yulee High School softball is geared up for its 2026 season. The team is here to win as it showed in its 6-3 preseason victory over Bishop Snyder on Tuesday. Head Coach Cristyn Camp said this year’s team is filled with talent.
A team from the Yulee High School’s Marathon High running progam completed the Donna Half Marathon on Feb. 1 at Jacksonville Beach. Submitted photo

A team from the Yulee High School’s Marathon High running progam completed the Donna Half Marathon on Feb. 1 at Jacksonville Beach. Submitted photo

Yulee students complete half-marathon, build lifelong skills through after-school program

A group of Yulee High School students completed a long-distance feat many people never achieve in their lifetime. A team of 12 from the Yulee High School’s Marathon High running progam completed the Donna Half Marathon last weekend. The event was held Feb. 1 in Jacksonville Beach.
The Pirates boys varsity soccer team ahead of a home game in November. Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

The Pirates boys varsity soccer team ahead of a home game in November. Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Pirates season ends in Panama City state match

The Fernandina Beach boys soccer season has come to a close after a 6-0 loss to one of the top teams in the state, North Bay Haven Academy in Panama City, following a successful 16-7-1 campaign for the Pirates.
Journey Cheer practices at Journey Church in January. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Journey Cheer practices at Journey Church in January. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Character shines for local youth cheer team

Local cheer Coach Erika Nickell says her team’s experience has been a journey.Though the Journey Cheer youth recreational team practices at Journey Church, Nickell said the name comes, not from the church, but from the path to forming the team.“The name just felt so right,” Nickell said.