Sports Archive

Orlando, Fla. (AP) – An annual study of the schools in the men’s NCAA tournament shows a slight increase in teams that fall below graduation rate standards.

Led by four RBIs from Jenna Bobbitt and Taelor Smith, the Lady Raiders overcame an early 4 – 0 deficit to win at Pine Forest March 12. Trailing 4 – 0 going into the bottom of the second inning, the Raiders scored their first run. Callan Taylor reached first on one of 10 errors committed by the Eagle defense. Taylor moved to third on Kolette Jones’ bunt single and scored on a passed ball, making the score, Pine Forest 4, Navarre 1.

Raiders 16, Crestview 4

Led by home runs from Taelor Smith and Jenna Bobbitt, the Lady Raiders breezed to an easy win over Crestview at home on March 4. It was the fifth home run of the year for Bobbitt. Smith’s home run was a shot. “The ball went over the fence and into the woods,” Allison Pettigrew said. “It was the longest we have seen so far this season.”

The Navarre Raiders track team finished fifth out of 14 teams at the 33rd Annual Frank Lay Patriot Invitational March 7 at Pace High School. Only a single point separated third through fifth place.

Navarre hosted new district rival Niceville March 4. Jared Gonzalez and Michael Sandle both singled in the first inning, but the Raiders were unable to score a run.  Meanwhile, Jeffery Rutledge was keeping the Eagles off the bases and off the scoreboard.

Fort Walton Beach dominated the first Raider Invitational meet held on March 5. However, Navarre placed five lifters in the top three positions from the four schools that attended.

The Navarre Lady Raiders track team finished seventh out of 15 teams at the 33rd Annual Frank Lay Patriot Invitational March 7 at Pace High School. An additional 2.5 points would have moved the Lady Raiders up two spots ahead of rival Gulf Breeze. Pine Forest won the meet by more than 50 points over second place Choctaw.

In a close match that came down to the last few lifters, the Raider weightlifting team won their second dual meet of the season, by a 48 – 42 score at Pace Feb. 24.

A week that started out so well for the Lady Raiders ended badly. They traveled to Panama City Feb. 21 without a loss on the season to play in a weekend tournament. The Lady Raiders returned from the tournament, winning three of four games. On Feb. 25, they lost their first district game to Niceville. Two nights later, with several players unable to take the field, the Raiders lost their second district game to Tate.

The Navarre Lady Raiders finished fifth out of 13 teams that competed Saturday in the Wildcat Invitational hosted at Washington High School in Pensacola. Lady Raider athletes dominated the 100M hurdles and won the triple jump with Kiera Foster setting a personal best. They also turned in strong performances in the 300M hurdles and 400M dash.