Navarre was well represented in the 2014 Subway Senior All-Star games Feb. 20 at Ashton Brosnaham soccer complex in Pensacola. Hannah Gullickson, Hunter Moorer, Ella Burkhardt, Bri Young, Gabby Armstrong and Jade Whitley joined other players from Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties on the East squad. The West roster consisted of seniors from Escambia County high schools.
For the second time in the young season, Navarre traveled to Pensacola to face the two time defending state champions on their home field. The Raiders were unable to put an end to Pensacola Catholic’s 36 game winning streak.
The Navarre boys’ weightlifting team won their first dual meet of the season against Pine Forest at home Feb. 19 by a score of 59 – 31. For many of the lifters, the meet served as an educational opportunity. Coaches that doubled as judges made sure that each competitor understood any fouls detected and how to avoid them.
On a cold night in Crestview, Allison ‘Cat’ Pettigrew shutout the Bulldogs on one hit and the Raiders won their first district game, 7 – 0. The only hit against Pettigrew was a weak ground ball up the middle in the sixth inning. She struck out seven while walking three.
Sophomore Matt Cronin had two impressive relief appearances in Navarre’s pre-season games, but the results were not as good in his starting debut to open the 2014 regular season. Four walks, three stolen bases and two batters reaching base safely after dropped third strikes led to four unearned first inning runs for the Choctaw Indians. The Raiders never recovered. Jeff Rutledge relieved Cronin, but Choctaw added a run in the second on two singles, an error, and a stolen base.
Two Navarre soccer standouts have been invited to play for a newly formed Women’s Under 20 (W20) team that in northwest Florida. The Panhandle W20 team comes under the head coaching direction of David Kemp, the Director of Coaching at The Gulf Coast Texans.
Coming off the field after the Raider’s game on Friday, head baseball coach David Meredith was clearly pleased with what he had seen from his team the last two nights. “We had a great comeback in the first game and went toe to toe with the two time defending state champion in the next.” When asked what he sees as the greatest strength of this year’s team, Meredith was quick to respond, “Our leaders.” “The boys have been working really hard and have done everything the coaching staff has asked of them to become better players and a better team.” Meredith added, “This team has personality and they are a fun bunch to coach.”
In front of a cafeteria full of students, with teammates, coaches and family members nearby, two Navarre High School seniors, Gatlin Casey and Christian Gill, signed National Letters of Intent last Wednesday declaring where they would play college football this fall. Casey signed with Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA, while Gill signed with Coastal Carolina University in Conway, S.C.
Led by state champion, Kylie Shelley, the Lady Raiders placed second in the state weightlifting meet held in Kissimmee on Feb 8. They finished second to Spruce Creek for the fourth time. The final score was 28 to 17.
