Natalie Busch made a big time impact on the field during her high school flag football career.


She also made a little history earlier this spring, becoming the first from Navarre to sign with a college to continue playing the sport.

While the Navarre Raiders won’t change much as far as routine goes during a scrimmage week in the spring, there is a lot of attention on who will rise to the occasion in those moments.


“We’re trying to find playmakers. It’s as simple as that,” Navarre head coach Garrett Bagley said. “We want to see who is going to make plays, break tackles, finish tackles. That’s big.”

It’s been an impressive sophomore season at Gulf Coast State for Navarre grad Cailyn Cooke.


The standout catcher has earned first-team All-Panhandle Conference honors as well as All-FCSAA first team honors.

Renee Hester and Lily Weaver were sophomores when Navarre’s softball team last played in a regional tournament. Natalia Taylor was just a freshman.


The three talked about that experience early last week ahead of practice and are thankful to have another shot at the postseason.