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.

For three and a half innings Thursday night, Navarre’s softball team kept the game scoreless against reigning state champion Pace.


The Raiders weren’t going to go down without a fight against the Patriots in the District 1-6A title game, and while the result wasn’t what they wanted, they aren’t hanging their heads after a 5-1 loss.

Kylie Pearson didn’t see a lot of time on the field last season in what was her first year of varsity softball at Navarre.


But what a difference a year makes for Pearson, now a senior and a key contributor for the Raiders, who are playing in the district tournament this week and are poised for a Region 1-6A tournament bid.