With one swing of the bat Michael Sandle absolutely crushes the pitch fired at him. He sends the ball screaming over the wall in left and then rounds the bases at Greater Nevada Field in Reno as if it was no big deal.

Sandle has hit home runs before in his career. In high school. In college. Even in the pros. But this one is different for the Navarre alum.

On a wind-swept Monday in May, the dust on the practice field kicked up often as offensive and defensive linemen battle in the trenches and running backs and receivers make plays, Navarre’s football team is back at it with the start of spring football.

Navarre’s goal was a state championship. And the Raiders nearly pulled it off.

In the end late Saturday night at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland, the clock pushing past 11 p.m. in the Eastern time zone, Navarre found itself as the runner-up in Olympic and traditional at the FHSAA 3A boys state weightlifting meet.

8-1. That’s what Navarre’s baseball team was down after two innings against Escambia Tuesday night.

It could have been a fold up shop and call it a night kind of moment for the Raiders in a game they seemed to have no chance to win against one of the area’s better teams.

Lily Weaver consistently puts pressure on a defense. 

Whether it’s a bunt that leads to an errant throw and an extra base or a timely hit that provides a much needed insurance run, the sophomore seems to always get the job done.