Pacific Grove-Carmel baseball

 If the Breakers have aspirations of tightening up the Mission Trail Athletic League title chase, now would be a good time to hit their stride.
 While neither team needs a reason to get ampt up to face each other, Carmel could really spread some distance this week as the two teams meet twice.
 The Padres, who shared the league title last year with Pacific Grove and Soledad, are 10-0 this spring in league play, holding a two-game lead. That includes two dominating wins over Soledad.
 Since beginning the season 0-3, Carmel has gone 13-1. Over its last five games, it has outscored the opposition 71-10.
 Carter Hayes already has 10 multiple hit games while John Stivers showed up three weeks ago after an extended basketball season and has eight multiple hit games.
 Of Lennie Rodriguez's 21 hits, 10 have gone for extra bases, four of which have left the yard, having driven in 20 runs in 17 games.
 For the first time all season, the Breakers lineup -- at least the battery -- may be at full strength with the return of Noah Ryan, who has had back-to-back three-hit games.
 James Donlon has been consistent all spring at the plate while Eric Boemer recorded a four-hit game last week.
 The biggest question has been pitching. Both teams have had to shut down an ace this year, depleting both staffs in terms of depth in the rotation.