Spring is in the air

 If you're an athletic director, it may be your busiest time of the season as some schools have 11 different sports going on at the same time with the official start of spring sports on Monday.
 While it may be too early to make bold predictions, it's safe to suggest three-time reigning Pacific Division baseball champion North Salinas will be a contender after being left in the Pacific again.
 Defending Gabilan Division champion Palma has five all-leaguers back in the fold, including Cal bound pitcher Sam Stoutenborough, who is just a junior.
 Reigning Mission Trail Athletic League champion Carmel saw the heart of its order graduate. But Elliott Bouc gives them an ace on the mound.
 Seven starters are back for King City, who beat Carmel last spring to temporarily move into a tie for first before dropping their final three games. Never discount Pacific Grove in baseball.
Notre Dame's bid for a four-peat in the CCS Division III softball finals fell short last spring after Half Moon Bay shut them out 2-0.

 The Spirits, who have won 14 sections titles in the last 20 years, are led by Herald MVP Aly Gomonet and junior hurler Vanessa Gonzalez.

 Alex Pingree, who pitched Santa Catalina to the programs only CCS title in 2012, has returned to the Cougars as the head coach after four years pitching for UC Santa Barbara.

 Her dad, Jim Pingree, who was the coach for Santa Catalina during its title run before retiring in 2016, has resurfaced this spring at Carmel.

 North Salinas is coming off a 21 season that included a spot in the CCS Division semifinals, while Monterey started eight freshmen or sophomores last spring.

 Does Palma have enough to make it five straight Gabilan Division track titles? It has two dynamic sprinters in Emilio Martinez and Kevin Telford, and CCS discus finalist Drew Dalman.
  King City will take aim at a fifth straight Mission Trail Athletic League boys team title, as will Santa Catalina, who is anchored by three-time 100, 200 and 400 meter champion Mikayla Rivera.
 Rivera, who holds MTAL records in the 100, 200 and 400, has been to the state championships the last two years in the 400.
 Camel will chase supremacy in swimming in the MTAL while Salinas and Monterey are among the elite teams in the Monterey Bay League.
  Henry Blaul placed in the state finals last year as a sophomore for York School in the 200 IM and 100 back.
 Stevenson and Carmel are expected to chase a championship in boys lacrosse while Carmel has all but two players back from last years 14-0 league volleyball title team, including setter Ezra Delbeck.