MPC-Hartnell softball

 Last year it came down to the final game of the season to decide the Coast Conference title between the two rivals.
 For such a sequel to re occur later this year, Hartnell needs a win to avoid falling into a deeper hole against the conference leading Lobos.
 MPC has shot out the gates at 3-0 while the Panthers have stumbled to a 1-2 start in conference play.
 While a win could move Hartnell to within a game of MPC, a loss would push them three back.
 Ranked No. 10 in the state and No. 4 in Northern California, the Lobos are 16-3 overall, with two of those losses coming from the states No. 6 ranked team in Feather River.
 North Salinas graduate Serena Castaneda continues to swing a hot bat for MPC, hitting .521 with 21 runs batted in while Sally Bowles has provided the lineup with another potent bat.
 Last year's conference Pitcher of the Year, Bowles is moonlighting at the plate, hitting .448 with three homers and 24 runs batted in.
 Splitting time in the circle, the right hander is 7-1 with a 1.48 earned run average. Shayla Castaneda is 8-2 with a 2.42 ERA.
The Panthers don't have the power they displayed last spring. But they still have the ability to manufacture runs with Angelia Ruiz hitting .435 with 12 steals.
 Soledad product Celeste Canchola is batting .405 while Nicole Martinez is hitting .362. Martinez has stepped in the circle and sports a 4-2 record for Hartnell.