Projected softball finishes

 Playing for a Central Coast Section softball title on Memorial Day weekend has become a ritual at Notre Dame, who has won 15 in the last 18 years.

 Anything short of a return trip would be looked upon as a disappointment. Of course, a league title could vault them into the Open Division.

 Yet, when you have two scholarship bound players in your lineup and a four-year starting hurler in the circle, expectations should be raised.

 While San Benito has ruled the Gabilan Division of late, keep an eye on reigning CCS Division I champion Watsonville, who returns hurler Jessica Rodriguez and her 24 wins.

 Carmel is the class of the Mission Trail Athletic League. Before it's all over, it could be among the elite in the section.

 Seven starters have returned from last year's league title team. Santa Catalina will make noise with its bats in the MTAL. Pacific Grove is a sleeper.

 Alvarez has an abundance of pitching and a handful of returning hitters in the lineup, making them the preseason favorites in the Pacific Division.

 The Coastal Athletic League got a overhaul with three new teams, making all six teams capable of winning the league title.

Projected finishes for the four leagues in our county
Gabilan Division
1. San Benito: Four all-leaguers are back from last year's title team. Dating back to 2016, the Balers have won 18 straight league games.
2. Notre Dame: The Spirits have five starters back from last year, including two scholarship bound players and a four-year starting hurler in Vanessa Gonzalez.
3. Watsonville: Behind ace Jessica Rodriguez, the Wildcatz won 24 games last year -- 16-0 outside the Gabilan Division -- and the programs first CCS Division I title.
4. Salinas: Did one year in the Pacific Division point the program in the right direction? A youthful Cowboys squad won 21 games and a league title to capitulate them back into the Gabilan.
5. Christopher: Eight starters are back from last year's 17 win team for the Cougars, who have not won a league title since 2011.
6. Gilroy: Could be a sleeper team in the Gabilan Division with eight starters returning from a 12-14 team last season.
7. Monterey: The Toreadores were 9-3 outside the Gabilan Division last spring. But over the last two years, they are just 5-19 in the Gabilan.

Pacific Division
1. Alvarez: Four times in non-league play the Eagles scored 10 or more runs, hitting six homers. Yet pitching might be the strength of this team with three potential starters.
2. North Salinas: Don't look for the move to the Pacific to be permanent. The Vikings are contenders with Sofia Gombos' hot bat in the lineup.
3. North County: The Condors made a late run at the postseason last year. Four of their top five hitters are back in the fold, including three all-leaguers.
4. Alisal: The most improved team in the division hasn't made a postseason appearance since the mid 1980's. Going undefeated in non-league play was a confidence builder.
5. Seaside: This is a mystery team in the Pacific Division. It could contend or fall to the bottom. A lot will depend on how fast the youth matures at this level.
6. Monte Vista: It was clearly a struggle in the preseason as the Mustangs suffered two loses by 10 or more runs and gave up 11 in another. League play offers a fresh start.
7. Pajaro Valley: Growing pains for the Grizzlies, who were outscored 34-1 in their first two games of the non-league season.

Mission Trail Athletic League
1. Carmel: Beating San Benito in the preseason was arguably the programs biggest win in five years. Seven starters are back for the defending MTAL champions, including two aces in the circle.
2. Santa Catalina: Sluggers Jessica Clement and Abby Gunter are arguably the two best players in the league. But you win with pitching in softball.
3. Pacific Grove: The core from last year's playoff team is back, including Florida Atlantic bound Danielle Pasquariello. Can the Breakers live up to their potential?
4. Marina: Don't sleep on the reigning Coastal Athletic League champions, who believe they can compete in the MTAL, and were impressive in non-league play.
5. Soledad: Alize Duarte provides confidence in the circle for Soledad, who will have to scratch and claw for runs in this revised MTAL.
6. Stevenson: Traditional late starts at Stevenson means a lot more questions than answers for the Pirates, had are coming off their first non-winning season in eight years.


Coastal Athletic League
1. Greenfield: The equity league got this one right. This might be the most balanced division among the four in the county. The Bruins have a couple of bats, starting with Andrea Pantoja.
2. King City: While there are good athletes on the field, softball is not their sport of choice. Meaning getting reacquainted with a bat and glove could take time.
3. Trinity: Prior to stumbling to two wins in the CAL last season, Trinity had three straight winning seasons, including a league title in 2016.
4. Gonzales: The Spartans can go nowhere but up after a winless 2017 season in the MTAL. Scoring runs was a struggle in non-league play.
5. Anzar: The Hawks are looking for their first winning season since 2013. No non-league games make them a mystery going into CAL play.
6. York: Being competitive is the first objective for the Falcons. The balance in this league should help get them back on their feet.