Santa Catalina-Carmel softball

 You won't find a father and daughter more closer than the Pingree's.
 That is until they are in opposite dugouts as coaches. Conversations about softball seize the week of the Carmel-Santa Catalina battle.
 Jim Pingree spent a decade at Santa Catalina, with four of those years coaching his daughter Alex, who pitched the program to its only Central Coast Section Division III title on her graduation day.
 Alex Pingree now occupies the Cougars job, while her dad sits in the Carmel dugout.
 Last spring dad got the best of the family series, winning both games in guiding Carmel to a Mission Trail Athletic League title in his first season.
 The first of two meetings this spring unfolds today, with the Padres taking a 15-game league winning streak into the meeting at Carmel Middle School.
 In fact, the last team to beat Carmel was the Cougars in 2016.
 Jocelyne Bruno has been on a tear at the plate for the Padres, while Kristin Cardinalli has driven in a team high seven runs.
 Cardinalli also has a homer to her credit while Dillan Chiewpanich has ripped a pair. Hurler Jessica Pavloff has been flawless in the circle.
 Iowa State bound Abby Gunter is coming off a huge freshman season for Santa Catalina at the plate, while Katie Fraley is off to a hot start this spring along with Grace Atkins and Emily Hayes.
 The Cougars got a gem from pitcher Emma James in their league opening win.