Pacific Grove-Santa Catalina softball

 The emotions of having knocked off the defending champions have to be put to the side for Santa Catalina, who now finds Pacific Grove on its plate less than 24 hours after beating Carmel.
 An argument can be made that the Mission Trail Athletic League title could be decided over the next five days.
 The Cougars, who are 9-0 and have a two game lead in the MTAL, host 8-2 Pacific Grove today and have another game with 8-2 Carmel next Tuesday.
 Essentially, this is a must win for the Breakers if they have aspirations of chasing a league. Falling three games back with four remaining would all but eliminate them from title consideration.
 Pacific Grove has outscored its last two opponents 22-1 since falling to Santa Catalina 4-3 six days ago.
 Danielle Pasquariello is on a tear at the plate for the Breakers with five homers and 39 runs batted in. Two teams have intentionally walked her with the bases loaded this year.
 In Pacific Grove's first meeting with the Cougars, Pasquariello was walked and hit by a pitch in the one-run loss.
 Pitching and clutch hitting have triggered the Cougars this spring. Emma James scattered eight hits against Carmel, but allowed just a first inning run.
 While Abby Gunter and Katie Fraley have been run-producing machines this spring, it was Emma Ubertino who drove in two runs to highlight a three-run, third inning on Wednesday.