Pacific Grove softball

 I don't know if we should be surprised by the Breakers 5-0 start in the Mission Trail Athletic League, or the fact that they've won a current county high seven straight games overall.
 This is a softball program that did win 18 games last year to make the postseason.
 No doubt, knocking off Carmel 6-4 on the road on March 23, and ending its 14-game league winning streak was an eye-opener.
 Yet, a closer look at Pacific Grove shows that this is virtually the same team as last seasons, as it lost just one senior starter from that 18 win team.
 A shaky start to the year, which included two losses in their first three games, can be attributed to the fact that five starters were late arrivals from playing winter sports.
 Now that Pacific Grove has had its team intact for four weeks, we are seeing the results. During its seven game winning streak, it has produced 73 runs.
 Florida Atlantic bound Danielle Pasquariello has driven in 21 runs in 14 overall games, with 11 of her 22 hits going for extra bases.
 Vada Courtney has been a table setter at the top of the order,  while Lauren Coppla - moonlighting as a track sprinter in her off time -- has 20 hits, including a pair of home runs.
 Hurler Parker Llantero makes teams put the ball in play, relying on her defense to get outs. She's also become a key component in the batting order along with Rachel Consiglio and Alana Hendon.
 Fifteen years is a long time between league titles. And there is still a long ways to go in the MTAL year. But the message has been sent. The Breakers are a part of the title chase.