While the Monterey Bay League has seen changes over the years, the Mission Trail Athletic League has had a core of teams together for over 60 years.
Oh, sure the league has been used as a means to get programs back on their feet in the past, as Alisal and Seaside once called the MTAL home.
And for nearly three decades, San Benito and Palma spent time in the MTAL before growing into the programs both are today in all sports.
The MTAL officially said goodbye last Friday when Soledad and King City played the final league event in baseball, the resumption of a makeup game that lasted one inning.
Next fall the MBL and MTAL will officially merge into one and become the Pacific Coast Athletic League, where 28 teams -- minus football -- will be lumped into divisions.
"I wouldn't say it's the right thing to do," Carmel baseball coach Randy Bispo said. "I'm heartbroken. I don't know what we're solving. Some schools' egos are going to be hurt."
Bispo has been a part of the MTAL as a player and coach, having played baseball in the late 1970's at Pacific Grove.
"I do think this will help some programs," Bispo said. "For some of the schools that have struggled for years, it will help create interest. But I'm going to miss the league."
Carmel, Pacific Grove, Gonzales and King City have faced each other for over 60 years. Stevenson has been a part of the league for over 40 years. That comes to an end in several sports.
"It is sad to see the MTAL go," King City baseball coach Lorenzo Espino said. "Personally, I didn't want the MTAL to seize to exist. But sometimes change is good."
Espino was a three-sport standout at King City, and also coaches football in the fall. The MTAL is a part of his life.
"I will miss some of the rivalries," Espino said. "It's not the same when you are in a different league. But there is no reason to mope about it. Equity has worked between the Gabilan and Pacific."
The final MTAL track championships had special meaning for King City's boys and Santa Catalina's girls, who not only defended their league titles, but took the perpetual team trophy home for good.
"This was the last MTAL meet,'' King City 110 meter high hurdle champion Jhames Bautista said. "We wanted to keep the trophy forever."
Current Gonzales assistant track coach Mike Ramirez was a part of King City's run of six straight league titles as the head coach three years ago.
The relationships established among the coaches in the MTAL will be the most difficult adjustment in his mind.
"Our league has always been helpful with each other," Ramirez said. "There is a connection with all these schools. We've been attached at the hip. That's going to take a while to adapt."
During Ramirez's first tour of duty at Gonzales, he was the head coach in cross country, guiding the girls program to a MTAL title in 1999. He has also coached five pole vaulters to the state meet.
"I'm for anything that will help kids as far as being able to compete at their level," said Ramirez, a Gonzales graduate. "When my dad went to Gonzales in the 1950's, it wasn't the MTAL."
Changes will certainly be coming in numerous sports. It's a certainty that reigning 16-time MBL golf champion Palma and 10-time MTAL title holder Stevenson will be in the same division.
Current Gonzales assistant track coach Mike Ramirez was a part of King City's run of six straight league titles as the head coach three years ago.
The relationships established among the coaches in the MTAL will be the most difficult adjustment in his mind.
"Our league has always been helpful with each other," Ramirez said. "There is a connection with all these schools. We've been attached at the hip. That's going to take a while to adapt."
During Ramirez's first tour of duty at Gonzales, he was the head coach in cross country, guiding the girls program to a MTAL title in 1999. He has also coached five pole vaulters to the state meet.
"I'm for anything that will help kids as far as being able to compete at their level," said Ramirez, a Gonzales graduate. "When my dad went to Gonzales in the 1950's, it wasn't the MTAL."
Changes will certainly be coming in numerous sports. It's a certainty that reigning 16-time MBL golf champion Palma and 10-time MTAL title holder Stevenson will be in the same division.
"For years all I have heard is 'we're just the MTAL'," Bispo said. "But I bet we've turned out just as many good athletes as any league around here."
With the MTAL gone, will the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League be next in merging into the PCAL? It already has for football. And St. Francis of Watsonville is moving in next year for all sports.
With more and more leagues merging and forming multiple divisions in the Central Coast Section, it might make sense for the SCCAL to join forces.
People forget that once upon a time, most of the teams in the SCCAL were a part of the MBL until the early 1980's.
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