SOUTH COUNTY — The beginning of March means baseball and softball teams at local high schools are finishing up non-league games and getting ready to start the league seasons.
While baseball teams from Gonzales, Soledad, Greenfield, and King City will continue to play in the Mission Trail Athletic League, the King City, Gonzales and Greenfield softball teams will be part of the Coastal League. Soledad High will continue to play softball in the MTAL.
Last year Greenfield and King City qualified to the Central Coast Section Division II playoffs and Soledad qualified to the CCS Division I playoffs. All three team finished in a second place tie at 13-5 with Carmel, behind league champion Pacific Grove.
This year the MTAL will be a ten-team league with: Anzar, Carmel, Gonzales, Greenfield, King City, Marina, Pacific Grove, Soledad, Stevenson, and Trinity Christian. Defending what happens this season all the teams could find themselves in a new equity league for 2018-2019.
King City baseball is 2-1 so far this season in non-league play with a 5-2 win over North County and a 21-0 victory against San Jose Academy. Brian Lopez was the winning pitcher in the North County game and Clay Barbree won the game with San Jose.
Soledad High started the season with a 6-1 loss to Weston Ranch of Stockton. The Aztecs open the MTAL season today by hosting King City and travel to King City on Friday.
Gonzales High started non-league with a 13-3 loss at North Salinas and a 4-1 home loss to Alisal High. Gonzales begins league play today with Stevenson and plays at Stevenson on Friday.
Greenfield lost the season opener 8-0 at North Salinas followed by a 5-2 victory against Stevenson. The Bruins play at Pacific Grove today and will host the Breakers on Friday.
SOFTBALL
The Soledad softball team began the season with a 5-0 win in Castroville against the North Monterey County Condors. Alize Duarte won the game on the mound for the Aztecs and Jennika Alcantar-Landeros led Soledad with two hits.
The Aztecs downed Pajaro Valley by a 18-1 score behind the pitching corps of Allison Lorente, Sarah Gonzalez, and Alynna Quezada. Skylah Fregoso was the hitting star with four hits and three RBI’s. Soledad hosted Alisal on Monday and travel to San Lorenzo Valley on Friday.
Gonzales High started off the season with a 12-0 home loss to San Lorenzo Valley and then had their second game rescheduled due to rain. The Spartans play tomorrow at North Monterey County and play at Stevenson on Monday, March 12.
King City lost 22-1 at Everett Alvarez on Feb. 23 and lost 14-3 at home on Feb. 28 to North County. The Lady Mustangs being league play tomorrow against Trinity Christian.
Greenfield will host Marina today and play at Soledad on Saturday.
