TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

Recent Blogs

1. 

   Yogi Berra Day for Kern County baseball: It wasn't over till it was over

   BY ZACH EWING Californian staff writer

   Wednesday, May 22 2013 11:17 PM

   At about 6 p.m. in Clovis, I turned to no one in particular in the press box at Buchanan's glorious baseball facility and said, "Heck, I might just take the day off Friday."

   That was mostly tongue in cheeck — though after the trip I had to Fresno County today, complete with mucho construction and a stop to change a bald tire, I could use the day — but it also appeared I wouldn't have much to do outside of the office. Only three Kern County baseball teams were alive:

   (1) Stockdale, which had just balked in a run and trailed state No. 11 Buchanan 2-0 headed to the sixth inning of the Division I semifinals.

   (2) Bakersfield Christian, which was down 3-1 to Fowler in the fifth inning and struggling to score runs in the Division IV...

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2. 

   Cornford wins Mayor's Trophy; complete list of PEAAK Award winners

   The Kern High School District held its third annual Promoting Excellence in Athletics and Activities in Kern, or PEAAK, Awards on Wednesday night in Harvey Auditorium at Bakersfield High. For the third straight year, the event was a hit —...
3. 

   VIDEO: South Area track highlights

   The Central Section South Area track and field meet on Wednesday featured four meet records, all in times that will make the high school stars who set them threats to medal — or to win — the CIF State Championships on May 31-June 1 in...

4. Ex-Drillers star, coach to take over at Foothill

   Foothill reached into Bakersfield's past for its new football coach — but no, it's not just-retired NFL All-Pro Joey Porter. The Trojans have hired Jason Oliver to be their next head football coach, athletic director Scott Manzer said....
5. 

   Spring sports postseason approaches

   There's a lot going on in the next couple of weeks, with eight spring sports making their way through various stages of the postseason. Here's what I'm hearing and looking forward to: • First off, an exciting announcement in regards to...
6. 

   Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes — Central Section makes quite a few

   OK, so using a David Bowie song title from 1971 might not be the best way to relate to an audience that follows high school sports, but I just couldn't help myself. And it's appropriate — the Central Section made some significant changes...
7. 

   Bakersfield's NFL Draft hopefuls

   The first round of the NFL Draft came and went tonight with only one native Californian selected — UCLA defensive end Datone Jones, who went to the Packers at No. 26. But among the many who could be selected Friday in the second and third...

9. Arena Bowl XII live blog

   Follow the action below from the 12th Arena Bowl here at Rabobank Arena, in which the best high school football seniors in Kern County tangle in an indoor game that rarely fails to entertain. Kickoff is at 7 p.m., in about half an hour....
10. 

    Arena Bowl rosters

    Below are rosters from the Arena Bowl, which kicks off at 7 p.m. Friday night in Rabobank Arena. One of the year's most fun events looks like it has pretty even squads: Put Preston Hodges, Cole Mazza, Andrew Daughtery on one side and...
11. 

    It's a parity party in SWYL baseball

    As the calendar approaches late May, the races in various baseball and softball leagues around the county are starting to heat up — none moreso than the SWYL baseball chase, which reached a new level of craziness Monday afternoon. Liberty...

12. Arena Bowl scholarship winners

    I had a nice time at the Arena Bowl scholarship dinner tonight at Hodel's, an event with a lot of good people connected with Friday's annual indoor high school football all-star game. The players were there, of course, and the coaches and...
13. 

    Foothill looking for football coach ... enter Joey Porter?

    Joey Porter, one of Bakersfield’s biggest football names, could soon become the high school football coach at his alma mater. Foothill athletic director Scott Manzer confirmed Wednesday that Mike Gregg, the Trojans coach for the past four...
14. 

    Change is afoot at Stockdale — lots of it

    UPDATE: A couple of people have noted that I wasn't very specific below, and I want to correct that. As far as I know, all of these coaches and athletic director Mark Hance are leaving of their own will — that's for sure the case with...