Bakersfield.com Local Sports

Desme hoping for 'home-cooking' at Sam Lynn Ball Park

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:30:16 PDT

Grant Desme remembers coming to Sam Lynn Ball Park as a kid, but he wasn't exactly the type to idolize the California League players he saw.

"I remember going, 'These guys are terrible,'" said Desme. "Now I'm going to be playing there."

Fresno pierces Brigade's defense

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:30:23 PDT

Bakersfield Brigade coach Francisco Gomez found his team lacking in a couple of important facets of its game early in the second half against the visiting Fresno Fuego on Friday night at Bakersfield Christian High School.

And according to Gomez that allowed Fresno to score three quick goals en route to a 3-0 victory, avenging a 2-0 loss earlier in the season to the Brigade (2-8-2).

Butler homers twice in Blaze win

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:34:25 PDT

Blaze 7, Nuts 3

At Modesto

Steve Merlo: Local fishing outlook takes a turn for the better

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:22:30 PDT

Local fishing prospects look a lot better since the heat wave began two weeks ago. The spawn has ended and air temperatures above 100 degrees are forcing gamefish to seek either the protection of deeper water or, in the case of the California Aqueduct, moving waters. Despite recent court rulings regarding agricultural water flows, the concrete ditch continues to send water to the south, its computerized gates attracting bait schools, stripers and catfish to their churning waters.

Unfortunately, the blazing heat also compounds the sun's effect by radiating heat off the cement and barren banks, making afternoon fishing a tough test of human endurance. Night fishermen have been scoring regularly on both striped bass and catfish, but I find that ample hydration, sunglasses, hats, sunscreen and a desire to fish far outweigh the effects of staying out all night. Besides, the striper fishing's better in the daytime, as far as I'm concerned, and safer.

Condors sign 2 with knockout potential

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:26:03 PDT

Bakersfield Condors coach Marty Raymond went for a knockout Thursday. Raymond brought in a defenseman wih scoring punch and a forward with well, punch, with the signings of Pierre-Luc Lessard and Erick Lizon.

Lessard, 21, was selected in the fourth round of the NHL Entry Draft by the Ottawa Senators in 2006. A five-year veteran defenseman of the Canadian junior hockey ranks, he recorded 42 goals and 134 assists for 176 points in 307 games in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Lessard has recorded at least 10 goals in each of the past three seasons.

July 2 fish report

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:40:46 PDT

BAKERSFIELD AREA CATFISH DERBY: Bob's Bait is having a month-long catfish derby with the largest cat weighed in during July winning a $100 cash prize. The just ended carp derby was won by Edward Granillo, Bakersfield, with an 11-pound carp out of Hart Park Lake on Powder Bait. There were 473 total entries. The catfish derby will be followed by a striper derby in August.

LAKE ISABELLA: The crappie bite is still pretty good for boat and float tube anglers fishing in the South Fork Arm of the lake, but it takes some work to get a limit now and most of the fish are under a pound. The best bite is still on small jigs and minnows. The bass bite has improved with a fair to good bite on plastics, minnows, and cranks. Trout action is still very good, with a lot of limits reported on spinners and Power Bait, with fish up to 2 pounds and some bigger. Colby Curten, 10, Bakersfield, landed trout at 4-4, 3-8, and two at 3-0 each fishing a salmon egg-Power Bait combo at the cemetery. Best action has been at the auxiliary dam area. Catfish are also pretty good, mostly on frozen shad, other cut baits and Sonny's dip bait. Good action on small bluegill, too.

Nuts edge Blaze 8-7

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:02:17 PDT

Nuts 8, Blaze 7

At Modesto

So close: Blaze pitcher two outs from no-hitter

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:06:41 PDT

MODESTO -- In his 19 years of playing organized baseball, Ryan Tatusko never pitched a no-hitter. For 81/3 innings, the Bakersfield Blaze pitcher appeared poised for his first, and just the fifth in Bakersfield's history.

Tatusko lost his no-hit bid on a 2-1 fastball to Modesto shortstop Hector Gomez with one out in the ninth. Tatusko didn't lose his composure and recorded the next two outs for a complete-game shutout victory as the Blaze defeated the Nuts, 2-0.

Two local throwers to represent US in World Championships

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:11:11 PDT

Anna Jelmini's not the only one around here who can throw her way into world competition.

Stockdale High's Alex Collatz and Shafter's Lacie Rasley each won a throwing event at the USA Track & Field Youth Championships this week and advance to compete at the IAAF World Youth Championships next week in Bressanone, Italy.

Robert Gautney: Veteran players Seymour, Richardson win KC 4-Ball title

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:57:36 PDT

Have you seen those Big Dogs shirts that have the caption "Old Guys Rule!"? Perhaps the remainder of the field in the 20th Kern County 4-Ball Championships this past weekend at Haggerty-North Kern should pitch-in to buy Jim Seymour and Kent Richardson one each.

Seymour and Richardson, a pair of "elder statesmen" in the local amateur golf scene, beat the young, the middle aged and everyone in between as they shot rounds of 64 and 66 for a 14-under 130 total in the better-ball format. Their total was good for a one-shot win over a pair of teams -- Nick Vallejo/Ron Kilmer and Scott LaBare/Kevin Anderson. Both teams shot 64 in the opening round and 67 in the final round.

Condors extend offers to 5 players

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:18:58 PDT

The Bakersfield Californian

Five players from the Condors 2008-09 roster -- defenders Donny Grover and Jay Langager, right winger Liam Huculak, goalie Jerad Kaufmann and forward Matt Pope -- have received qualifying offers from the team, in accordance with the ECHL's July 1 deadline, the team announced.

Local report: CSUB wrestler Kimbrell earns Pac-10 scholar-athlete honor

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:46:03 PDT

Cal State Bakersfield senior wrestler Thomas Kimbrell has been honored as the 2009 Pacific-10 Conference Wrestling Scholar-Athlete of the Year, as presented by Toyo Tires.

The award, granted to one student-athlete in each of the Pac-10's 22 sponsored sports, was established to honor collegiate student-athletes who are standouts both academically and athletically.

June 30 community sports accomplishments and results

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:27:56 PDT

BASEBALL

The Bakersfield Southwest 14u all-star team went undefeated to win the Santa Ynez Summer Classic. The team won the semifinal game and the championship game by a mercy rule. The players are: Jack Anspach, Tanner Boyd, J.C. Coles, Ruben Cuellar, Steven Gee, Vinny Hudiberg, A.J. Jackopin, Justin Miller, Tim Okita, Joseph Roy, David Ruiz, Connor Smith, Josh Stone and Jake Thompson. The coaches are: Rick Smith, Jamie Jackopin, Stan Roy and Jerry Coles.

June 30 community sports announcements

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:08:32 PDT

Baseball

Bakersfield Heat tryouts for Elite Travel Team for 8 & 9 Year old boys, 6 p.m., July 7-8. Location to be determined. You need to be 8 or 9 by May 1, 2010 to be eligible to try out. Must present birth certificate to try out. Contact Don Snow (661) 979-6578 or email Dmsnow800@aol.com ... Also, visit: eteamz.com/bakersfieldheatbaseballclub

Roth won't return to Jam bench

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 23:51:53 PDT

Bakersfield Jam coach Scott Roth will not be back for another season, team minority owner David Higdon confirmed Monday.

Roth took over the head coaching job when Jim Harrick resigned midway through the 2007-08 season, and he coached the Jam to its first NBA D-League playoff appearance in 2008-09. His overall record in Bakersfield was 34-46, including an 0-1 playoff record.