Bakersfield.com Preps

Hobson, Bell earn first-team All-State

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:04:12 PDT

Ten local baseball, softball players receive CalHiSports honors

The Bakersfield Californian 2009 All-Area baseball first team

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 23:40:14 PDT

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

K.C. Hobson

The Bakersfield Californian 2009 All-Area softball first team

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 23:41:00 PDT

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Justine Vela

After dominating preps, Hobson's composure perfect for the pros

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 23:19:47 PDT

When Philip Valos recorded his eighth strikeout of the Central Section baseball championship to eliminate Clovis West and crown Stockdale champions again, it was the end of an era for Mustangs baseball.

The machine that is K.C. Hobson, though, will simply move on to the next era.

Deception best part of Vela's repertoire

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 23:18:07 PDT

There's no secret, it's 'natural' for Stockdale sophomore

Middle of the road, not an option for first-year coach

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 23:17:09 PDT

This was Amanda Hockett's first year as head softball coach at Stockdale, but she played it like a wily veteran.

There was the disrespect card Hockett used when the Mustangs were picked to finish in the middle of the SWYL and were ranked below teams they had beaten all year. They won the SWYL and made it to the section championship.

Collatz in prime position for discus World Youth title

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 23:05:53 PDT

Stockdale High's Alex Collatz had no trouble Friday proving she belonged among the world's elite.

Collatz, an incoming junior, bombed a 49.93-meter (163 feet, 10 inches) discus throw on her first attempt in the qualifying round at the IAAF World Youth Championships in Sudtirol, Italy.

Junior Olympic championships coming to town

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:46:08 PDT

The state's track stars of tomorrow are coming to Bakersfield this week when the USA Track and Field brings its Region 14 Junior Olympic Outdoor Championships to town.

The event starts today at Cal State Bakersfield. Today will be mostly preliminaries and the schedule runs from 4 p.m. until about 8.

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."

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.

Eskew, Martinez, Kelly and Witten sign pro contracts

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 23:36:15 PDT

Three of the eight players with local ties who were taken in this month's Major League Baseball Draft have signed and joined their professional teams.

Last week, Jared Eskew, a former Liberty player who went to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, signed with the Florida Marlins organization.

Lemon doesn't take all the credit for Mustangs' success

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 23:15:22 PDT

There never was doubt in Dan Lemon's mind that defending a Central Section baseball title would be tougher than winning it in the first place.

"We definitely felt the pressure this year," said Lemon, who earned his second consecutive honor as The Californian's Baseball Coach of the Year. "But we knew we had the guys that could do it."

Jelmini adds more national hardware

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 22:52:40 PDT

EUGENE, Ore. -- Shafter High graduate Anna Jelmini earned her second junior national championship of the weekend with a victory in the discus Saturday at the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Jelmini's winning throw of 174 feet, 10 inches was well short of her national record (190-3), but it easily outdistanced Erin Pendleton and Aslynn Halvorson, who each threw 169-5.

Godbehere molded a legend in Shafter

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 23:21:17 PDT

Behind every great athlete, there normally is a great coach, and that's no different with Anna Jelmini.

For the national high school record-holder in the girls discus and perhaps the best U.S. prep track and field athlete ever, the man behind the scenes is Shafter's Matt Godbehere.

Setser's Wolf Pack made late surge

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 23:22:25 PDT

It was the middle of a long track and field season, and Ridgeview's dream was under attack.

Injuries, apathy, discipline and more injuries were threatening to derail what had started as a promising track season for the Wolf Pack and its talented group of sprinters, hurdlers and jumpers.