Nisa Ontiveros strikes out an awful lot of batters for Ridgeview High's softball team, but she's not afraid to rely on her defense.

That became quite literal in the seventh inning of Wednesday's Central Section Division III semifinal, when Ontiveros went full extension to catch an infield pop-up, lost her balance -- and caught herself when she wrapped second baseman Jackie Marintez in a bear hug.

Nisa Ontiveros strikes out an awful lot of batters for Ridgeview High's softball team, but she's not afraid to rely on her defense.

That became quite literal in the seventh inning of Wednesday's Central Section Division III semifinal, when Ontiveros went full extension to catch an infield pop-up, lost her balance -- and caught herself when she wrapped second baseman Jackie Marintez in a bear hug.

You can't have high school football without officials, and you can't have officials if they all retire without replacements.

That's a growing problem, said Ken Lopez, treasurer of the Kern County Officials Association. He said a number of older officials are nearing the end of their careers, and the organization's farm system isn't exactly deep.

You can't have high school football without officials, and you can't have officials if they all retire without replacements.

That's a growing problem, said Ken Lopez, treasurer of the Kern County Officials Association. He said a number of older officials are nearing the end of their careers, and the organization's farm system isn't exactly deep.

Softball

Central Section semifinals

Softball

Central Section semifinals

Porterville-Monache had too much offense, and too much Kaitlyne Thompson, for Frontier Wednesday afternoon.

The eighth-seeded Marauders, fresh off an upset win over top-seeded Garces in last week's Central Section Division II softball quarterfinals, scored runs in each of the first five innings to beat the defending champion Titans, 9-2 at Frontier.

Porterville-Monache had too much offense, and too much Kaitlyne Thompson, for Frontier Wednesday afternoon.

The eighth-seeded Marauders, fresh off an upset win over top-seeded Garces in last week's Central Section Division II softball quarterfinals, scored runs in each of the first five innings to beat the defending champion Titans, 9-2 at Frontier.

The 17th Arvin City Amateur Championship is scheduled to be played this weekend on the Sycamore Canyon golf course in Arvin, but a small field, if the tournament is played, will compete.

As of Wednesday afternoon, only a handful of players had signed up to play in the event which is the first of six of the Michelob Ultra/Sports Authority Player of the Year tournaments in which players earn points in the championship flight towards the 2012 Player of the Year title.

The 17th Arvin City Amateur Championship is scheduled to be played this weekend on the Sycamore Canyon golf course in Arvin, but a small field, if the tournament is played, will compete.

As of Wednesday afternoon, only a handful of players had signed up to play in the event which is the first of six of the Michelob Ultra/Sports Authority Player of the Year tournaments in which players earn points in the championship flight towards the 2012 Player of the Year title.

Hail Mary is a football term, but it's also a Catholic term, so maybe it's fitting that Garces pulled off the baseball version Tuesday.

The Rams scored five seventh-inning runs to stun Lemoore 6-5 at home in the Central Section Division III semifinals.

Hail Mary is a football term, but it's also a Catholic term, so maybe it's fitting that Garces pulled off the baseball version Tuesday.

The Rams scored five seventh-inning runs to stun Lemoore 6-5 at home in the Central Section Division III semifinals.

At the plate and on the mound, Andrew Heideman and Casey Bloomquist provided quite the 1-2 punch for the Bakersfield Christian High School baseball team on Tuesday.

Powered by the pair's multi-faceted exploits, the seconded-seeded Eagles earned a third straight section championship game appearance by beating visiting Fowler 5-3.

At the plate and on the mound, Andrew Heideman and Casey Bloomquist provided quite the 1-2 punch for the Bakersfield Christian High School baseball team on Tuesday.

Powered by the pair's multi-faceted exploits, the seconded-seeded Eagles earned a third straight section championship game appearance by beating visiting Fowler 5-3.

Cal State Bakersfield pitcher Spenser Messmore was on his game Tuesday night.

And it helped that Cal State Northridge's pitching had a nightmare game.

Cal State Bakersfield pitcher Spenser Messmore was on his game Tuesday night.

And it helped that Cal State Northridge's pitching had a nightmare game.

VISALIA -- Devin Lohman hit two homers and drove in six runs and Juan Duran had two doubles and four RBIs Tuesday to lead the Bakersfield Blaze to a 14-6 California League baseball victory over the Visalia Rawhide at Rawhide Ballpark.

The Blaze amassed 19 hits, with Billy Hamilton, Loman, Travis Mattair and Duran collecting three hits apiece. Hamilton, Lohman and Mattair also scored three runs apiece. Hamilton swiped two more bases to run his league-leading total to 42.

VISALIA -- Devin Lohman hit two homers and drove in six runs and Juan Duran had two doubles and four RBIs Tuesday to lead the Bakersfield Blaze to a 14-6 California League baseball victory over the Visalia Rawhide at Rawhide Ballpark.

The Blaze amassed 19 hits, with Billy Hamilton, Loman, Travis Mattair and Duran collecting three hits apiece. Hamilton, Lohman and Mattair also scored three runs apiece. Hamilton swiped two more bases to run his league-leading total to 42.

Baseball

Central Section semifinals

Baseball

Central Section semifinals