MODESTO -- Billy Hamilton went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three more stolen bases to lead the Bakersfield Blaze to their 11th straight victory Friday night, 7-0 over the Modesto Nuts at John Thurman Field.

The Blaze shorstop, who is hitting .395, has 26 steals in 31 tries this season for Bakersfield (14-7), which has a one game lead over the San Jose Giants in the California League North standings.

MODESTO -- Billy Hamilton went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three more stolen bases to lead the Bakersfield Blaze to their 11th straight victory Friday night, 7-0 over the Modesto Nuts at John Thurman Field.

The Blaze shorstop, who is hitting .395, has 26 steals in 31 tries this season for Bakersfield (14-7), which has a one game lead over the San Jose Giants in the California League North standings.

STOCKTON -- The Blaze won its 10th straight game Thursday, 8-1 over the Stockton Ports, as Billy Hamilton stole four bases to extend his lead over all minor leagues.

Tony Cingrani (2-1) allowed one hit and one walk and struck out eight in six innings of work for the Blaze (13-7), lowering his California League-best ERA to 0.39.

STOCKTON -- The Blaze won its 10th straight game Thursday, 8-1 over the Stockton Ports, as Billy Hamilton stole four bases to extend his lead over all minor leagues.

Tony Cingrani (2-1) allowed one hit and one walk and struck out eight in six innings of work for the Blaze (13-7), lowering his California League-best ERA to 0.39.

For most of Thursday's softball game, Frontier put runners on base, threatened Stockdale and generally looked dangerous. Stockdale, armed with the narrowest of leads, kept finding ways to escape.

When the dust had settled, the Mustangs had a 2-0 victory and were a step closer to an unlikely Southwest Yosemite League title.

For most of Thursday's softball game, Frontier put runners on base, threatened Stockdale and generally looked dangerous. Stockdale, armed with the narrowest of leads, kept finding ways to escape.

When the dust had settled, the Mustangs had a 2-0 victory and were a step closer to an unlikely Southwest Yosemite League title.

Baseball

Stockdale 3, Frontier 2

Baseball

Stockdale 3, Frontier 2

The high school football coaching carousel has ended for another year, and it does so with a familiar face.

Bakersfield Christian announced Thursday it has promoted Jerald Pierucci from offensive coordinator to head coach, giving the former East High coach another shot at a front-and-center position.

The high school football coaching carousel has ended for another year, and it does so with a familiar face.

Bakersfield Christian announced Thursday it has promoted Jerald Pierucci from offensive coordinator to head coach, giving the former East High coach another shot at a front-and-center position.

In baseball coach Tim Painton's eyes, his Bakersfield College Renegades did everything right to conclude the regular season.

"We beat Glendale at Glendale (a week earlier), which is not an easy task," Painton said. "We won on the road Tuesday and we won here today," Painton said after the Renegades romped past Los Angeles Pierce College 13-3 at Gerry Collis Field.

In baseball coach Tim Painton's eyes, his Bakersfield College Renegades did everything right to conclude the regular season.

"We beat Glendale at Glendale (a week earlier), which is not an easy task," Painton said. "We won on the road Tuesday and we won here today," Painton said after the Renegades romped past Los Angeles Pierce College 13-3 at Gerry Collis Field.

In spite of howling winds and snow flurries in the high country on Thursday, this weekend's trout season opener is predicted to be the best in several seasons with perfect weather forecast and excellent fishing conditions. Ice is completely gone from most waters below 8,000 feet, including the most popular destinations in the Eastern Sierra, such as Lake Sabrina, Crowley Lake, Convict Lake, all the waters in the June Lake Loop, Twin Lakes above Bridgeport and Bridgeport Reservoir.

With the warm weather last week, more warm days forecast from today through early next week also points to conditions that will continue to erode ice on higher elevation waters and ice fishing may be out of the question on many lakes that would normally support a little taste of Minnesota winter fishing each opener.

In spite of howling winds and snow flurries in the high country on Thursday, this weekend's trout season opener is predicted to be the best in several seasons with perfect weather forecast and excellent fishing conditions. Ice is completely gone from most waters below 8,000 feet, including the most popular destinations in the Eastern Sierra, such as Lake Sabrina, Crowley Lake, Convict Lake, all the waters in the June Lake Loop, Twin Lakes above Bridgeport and Bridgeport Reservoir.

With the warm weather last week, more warm days forecast from today through early next week also points to conditions that will continue to erode ice on higher elevation waters and ice fishing may be out of the question on many lakes that would normally support a little taste of Minnesota winter fishing each opener.

Kern County, southern San Joaquin Valley

LAKE ISABELLA: While the front late this week could slow things, the crappie bite has broken wide open, according to Bob Rutledge of Bob's Bait Bucket in Bakersfield. Catfish bite also has reportedly broken wide open. The crappie were best in Kissack Cove on small, live minnows, but there were other spots producing a lot of fish, too. There has also been a very good bite on channel cats. Trout showing off the points and at the auxiliary dam. Quite a few bass being caught. Bluegill bite improving.

Kern County, southern San Joaquin Valley

LAKE ISABELLA: While the front late this week could slow things, the crappie bite has broken wide open, according to Bob Rutledge of Bob's Bait Bucket in Bakersfield. Catfish bite also has reportedly broken wide open. The crappie were best in Kissack Cove on small, live minnows, but there were other spots producing a lot of fish, too. There has also been a very good bite on channel cats. Trout showing off the points and at the auxiliary dam. Quite a few bass being caught. Bluegill bite improving.

The Californian's newly-issued e-book on the March Meet will be the focus of the newspaper's radio segment on KERN radio at 9 a.m. Friday.

Logan Molen, the newspaper's senior vice president and chief operating officer, and Louis Amestoy, Digita Convergence Manager, will host Californian Radio. The March Meet book for the iPad features complete coverage from the 2012 races, the history of the event and includes more than 200 photos, a dozen videos and 20 chapters of content.

The Californian's newly-issued e-book on the March Meet will be the focus of the newspaper's radio segment on KERN radio at 9 a.m. Friday.

Logan Molen, the newspaper's senior vice president and chief operating officer, and Louis Amestoy, Digita Convergence Manager, will host Californian Radio. The March Meet book for the iPad features complete coverage from the 2012 races, the history of the event and includes more than 200 photos, a dozen videos and 20 chapters of content.

With construction under way at the half-finished Kern County Raceway near Enos Lane and Interstate 5 and the possibility of racing at the paved half-mile as early as October, I figured it was time to reacquaint myself with Saturday night short-track pavement racing.

So I hitched a ride with former Late Model driver Dick Shepherd, whose 12-year old son, Buddy, is a rookie Legends driver, and headed to Madera on Saturday to catch the SRL Spears Southwest Tour Series, and was not disappointed.

With construction under way at the half-finished Kern County Raceway near Enos Lane and Interstate 5 and the possibility of racing at the paved half-mile as early as October, I figured it was time to reacquaint myself with Saturday night short-track pavement racing.

So I hitched a ride with former Late Model driver Dick Shepherd, whose 12-year old son, Buddy, is a rookie Legends driver, and headed to Madera on Saturday to catch the SRL Spears Southwest Tour Series, and was not disappointed.