Jim Maples had waited 20 years to become the head football coach at Garces. Another month and a half wasn't going to dampen his enthusiasm.

Seven weeks after John Roberts retired, Garces hired what seemed to be an obvious replacement: Maples, an assistant head coach the past two years, will take over the Rams' program.

SEATTLE -- The University of Washington extended Cal State Bakersfield's losing streak to a season-long six straight Friday in a 4-2 baseball win to open a three-game series.

The Roadrunners (7-12) scored in the fifth inning, only their second run in their last 35 innings.

It doesn't take an expert to tell you that a tie, in any sport, was a close contest.

But not all ties are created equal. Take, for example, Friday's Lynch Cup match between Liberty and host Stockdale.

Basketball

CIF State Championships

The Bakersfield Condors registered a California hat trick -- with all three California natives scoring -- and fended off a late rally to defeat the Stockton Thunder 6-5 on Friday at Stockton.

It was Bakersfield's third consecutive win in Stockton and in the overall season series this year.

Kern County, southern San Joaquin Valley

LAKE ISABELLA: Trout action remains good at the auxiliary dam for bait anglers fishing floating baits, Power Mice Tails, or inflated nightcrawlers. DFG plants two and four weeks ago. The catfish bite has also picked up with most of the action in the bays in 10 to 15 feet of water on clams and cut baits. Few reports on crappie and the bass and bluegill action is still slow. The 23rd Annual Isabella Lake Fishing Derby will be held March 31-April 2 with over $250,000 in potential prize winnings. There will be one tagged trout worth $20,000, and if that trout is caught by an angler wearing an official 2012 Isabella Lake Fishing Derby tee-shirt or hoodie during the three day event that prize will double to $40,000. There will also be 10 tagged trout worth $10,000 each and 989 tags worth $50 to $1,000. For registration and derby information go to www.isabellafishingderby.com or call 866-578-4386 or 760-379-5236.

With more than $250,000 on the line, the Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce will host the 23rd annual Isabella Lake Fishing derby March 31-April 2. Sponsored by Berkley and Shakespeare Products, plus a host of Kern River valley businesses, the popular event should draw thousands of people to fish for a thousand tagged trout worth from $50 to $40,000 each.

Registration remains easy for prospective anglers in that they can sign up in person before 7 a.m. March 31 at the Derby headquarters located at the Moose Lodge in Lake Isabella or at isabellafishingderby.com. Costs are minimal -- a single angler can enter for only $20 and an entire family for just $45. For more information, call (866) 578-4386 or (760) 379-5236.

No doubt about it, Tracy Hines loves to race.

The former USAC Silver Crown and Sprint Car champion competes nearly 100 times a year so when Dave Calderwood suggested putting together another car for Hines to drive a few times a year, Hines was all in.

West Los Angeles College pitching was so generous Thursday night, the Renegades didn't really even need to swing their bats.

Five Wildcat pitchers issued 13 walks, hit three batters with pitches and added five wild pitches for good measure.

Kim Butler and Haleigh Dilbeck were double winners as the Bakersfield College women's tennis team defeated Santa Monica 6-3 in a Western State Conference match on the Corsairs' courts.

Butler beat Karla Hernandez, 7-5, 3-6, 6-6 (retired) at No. 3 singles, and teamed with Aubrey Gemler for an 8-5 doubles victory.

Baseball

Stockdale 2, Frontier 1

It is now officially over.

The Condors had been hanging onto their playoff hopes by a thread for the past week but that thread finally snapped.

The honors aren't quite over for Bakersfield High's Central Section championship football team.

BHS is the final stop on MaxPreps' Tour of Champions; at 9:25 this morning, the Drillers will be presented with an Army National Guard national ranking trophy, commemmorating their high finish in the website's national computer rankings.

At Liberty

Boys

Baseball

Stockdale 10, Liberty 3

It has taken Stockdale's softball team all of two Southwest Yosemite League games to prove that even without Justine Vela, the Mustangs aren't going anywhere.

The latter of those came Tuesday afternoon at Liberty, where Stockdale rolled 7-0 with all the scoring coming in the final two innings.

Baseball

Spring Break Baseball Camp, April 2-4. All ages invited. 9 a.m.-noon. Cost: $65 player. Video analysis packages also available. Email: bbabraves@gmail.com.

For men's soccer at Cal State Bakersfield, it's Pac-12 Conference, here we come.

CSUB officials announced Monday morning that the university has accepted an invitation to join the West Coast's most prestigious conference as an affiliate member in men's soccer, effective the 2013 season.

LAS VEGAS -- The Bakersfield Condors won their third straight, receiving 40 saves from goalie Bryan Pitton and toppled the Las Vegas Wranglers 4-3 on Sunday afternoon at Orleans Arena.

Defenseman Josh Van Dyk scored the game-winner on a power play in the third period.

Like almost every other college baseball player, Tyler Painton dreams of some day playing in the Major Leagues. But for now that's something the talented left-handed pitcher doesn't concern himself with much. He simply doesn't have the time or inclination.

Painton is focused on helping the Bakersfield College baseball team reach its objective of winning a state championship.