BY ZACH EWING

Californian staff writer

Chargers running back and West High graduate Ryan Mathews will not be present at the Lorenzo Neal youth football camp at Frontier on Tuesday, as was originally planned.

Mathews said he and his agent miscommunicated on the date of the camp; the Chargers have a mandatory mini-camp for players the same day.

Chargers running back and West High graduate Ryan Mathews will not be present at the Lorenzo Neal youth football camp at Frontier on Tuesday, as was originally planned.

Mathews said he and his agent miscommunicated on the date of the camp; the Chargers have a mandatory mini-camp for players the same day.

Cal State Bakersfield will have nine home men's soccer games this season, according to the 2013 schedule that was announced Friday.

The Roadrunners are coming off a 12-4-5 season when they made the university's first team appearance in an NCAA Division I tournament.

Cal State Bakersfield will have nine home men's soccer games this season, according to the 2013 schedule that was announced Friday.

The Roadrunners are coming off a 12-4-5 season when they made the university's first team appearance in an NCAA Division I tournament.

Women's swimming and diving is the latest Cal State Bakersfield sport that is switching conferences.

The Western Athletic Conference and CSUB announced Thursday that the Roadrunners have accepted an invitation to join the WAC in women's swimming and diving as an affiliate member starting in the 2012-13 season.

Women's swimming and diving is the latest Cal State Bakersfield sport that is switching conferences.

The Western Athletic Conference and CSUB announced Thursday that the Roadrunners have accepted an invitation to join the WAC in women's swimming and diving as an affiliate member starting in the 2012-13 season.

Chargers running back Ryan Mathews, a West High alumnus, will headline a youth football camp in Bakersfield next week organized by former all-pro fullback Lorenzo Neal.

The camps runs from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday at Frontier High School, where Mathews' high school coach, Rich Cornford, now runs the program.

Chargers running back Ryan Mathews, a West High alumnus, will headline a youth football camp in Bakersfield next week organized by former all-pro fullback Lorenzo Neal.

The camps runs from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday at Frontier High School, where Mathews' high school coach, Rich Cornford, now runs the program.

After more than two decades, the Bakersfield Blaze finally did it. The Blaze clinched its first California League North Division first-half championship since 1991 with a 4-2 victory over the Lake Elsinore Storm on Thursday night at Sam Lynn Ballpark.

With the score tied 2-2, Niko Vasquez smacked a seventh-inning, two-run homer to lift the Blaze to a dramatic victory that ended with Bakersfield closer Brian Pearl striking out the side in the ninth inning.

After more than two decades, the Bakersfield Blaze finally did it. The Blaze clinched its first California League North Division first-half championship since 1991 with a 4-2 victory over the Lake Elsinore Storm on Thursday night at Sam Lynn Ballpark.

With the score tied 2-2, Niko Vasquez smacked a seventh-inning, two-run homer to lift the Blaze to a dramatic victory that ended with Bakersfield closer Brian Pearl striking out the side in the ninth inning.

Kern County, southern San Joaquin Valley

STRIPER DERBY: The annual Bob's Bait month-long striper derby kicked off June 1. The entry fee is $1 per angler and you must register before you weigh in a fish. Only fresh fish can be weighed in and no weighing in of fish the same day as entering derby. The biggest striper weighed in during June will take the $100 prize, plus all the entry fee money from everyone entered. So far, there are 115 anglers signed up which means the pot is $215 at this point. The leader is David Diaz, Bakersfield, with an 8-pounder. Last year's winner took home almost $500. For more information, call Bob's Bait (661) 833-8657.

Kern County, southern San Joaquin Valley

STRIPER DERBY: The annual Bob's Bait month-long striper derby kicked off June 1. The entry fee is $1 per angler and you must register before you weigh in a fish. Only fresh fish can be weighed in and no weighing in of fish the same day as entering derby. The biggest striper weighed in during June will take the $100 prize, plus all the entry fee money from everyone entered. So far, there are 115 anglers signed up which means the pot is $215 at this point. The leader is David Diaz, Bakersfield, with an 8-pounder. Last year's winner took home almost $500. For more information, call Bob's Bait (661) 833-8657.

Late Model stock car drivers return to Bakersfield Speedway on Saturday night where three previous races have produced three different winners.

Steve Drake of San Luis Obispo was the last winner at the third-mile clay oval in a wild finish on May 19.

Late Model stock car drivers return to Bakersfield Speedway on Saturday night where three previous races have produced three different winners.

Steve Drake of San Luis Obispo was the last winner at the third-mile clay oval in a wild finish on May 19.

It doesn't get much better than Father's Day and the final round of the U.S. Open. But that's what we have on tap this weekend and I can't wait.

The Olympic Club, some Barbecue and family. What more could you ask for?

It doesn't get much better than Father's Day and the final round of the U.S. Open. But that's what we have on tap this weekend and I can't wait.

The Olympic Club, some Barbecue and family. What more could you ask for?

STOCKTON -- The Bakersfield Blaze was unable to protect a six-run lead Wednesday in a 9-6 loss to the Stockton Ports, and will try again tonight on its home field to clinch its first California League opening-half title in 21 years.

Either a Blaze victory tonight, against Lake Elsinore at Sam Lynn Ballpark, or a San Jose loss to Modesto, can seal the first-half title for Bakersfield.

STOCKTON -- The Bakersfield Blaze was unable to protect a six-run lead Wednesday in a 9-6 loss to the Stockton Ports, and will try again tonight on its home field to clinch its first California League opening-half title in 21 years.

Either a Blaze victory tonight, against Lake Elsinore at Sam Lynn Ballpark, or a San Jose loss to Modesto, can seal the first-half title for Bakersfield.

The fact that it was an exhibition game had little bearing on Nisa Ontiveros' approach to Wednesday night's Kern County Senior All-Star Softball Game

The recent Ridgeview grad was out to win, just like always.