Jake Varner didn't wrestle in the Beat the Streets event held Thursday at Times Square in New York because of "physical and mental fatigue," his father, Steve, said.

Varner, a Bakersfield High graduate who qualified for the London Olympics in April, wrestled a demanding slate of matches in the FILA World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan, last month.

Jake Varner didn't wrestle in the Beat the Streets event held Thursday at Times Square in New York because of "physical and mental fatigue," his father, Steve, said.

Varner, a Bakersfield High graduate who qualified for the London Olympics in April, wrestled a demanding slate of matches in the FILA World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan, last month.

The median sale price of an existing single-family home in the Bakersfield area in May was $137,000, down 5.6 percent from April but up 1.4 percent from May 2011.

That's according to the Preliminary Crabtree Report, a monthly guage of the local housing market prepared by Gary Crabtree of Affiliated Appraisers.

Fun and frivolity mixed with the serious business of recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of Cal StateBakersfield athletes.

It was all part of The Inaugural ROWDY Awards Ceremony held at CSUB's Dore Theatre on Wednesday night.

Fun and frivolity mixed with the serious business of recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of Cal StateBakersfield athletes.

It was all part of The Inaugural ROWDY Awards Ceremony held at CSUB's Dore Theatre on Wednesday night.

For the second consecutive game, the Blaze got an amazing performance out their starting pitcher.

Except this time, the bullpen was able to finish it off, as Bakersfield topped the Visalia Rawhide 5-1 in the second game of a three-game series at Sam Lynn Ballpark on Wednesday night.

For the second consecutive game, the Blaze got an amazing performance out their starting pitcher.

Except this time, the bullpen was able to finish it off, as Bakersfield topped the Visalia Rawhide 5-1 in the second game of a three-game series at Sam Lynn Ballpark on Wednesday night.

It took one big inning for the Bakersfield All-Stars to prove their worth for a second straight year, 7-4 over the Santa Clarita Valley All-Stars, in the Senior All-Star Baseball Challenge on Wednesday at Gerry Collis Field.

With Bakersfield trailing 4-2, Liberty's Jared Solf hit a three-run triple to the wall in left-center field to give the home team the lead. Two batters later, Frontier senior Kyle Nixon cranked a two-run home run over the wall in right.

It took one big inning for the Bakersfield All-Stars to prove their worth for a second straight year, 7-4 over the Santa Clarita Valley All-Stars, in the Senior All-Star Baseball Challenge on Wednesday at Gerry Collis Field.

With Bakersfield trailing 4-2, Liberty's Jared Solf hit a three-run triple to the wall in left-center field to give the home team the lead. Two batters later, Frontier senior Kyle Nixon cranked a two-run home run over the wall in right.

The first of three Saturday Night Nitro shows takes place on, yep, Saturday night at Auto Club Famoso Raceway.

Two jet-powered dragsters and upwards of 20 nitro-powered vehicles, including Harley Davidson motorcycles and big show Funny Cars, are expected for the event, which is featuring nostalgia Funny Cars.

The first of three Saturday Night Nitro shows takes place on, yep, Saturday night at Auto Club Famoso Raceway.

Two jet-powered dragsters and upwards of 20 nitro-powered vehicles, including Harley Davidson motorcycles and big show Funny Cars, are expected for the event, which is featuring nostalgia Funny Cars.

The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Centennial shortstop Brody Russell on Wednesday in the 36th round of the Major League Baseball draft.

Russell very nearly went Tuesday 30 rounds earlier, but he and the St. Louis Cardinals couldn't come to an agreement on a signing bonus. Russell had asked for at least $300,000 as incentive to sign him away from Fresno State, where he has committed to play in college.

The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Centennial shortstop Brody Russell on Wednesday in the 36th round of the Major League Baseball draft.

Russell very nearly went Tuesday 30 rounds earlier, but he and the St. Louis Cardinals couldn't come to an agreement on a signing bonus. Russell had asked for at least $300,000 as incentive to sign him away from Fresno State, where he has committed to play in college.

There will be plenty of talent in both dugouts for tonight's Senior High School All-Star Baseball Challenge at Bakersfield College.

The 7:15 p.m. game pits Bakersfield against Santa Clarita Valley, which will be led by shortstop Trey Williams, a Valencia senior whom the St. Louis Cardinals took in the 11th round of the Major League Baseball draft Tuesday.

There will be plenty of talent in both dugouts for tonight's Senior High School All-Star Baseball Challenge at Bakersfield College.

The 7:15 p.m. game pits Bakersfield against Santa Clarita Valley, which will be led by shortstop Trey Williams, a Valencia senior whom the St. Louis Cardinals took in the 11th round of the Major League Baseball draft Tuesday.

The top 10 rounds of the Major League Baseball draft came and went Tuesday, and Brent Peterson still didn't hear his name called.

But when the Cincinnati Reds called a few minutes later with news that they'd take Peterson, a shortstop who attended Bakersfield Christian, North and Liberty high schools and Bakersfield College, with their 12th-round pick, all that disappointment melted away.

The top 10 rounds of the Major League Baseball draft came and went Tuesday, and Brent Peterson still didn't hear his name called.

But when the Cincinnati Reds called a few minutes later with news that they'd take Peterson, a shortstop who attended Bakersfield Christian, North and Liberty high schools and Bakersfield College, with their 12th-round pick, all that disappointment melted away.

The pitching matchup between Visalia's David Holmberg and Bakersfield's Daniel Renken played out as expected.

It was a pitching duel, with Renken hurling eight innings of three-hit shutout baseball.

The pitching matchup between Visalia's David Holmberg and Bakersfield's Daniel Renken played out as expected.

It was a pitching duel, with Renken hurling eight innings of three-hit shutout baseball.

TUKWILA, Wash. -- Osvaldo Alonso and Fredy Montero each scored a pair of second-half goals, and the Seattle Sounders scored their goals in a span of 20 minutes on Tuesday night to end amateur side Cal FC's run through the U.S. Open Cup with a 5-0 victory.

Alex Caskey also scored for Seattle, which was kept off the board for nearly 50 minutes by the team from Thousand Oaks, before Alonso converted a penalty kick.