Kern County, southern San Joaquin Valley

STRIPER DERBY: The annual Bob's Bait Bucket month-long striper derby kicks off today. 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. Last year's winner took home almost $500.

PASADENA -- Thursday's CIF Southern California Boys Golf Regional marked the end of the season for the final four Kern County golfers and the end of a prep career for three.

Though none will advance to next week's state championships at San Gabriel Country Club, they were able to pause and reflect on the season.

PASADENA -- Thursday's CIF Southern California Boys Golf Regional marked the end of the season for the final four Kern County golfers and the end of a prep career for three.

Though none will advance to next week's state championships at San Gabriel Country Club, they were able to pause and reflect on the season.

Four drivers will seek their first repeat win during IMCA Modified competition Saturday night at Bakersfield Speedway.

Four races on the third-mile clay oval have produced four winners, with Brad Pounds, Gary Dutton, Justin Schweitzer and Michael Johnson each having one victory.

Four drivers will seek their first repeat win during IMCA Modified competition Saturday night at Bakersfield Speedway.

Four races on the third-mile clay oval have produced four winners, with Brad Pounds, Gary Dutton, Justin Schweitzer and Michael Johnson each having one victory.

The Kern County contingent at the CIF Southern California Boys Golf Regional today in Pasadena has a distinct underdog feel.

None of the four -- Centennial's P.J. Carmichael, Bakersfield's Tyler Whitehead, Liberty's Brett Kettler and Garces' Rito Guzman -- has ever qualified as an individual to the regional before, though Carmichael played in Pasadena last year when the Golden Hawks qualified as a team. The others will play in the cutthroat tournament for the first time.

The Kern County contingent at the CIF Southern California Boys Golf Regional today in Pasadena has a distinct underdog feel.

None of the four -- Centennial's P.J. Carmichael, Bakersfield's Tyler Whitehead, Liberty's Brett Kettler and Garces' Rito Guzman -- has ever qualified as an individual to the regional before, though Carmichael played in Pasadena last year when the Golden Hawks qualified as a team. The others will play in the cutthroat tournament for the first time.

SAN JOSE -- Bakersfield never trailed after a five-run third inning en route to a 7-5 win over the San Jose Giants on Wednesday night at Municipal Stadium.

The Blaze used a Tucker Barnhart single, four walks, a hit by pitch and a two-run single by Juan Duran in the inning for a 5-0 lead.

SAN JOSE -- Bakersfield never trailed after a five-run third inning en route to a 7-5 win over the San Jose Giants on Wednesday night at Municipal Stadium.

The Blaze used a Tucker Barnhart single, four walks, a hit by pitch and a two-run single by Juan Duran in the inning for a 5-0 lead.

The Bakersfield Condors will be seeing a lot of the San Francisco Bulls during the 2012-13 ECHL hockey season.

The Condors open the season against the Bulls at the Cow Palace in San Francisco on Oct. 12-13 and will face the newest member of the Pacific Division 12 times during the 72-game season.

The Bakersfield Condors will be seeing a lot of the San Francisco Bulls during the 2012-13 ECHL hockey season.

The Condors open the season against the Bulls at the Cow Palace in San Francisco on Oct. 12-13 and will face the newest member of the Pacific Division 12 times during the 72-game season.

NEWARK, N.J. -- Anze Kopitar scored a spectacular goal on a breakaway with 11:47 left in overtime Wednesday night and the Los Angeles Kings beat the New Jersey Devils 2-1 in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Kopitar faked a backhand shot, put the puck on his forehand and beat a prone Martin Brodeur.

NEWARK, N.J. -- Anze Kopitar scored a spectacular goal on a breakaway with 11:47 left in overtime Wednesday night and the Los Angeles Kings beat the New Jersey Devils 2-1 in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Kopitar faked a backhand shot, put the puck on his forehand and beat a prone Martin Brodeur.

The foreclosure rate in the Bakersfield-Delano area was 3.02 percent in March, down slightly from 3.82 percent a year earlier and lower than the national foreclosure rate of 3.41 percent, according to newly released figures from real estate data firm CoreLogic.

The report counted properties in any stage of the foreclosure process.

Former Ridgeview High and Bakersfield College pitcher Phil Dumatrait announced his retirement from professional baseball Sunday following a five-year major league career.

Arm troubles plagued the left-hander through much of a 12-year career that started when he was a first-round draft choice of the Boston Red Sox in 2000 after a stellar career at BC.

Former Ridgeview High and Bakersfield College pitcher Phil Dumatrait announced his retirement from professional baseball Sunday following a five-year major league career.

Arm troubles plagued the left-hander through much of a 12-year career that started when he was a first-round draft choice of the Boston Red Sox in 2000 after a stellar career at BC.

Tony Cingrani, the first of five Bakersfield pitchers, held the Inland Empire 66ers to a single run in 51⁄3 innings and James Ewing had two hits and two RBIs to lead the Blaze to a 5-3 victory Tuesday at Sam Lynn Ballpark.

Cingrani allowed only four hits. He walked one and struck out two.

Tony Cingrani, the first of five Bakersfield pitchers, held the Inland Empire 66ers to a single run in 51⁄3 innings and James Ewing had two hits and two RBIs to lead the Blaze to a 5-3 victory Tuesday at Sam Lynn Ballpark.

Cingrani allowed only four hits. He walked one and struck out two.

LAKE ISABELLA -- Bigger division, different team, different year, stiffer competition.

None of that stopped Kern Valley's softball team from beating Carpinteria 2-0 in Tuesday's semifinals and advancing to a second Southern Section championship game in three years.

LAKE ISABELLA -- Bigger division, different team, different year, stiffer competition.

None of that stopped Kern Valley's softball team from beating Carpinteria 2-0 in Tuesday's semifinals and advancing to a second Southern Section championship game in three years.