The recent upheaval in the Western Athletic Conference has that league reeling. But it also enhances (and hastens) Cal State Bakersfield's chances of landing a conference home.

The general consensus of college media types on the West Coast and in Texas conjectures that the WAC is dead as a football-playing conference.

The recent upheaval in the Western Athletic Conference has that league reeling. But it also enhances (and hastens) Cal State Bakersfield's chances of landing a conference home.

The general consensus of college media types on the West Coast and in Texas conjectures that the WAC is dead as a football-playing conference.

Friday I was moved up to Single A ball in Greenville, S.C. Usually the way a move-up works is someone above you got injured, released or was moved up and a player from the level below is brought up to replace him.

When the organization decides to move a player up there is plenty of behind-the- scenes work besides what the players see. I can't speak to the decisions there but can share with you what it is like for a player.

Friday I was moved up to Single A ball in Greenville, S.C. Usually the way a move-up works is someone above you got injured, released or was moved up and a player from the level below is brought up to replace him.

When the organization decides to move a player up there is plenty of behind-the- scenes work besides what the players see. I can't speak to the decisions there but can share with you what it is like for a player.

David Perez had been in his situation before, but it didn't feel like this.

The Mira Monte senior won his second South Yosemite League singles title in a row Friday at the Bakersfield Racquet Club, beating South High's Masiel Herrera, 7-6 (8-6), 6-3 in a repeat of last year's final. But when Perez finished Herrera, a good friend, he fell to the court and raised his arms like it was the first time.

David Perez had been in his situation before, but it didn't feel like this.

The Mira Monte senior won his second South Yosemite League singles title in a row Friday at the Bakersfield Racquet Club, beating South High's Masiel Herrera, 7-6 (8-6), 6-3 in a repeat of last year's final. But when Perez finished Herrera, a good friend, he fell to the court and raised his arms like it was the first time.

Billy Hamilton is going to steal second base, and there's really not much you can do about it.

Maybe you're an opposing first baseman on a California League team facing the Bakersfield Blaze, and Hamilton just straight-up told you he was stealing second. Or maybe you're an opposing pitcher or catcher, and nobody told you anything but Hamilton's dancing off the base like he just drank a case of Red Bull.

Billy Hamilton is going to steal second base, and there's really not much you can do about it.

Maybe you're an opposing first baseman on a California League team facing the Bakersfield Blaze, and Hamilton just straight-up told you he was stealing second. Or maybe you're an opposing pitcher or catcher, and nobody told you anything but Hamilton's dancing off the base like he just drank a case of Red Bull.

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Seventeenth-ranked North Carolina State baseball rallied from behind with a five-run seventh to beat Cal State Bakersfield 8-4 on Friday.

The Wolfpack (31-12) opened the seventh with three consecutive singles. Trea Turner's two-run single put N.C. State ahead 5-4. One out later, Danny Canela hit a two-run homer that knocked CSUB starter Scott Brattvet out of the game.

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Seventeenth-ranked North Carolina State baseball rallied from behind with a five-run seventh to beat Cal State Bakersfield 8-4 on Friday.

The Wolfpack (31-12) opened the seventh with three consecutive singles. Trea Turner's two-run single put N.C. State ahead 5-4. One out later, Danny Canela hit a two-run homer that knocked CSUB starter Scott Brattvet out of the game.

Chandler Laurent's three-run home run in the eighth inning lifted Modesto past the Blaze 4-2 on Friday night at Sam Lynn Ballpark.

Bakersfield has lost five of six games since its 11-game winning streak vaulted it into first place in the California League's Northern Division. The Blaze now trails San Jose by two games.

Chandler Laurent's three-run home run in the eighth inning lifted Modesto past the Blaze 4-2 on Friday night at Sam Lynn Ballpark.

Bakersfield has lost five of six games since its 11-game winning streak vaulted it into first place in the California League's Northern Division. The Blaze now trails San Jose by two games.

Under normal circumstances, D.J. Johnson would have been more than a little irritated that he allowed an opponent to take two games from him.

However, since it happened against East High teammate Samuel Ramirez, Johnson wasn't in the mood to quibble over imperfections regarding his 6-1, 6-1 singles victory Friday in the finals of the Southeast Yosemite League Boys Tennis Championships at Garces.

Under normal circumstances, D.J. Johnson would have been more than a little irritated that he allowed an opponent to take two games from him.

However, since it happened against East High teammate Samuel Ramirez, Johnson wasn't in the mood to quibble over imperfections regarding his 6-1, 6-1 singles victory Friday in the finals of the Southeast Yosemite League Boys Tennis Championships at Garces.

Baseball

Mira Monte 15, Foothill 9

Baseball

Mira Monte 15, Foothill 9

It didn't take long after last year's Central Section singles tournament for Liberty's Anthony Busacca to formulate a new strategy for 2011.

The first official steps of that plan took place Friday at In Shape-Laurel Glen, when Busacca teamed with Matt Sewell to win the Southwest Yosemite League doubles championship, 7-5, 6-1 over Stockdale's Charles Tamer-John Matthew Flores.

It didn't take long after last year's Central Section singles tournament for Liberty's Anthony Busacca to formulate a new strategy for 2011.

The first official steps of that plan took place Friday at In Shape-Laurel Glen, when Busacca teamed with Matt Sewell to win the Southwest Yosemite League doubles championship, 7-5, 6-1 over Stockdale's Charles Tamer-John Matthew Flores.

BAKERSFIELD -- The Lancaster JetHawks used a three-run seventh inning to hand the Bakersfield Blaze an 8-6 loss in a back-and-fourth game at Sam Lynn Ballpark.

In a game that had four lead changes, the JetHawks used four singles, a sacrifice fly and fielder's choice in the deciding frame.

BAKERSFIELD -- The Lancaster JetHawks used a three-run seventh inning to hand the Bakersfield Blaze an 8-6 loss in a back-and-fourth game at Sam Lynn Ballpark.

In a game that had four lead changes, the JetHawks used four singles, a sacrifice fly and fielder's choice in the deciding frame.