In 2010, the last time the Amgen Tour of California came to Bakersfield, the city hosted the finish of Stage 5, a 121-mile trek that started in Visalia and meandered though the Southern Sierra foothills. Peter Sagan sprinted across the finish line on Panorama Drive to win the stage nearly 5 hours after he started.

The course for this year's fifth stage, which takes place May 17, is an 18.4-mile individual time trial from Bakersfield College to Lake Ming and back. The professional riders are expected to finish in about 35 minutes. That's 35 minutes of pain.

Beat that, Levi Leipheimer!

On a warm but not sweltering Sunday morning, some of Bakersfield's best cyclists set marks for Leipheimer and other pros to aim for when the Amgen Tour of California swings through town next month.

Beat that, Levi Leipheimer!

On a warm but not sweltering Sunday morning, some of Bakersfield's best cyclists set marks for Leipheimer and other pros to aim for when the Amgen Tour of California swings through town next month.

As if three hard-fought games weren't enough, the Bakersfield College baseball team will have to play Western State Conference South foe L.A. Valley again, this time in a single-elimination play-in game at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Van Nuys.

"We're both very familiar with each other," said BC coach Tim Painton, whose team defeated Valley 6-5 earlier this month, but lost the season series 2-1. "Looking back on our games, it's been a fairly evenly matched series. There won't be too many surprises. We just have to go in and we have to win."

As if three hard-fought games weren't enough, the Bakersfield College baseball team will have to play Western State Conference South foe L.A. Valley again, this time in a single-elimination play-in game at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Van Nuys.

"We're both very familiar with each other," said BC coach Tim Painton, whose team defeated Valley 6-5 earlier this month, but lost the season series 2-1. "Looking back on our games, it's been a fairly evenly matched series. There won't be too many surprises. We just have to go in and we have to win."

MODESTO -- Billy Hamilton went 3-for-4 and stole his 29th base, but the Modesto Nuts rallied to defeat the Bakersfield Blaze 7-4 on Sunday at John Thurman Field.

Hamilton opened the game with a single, stole second and scored on a base hit by Devin Lohman to give Bakersfield a brief 1-0 lead.

MODESTO -- Billy Hamilton went 3-for-4 and stole his 29th base, but the Modesto Nuts rallied to defeat the Bakersfield Blaze 7-4 on Sunday at John Thurman Field.

Hamilton opened the game with a single, stole second and scored on a base hit by Devin Lohman to give Bakersfield a brief 1-0 lead.

Clay Daly of Watsonville used a pick to perfection Saturday night at Bakersfield Speedway.

Daly was running second to Steve Drake as the leaders rapidly closed on slower traffic with 10 laps remaining in the 30-lap Late Model feature.

Clay Daly of Watsonville used a pick to perfection Saturday night at Bakersfield Speedway.

Daly was running second to Steve Drake as the leaders rapidly closed on slower traffic with 10 laps remaining in the 30-lap Late Model feature.

"Baseball is a game that is neither won nor lost ... it is merely played." -- Unknown

"Baseball is a game that is neither won nor lost ... it is merely played." -- Unknown

DAVIE, Fla. -- The Miami Dolphins have selected former Bakersfield College receiver Rishard Matthews in the seventh and final round of the NFL draft.

The 6-foot-2 Matthews, who finished his college career at the University of Nevada, caught 54 passes for 759 yards and six touchdowns in 2009 for the Renegades.

DAVIE, Fla. -- The Miami Dolphins have selected former Bakersfield College receiver Rishard Matthews in the seventh and final round of the NFL draft.

The 6-foot-2 Matthews, who finished his college career at the University of Nevada, caught 54 passes for 759 yards and six touchdowns in 2009 for the Renegades.

Baseball

Shafter 4, Arvin 3

Baseball

Shafter 4, Arvin 3

Bakersfield College earned an at-large playoff bid and will host a first-round series in the CCCAA Softball Southern Regional at the Dean and Adah Gay Sports Complex.

The Renegades (27-13), who finished fourth in the Western State Conference Blue Division, were awarded the No. 8 seed and will play No. 9 College of the Desert in a best-of-three series starting Saturday at 7 p.m. The teams will play at 2 p.m. Sunday and again at 4 p.m., if necessary.

Bakersfield College earned an at-large playoff bid and will host a first-round series in the CCCAA Softball Southern Regional at the Dean and Adah Gay Sports Complex.

The Renegades (27-13), who finished fourth in the Western State Conference Blue Division, were awarded the No. 8 seed and will play No. 9 College of the Desert in a best-of-three series starting Saturday at 7 p.m. The teams will play at 2 p.m. Sunday and again at 4 p.m., if necessary.

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Spencer Messore set the school record for longest outing by a pitcher as Cal State Bakersfield earned a split with Nebraska on Saturday.

Messmore, a senior, threw 10 innings in game 1 to set the record before the Roadrunners fell 3-2 in 11 innings. CSUB rallied for a 10-2 victory in game 2 for the split.

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Spencer Messore set the school record for longest outing by a pitcher as Cal State Bakersfield earned a split with Nebraska on Saturday.

Messmore, a senior, threw 10 innings in game 1 to set the record before the Roadrunners fell 3-2 in 11 innings. CSUB rallied for a 10-2 victory in game 2 for the split.

MODESTO -- Two more Billy Hamilton stolen bases weren't enough to help the Bakersfield Blaze extend its winning streak.

The Blaze fell 7-4 to the host Modesto Nuts, ending its winning streak at 11 games.