Taylor Aikenhead wears it as a badge of honor.

He's the Division I national leader in complete games, and he got another Saturday, a 97-pitch masterpiece to give Cal State Bakersfield a 3-1 win over Santa Clara to complete a doubleheader sweep and also complete a series sweep.

Cal State Bakersfield was swept in a Pacific Coast Softball Conference doubleheader Saturday, losing 9-4 and 5-0 to Loyola Marymount.

Amy Ricciardi hit a solo home run in the opener for CSUB, which swept LMU (26-15) in Friday's twinbill. It was Ricciardi's third homer of the series.

Cal State Bakersfield was swept in a Pacific Coast Softball Conference doubleheader Saturday, losing 9-4 and 5-0 to Loyola Marymount.

Amy Ricciardi hit a solo home run in the opener for CSUB, which swept LMU (26-15) in Friday's twinbill. It was Ricciardi's third homer of the series.

Over the past few days I'm sure all of you have had a chance to see your favorite baseball team play (cough, Red Sox, cough). It is an exciting time for everyone and there seems to be a special buzz in the air with the new season approaching. The new baseball season is the signature marking that spring is here, the warmer weather is coming and joyous memories are in the near future.

Baseball is called "America's Pastime" for a reason and is full of many historic moments. The new season is also the return and/or additions to teams throughout the league

Over the past few days I'm sure all of you have had a chance to see your favorite baseball team play (cough, Red Sox, cough). It is an exciting time for everyone and there seems to be a special buzz in the air with the new season approaching. The new baseball season is the signature marking that spring is here, the warmer weather is coming and joyous memories are in the near future.

Baseball is called "America's Pastime" for a reason and is full of many historic moments. The new season is also the return and/or additions to teams throughout the league

The Bakersfield Blaze faced an uphill battle against Visalia starting pitcher Andrew Chafin on Friday night.

One that became impossible for the Blaze to win after a plethora of early self-inflicted wounds.

The Bakersfield Blaze faced an uphill battle against Visalia starting pitcher Andrew Chafin on Friday night.

One that became impossible for the Blaze to win after a plethora of early self-inflicted wounds.

Pitcher Jeff McKenzie found himself in unfamiliar territory, as the junior left-hander needed just three more outs to record his first complete game as a Roadrunner pitcher.

Then the final inning ended just like the first began, with McKenzie retiring three batters in a row on his way to completing a three-hit shutout as CSU Bakersfield opened a three-game series with a 4-0 victory Friday over Santa Clara at Hardt Field.

Pitcher Jeff McKenzie found himself in unfamiliar territory, as the junior left-hander needed just three more outs to record his first complete game as a Roadrunner pitcher.

Then the final inning ended just like the first began, with McKenzie retiring three batters in a row on his way to completing a three-hit shutout as CSU Bakersfield opened a three-game series with a 4-0 victory Friday over Santa Clara at Hardt Field.

John Austin and Doug Denesha will carry the local torch into the finals of the SCGA Amateur Net Championship next Monday and Tuesday at Industry Hills Golf Course.

Austin and Denesha, both from The Links at RiverLakes Ranch, qualified at Griffith Park GC in Los Angeles in late March to make it to the championship proper. Austin will compete in the Bobby Jones flight (0-5 indexes) while Denesha will compete in the Arnold Palmer flight (6-10 indexes).

John Austin and Doug Denesha will carry the local torch into the finals of the SCGA Amateur Net Championship next Monday and Tuesday at Industry Hills Golf Course.

Austin and Denesha, both from The Links at RiverLakes Ranch, qualified at Griffith Park GC in Los Angeles in late March to make it to the championship proper. Austin will compete in the Bobby Jones flight (0-5 indexes) while Denesha will compete in the Arnold Palmer flight (6-10 indexes).

Billy Hamilton is supposed to create havoc with his legs this season for the Blaze. He gave Bakersfield an added bonus with his bat on opening night Thursday.

Before 1,559 at Sam Lynn Ballpark, the Blaze downed the Visalia Rawhide 3-1 behind Hamilton's offense and solid efforts by four pitchers.

Billy Hamilton is supposed to create havoc with his legs this season for the Blaze. He gave Bakersfield an added bonus with his bat on opening night Thursday.

Before 1,559 at Sam Lynn Ballpark, the Blaze downed the Visalia Rawhide 3-1 behind Hamilton's offense and solid efforts by four pitchers.

Kern County, southern San Joaquin Valley

LAKE ISABELLA: The fish are showing in very good numbers around much of the lake on floating dough baits, Power Mice Tails and inflated nightcrawlers. The catfish bite has also picked up with most of the action in the bays in 10 to 15 feet of water on clams and cut baits. Few reports on crappie, and the bass and bluegill action is just starting to turn around.

Kern County, southern San Joaquin Valley

LAKE ISABELLA: The fish are showing in very good numbers around much of the lake on floating dough baits, Power Mice Tails and inflated nightcrawlers. The catfish bite has also picked up with most of the action in the bays in 10 to 15 feet of water on clams and cut baits. Few reports on crappie, and the bass and bluegill action is just starting to turn around.

Three anglers landed tagged trout worth $10,000 apiece during the 23rd Annual Isabella Lake Fishing Derby held Saturday through Monday. There were a total of 11 tagged trout worth $10,000 (or more), and another 989 tagged rainbows worth cash from $50 to $1,000 planted for this event. Anglers landed 153 of the 1,000 tagged fish over the three days of the derby.

Overall, there were 6,294 entries, and the total payout was $49,800, the second highest in the 23 years of the event. The highest total was in 2010 when six of 10 of the $10,000 tags were landed and the total payout was $75,510.

Three anglers landed tagged trout worth $10,000 apiece during the 23rd Annual Isabella Lake Fishing Derby held Saturday through Monday. There were a total of 11 tagged trout worth $10,000 (or more), and another 989 tagged rainbows worth cash from $50 to $1,000 planted for this event. Anglers landed 153 of the 1,000 tagged fish over the three days of the derby.

Overall, there were 6,294 entries, and the total payout was $49,800, the second highest in the 23 years of the event. The highest total was in 2010 when six of 10 of the $10,000 tags were landed and the total payout was $75,510.

Baseball

Selma Tournament

Baseball

Selma Tournament

SANTA CLARITA -- Kimmie Lockhart pitched a four-hitter with five strikeouts, and Adriana Correira ripped a two-run homer to lead College of the Canyons to a 4-1 victory Thursday over Bakersfield College in a showdown between the Western State Conference's top two softball teams.

Canyons (29-2-1) improved to 8-2 in the WSC. BC 22-8, 7-4. The Renegades' Julie Estep struck out six and walked one. BC hosts Glendale in a doubleheader at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday.