CLOVIS -- Independence's girls 400 relay team didn't stand on the top of the podium, but they stood somewhere on it, and that had them running off the Veterans Memorial Stadium infield like champions.

Just more than 24 hours earlier, in fact, the Falcons weren't even sure they'd get to race at all. Independence was nearly disqualified before Friday's preliminaries when it tried to use Tyra Saunders as an alternate, thinking she was on the approved list.

One can imagine the excitement two Bakersfield teenagers felt when receiving an invitation to travel to Germany to compete in a volleyball tournament featuring some of that country's top youth players.

Sophie Hoover and Rachel Ralphs, accompanied by their parents, took the 15-plus hour flight, fought through jet lag and prepared to show their skills half-a-world away from home.

One can imagine the excitement two Bakersfield teenagers felt when receiving an invitation to travel to Germany to compete in a volleyball tournament featuring some of that country's top youth players.

Sophie Hoover and Rachel Ralphs, accompanied by their parents, took the 15-plus hour flight, fought through jet lag and prepared to show their skills half-a-world away from home.

CLOVIS -- It wasn't a traditional California gold rush, but a rush of different colors is almost as sweet.

Kern County athletes took home seven medals from the CIF State Track and Field Championships on Saturday at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

CLOVIS -- It wasn't a traditional California gold rush, but a rush of different colors is almost as sweet.

Kern County athletes took home seven medals from the CIF State Track and Field Championships on Saturday at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Baseball is full of irony. In the last three weeks, I've gotten my first win, loss, save and blown save with the Greenville Drive (Class-low A with the Boston Red Sox).

The win came in a game where I entered the ninth inning with a 2-run lead. I gave up two runs and got my first blown save of the year. We entered extra innings due to the tie game and in the bottom of the 10th inning. One of our best hitters came up big and hit a walk off single.

Baseball is full of irony. In the last three weeks, I've gotten my first win, loss, save and blown save with the Greenville Drive (Class-low A with the Boston Red Sox).

The win came in a game where I entered the ninth inning with a 2-run lead. I gave up two runs and got my first blown save of the year. We entered extra innings due to the tie game and in the bottom of the 10th inning. One of our best hitters came up big and hit a walk off single.

CLOVIS -- His day wasn't yet over, but Stockdale track and field coach Dave Lonsinger found himself a quiet and cool spot in Memorial Stadium -- not easy on a 103-degree Friday -- and took a moment to reflect.

"No complaints here," he said, midway through Day 1 of the CIF State Track and Field Championships. "We've had a great day."

CLOVIS -- His day wasn't yet over, but Stockdale track and field coach Dave Lonsinger found himself a quiet and cool spot in Memorial Stadium -- not easy on a 103-degree Friday -- and took a moment to reflect.

"No complaints here," he said, midway through Day 1 of the CIF State Track and Field Championships. "We've had a great day."

IRVINE -- The stoic stare Jamy Duran has worn during a record-setting era for the Kern Valley High softball team was still there Friday night following her final game in blue and gold. It just had some unfamiliar company.

The whites around her hazel eyes had a soft red hue, her cheeks were moist and lips pursed after a 5-2 loss to Redlands-Citrus Valley in the CIF Southern Section Division VI championship game.

IRVINE -- The stoic stare Jamy Duran has worn during a record-setting era for the Kern Valley High softball team was still there Friday night following her final game in blue and gold. It just had some unfamiliar company.

The whites around her hazel eyes had a soft red hue, her cheeks were moist and lips pursed after a 5-2 loss to Redlands-Citrus Valley in the CIF Southern Section Division VI championship game.

CLOVIS -- Brena Andrews knows all too well what a near miss feels like. Friday night at the CIF State Track and Field Championships, she felt the other side of that equation.

She likes this feeling much better.

CLOVIS -- Brena Andrews knows all too well what a near miss feels like. Friday night at the CIF State Track and Field Championships, she felt the other side of that equation.

She likes this feeling much better.

SAN JOSE -- James Ewing went 3-for-5 with five RBIs to lead the Bakersfield Blaze to a 10-4 victory Friday over the first-place San Jose Giants.

The victory improved Bakersfield to 31-23, a half game behind the Giants (31-23).

SAN JOSE -- James Ewing went 3-for-5 with five RBIs to lead the Bakersfield Blaze to a 10-4 victory Friday over the first-place San Jose Giants.

The victory improved Bakersfield to 31-23, a half game behind the Giants (31-23).

The California Coaches Association will honor longtime Centennial High volleyball coach Brooke Roberts as its Girls Volleyball Coach of the Year award June 9.

Roberts will be honored at the CCA's Hall of Fame Banquet in San Diego next weekend after a season in which her Golden Hawks advanced to the Central Section championship match for the second consecutive year before losing in five games to Clovis West.

The California Coaches Association will honor longtime Centennial High volleyball coach Brooke Roberts as its Girls Volleyball Coach of the Year award June 9.

Roberts will be honored at the CCA's Hall of Fame Banquet in San Diego next weekend after a season in which her Golden Hawks advanced to the Central Section championship match for the second consecutive year before losing in five games to Clovis West.

Stephen Neal, an outstanding wrestler at Cal State Bakersfield who became a starting offensive guard on three New England Patriots Super Bowl champion teams, will be inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame this weekend in Stillwater, Okla.

Neal, a native of San Diego, compiled a 156-10 record at CSUB and was the Division I national champion at heavyweight his junior and senior years in 1998 and 1999, when his records were 39-0 and 44-0, respectively.

Stephen Neal, an outstanding wrestler at Cal State Bakersfield who became a starting offensive guard on three New England Patriots Super Bowl champion teams, will be inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame this weekend in Stillwater, Okla.

Neal, a native of San Diego, compiled a 156-10 record at CSUB and was the Division I national champion at heavyweight his junior and senior years in 1998 and 1999, when his records were 39-0 and 44-0, respectively.

SAN JOSE -- Danny Vicioso hit a go-ahead two-run single in the 12th inning as the Bakersfield Blaze defeated the San Jose Giants 7-4 on Thursday at Municipal Stadium.

Vicioso tied the game in the top of the ninth with an RBI double. Travis Mattair then gave Bakersfield a 4-3 lead on a fielder's choice RBI groundout. San Jose tied it in the ninth inning on a Dan Burkhart home run to right field.