Andy Varner told himself he wouldn't get emotional about the end of Natrelle Demison's high school wrestling career, but the last month pretty much rendered that impossible.

And so, as Varner spoke Wednesday about Demison at a signing ceremony for four Division I-bound athletes at Bakersfield High, his voice cracked a few times. Demison, for his part, got a tissue from his mother and dabbed his eyes.

Andy Varner told himself he wouldn't get emotional about the end of Natrelle Demison's high school wrestling career, but the last month pretty much rendered that impossible.

And so, as Varner spoke Wednesday about Demison at a signing ceremony for four Division I-bound athletes at Bakersfield High, his voice cracked a few times. Demison, for his part, got a tissue from his mother and dabbed his eyes.

Liberty High's Kaulyn Lee-McNeill deserves an asterisk -- the good kind -- for this performance.

Not only did Lee-McNeill break her personal record by nearly a second in the 300-meter hurdles at the Southwest Yosemite League track and field meet Wednesday at Liberty, but she did it in wet, rainy conditions that caused many of the SWYL's coaches to pull out their stars.

Liberty High's Kaulyn Lee-McNeill deserves an asterisk -- the good kind -- for this performance.

Not only did Lee-McNeill break her personal record by nearly a second in the 300-meter hurdles at the Southwest Yosemite League track and field meet Wednesday at Liberty, but she did it in wet, rainy conditions that caused many of the SWYL's coaches to pull out their stars.

The hardest part, Tony Bernardin said, was the vow of silence.

Bernardin, who still worked at Frontier High School but had been hired as the women's golf coach at Cal State Bakersfield, knew he wanted two of his first recruits to be Michelle Martel and Lexi Keeter, part of the group that helped the Titans to three straight Central Section championships under Bernardin.

The hardest part, Tony Bernardin said, was the vow of silence.

Bernardin, who still worked at Frontier High School but had been hired as the women's golf coach at Cal State Bakersfield, knew he wanted two of his first recruits to be Michelle Martel and Lexi Keeter, part of the group that helped the Titans to three straight Central Section championships under Bernardin.

UCLA freshman pitcher Grant Watson, a 6-foot, 180-pound left-handed pitcher from Centennial High School, is off to a 7-1 start with the UCLA baseball team.

Watson, an All-Area selection as a senior last year, has appeared in 17 games with nine starts at UCLA. He has allowed 48 hits and 17 walks with 27 strikeouts in 48 innings. His ERA is 5.06.

UCLA freshman pitcher Grant Watson, a 6-foot, 180-pound left-handed pitcher from Centennial High School, is off to a 7-1 start with the UCLA baseball team.

Watson, an All-Area selection as a senior last year, has appeared in 17 games with nine starts at UCLA. He has allowed 48 hits and 17 walks with 27 strikeouts in 48 innings. His ERA is 5.06.

Track and field

SWYL mini-meet

Track and field

SWYL mini-meet

SANTA BARBARA -- UC Santa Barbara swept Cal State Bakersfield in a softball doubleheader Tuesday, winning the opener 3-1 and the second game 4-3 in eight innings.

The Roadrunners (10-30) had a 2-0 lead when Santa Barbara (18-25) scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth in the second game.

SANTA BARBARA -- UC Santa Barbara swept Cal State Bakersfield in a softball doubleheader Tuesday, winning the opener 3-1 and the second game 4-3 in eight innings.

The Roadrunners (10-30) had a 2-0 lead when Santa Barbara (18-25) scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth in the second game.

Aren't relievers suppose to provide relief? That's what you'd think.

But despite a solid 5 1/3-inning outing, Blaze starter Daniel Renken was denied his second win of the season as Bakersfield's bullpen was unable to protect a seven-run lead Tuesday in a 10-9 loss to the Stockton Ports at Sam Lynn Ballpark.

Aren't relievers suppose to provide relief? That's what you'd think.

But despite a solid 5 1/3-inning outing, Blaze starter Daniel Renken was denied his second win of the season as Bakersfield's bullpen was unable to protect a seven-run lead Tuesday in a 10-9 loss to the Stockton Ports at Sam Lynn Ballpark.

Spring break lasted an inning too long for Centennial, and Stockdale made sure that hurt.

The Mustangs jumped on the host Golden Hawks for four first-inning runs Tuesday and coasted to a 10-4 victory to take over first place in the Southwest Yosemite League.

Spring break lasted an inning too long for Centennial, and Stockdale made sure that hurt.

The Mustangs jumped on the host Golden Hawks for four first-inning runs Tuesday and coasted to a 10-4 victory to take over first place in the Southwest Yosemite League.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- For the first time in his major-league career, Colby Lewis was an Opening Day starter. The Bakersfield native got the nod for the two-time American League champion Texas Rangers in last Friday's 2012 season opener against the Chicago White Sox and he delivered a beauty.

He worked six innings, allowing seven hits, two runs and one walk one while striking out seven to earn a 3-2 victory. This is his third season with the Rangers after spending two seasons in Japan and the significance of being their Opening Day starter was definitely not lost on him.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- For the first time in his major-league career, Colby Lewis was an Opening Day starter. The Bakersfield native got the nod for the two-time American League champion Texas Rangers in last Friday's 2012 season opener against the Chicago White Sox and he delivered a beauty.

He worked six innings, allowing seven hits, two runs and one walk one while striking out seven to earn a 3-2 victory. This is his third season with the Rangers after spending two seasons in Japan and the significance of being their Opening Day starter was definitely not lost on him.

Baseball

Bakersfield 7, Independence 5

Baseball

Bakersfield 7, Independence 5