As investors in and outside Kern County continue to scoop up foreclosed houses at deep discounts, some worry that a decline in owner-occupied homes is changing the character of the region's neighborhoods.

Although there appear to be more owner-occupied homes in the county than in 2000, the percentage of home ownership is dropping.

Bowling

March 17-18: GEUSBC 2012 Mixed City Tournament, AMF Southwest Lanes. Mixed Team event at 10 a.m. both days; Mixed doubles at 1:30 p.m. both days. Adult, senior divisions. Entry forms at local centers or can be downloaded from geusbc.org. Entries accepted day of tournament one hour prior to desired squad, if lanes are available. For more information, contact Chris (661) 345-1627.

Bowling

March 17-18: GEUSBC 2012 Mixed City Tournament, AMF Southwest Lanes. Mixed Team event at 10 a.m. both days; Mixed doubles at 1:30 p.m. both days. Adult, senior divisions. Entry forms at local centers or can be downloaded from geusbc.org. Entries accepted day of tournament one hour prior to desired squad, if lanes are available. For more information, contact Chris (661) 345-1627.

Bakersfield Christian senior Tyler Harris signed a letter of intent earlier this month to play basketball at the United State Air Force Academy Preparatory School.

The Air Force prep school is a one-year option for student-athletes that interest Air Force's Division I collegiate program but need another year to grow academically and/or athletically. Students aren't guaranteed a spot in the Air Force Academy the following year, but Falcons coaches have a close look at them -- both campuses are in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Bakersfield Christian senior Tyler Harris signed a letter of intent earlier this month to play basketball at the United State Air Force Academy Preparatory School.

The Air Force prep school is a one-year option for student-athletes that interest Air Force's Division I collegiate program but need another year to grow academically and/or athletically. Students aren't guaranteed a spot in the Air Force Academy the following year, but Falcons coaches have a close look at them -- both campuses are in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Boys golf

SWYL mini-tournament

Boys golf

SWYL mini-tournament

Zack Newman was Bakersfield's lone representative in the annual 10-Gamer Scratch Tournament at Cal Bowl in Lakewood on Saturday. The event drew an all-time tournament high 101 entries and was bowled on the Kegel Sunset Strip pattern.

Newman, who bowls Monday nights in the Sport Shot league at Regency, used his experience bowling on a variety of patterns to quickly adjust and placed fourth at +233. Newman bowled a 299 for his second game, enabling him to win the first block of five games.

Zack Newman was Bakersfield's lone representative in the annual 10-Gamer Scratch Tournament at Cal Bowl in Lakewood on Saturday. The event drew an all-time tournament high 101 entries and was bowled on the Kegel Sunset Strip pattern.

Newman, who bowls Monday nights in the Sport Shot league at Regency, used his experience bowling on a variety of patterns to quickly adjust and placed fourth at +233. Newman bowled a 299 for his second game, enabling him to win the first block of five games.

There seems to be few words left to describe what Jazmine Irvin has accomplished in less than two seasons at Bakersfield College.

Irvin's game has so many dimensions that accurately describe the attributes of this ultra-competitive athlete is best left to those who know her best.

There seems to be few words left to describe what Jazmine Irvin has accomplished in less than two seasons at Bakersfield College.

Irvin's game has so many dimensions that accurately describe the attributes of this ultra-competitive athlete is best left to those who know her best.

CSU Bakersfield split a pair of women's water polo matches Sunday on the final day of the Roadrunner Invitational, falling 9-8 to No. 12-ranked Indiana before beating Bucknell 9-7.

The Roadrunners went 3-1 in the tournament.

CSU Bakersfield split a pair of women's water polo matches Sunday on the final day of the Roadrunner Invitational, falling 9-8 to No. 12-ranked Indiana before beating Bucknell 9-7.

The Roadrunners went 3-1 in the tournament.

LOS ANGELES -- USC pitcher Stephen Tarpley scattered six hits over eight innings with 10 strikeouts as the Trojans completed a three-game series sweep over CSU Bakersfield Sunday with a 6-0 win at Dedeaux Field.

USC (12-3) won the first two games of the series by coming from behind with two-run, game-winning rallies in the ninth inning.

LOS ANGELES -- USC pitcher Stephen Tarpley scattered six hits over eight innings with 10 strikeouts as the Trojans completed a three-game series sweep over CSU Bakersfield Sunday with a 6-0 win at Dedeaux Field.

USC (12-3) won the first two games of the series by coming from behind with two-run, game-winning rallies in the ninth inning.

It's not "The Big Dance" as coach Rod Barnes says, but it's a "dance" nonetheless.

CSU Bakersfield has accepted a bid to participate in the men's basketball CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT).

It's not "The Big Dance" as coach Rod Barnes says, but it's a "dance" nonetheless.

CSU Bakersfield has accepted a bid to participate in the men's basketball CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT).

A half-lap lead with seven laps to go evaporated due to a caution flag, but that only delayed Tony Toste's run to victory in the Late Model main event Saturday night at Bakersfield Speedway.

Toste of Pismo Beach simply repeated what he did for the first 23 laps as he pulled away from his competition to easily win the 30-lap race on the third-mile clay oval.

A half-lap lead with seven laps to go evaporated due to a caution flag, but that only delayed Tony Toste's run to victory in the Late Model main event Saturday night at Bakersfield Speedway.

Toste of Pismo Beach simply repeated what he did for the first 23 laps as he pulled away from his competition to easily win the 30-lap race on the third-mile clay oval.

NEW YORK -- The Stockdale High boys 4-mile team of Cameron Miller, Connor Fisher, Curtis Kelly and Blake Haney finished third Saturday in the New Balance Indoor Nationals at the New Balance Track and Field Center, and set a state indoor record in the process.

Their time was 17 minutes, 30 seconds, and it broke Stockdale's school record of 17:59 set in the 2011 Arcadia Invitational. It also is the 11th-best mark all-time in the U.S., and the Mustangs were honored at NSSF Indoor Track and Field All-Americans based on their top-six finish.