Kern County, southern San Joaquin Valley

LAKE ISABELLA: The trout bite has been improving with some very nice catches of quality fish at the auxiliary dam for bait anglers fishing floating baits, Power Mice Tails, or inflated nightcrawlers. DFG plants this week and two weeks ago. Fly anglers are still reporting fair to good dry fly bite on midges in most coves in the mornings. Catfish are fair on frozen shad at Engineerís Point. Not a lot of big fish, but pretty fair numbers on fish around two or three pounds. Few reports on crappie, and the bass and bluegill action is also slow. The 23rd Annual Isabella Lake Fishing Derby will be held March 31-April 2 with over $250,000 in potential prize winnings.

Last fall, Bakersfield's Kurt Tobi won the Eastman's Hunting Magazine sweepstakes and a wonderful array of prizes associated with the honor. Also included in the prizes was an all-expense-paid elk hunting trip, complete with all the necessary gear. During the five-day hunt, Kurt managed to kill a very exceptional bull, and on March 20 and again on March 27, his hunt will be featured on Eastman's Hunting TV, broadcast on Outdoor Channel. Viewers might want to record the show--it'll be worth watching.

Locals win bass tournament at San Antonio Lake

Last fall, Bakersfield's Kurt Tobi won the Eastman's Hunting Magazine sweepstakes and a wonderful array of prizes associated with the honor. Also included in the prizes was an all-expense-paid elk hunting trip, complete with all the necessary gear. During the five-day hunt, Kurt managed to kill a very exceptional bull, and on March 20 and again on March 27, his hunt will be featured on Eastman's Hunting TV, broadcast on Outdoor Channel. Viewers might want to record the show--it'll be worth watching.

Locals win bass tournament at San Antonio Lake

Boys basketball

CIF playoffs

Boys basketball

CIF playoffs

There Vanessa Mancera was again: At the free throw line in a tie game, mere seconds left, season on the line.

And again, she figured, why not keep playing? Mancera sank the front end of a one-and-one to lift Independence's girls basketball team to a 44-43 victory over Oxnard-Rio Mesa in the first round of the CIF state Division III playoffs Wednesday.

There Vanessa Mancera was again: At the free throw line in a tie game, mere seconds left, season on the line.

And again, she figured, why not keep playing? Mancera sank the front end of a one-and-one to lift Independence's girls basketball team to a 44-43 victory over Oxnard-Rio Mesa in the first round of the CIF state Division III playoffs Wednesday.

Liberty junior Cole Mazza, ranked the top long-snapper in the country by one service, has the first of what should be many scholarship offers.

UCLA broke the ice for Mazza, who Chris Rubio's long-snapping service ranks the top junior in the country.

Liberty junior Cole Mazza, ranked the top long-snapper in the country by one service, has the first of what should be many scholarship offers.

UCLA broke the ice for Mazza, who Chris Rubio's long-snapping service ranks the top junior in the country.

It was an ecstatic Ridgeview High team after Saturday's last-second win in the Central Section boys Division III title game.

And it was disbelief and dejection for the Wolf Pack team on Wednesday night at Ridgeview.

It was an ecstatic Ridgeview High team after Saturday's last-second win in the Central Section boys Division III title game.

And it was disbelief and dejection for the Wolf Pack team on Wednesday night at Ridgeview.

McFARLAND -- Talent and teamwork carried the McFarland boys soccer team to the brink of the biggest win in school history. But it was the Cougars' tenacity and determination that pushed them over the top.

With just seconds remaining in sudden death overtime, Jonathan Iniguez crossed the ball to Martin Labrada who banged it into the back of the net, giving McFarland a thrilling 3-2 Southern California Regional Division III semifinal victory Wednesday over Lancaster-Paraclete.

McFARLAND -- Talent and teamwork carried the McFarland boys soccer team to the brink of the biggest win in school history. But it was the Cougars' tenacity and determination that pushed them over the top.

With just seconds remaining in sudden death overtime, Jonathan Iniguez crossed the ball to Martin Labrada who banged it into the back of the net, giving McFarland a thrilling 3-2 Southern California Regional Division III semifinal victory Wednesday over Lancaster-Paraclete.

The playoff hope flicker the Bakersfield Condors had heading into a three-game showdown with the Idaho Steelheads grew even dimmer on Wednesday night.

Idaho goaltender Jerry Kuhn stopped 51 shots as the Steelheads beat the Condors 3-1 in Boise.

The playoff hope flicker the Bakersfield Condors had heading into a three-game showdown with the Idaho Steelheads grew even dimmer on Wednesday night.

Idaho goaltender Jerry Kuhn stopped 51 shots as the Steelheads beat the Condors 3-1 in Boise.

SANTA BARBARA -- Three CSU Bakersfield relief pitchers shut out UC Santa Barbara over the final six innings Tuesday afternoon and wildness by the Gauchos' bullpen helped the Roadrunners rally for a 7-6 victory.

The Roadrunners (7-6) trailed 6-5 entering the eighth inning, but loaded the bases with none out on two walks and a hit by pitch.

SANTA BARBARA -- Three CSU Bakersfield relief pitchers shut out UC Santa Barbara over the final six innings Tuesday afternoon and wildness by the Gauchos' bullpen helped the Roadrunners rally for a 7-6 victory.

The Roadrunners (7-6) trailed 6-5 entering the eighth inning, but loaded the bases with none out on two walks and a hit by pitch.

E. Kenneth "Ziggy" Seigfried has been hired as CSUB's senior associate athletic director for development and major gifts.

Siegfried has served as the University of Memphis' director of development of the university's Fogleman College of Business and Economics for more than two years.

E. Kenneth "Ziggy" Seigfried has been hired as CSUB's senior associate athletic director for development and major gifts.

Siegfried has served as the University of Memphis' director of development of the university's Fogleman College of Business and Economics for more than two years.

Baseball

North 12, West 1