COLLEGE ROUNDUP, Jan. 5-11: Signings provide cause for optimism
Jan. 12—As scheduling tumult continues to affect sports around Kern County, it's difficult to predict from one day to the next which games are actually going to take place as scheduled.
But in some ways, this still managed to be an upbeat week in local college sports, and that was thanks to all the signings. Cal State Bakersfield's incoming freshman class features athletes for a variety of sports, while Bakersfield College's graduates moved on to new and exciting destinations.
Bakersfield College
Men's basketball: A frenzied opening week of conference play was cut down to just one game for the Renegades, but they made the most of it, gutting out a 78-74 win over Santa Monica. With five players and an assistant coach out with COVID-19, according to BC, Joshua Lewis stepped up with 21 points off the bench and Tyrell Coleman had 16 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists to lift BC (9-4) to a conference-opening win. With road games against Citrus and Glendale delayed to later this month, the Renegades will host Antelope Valley College on Saturday afternoon.
Women's basketball: After both teams' opponents delayed games, BC arranged to play a game at West LA on Saturday earlier than initially scheduled. In their first action since Dec. 18, the Renegades triumphed over the Wildcats 73-68. Jenna Billington far exceeded her previous season-high with 21 points, and Julie Hernandez had a double-double with 20 points and 13 assists. Now 12-2, BC has earned a No. 9 ranking in the California Community College Athletic Association Southern Region entering Wednesday night's road game against No. 8 Glendale.
Miscellaneous and looking ahead: Baseball takes the field for the first time at Reedley for a scrimmage Tuesday ... BC football coach R. Todd Littlejohn will be coaching the America Team at the Tropical Bowl, a college football all-star game ... Former Renegade cornerback Shon Stephens, who spent time at Missouri Southern and Penn State, transferred to Division II powerhouse Valdosta State ... Soccer goalkeeper Adrian Sandoval, a fixture in net for the Renegades last season, is continuing his career at CSUN.
Cal State Bakersfield
Men's basketball: After entering COVID-19 protocols immediately prior to their Jan. 1 game against Long Beach State, the Roadrunners have struggled to return to the court, for which they would need a minimum of seven healthy players and one coach. They initially had to cancel last Thursday and Saturday's road games, then dropped this Thursday's home game against UC Davis. Saturday at the Icardo Center against UC Riverside, CSUB is set for its first game of the new year.
Women's basketball: The Roadrunners missed out on a game last Thursday when CSUN had to cancel, but were slated to host UC Santa Barbara on Saturday until CSUB had its own COVID surge. Since then the Roadrunners have nixed three additional games, and are looking at a Tuesday return to competition against Cal Poly.
Wrestling: The wrestling team has previously shown some scheduling ingenuity this season, pivoting to the Tournament of Champions in Reno, Nev., after Little Rock called off a conference dual meet. Northern Colorado had to cancel Sunday's competition, and the Roadrunners responded by scheduling a date with nationally No. 13-ranked Iowa State Wednesday night, to lead into the weekend quad meet against American, Campbell and Central Michigan.
Miscellaneous and looking ahead: Baseball signed Tally Wright of Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Arizona ... With a vacancy on its staff after Cesar Benatti decided to focus on beach volleyball, the indoor volleyball program added Georgia assistant Brandon Row ... Women's soccer announced the signings of defender Anela Nigito of Mendoza, Argentina, as well as midfielders Mya Fortun and Iliana Murguia ... After two weekends of canceled meets, the swimming and diving teams are set to host Senior Day against Fresno Pacific and Pepperdine on Saturday ... Track and field was supposed to begin indoor competition in a meet at Northern Arizona Friday, but CSUB now lists it as canceled.
Reporter Henry Greenstein can be reached at 661-395-7374. Follow him on Twitter: @HenryGreenstein.
