According to Bakersfield College athletic director Jan Stuebbe, construction of BC’s approximate $1.7 million-funded Dean and Adah Gay Sports Complex will be completed and ready for baseball April 2, when the Renegades will play L.A. Valley at 2:30 p.m.
Three games will be played at Sam Lynn Ball Park before opening at home March 24-26 against L.A. Mission and March 28 against Glendale.
The completion of the field at BC will allow the Renegades to play their Western State Conference games at home rather than on the road, as the team has done thus far this season. “[This is] what we’ve been waiting for,” said BC baseball head coach Tim Painton. “I know right now at this point, we’re a little weary and like to get back home and play.”
BC third baseman Travis Morgan went 5 for 6 as BC (8-12-1 overall, 6-5 in conferece) won its first of two conference games against L.A. Valley, 18-3 on March 14. Jeremy Gonzales went seven innings with two strikeouts and only gave up one run on three hits.
BC outfielder Joey Walker went 2-for-3 and Renegade catcher/outfielder A.J. Day went 2-for-5 against L.A. Valley.
The Renegades faced College of the Canyons on March 10 and 12 and lost both games, 11-5 and 6-3.
In the March 10 game, BC’s Patrick Isbell went 3 1/3 innings, Ryan Huston went 3 2/3 innings and Dalton Botts worked in the eighth and ninth innings.
BC shortstop/third baseman Greg Fowler hit a two-run home run and left-hand pitcher/outfielder Jarret Martin also hit a home run in the game, but BC came up short to COC’s offense.
In the March 12 game, BC pitcher Marcos Reyna went seven innings.
BC’s road woes continued as BC lost to West L.A. 6-2 on March 7 and 2-1 on March 5.
BC’s March 3 loss to L.A. Pierce snapped the Renegades six-game winning streak.
BC lost 7-6 as Martin threw six innings and allowed one run with six strikeouts. BC pitcher Ryan Huston pitched one inning, allowing six runs off five hits.
BC’s Greg Sanders finished the game, as Sanders only gave up one hit in the last two innings of work, but BC could not power past L.A. Pierce’s offense, which ended up deciding the game in Woodland Hills.
BC will play its second game at L.A. Valley March 17, and BC travels to Citrus March 19 and 21. The Renegades return to Sam Lynn Ball Park March 24 to play L.A. Mission.