For the first time in the history of the Bakersfield Blaze baseball organization, there is new home-grown ownership.

The minor league single-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds organization was sold to Gene Voiland and Chad Hathaway.

“We are thrilled to bring local ownership back to the Blaze,” said Voiland.

“We know that this baseball franchise can be one of the most successful not just in California, but in the country, and we look forward to making the team a real civic asset and excitement for the community.”

Hathaway is excited to bring success to local baseball fans.

“Baseball is a sport that brings families and friends together like no other,” Hathaway said. “We want to create an exciting, family-friendly environment and field a team that can make all of Bakersfield proud.”

The new ownership is determined to build up the franchise.

“We have a business plan that will address immediate and long term needs,” said Voiland.

“It’s no secret that the current ballpark is not up to standard, and while we plan to make immediate enhancements, we also plan to evaluate opportunities for a new stadium in the near future.”

On March 1, they signed an agreement to purchase the Blaze from D.G. Elmore.

Elmore is an Indiana businessman who has owned the team since 2006.

It all became officially approved on April 1 by all sanctioning bodies, the California League, Minor League and Major League Baseball.

They will own and operate the team as the Bakersfield Sports Group LLC.

Voiland has many current titles and duties, and the longtime Bakersfield resident has also served as chairman of the Bakersfield College Foundation Board for over 15 years  until 2011. He left because of his busy schedule, and part of his busy schedule involved the eventual purchase of the Blaze.

He also mentioned that he was a night student at BC in 1969. Where he took an automobile course.

He permanently settled back into Bakersfield in 1993.

While back in town for good, he was instrumental in forming the company Aera Energy as the founding president and CEO.

He retired from that company about four or five years ago, and has been busy in the community ever since.

The other half of the ownership group, Hathaway, was born and raised in Bakersfield.

He was a 1994 graduate of East Bakersfield High School.

From there he went on to play football at BC and Fresno State University.

He is currently the owner of two locally-based companies. Hathaway LLC is an oil and gas production company, andPayzone Directional Services provides directional drilling for oil and gas companies.

He currently serves on the board of the Bakersfield Petroleum Club.

He is also co-founder and current vice president of Kern Citizens for Sustainable Government.

The partnership of Voiland and Hathaway took form about five or six years ago, according to Voiland.

“I came to know him pretty well, I liked the way he went about doing things, I liked his ethics.

“I invested in some of his projects.”

When discussing the issue of trying to increase attendance for the Blaze, Voiland was candid with his response.

“First off, I think it’s very important that we have local ownership,” he said.

“If people from the city own it, I think it resonates with the people in the city and the fan base more.”

Voiland also discussed the make-up of the minor-league system when putting a talented and successful team on the field.

“I had a chance to meet with the Cincinnati Reds player development people who are our affiliate, and I asked them that question, and they said, ‘look, yeah, it is a player development league, but an important part,’ and it’s my philosophy too.

“We want to help teach these kids to win.”