Bakersfield Blaze Not Feeling So Hot, Still Optimistic
By Nick Fequiere
The Bakersfield Blaze, Kern County’s Minor League Baseball team, is off to a less than stellar start this season. Despite finishing last year with a 78-62 record and ending up with a First Half Championship under their belts, it seems they’ve been unable to capitalize upon last year’s success, reflecting a pattern of inconsistency in recent years.
However, the Blaze still boast a passionate fan base and a slew of fun events for the entire family to enjoy during those long summer nights to come. Even while on the road, the team offers many ways for fans to stay connected and engaged with away games.
Manager Eddie Menchaca has so far led his ballclub to a 14-18 record, where they’re currently in third place in the race to win the California League North division. The team is slogging their way through a five game losing streak and will have to contend with two tough teams, the High Desert Mavericks and the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, in the next week and a half.
Despite their recent struggles, Menchaca and the Blaze organization are maintaining a positive outlook and a hope that they can still reverse their fortune. After all, the season is still young and the team is tied for third place in the division. They look poised to potentially make a run and overtake their rivals in the coming weeks and months.
For those who just can’t get enough of the Bakersfield Blaze while on their frequent road trips, bakersfieldblaze.com offers nightly play by play broadcasts so fans can keep up with every minute of the action. Sam Lynn Ballpark, home of the Blaze, also offers many incentives and promotions for fans who do make the short trek into downtown Bakersfield. The organization offers group discounts and has many partnerships with local businesses who buy up tickets for lucky employees.
The park itself has much to offer fans young, old, and in between, from fun zones for children to the beer zone and picnic tent for the slightly more mature crowd, as well as a merchandise store which affords fans the opportunity to represent their team no matter where they go. The park has plenty of seating options, all of them being quite affordable and offering a great view of all of the on-field action.
In addition to all of the features and benefits that the Bakersfield Blaze enjoy in their home stadium, they recently signed a two year partnership with the Seattle Mariners to become the team’s minor league affiliate. Add to that the failure of a venture aimed at building a stadium for the team in Salinas and Blaze fans have plenty to be excited about. While the team may be mired in a slump at the moment, the future is still bright for the Bakersfield Blaze.