It’s not officially summer yet, but May in Bakersfield is still when the sun is shining bright, the heat is rising and sunsets at night are not cooperating with baseball game starts at Sam Lynn Ballpark.

The show must go on. It’s still time to “Play Ball!” More often than not, that’s 7:45 p.m. or as soon as the yellow orb disappears behind the extended tarp above the center field wall. Any earlier and the sun shines right in the eyes of the person standing in the batter’s box, the catcher who has to squint while sending signals to his pitcher 60 feet, six inches away, and the home plate umpire who has to try and call balls and strikes.