Mike Blake, who served as sports editor for the Kern Valley Sun from June 2021 to 2024, has signed on to serve as sports editor for the Taft Midway Driller.
Blake has been writing sports for decades, starting with a four-year stint at the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner in the 1980s. He continued as a correspondent for Sankei Baseball Monthly, US Baseball in Japan. He was also a spokesperson for American sports in Japan, with a column he wrote for the English language education program News/Sports USA. Blake also served as associate editor of Vette magazine and editor of Kit Car Illustrated and Kit Car magazines before moving to central Pennsylvania as a senior automotive journalist and automotive test driver for Carlyle Events. He moved to Harrisburg and appeared on WHP-21’s Saturday Morning News’ new car section. P.A. Along the way, he wrote and published four books about baseball and appeared on more than 400 television shows, including “The Larry King Show,” “The Tom Snyder Show,” and “Roy Firestone’s Up Close.” He also appeared as a guest on live radio broadcasts. ” Blake has published more than 2,000 articles in 90 magazines and newspapers, and also writes syndicated columns such as “Let’s Talk Sports” and “All About Cars.”
In California, Blake was a varsity letterman in baseball at Van Nuys High School (in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles) and played on the diamond at California State University, Northridge. Blake spent a lot of time in Kern County, most of it fishing the Kern River and the many lakes, streams and streams in Kern County.
Regarding the Taft Midway Driller’s move to the sports desk, Blake said: Wildcats kids bring pride to their community. Our robust coverage is made possible by TUHS staff and local community sports program leaders, and local residents who share their news and thoughts help keep our kids in the spotlight. It’s great to be here and I want to make you proud.”
