Diamond Bar High Meets Wide World Of Sports

If the sports world didn’t have Diamond Bar on its radar, it should after Sunday.

ESPN may as well have been a Diamond Bar cable access channel, as it featured two of Diamond Bar High’s success stories – women’s soccer standout Alex Morgan and future Major League Baseball outfielder Gary Brown.

Brahmas athletic director Kurt Davies proudly pointed out that there is no other high school in the nation that can boast four NFL players, one on the PGA Tour, one on the elite USA National women’s soccer team and an up-and-coming Major League Baseball player.

“It’s so exciting to see what so many of our former athletes have done,” Davies said.

First up Sunday was Team USA’s stunning quarterfinals victory against Brazil in the 2011 Women’s World Cup. Taking the pitch as a sub in the 65th minute, Morgan’s speed and lightning-quick passing disrupted the Brazilians as Team USA eventually won on penalty kicks.

Team USA will face France Wednesday in a World Cup semifinal.

The Diamond Bar double feature then included Major League Baseball’s Futures Game, which is played in conjunction with the All-Star Game weekend. Each team chooses its top prospect from all its minor league teams and they play in an exhibition game to show fans who they may soon be watching.

The San Francisco Giants sent Brahmas graduate Gary Brown, their No. 1 pick in the 2010 draft. Brown is currently playing center field for the San Jose Giants in the California League.

Brown started in center field, had a hit, a stolen base and a run scored. Commentator and former Dodgers and Chicago Cubs pitcher Rick Sutcliffe said Brown was the best player in the game on Sunday.

So how did Diamond Bar High become the training ground for elite athletes making their mark?

“Honestly, it’s as much the athletics as it is the academics. We do such a good job in preparing our kids for the nexdt level,” said Davies, whose high school ranks second in Los Angeles County, seventh in the state and 79^th in the nation in preparedness for college.

“College can be so overwhelming but our training allows them to be successful,” Davies said. “They’re more prepared and well-rounded because they came from Diamond Bar High.

“They say it takes a village to raise a child, and as a city, Diamond Bar must be a pretty good village.”

Brahmas in the pros include:

Football: Bret Lockett and Ryan Wendell (New England Patriots), Jonathan Amaya (Miami Dolphins), Jason Wright (Arizona Cardinals)

Golf: Kevin Na (Top 25 money-earner in 2010)

Women’s soccer: Alex Morgan (USA National Team)

Baseball: Gary Brown (No. 1 draft pick of San Francisco Giants in 2010)