Editorial: Bryant, Park do Southern Nevada proud

Las Vegas has long been a hotbed of baseball, with flourishing youth leagues and outstanding high school programs. There’s a steady, successful junior college program at the College of Southern Nevada, brought along by coach Tim Chambers, who has now seemingly righted the ship at UNLV, which had its best season in years this spring.

The truest indicator: The big leagues have taken serious notice. For the second time in four years, Southern Nevada produced a top-two pick in the major league draft. Following the trail blazed by Bryce Harper, the Las Vegas High School and CSN phenom drafted No. 1 overall in 2010 by the Washington Nationals, Bonanza High School product Kris Bryant was taken No. 2 overall by the Chicago Cubs in this year’s draft, held June 6.

Mr. Harper’s exploits are well-known by now. He’ll run through a wall for his team — part of the reason he’s on the disabled list at the moment, but he’ll surely be back playing at an All-Star level soon. Mr. Bryant is a big man, too, at 6 feet 5 inches and 215 pounds. The University of San Diego junior sensation hammered pitchers this spring, hitting 31 home runs, 10 more than any other Division I player in the country.

Southern Nevada should take great pride in these extraordinarily talented ballplayers. If the idea of bringing along youth is to help them reach the highest of career goals, you can’t do much better than a multimillion-dollar signing bonus and a chance to play in the bigs.

The valley is pretty good at another stick-smashes-ball sport: golf. The UNLV men’s team reached the final eight at the NCAA Championships earlier this month (Kevin Penner tied for second individually), and the women’s team advanced to the NCAA Regionals. There are a number of players with Las Vegas ties on the PGA Tour. Several of them live here, and UNLV product Adam Scott won the Masters this spring.

But did you know the No. 1 women’s golfer in the world — yes, the best player on the LPGA Tour — matriculated at Bishop Gorman High School? Inbee Park, a two-time Nevada state champion, is tearing up the competition, with six titles in her past 22 events, winning at a Tiger Woods-in-his-prime rate. She’s claimed both women’s majors this year, including a thrilling victory in this month’s LPGA Championship, playing 39 holes on the last day — the final two rounds, plus a three-hole playoff.

There’s no hotter golfer on the planet, male or female. And Ms. Park is just 24, so like Mr. Bryant, she’s just getting started. Southern Nevadans should rightly celebrate the achievements of both.

The views expressed above are those of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. All other opinions expressed on the Opinion and Commentary pages are those of the individual artist or author indicated.