Brahmas Stay Strong in Summer : Diamond Bar Slugging as Usual in L. A. Baseball Tourney

The Diamond Bar High School baseball team is picking up where it left off.

After rolling to the CIF 2-A Division baseball championship on June 1, the Brahmas have looked every bit as strong in advancing to the quarterfinals of the 18th annual L. A. Games, a summer prep sports tournament that includes most of the top teams in Southern California.

The Brahmas, who have many of the players who led them to the CIF championship, will face Palisades in the quarterfinals at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at Valley College in Van Nuys. The semifinals are Saturday afternoon and the finals are Sunday.

Diamond Bar, led by shortstop/pitcher Kraig Washington and outfielder Larry Vladic, defeated Hacienda League rival Garey (13-2) and Pioneer (7-1). Palisades, which finished second to Venice in the L. A. City 3-A Division, advanced with shutouts of Quartz Hill (3-0) and Westminster (4-0).

The Brahmas are one of several powerhouses from the San Gabriel Valley in the final rounds of the L. A. Games, formerly known as the Watts Summer Games.

Pomona has advanced to the fourth round in boys basketball and Muir has reached the quarterfinals in football and girls basketball.

CIF powers Los Altos and Arcadia will play in the 17-team boys volleyball competition that starts Saturday, and San Gabriel faces Ventura in the girls volleyball quarterfinals Saturday. Both start at 9 a.m. at Valley College.

Pomona’s boys basketball team figures to have one of the most difficult tasks of valley teams Saturday because the Red Devils face highly regarded Ocean View at 10 a.m. at Valley College.

Ocean View finished second to undefeated Mater Dei in the CIF 5-A Division last year and has several top players from that team, including 6-6 center Ricky Butler and 6-1 guard Blaine Debrouwer. The Seahawks have beaten Cerritos (56-41), Lakewood (51-35) and South Torrance (69-35) in the 128-team tournament.

Pomona Has Veterans

Pomona, ranked No. 1 in the CIF 3-A Division before losing to Bonita in the quarterfinals of the playoffs last season, has top veterans in 6-9 center Marcellus Lee and 6-5 forwards Derwin Collins and Tyrone Greer.

The Red Devils, coached by Willie Allen, have beaten three L. A. City teams in the tournament: Granada Hills (49-39), Garfield (54-50) and Fremont (45-37).

A Pomona victory would send the Red Devils into a quarterfinal game Saturday afternoon against either Verbum Dei or Crescenta Valley. The semifinals are Sunday morning and the finals are Sunday afternoon.

In girls basketball, powerful Muir may be the title favorite going into its quarterfinal game against Riverside Poly at 2 p.m. Saturday at Valley College.

Muir, which has finished second in the CIF 4-A Division the last two seasons, has crushed Savanna (55-15), La Mirada (47-27) and Morningside (51-25) in the 64-team tournament.

Jordan Twins Back

The Mustangs have been led by twins Pauline and Geannine Jordan, seniors who have started for Muir the last three seasons. Pauline is a 6-2 center and Geannine is a 6-1 forward.

Muir has another tall starter in its front line in 6-1 sophomore forward Tasha Bradley, which gives the Mustangs one of the tallest front lines in the CIF.

Riverside Poly, also a perennial CIF power, has beaten Rio Mesa (36-27), Marshall (50-36) and La Puente (50-36).

The winner of the Muir-Riverside Poly game advances to the semifinals Sunday morning. The finals are Sunday afternoon.

Muir’s football team, which reached the quarterfinals of the CIF Coastal Conference last year, meets perennial CIF power Loyola in the quarterfinals at 10 a.m. Saturday at Valley College.

The Mustangs have been led by the passing combination of quarterback James Dunn and wide receiver Cary Grant, and their defense has allowed only seven points in three tournament games.

Muir has beaten Eagle Rock (45-0), Birmingham (20-0) and Fairfax (28-7). Against Eagle Rock, Dunn threw five touchdown passes, including four to Grant.

Loyola has defeated Canyon (Saugus), Lincoln and Beverly Hills.

The winner will play in the semifinals Sunday morning at Valley College and the finals are Sunday afternoon.