Bonanza High’s new baseball uniforms slick in design courtesy of big-leaguer Kris Bryant

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Thursday, March 19, 2015 | 2 a.m.

Bonanza High baseball players waited with excitement before practice to receive their uniforms for the upcoming season.

It’s a rite of passage each year for any sport, especially for high school players who take pride in representing their school or town.

After nearly 10 years of wearing the same gray uniforms for road games, the program’s fundraising efforts finally amassed $4,400 to purchase a set of 30 uniforms.

When coach Mike O’Rourke distributed the charcoal gray pants and jerseys with gold lettering and pant stripes, his players’ reaction was worth the wait.

“It was like Christmas morning. It was fun for sure,” O’Rourke said. “The look on their faces. Everyone was blown away.”

After practice, O’Rourke had another surprise courtesy of the program’s best all-time player. Prized Chicago Cubs prospect Kris Bryant, a 2010 Bonanza graduate, used his influence at Adidas to get his alma mater one free set of the apparel company’s newest uniform line. Two sets of new uniforms is a rarity for any school in Las Vegas — a fact not lost on the players.

“Look good, feel good and play good,” said Hunter Junge, Bonanza’s senior catcher. “It’s an amazing feeling knowing they came from Kris and that he was behind designing it.”

Additionally, Bryant coordinated for the program to get 23 sets of cleats valued at $90 each. Bryant designed the brown cleats with gold stripes and with the school mascot Bengal on the heel. Bryant, who has an endorsement deal with Adidas, delivered the shoes during a preseason practice.

“I was just in a position to do that,” Bryant said. “Adidas takes care of me real well, so I was able to come up with the idea that I just wanted to give back to them, so I gave them cleats and then somehow Adidas wanted to be like, ‘Let’s give them jerseys, too.’”

After years of reusing gear from past seasons, Bonanza has arguably the best uniforms in Las Vegas. Both sets are from Adidas’ vintage collection and highlights the school’s unique brown and gold color combination. Players wear their pants high to show off brown, gold and white socks.

Bonanza is located on West Charleston in a working-class neighborhood east of upscale Summerlin. Getting a two-for-one deal on uniforms courtesy of a big leaguer makes piecing together the season with limited school funds a possibility.

“When I was going there, we didn’t have the best uniforms,” Bryant said. “But you always want to look good in high school, and you want to impress the people in the stands — the 40 people that are there. I think the kids really appreciated it, and it just made me feel good.”

As soon as uniforms were distributed, players took to Twitter to show their appreciation to Bryant. They realize how fortunate they are.

“It makes me so humble knowing someone (of his importance) is giving back to us and the community,” Bonanza senior Casey Ladeira said. “It a honor playing in his footsteps.”

Bryant hit 47 home runs in his Bonanza career. Yet, Ladeira accomplished something earlier in the season Bryant never did — a game-ending home run. Bonanza erased a seven-run deficit against Palo Verde, including Ladeira’s game winner.

“We told the kids to wear the uniforms with pride and keep playing the game the right way,” O’Rourke said. “I’m from the old school. I don’t care if we come out here wearing T-shirts, we’ll strap it up and get after it.”

Brian Deka contributed an interview to this story

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21