Orr Brothers rewind: The Talented athletic brother trio from La Mirada High

Benn Orr, right, with his brother, Joe, center, and Sam, left, were leaders in sports at La Mirada High School, and now are coaches and leaders in baseball and track. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)

LA MIRADA – When you think of the three Orr brothers – Ben (’96), Joe (’99) and Sam (’01) -  who all graduated from La Mirada High School and were standout athletes in that era, you not only think of their athletic ability, but who they are.

Perhaps, current La Mirada High baseball coach Jimmy Zurn said it best of the Orr brothers: “As incredible as they were, their legacy is even greater in society now,” said Zurn, who played baseball and soccer with Ben Orr.

That about sums up the brother trio, who all left a mark on the La Mirada campus, from 1992 through 2001.

They all played multiple sports all four years in high school.

All three brothers gave credit to their dad, Matt, and of course mom, Pat.

Matt Orr, who came from a sports family himself, made his mark as the wrestling coach at Biola and later as the soccer coach for 14 years.

Both Joe and Ben played soccer for their father Matt at Biola.

All five Orr siblings, that included sisters Elizabeth and Kathryn, went on to Biola.

“Being a sports family was great,” said Ben Orr, who won a CIF baseball title, pitching a complete game in 1996. “Our dad taught us how to work hard with passion.

“Ultimately, our father was at the center of our games in high school and the coaches that invested time in us also, of course.”

All three got together recently and talked about their years at La Mirada and after high school.

“My brothers were studs,” said Joe Orr, who is the middle brother.

He was referring to both Ben and Sam, who went on to professional baseball careers in the minor leagues, playing in the Phillies and Cubs organizations.

“I remember when Ben was playing football in his senior year and he was the kicker and a wide receiver,” said Joe, who eventually followed Ben as the kicker. “I was in the stands in the band playing the baritone sax and my sister, Kathryn, was playing the French horn when just before the half, Ben kicked a 53-yard field goal.

In addition to band, Joe also had a successful high school career playing soccer, football, cross country and even volleyball during the track and field season in his senior year.

“My coaches were probably ticked off,” Joe said.

The three brothers are more than just athletes, attested by their career paths after successful college careers at Biola.

For example, Joe Orr, an outstanding track and field runner immediately became a teacher at La Serna and he has been there ever since.

“The cross (country) position came about right away,” Joe Orr said. “From way back when I just said to the runners, ‘Let’s have fun’ to now running a championship program, I’m just committed to the sport”

He is starting year 18 with the school, teaching math and freshman algebra and is a successful cross country and track coach for the Lancers.

Joe eventually met his wife, Kristey, also a track and field athlete, at Biola. She specialized in the steeple chase and as a runner in the 5K.

Sam Orr said: “Coming from the bottom end (youngest), my siblings kind of left a mark. There was a lot of integrity in the way we did things. We were all very different and left a mark in different ways.”

After Sam finished his playing days in pro ball, he eventually has found his niche back in baseball after working at Trinity Bats and then a managerial position for Trader Joes.

He currently is starting his own company called Baseball Workshop.

“It’s brand new, just launched,” said Sam, who earned nine varsity letters in soccer, baseball and football at La Mirada. “I’m building a package for a target age beginning at T-Ball.

“I’m using the right drills. My goal is to make the experience memorable.”

They all are very complementary of each other, with Sam saying of Joe: “He was the most athletic of the three. He was a great runner.”

Ben, who is the oldest, has been on staff with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes for 11 years and heads up the baseball division in Southern California.

“Now I get to have influence on younger kids,” Ben said. “I started the So Cal division. It started to take off here in So Cal.

“We work with kids from age five to pro athletes. We have youth teams and a summer collegiate team called the Shepherds. The players conduct camps and help facilitate the program. We’re here to serve and love the kids.”

Perhaps Ben, along with his brothers no doubt thinking the same thing, said it best about his home town of La Mirada

“I grew up in a Christian home and there was no better place to play than in La Mirada,” Ben Orr said. “We’ve been kind of saturated in the community.”

The Orr legacy could arise again in a few years. Between the three brothers, they have nine boys.