Bandit Diamond Notes: Congratulations to College Coach, College All Conference Selection, High School All City Honoree & All District MVP and Bandit Ruben 9’er Rodriguez on being named the new Head Baseball Coach at Texas A & M International University . . . Congratulations to College Coach, College Player, High School 2-Sport All City & All District Player and Bandit 1998 and 2000 National Finalist Robert Gallegos on earning a coaching position at UT Arlington . . . Papa Bandit Coach Larry Hernandez Elected President of El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame . . . Send us your Pix
Congratulations to College Coach, College All Conference Selection, High School All City Honoree & All District MVP and Bandit Ruben 9’er Rodriguez on being named the new Head Baseball Coach at Texas A & M International University. Rodriguez finished his college playing career at Tarleton State University where he earned his Masters Degree and served as a Graduate Assistant Coach before serving as the Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator for Texas A & M International University in Laredo Texas. Posted August 28, 2024
Congratulations to College Coach, College Player, multiple High School All District and All City 2 sport selection and Bandit 1998 and 2000 National Finalist Robert Gallegos on being selected to join the coaching staff at D1 University of Texas Arlington. He has also coached at Navarro Junior College and the University of Oklahoma. Posted August 18, 2024
Congratulations to Major League Player, MLB 1st Round Draft Selection, College World Series National Champion, College All American at the University of Texas, High School All State Honoree at Socorro High School and Bandit Omar Quintanilla on being elected to the El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2024. Posted March 6, 2024
Congratulations to High School 2-Sport All District Player and Bandit 1998 and 2000 National Finalist Jason Luna on earning the position of Sergeant with the Texas Department of Public Safety Thursday January 25. Jason was an All-City and All District player in both football and baseball at Riverside High School. He played college baseball at Sul Ross. Posted January 25, 2024
Congratulations to Papa Bandit Coach Larry Hernandez on being elected President of the El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame and beginning a 2-year term on January 1, 2024. He previously served as President in 2012 and 2013. Posted January 1, 2024
Congratulations to Bandit Ryan Femath on being named the new Head Baseball Coach at St. Edwards University on Friday June 16. Posted June 17, 2023
The honors continue to roll in as Tuesday April 4, 2023 Coach Larry Vucan was elected to the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame to go with his 2018 Induction into the El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame. On Wednesday June 29, Coach Larry Vucan added the honor of being named 2022 High School National Coach of the Year by the American Baseball Coaches Association and ATEC. Coach Vucan played for Coach Larry Hernandez as a 13-14 year old on his Hirby Pest Control team. El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2018 Honoree Larry Vucan took his Southlake Carroll Dragons to their 4th Class 6A Texas High School State Tournament appearance in 5 completed seasons of play winning their 3rd Class 6A State Championship. Southlake Carroll is the first baseball team in UIL history to win a State Title at the largest classification 3 times in a 4 year span. This is Vucan’s 6th season as Head Coach of the Dragons. The 2020 season ended without playoffs due to covid and in 2021 his Dragons lost in the State Semi-Finals round of 8 to Keller by 1 run in the “if” game. The loss in 2021 marked the only year that Coach Vucan has not reached the Final 4 as Head Coach of the Dragons. In Coach Vucan’s first year they lost in the State Semi-Finals on a balk call. The next 2 years 2018 & 2019 saw the Dragons capture back to back State Championships. This year the Dragons shut out Keller whom they shared the District championship with in 2 consecutive games to advance to the 2022 Final 4 in Class 6A. #4 Seed Southlake Carroll defeated #1 Seed Ft. Bend Ridge Point 6-1 Friday June 10. The Dragons won the State Championship defeating San Antonio Reagan 8-5. Posted April 4, 2023
Congratulations to New York Yankees 10th Round Draft Selection and Minor League Player who earned invitation to Major League Training Camp and was in Final Round Cuts, College All Conference MVP Honoree, High School All City and All District MVP and Bandit Kyle Anson on being elected and Inducted into the El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame Class 0f 2022 Sunday September 4. Posted September 4, 2022
Congratulations to Hirby Player and now Del Valle Head Baseball Coach John Beard on being named 2022 El Paso City High School and District 2-5A Coach of the Year. Coach Beard also was named High School Coach of the Year by the El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame. Posted June 11, 2022
Congratulations to College All Conference, 2-Sport High School All City and All District Selection and Bandit Jacob Aguilar on earning his Masters Degree from Grand Canyon University. Posted May 3, 2022
Congratulations to Navarro Junior College Recruiting Coordinator and Coach, 2-Sport High School All City & All District Selection and Bandit 1998 and 2000 National Finalist Robert and his Wife Mandy on their new Baby Girl Mila Gray Gallegos on Tuesday May 3. Posted May 3, 2022
Bandit Ruben Munoz was selected to lead his alma mater Eastwood High School as their new Head Baseball Coach. Munoz played and was an Assistant Coach at Eastwood before accepting the Head Baseball Coach position at Franklin High School. Posted August 20, 2021
Hirby Player John Beard has been named the new Head Baseball Coach for Del Valle High School. This is Coach Beard’s third stint as a Head Coach having previously led Burges High School and El Dorado High School. Coach Beard played for Coach Larry Hernandez as a 13-14 year old and was part of a team that was undefeated in League Play both seasons. Posted July 28, 2021
Bandit Beto Romo was featured in an El Paso Times news article demonstrating his commitment to helping the development of youth baseball to the High School level. Romo graduated from New Mexico State in 2006. He pitched for the Aggies and also pitched at Oklahoma State and Midland Junior College. He also was a member of the 2000 Riverside baseball team, which went all the way to the Class 4A state semifinals. Posted June 21, 2021
Congratulations to Bandit and Eastlake High School Football Coach Ruben Rodriguez who earned 2020 1-6A District High School Coach of the Year honors. Rodriguez took his Falcons who were in their first year of 6A competition to an undefeated regular season. Rodriguez also earned the 2019 District 1-5A Division 1 High School Football Coach of the Year award. This marks 2 years in a row that his peers in different divisions and districts select him to be Coach of the Year. Posted December 22, 2020
Congratulations to 2X Professional Draft Selection, Los Angeles Dodgers Signee, College All Conference Selection, 2 Sport High School All City Honoree and Bandit Rick Rivas who was selected as part of the newest Class of the El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame. Posted March 28, 2020
Congratulations to Bandit and Eastlake High School Coach Ruben Rodriguez who was selected 2019 District 1-5A Division 1 High School Football Coach of the Year. Posted December 2, 2019
Congratulations to Bandit Coach Armando Femath who was selected as part of the Class of 2019 to join the El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame. Coach Femath will be formally Inducted along with 4 other Honorees on Sunday July 14, 2019. Posted July 1, 2019
Congratulations to Hirby Player and Southlake Carroll Dragons Head Coach Larry Vucan (played for Coach Larry Hernandez as a 13 & 14 year old) Who Led His Dragons to their 3rd Consecutive Texas High School Final 4 in each of his first 3 years as their Head Coach and 2nd Consecutive 6A State Championship (2018 & 2019). Posted June 8, 2019
Congratulations to Hirby Player and Southlake Carroll Dragons Head Coach Larry Vucan (played for Coach Larry Hernandez as a 13 & 14 year old) Who Was Inducted into the El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2018. Posted August 5, 2018
Congratulations to Franklin High School Head Baseball Coach and Bandit Ruben A. Munoz on being named El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame 2018 High School Coach of the Year. Posted July 18, 2018
Congratulations to Eastlake High School Coach and Bandit Coach Ruben Rodriguez on helping lead the Falcons to their first Area Championship in School History on Saturday May 12. Posted May 12, 2018
Tarleton State University Senior and Bandit Ruben “9’er” Rodriguez hit a walk off game winner in 21-20 Lone Star Conference Semi-Finals playoffs contest. In the Finals, Rodriguez went 2X5 with a Double, a 3 RBI Triple to pace the Texans to the Lone Star Conference Tournament Championship earning an NCAA Tournament Bid and an All Tournament Selection for Rodriguez. Rodriguez hit .342 for the year in 48 games with 3 HR, a .471 On Base Percentage and .500 Slugging Percentage. Posted May 12, 2018
Bandit Jacob Aguilar a senior at St. Mary’s University followed up his 2017 All Conference season by earning St. Mary’s University 2018 President’s Academic List Honors as he finishes up his career with the Rattlers. Posted January 31, 2018
Bandit National Finalist Robert Gallegos who was on the coaching staff at the University of Oklahoma and Bandit State Champion Ryan Femath who is the Coach and Recruiting Coordinator for St. Mary’s University will return to El Paso on Friday June 30 to highlight the El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame Inaugural Select Showcase dedicated to High School Baseball Players. Their presence and the schools they represent are the flagships for the first event and reflect their desire not only remembering that someone helped them but that they want to continue to help someone going forward. This is what makes being a Bandit unique, a belief that their strength came from someone else early until they could use their strength not only for themselves but to share with those who follow. Both Bandits are Class Acts and their act of giving and caring is elite. Posted June 30, 2017
Bandit Robert “10’er” Gallegos has been named to join the Big 12 Conference Member University of Oklahoma Sooners Baseball Staff. Gallegos duties include serving as a Recruiting Coordinator and Infield Coach. Robert joins the Sooners after a stint as the Recruiting Coordinator and Coach for Junior College power house Navarro Junior College. Gallegos was given the number 10 by the Sooners which is full circle for the same number 10 he wore as a Bandit. Robert is a member of our 1997 AABC Texas State Champion and AABC National Regional Finalist in St. Louis Missouri, 1998 National Regional Champion and 1998 Triple Crown National Finalist in Steamboat Springs Colorado, 1999 National Regional Champion, 1999 Texas State Champion and Bandit Easton Select Team and our 2000 Texas State Champion, National Regional Champion and 2000 USSSA National Finalist in Broken Arrow Oklahoma. Robert’s teams won Texas and New Mexico State Championships as well as National Regional titles in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Colorado. Robert and his Bandit teammates set history at the Sportspark winning the 14 and under League championship as all 13 year olds and did so in undefeated fashion. Robert played shortstop and pitcher for his Bandit teams and hit in the lead-off spot for his championship squads. Later he earned All District and All City honors in both football and baseball at Riverside High School. He earned All Conference honors at Navarro Junior College and Northwestern State in Louisiana. Robert has always remembered his roots and returns every year to run a camp for young players and a scouting showcase for high school players. Gallegos coached D-Bats Elite to the Connie Mack National Championship in Farmington New Mexico. Robert continues to pursue his dream in his baseball journey and now is able to check off the box next to NCAA College Coach. Congratulations Coach Robert Gallegos. We have always been Proud of You! Posted August 15, 2016
Hirby Player Coach Larry Vucan was named as the Head Baseball Coach for Texas State Power House Southlake Carroll. Coach Vucan played for Coach Larry Hernandez as a 13 and 14 year old on the Hirby Pest Control team which dominated Sandy Koufax League play from 1978 – 1984 going 3 consecutive years without losing a League game and winning 6 League titles and 1 Texas State Championship. Coach Vucan was a middle infielder on his Hirby teams. He graduated from Eastwood High School and UTEP. He played collegiately at New Mexico Highlands and professionally in the Italian Baseball League. He also coached and managed in the Italian Baseball League. Upon his return to El Paso he served as a Assistant Coach at Bel Air High School and later was the Head Baseball Coach at Franklin High School before leaving for Dallas Texas. In Dallas he served as an assistant Coach for Northwest High School before becoming the Pitching Coach at Southlake Carroll. He replaces Coach Hughes who retired after 20 years with Southlake Carroll. He gained the job after interviewing and beating out many top candidates who were interested in leading the Southlake Carroll Dragons. Vucan was the top runner-up for Teacher of the Year both at Franklin High School and Southlake Carroll teaching Advanced Placement Government and Economics classes. Coach Larry Hernandez, Champ “The Original Bandit” Hernandez and Coach Mark Dillon coached the offseason Franklin High School teams when Vucan led the program. Coach Charlie Bombach also assisted Coach Vucan with his Franklin Cougar programs as well during his tenure. Posted July 6, 2016
Bandit Albert Ruiz was profiled in the Monday June 2, 2014 edition of the El Paso Times for his rise through the umpire ranks and his current standing as a “AAA” umpire just one heartbeat from the “show”. He and his brother Eddie played for the Bandits before continuing their baseball journeys at Montwood High School. Congratulations Albert. Posted Monday June 2, 2014
Since 1994, the Bandits had not added another “held” number until Saturday January 18, 2014. On this day, the # 4 was added to our short list of “held” numbers in tribute to Coach Mark Dillon. Coach Mark has been with our Bandits for nearly half of our 25 year history. He helped coach our 1998 Bandits to the Triple Crown National Finals. He coached teams including those of his own Son, Casey who was the first west side player to join the Bandits. Casey played through age 14 with the Bandits before playing at Franklin High School and graduating from high school in Arizona. Casey went on to play college ball in California and Ohio. Coach Mark had a stellar playing career highlighted by being the shortstop on the 1965 Austin High School Final Four team that finished third in the State of Texas. He also coached college and had a hand in the 1992 Coronado T-Birds Final 4 team coaching them in the offseason leading up to their run to Austin Texas. For nearly 13 years, Coach Mark has contributed to the legacy of the Bandits and helped to enrich its standing. “Congratulations” and “thank you” Coach Mark. Your honor is overdue but acknowledged in our 25th year of existence.
Bandit and Eastlake High School Senior Ruben “9’er” Rodriguez continues the tradition of everyone who has worn the Bandit number 9 when he signed his College Letter of Intent on Wednesday January 15 in the Library at Eastlake High School, he will always be remembered as being the first in Eastlake school history to do so. There can only be one first and “9’er” will go down in school history as the first male student athlete to sign a college agreement. Congratulations to “9’er”, his Parents and all his family.
Bandit and 28 year old Ruben Munoz was named the new Head Baseball Coach for District 1-5A Franklin High School and led the Cougars to a playoff spot his first year. Ruben played for the Bandits from age 8 to 14 under his Dad Ruben Sr. He graduated from Eastwood High School before going to play junior college baseball at Scottsdale Community College and finishing up playing at Texas A & M Corpus Christi. He has been an assistant coach at his alma mater for the past 5 years under his Coach Ruly Medrano. For anyone to get their first coaching job is a “special” moment but for anyone to get their first one at the 5A Classification and at the age of 28 is truly exceptional. Congratulations to Ruben, his parents Ruben and Lupe and his family. Posted July 20, 2013
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