Bandits 2006 – – Start in First; Finish First

The Bandits 14 and Under captured the first tournament in El Paso in February and the final tournament in El Paso in July. The team is currently 44-9 and went 19-1 in league play. The team captured tournament championships in El Paso and in Midland. The final appearance as a team in El Paso was capped off by a 6 run come from behind rally in their last inning. They won their 2006 series with the Indians whom they beat 8 games to 3. Their other losses were to the Franklin Freshmen team once whom they beat twice; Socorro Freshmen team; Albuquerque Heat with whom they split each team winning once; Scottsdale Firebirds; Midland Outlaws whom they beat 3 games while losing once and the Lubbock Drillers. Next up are the final games for these 14 year old players as Bandits when they play their World Series games in Peoria Arizona before beginning their high school journey. Including their Fall record, they went 67-9 as 14 year olds. For Josh Avalos, Mark Gandara, Lance Gruber, Brian Hebblethwaite, Chris Rubio and Eric Stoltz their first Fall season record of 3-17 in 2004 is a distant memory. Kyle Bumpas joined the team in the Spring 2005 season and the team finished second in regular season league play before capturing the League Playoff Championship and finishing with a 43-17 record. Mike Bolaski and Marc Vargas joined the team in the Fall 2005 and were major contributors to our 23-0 perfect season. This year Tommy Valle, Nathan Pena, C J Avalos and Vince Centeno completed our Bandit team and we built on the foundation of our core group’s hard work and commitment. Thank You and Congratulations. You earned your Success!

“Championship Sunday” July 2 USSSA Tournament @ Sportspark
Championship Game: Bandits 10 Las Cruces Hurricanes 9
The Bandits scored 6 runs in the bottom of the 7th Inning with no outs to defeat the Las Cruces Hurricanes 10-9 in a “walk off” victory
Winning Pitcher: Mike Bolaski
Offensive Leaders: Chris Rubio 1X1, 2 RBI; Mike Bolaski 3X4, R, RBI; Kyle Bumpas 2X4, R, SB, BB, 2 RBI, GWRBI; Eric Stoltz 1X2, R, HBP; Marc Vargas 1X2, R, BB; C J Avalos 1X2, 3 BB, 2 RBI; Lance Gruber 1X3, R, 2B, BB; Vince Centeno 1X4, R; Brian Hebblethwaite 1X4, 2 R; Nathan Pena 1X4, R, 2 RBI and Josh Avalos HBP, RBI, R (Winning Run)

Semi-Finals: Bandits 10 #1 Seed Lubbock Mets 0
Winning Pitcher: Kyle Bumpas (Complete Game Shutout) H, BB, 4 K
Offensive Leaders: Nathan Pena 3X3, R, SB, 4 RBI; Marc Vargas 1X1, 2 R, SB; C J Avalos 1X1, 3 R, SB, RBI; Chris Rubio 1X2, 2 RBI and Mike Bolaski 1X3

Quarter-Finals: Bandits 8 Indians 4
The Bandits finished 2006 with a 8 win 3 loss record against the Indians. Lance Gruber hit a mammoth home run over the right field fence up on the retaining wall in the housing division behind Rose Field.
Winning Pitcher: Vince Centeno (Complete Game) 5 R, 2 ER, 4 H, 8 K, 3 BB, 2 HBP
Offensive Leaders: Marc Vargas 1X1, R, SB, HBP; Mike Bolaski 2X3, R, 2 RBI; Vince Centeno 2X3; Lance Gruber 2X3, R, 2 RBI, HR; Nathan Pena 2X3, R and Kyle Bumpas 1X2, 2 R, HBP
“Taking a Dose”: Kyle Bumpas and Marc Vargas

Saturday July 1 USSSA Tournament @ Sportspark
Pool Play Game 1: Bandits 2 Texas Thunder 0
Winning Pitcher: Mike Bolaski 5 IP, 3 H, 7 K, 0 R
Other Pitcher: Vince Centeno IP, K
Save: Kyle Bumpas IP, 2 K
Offensive Leaders: Kyle Bumpas 1X1, 2B, 2 SB, 2 BB; Chris Rubio 1X1, RBI; C J Avalos 1X2, R, SacB and Lance Gruber 1X2, R, 2 SB, HBP, RBI, GWRBI

Pool Play Game 2: Lubbock Drillers 7 Bandits 6
C J Avalos hit an opposite field home run over the right center field fence.
Offensive Leaders: Marc Vargas 1X1, SacB; Mike Bolaski 2X3, RBI; Nathan Pena 1X2, 2 R, 2 SB, BB, 2 RBI; C J Avalos 1X3, 2 R, HR; Kyle Bumpas 1X3, R, SB, RBI; Vince Centeno 1X3, SB and Brian Hebblethwaite 1X3

“It’s A Great Day to be a Bandit”

For 2006 Player Profiles on our 14 Year Olds and more Bandit News click the “My Site News” tab and then return to our “Home Page” when you are done