Bandit August Birthdays
August 2: Bandit Danny Ramirez turned 32. Danny played for two years on the Bandits as an 11 and 12 year old. Danny played pitcher, catcher and both corner infield spots. He usually batted either 3, 4, or 5 in the batting order. Danny earned 4 varsity letters playing for the Del Valle High School baseball squad.
Happy Birthday to “Lil” Bandits Co-Founders Marcella & Coach Charlie Bombach’s Youngest Son Joaquin “Bam Bam” Bombach who turned 12 on August 4.
Bandit Coach Hector Rubio celebrates his sixth birthday in our Lord’s Heavenly Kingdom on August 5. He coached the Bandits starting our first Fall Season in 1989 and coached until 1998. He and his late wife Fabie provided 3 Bandit players which is the most of any single Family in our history. Hector was generous to a fault and a loving Father and Grandfather to his boys: Christopher, Robert and Michael and his grandchildren. Happy Birthday Coach Hector!
Bandit Jessirey Navarrette turned 36 on August 8. Known as “Scooter” in his Bandit days and later known as “Dirtbag” he has always been the center of attention and his character had a prominent role in the movie 21 Outs. Navarrette was part of history helping to lead his Socorro Bulldogs to the first El Paso High School State baseball championship in 60 years. He caught, played both middle infield positions and third base for his Bandit teams. Jessirey was the starting catcher for the 2009 Class 5A State Champion Socorro Bulldogs. Navarrette led his team with a .509 batting average, knocked in 49 RBIs and was second on the team behind Bandit and Socorro teammate Cory Falvey in home runs (12) and third in doubles (13). He was named to the Texas High School All State team. Happy Birthday Jessirey!
Bandit Louie Saenz turned 36 on August 9. Louie finished his college baseball career playing for New Mexico Highlands earning All Conference honors hitting .349 with 3 home runs and 52 RBI and leading the team in runs scored and doubles. He was a three year letterman at Socorro High School where he was a member of 3 District Championship teams, 3 Bi-District Championship teams and three Regional Finalist teams. Louie was named to the 2008 Texas High School All State First Team. He is a member of our Bandit 2003 Texas State Championship squad. He is one of our Bandits to be named to the Texas High School All State squad. In 2012, Louie was named “Collegiate Player of the Year” by the El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame following a stellar All Conference senior season at New Mexico Highlands. Happy Birthday Louie!
Bandit Dillon Smith turned 39 on August 24. Dillon was an All City and All District player at Eastwood High School where he pitched and played both corner infield spots. Smith was a middle reliever and mid-week starter for the New Mexico State Aggies. Dillon was named to the All WAC Academic team in 2007. We are Proud of Dillon not only as a baseball player but also for the young man he has become. He played with the Bandits as a 13 and 14 year old. He is a member of our 2000 National Finalist. He was coached by Larry Hernandez as a 13 year old and his dad Danny Smith as a 14 year old. He life journey included a commitment to the Peace Corps in Gambia, Africa. Happy Birthday Dillon!
Bandit Oscar Gonzalez turned 31 on August 26. Oscar played two Fall and Spring seasons with the Bandits. He played second base, third base, pitched and all three outifield positions. Oscar was a member of the 2012 Montwood High School Rams’ District Championship and “Sweet 16” playoff team. Happy Birthday Oscar!
August 26: Bandits Jason and Justin Luna turned 39. The Luna twins are both members of our 1998 and 2000 National Finalists. Both were All-City and All District players in both football and baseball at Riverside High School. Both played college baseball; Jason at Navarro Junior College and Justin at El Paso Community College and Sul Ross University. Justin is now a member of El Paso’s finest serving with the Police Department. Jason is a Sergeant in the Texas Department of Public Safety serving as a State Trooper. Both of our Luna’s are proud Dads now. Happy Birthday Justin and Jason!
August 27: “Lil” Bandit Nicholas Capps turned 16 on August 27. Nicholas played Spring T-Ball and Fall Coach Pitch with the “Lil” Bandits starting in 2015. He played three years with the “Lil” Bandits. “Happy Birthday” Nicholas.
August 28: Bandit Josh Avalos turned 34. In 2010, Josh played a major role for the Americas High School Trailblazers who captured the first baseball district championship in school history. Selected to the EPCC Summer League All Star team in 2007 as a Bandit. Josh played as a 12, 13, 14 and 15 year old with the Bandits. His Bandit teams won Playoff and League championships. Josh pitched, played shortstop, third base and the outfield for his Bandit teams. He was a top offensive force in the line-up and top of the rotation starting pitcher. Happy Birthday Josh!
August 28: Bandit Brandon “10’er” “Pops” Lucero turned 25. Brandon filled the clean-up batting spot for our Southwest Baseball League undefeated champions. Lucero had a tenacious, “bull dog” approach on the mound always pitching to his last ounce of energy with a top effort. Lucero was a dependable “plus” bat and a run producing machine for the offense. He played both corner infield spots as well as catcher and pitcher. “Happy Birthday” Brandon.
Bandits Win Total Stands at # 2,553
The Bandits achieved Two Thousand Five Hundred Victories on March 23, 2014 when they bested the Artesia New Mexico Yard Dogs 4-3 in walk off fashion in the bottom of the seventh inning of a USSSA Tournament game in Las Cruces New Mexico. It reads more impressively when spelled out and quite an accomplishment for youth baseball in West Texas. Heck a researcher would have to cover quite a bit of the United States to find a baseball program with as many wins. We are near the top and have become what our Players, Parents, Families, Fans, Supporters and Coaches have made us – El Paso’s Premier Youth Baseball Organization. With our history we stand Loud and Proud. Our current victory total stands at 2,553. Thanks to our current Bandits we have a very promising Future. Thanks to one and all!
First Team Formed: April 15, 1989 (10U Division – 3 8-year olds on team)
First Game: May 1, 1989 @ Ponder Park (Bandits 8 – Airport Optimist 2)
First Batter: 8-year old Champ Hernandez
First Hit: Champ Hernandez doubled to left field, first at bat for the Bandits
First Run Scored: Champ Hernandez (2X2, 2B, BB, 2 stolen bases, 3 runs scored)
First Winning Pitcher: Joshua Kallail May 1, 1989
First Spring Season: 1989 Won Eastern League Championship @ Ponder Park (12-3 record)
First Fall Season: 1989 First time held @ Sportspark, won Championship (8-0 record)
First City Championship: 1990 Boys Baseball of El Paso City Championship (42-1)
First Tournament Championship: 1990 Boys Baseball Pre-Season Tournament (April)
First Texas Tournament Championship: Texas Baseball Classic @ Ft. Worth (July 1992)
First Championship: 1989 Eastern League @ Ponder Park 10U – 1 team; 1989 Champions Sportsplex Inagural Fall Season (Undefeated) 10U
First Undefeated Season: 1989 Fall Baseball @ Champions Sportsplex 10U Division (8-0)
First Year Multiple Divisions Swept: 1990 Won 10U & 12U City Championship (2 teams)
1991: Won 10U & 12U City Championships (2 teams)
1992: Moved to Sportspark to play Spring and Fall Seasons; Won 11U Championship, State Finalist 12U Tournament (1 team)
1993: Won 12U Division (1 team)
1994: Won 10U, 11U, 12U, 13U, 14U, 16U Divisions (6 teams)
1995: Won 10U, 11U, 12U, 13U, 14U, 16U Divisions (6 teams)
1996: Won 11U, 12U, 13U, 14U, 16U Divisions (6 teams)
1997: Won 10U, 11U, 12U, 13U, 14U, 16U, 18U Divisions (7 teams)
1998: Won 11U, 12U, 13U, 14U, 16U, 18U Divisions (6 teams)
1999: Won 12U, 13U, 14U, 16U, 18U Divisions (5 teams)
2000: Won 14U (1 team) went undefeated in league play, advanced to National Finals
Previous Bandit teams stayed together, used their new team names)
2001: Won 10U Division (1 team)
2002: Won 11U Division and advanced to National Finals (1 team)
2003: Won 12U Division and finished 5th in Nation (1 team)
2004: Won 9U State Championship (1 team)
2005: Won 13U Sportspark Spring Playoffs Championship (2 teams)
2005: Won 14U Sportspark Fall League & Playoffs Championships (2 teams)
2006: Won 14U Sportspark League Championship; Won 11U Sportspark League Championship (2 teams)
First Texas State AABC Championship: 1994 (Coach Javier)
First Texas State USSSA Championship: 2000 @ Lubbock Texas (Coach Larry)
First Texas State Super Series Championship: 2002 (Coach Larry)
First National Regional Championship: 1997 @ Colorado Springs Colorado (Coach Larry)
First National Championship Game: 1998 Triple Crown 11U Division @ Steamboat Springs, Colorado (Coach Larry)
First Player to Sign College Letter of Intent with 4 year school: Aaron Forrister with Southwest Texas State University (now known as Texas State University) January 1999
First Player to Sign Junior College Letter of Intent: Champ Hernandez with Pima Junior College (Tucson Arizona) May 1999
First Player to Sign Professional Contract: Ramsey Carter (Kansas City Royals) 2001
First Player Selected to NAIA All-America team: Aaron Forrister and Micah Pennies (both with College of the Southwest)
First Player Selected to NCAA All-America team: Omar Quintanilla (Texas Longhorns)
First Player to Win College National Championship: Omar Quintanilla (Texas Longhorns)
First Player Selected in 1st Round of Major League Draft: Omar Quintanilla (Oakland A’s)
First to Play in the Major Leagues: Omar Quintanilla – Colorado Rockies (July 31, 2005)
Longest Consecutive Game Winning Streak: 53 Wins (2000 13U)
Latest Championship: 13U 2014 Southwest Baseball Spring League (14-0 record)
Win # 2400: June 18, 2006
Win # 2500: March 23, 2014
October 30, 2016: Bandit teams have a combined record of 2,553 wins and 527 losses with a winning percentage of 83%
Bandits Connection to High School Final 4
The Bandits have connections to the El Paso teams that have reached the Texas High School Baseball Final 4:
Bandit Coach Mark Dillon played shortstop on the 1965 Austin High School Panthers Final 4 team
Bandit Coach Larry Hernandez coached 8 of the 9 hitters on the 1983 Burges High School Mustangs Final 4 team
Bandit Coach Mark Dillon coached Rocky Coppinger, Rey Herrera and many players in their offseason formative years leading to the 1992 Coronado High School Thunderbirds Final 4 team
Bandit Coach Mark Dillon coached Beto Romo and Omar Ferniza on a Bandits team before the pair became the two pitchers at the top of the rotation for the 2000 Riverside High School Rangers Final 4 team
Bandit Coach Larry Hernandez coached George Stoltz, Cory Falvey, Jessiray Navarratte and Bobby Mares on a Bandit squad before they occupied the # 1, # 3, # 4 and # 5 spots in the batting order for the 2009 Texas High School State Baseball Champion Socorro Bulldogs. Falvey was named Texas High School Player of the Year. Mares was the “Ace” Pitcher and Navarrette, Falvey and Mares earned All State Honors.
Papa Bandit and the Bandit Way
Who was your first game of catch with? Thank You to my Son Champ and nearly a thousand kids for the greatest game of Catch I ever played.
Coach Larry Hernandez has been Blessed to share that memory making game of catch with young kids since 1971. The goal remains the same, to excite and inspire kids to focus on fun and fundamentals and a thirst to want to play the game more next year than they did at the beginning of this year. Coach Larry has proudly and humbly offered his time, dedication and commitment to elevate, empower and encourage youth. His teams have achieved National levels of success including playing in 3 National Championship Finals, National Regional Champions, Texas State Champions and an enduring spirit of relationships fueled by nostalgia and channeled in a fountain of monumental moments. The mission has never wavered in growing Great Young Men, One Little Boy at a time.
Bandits must stay Relentless in Our Pursuit of Excellence
A Love for the Game and a Respect for Playing it the Right Way starts at the earliest level.
