Bandit November Birthdays
November 1: “Lil” Bandit Matthew Ryan Chavez turned 14. Matthew played 2 seasons with the “Lil” Bandits in the 7U League and helped lead the team to a USSSA Tournament Title. “Happy Birthday” Matthew!
November 6: Sergio Vargas turned 30. Sergio played for the Bandits for 2 years. He was a middle infielder, pitcher, third baseman and played all three outfield positions. Vargas was usually found in one of the two top spots in his team’s batting order. Happy Birthday Sergio!
November 17: Kobe Nelms turned 24. Kobe was part of our Southwest Baseball League undefeated Bandit squad. He played second base and all three outfield spots finally claiming the Centerfield position due to his speed and ability to read “ball off bat.” He was the leading hitter at the October 2013 “Halloween Scream” hitting .667 with an on base percentage over .800. Nelms was a clutch RBI producer for the Bandits and an excellent base runner. Kobe shared the lead for the Bandits in RBI during our undefeated Southwest Baseball League season. Nelms was a High School All State Wrestling contender at Franklin High School. “Happy Birthday” Kobe!
November 24: Steve Vizcaino turned 34. Steve played varsity baseball all four years at Del Valle High School earning All District honors. Steve was an outstanding student in the classroom and mastered three languages in which he is very proficient including German. Vizcaino is a member of our 2002 National Finalist. Steve signed a scholarship agreement to play baseball at the University of the Southwest following his time at Del Valle. Happy Birthday Steve!
November 28: Bridgett Bumpas turns “29” again. Bridgett is an educator and has her hands full keeping Kyle and Kevin on track. Bridgett and her entire Family in Monahans were always been big supporters of the Bandits and our program. Even before Kyle started playing, she was Robert “10’er” Gallegos teacher back when he was in elementary school. Robert is a member of our 1998 and 2000 National Finalists. Bridgett’s son Kyle is a member of our 2002 National Finalist squad. Kyle’s play on the first District 1-5A Championship baseball squad at Americas, saw Kyle honored again with All City and All District honors in baseball. Bumpas was honored as the Most Valuable Player in District 1-5A. Mrs. Bumpas received along with her Mom Kyle’s award for being named the El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame Player of the Year in 2010. In 2011, Kyle earned All Conference honors as a freshman pitcher for St. Mary’s University and was a 3 year letterman for the Rattlers. Happy Birthday Bridgett!
November 29: Mandy Franco turns “29” again. Mandy is an outstanding educator in the classroom, a nurturing Mother to her sons Ruben “Niner” and Robert and daughter Amanda, a tolerant and patient woman, a devoted daughter andsister and a tremendous friend. She has enormous patience and compassion for the people in her life. Thanks Mandy you are truly a class act. Happy Birthday Mandy, we know you are Special and they even wrote a song about you, “Oh Mandy you came and . . . .”
November 30: Champ “The Original Bandit” Hernandez celebrated his 44th birthday. The “Original Bandit”, he started in 1989 playing with the Bandits from age 8 through his senior year in high school. He was an All-District and All-City selection at Hanks High School. He was inducted into the National Honor Society and was an academic scholarship award winner. Upon graduation, Champ played in Tucson Arizona with the Pima Junior College Aztecs before completing collegiate play at Sul Ross State University in Alpine Texas. He played shortstop, second base and filled the role of designated hitter in college. He played for Coach Larry Hernandez from age 8 to 14 and Coach Brian Forrister from age 15 through high school. He played infield his first year batting lead-off and leading the Bandits to the first of many League Championships in 1989. He played on the Bandits 1990 City Championship squad. Every year he played the Bandits won at least a League Championship. He is a member of the first El Paso youth baseball team to win a major tournament championship in the Dallas Metroplex winning the Texas Classic at Fort Worth in 1992. In 1998 he was a member of the Bandit team which won the High Desert Classic in Albuquerque New Mexico defeating high school seniors and college freshmen with a team of high school juniors and underclassmen. Happy Birthday Champ!
November 30: Happy Birthday to “Grandpa Bandit” Hernandez who was a strong, vocal, visible and unconditional Bandit supporter from Minute One, Day One. He celebrated his 15th Year watching from his Sky Box in our Lord’s Heavenly Kingdom. I Love You Popper!
November 30: Adam Lopez turned 38. Adam played four years of football and baseball for Riverside High School where he earned All District and All City honors in both sports. Adam played two years of junior college baseball before returning to El Paso and is currently running a travel club baseball program in the Dallas Metroplex called the Bandits. Adam is a member of our 1998 and 2000 National Finalist. His younger brother Justin is a member of our 2002 National Finalists. The Lopez family provided the Bandits with players on all of our National Finalist teams. Happy Birthday Adam!
November 30: Nathan Volpi turned 33. Nathan graduated from Franklin High School playing four years in their baseball program and being a mainstay on the academic honor roll. Nathan earned two varsity letters pitching and playing in the outfield as well as serving as a designated hitter for the Cougars. Happy Birthday Nathan!
