November Bandit Birthdays
Steve Vizcaino turns 21. Steve played all varsity baseball all four years at Del Valle High School. Steve is an outstanding student in the classroom and has 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. Happy Birthday Steve!
November 28: Bridgett Bumpas turns “29” yet again. Bridgett is an educator and has her hands full keeping Coach David, Kyle and Kevin on track. Bridgett and her entire Family in Monahans have always been big supporters of the Bandits and our program. Even before Kyle started playing, she was Robert 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. Happy Birthday Bridgett!
November 29: Mandy Franco turns “29” yet 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 and sister 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: Nathan Volpi turns 20. 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!
November 30: Adam Lopez turns 25. 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 working on his college degree and coaching in the Ysleta school district. Adam is a member of our 1998 and 2000 National Finalist. His younger brother Justin is a member of our 2002 National Finalists. Happy Birthday Adam!
November 30: Champ “The Original Bandit” Hernandez celebrates his 31st 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 going to Sul Ross 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 first city championship in 1990. Every year he played the Bandits won the league championship. He was a member of the team which won the first El Paso youth championship on the road 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 6: Sergio Vargas turned 17. 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!
