Bandit July Birthdays
July 27: Happy Birthday to our Bandit Web Master Josh Rodgers. Josh created our web site in 2010 and continues to do the coding update and picture uploads.
July 7: Bandit George Stoltz turned 34. On June 13, 2009, he was part of history as he helped lead his Socorro Bulldogs to the first El Paso High School State Championship in 60 years. In 2009, Stoltz suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in a tournament in Houston while pitching. That did not stop George as he earned First Team Honors in 1-5A as a designated hitter while having to wear a brace on his injured wing. In June 2008, George was named “Defensive Player of the Year” for District 1-5A. Stoltz was also a starter on Socorro’s football team playing in the secondary for the Bulldogs. Coach George returned from Iraq in time to share in his Son’s extremely memorable senior season which saw him earn All District honors in two varsity sports. George played three seasons with the Bandits and is a member of our 2002 National Finalist. George batted lead off for his Bandit teams as he did for his high school team. He also played primarily at third base and saw time as a second base, shortstop and pitcher. A documentary was made of the 2009 Socorro Bulldogs’ championship journey. As the lead off hitter for the Texas State Championship squad, George played a prominent role. Stoltz led off the semi-final game against Austin Westlake with a first pitch double to the right center field fence setting the tone for a championship final appearance. Happy Birthday George!
July 9: “Lil” Bandit Miguel Salazar turned 16. Miguel played on our “Lil” Bandit 8U team which competed in the 8U Coach Pitch Sportspark League and was a part of the Regular Season and Post Season Tournament Champions. Miguel’s Dad Tony is an accomplished baseball player who competed against the Bandits from age 9 to age 14 before being a star player in high school and New Mexico State. Miguel’s Grandpa knows as “Big Tony” was active playing baseball into his later years and was a well decorated umpire. “Happy Birthday” Miguel!
July 13: Bandit Vince Centeno turned 33. Vince was named to the All District 1-5A team 3 times as a third baseman for Americas High School. Centeno gained honors in his sophomore, junior and senior seasons for the Trail Blazers. He was an integral part of helping Americas High School to their first baseball district championship in school history. “Vinnie” was a 4 year varsity starter and signed a college agreement to continue his baseball journey after high school. Vince was a pitcher, shortstop, catcher and third baseman for his Bandit Championship squads. Happy Birthday Vince!
July 14: Coach Ruben Rodriguez turned 48. Coach Ruben helped coach Bandit teams for 2 and 1/2 seasons. Tournament championships were won in El Paso and throughout the State of New Mexico. He is responsible for introducing the Omaha Nebraska tournament and having our Bandits witness a College World Series in person. In June of 2019, he was named Head Football Coach for Eastlake High School and earned honors as the 2019 District High School Coach of the Year. At the conclusion of the 2020 season he repeated honors as the 1-6A District High School Football Coach of the Year. Coach Rodriguez has been named District High School Coach of the Year 2 seasons he has been in charge. Happy Birthday Coach Ruben!
July 23: “Lil” Bandit Aiden Gutierrez turned 16. Aiden played four years with the “Lil” Bandits. “AG” as he is affectionately called played catcher and outfield and hit in the middle of the order for his “Lil” Bandit championship teams. “Happy Birthday” Aiden!
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.
