25 Years Ago this July: High Desert Classic Champions
In the month of July 1998, Bandit Coach Brian Forrister took a Bandit team of high school players and went to Albuquerque New Mexico to capture the prestigious High Desert Classic Championship. Champ Hernandez, Aaron Forrister, Joey Calderon, Albert Hernandez, Ramsey Carter, Vince Huerta, Micah Pennies, Kevin Letz, Josh Vizcaino, Armando Torres, Jesse Vizcaino, Brian Franco, Peter Rodriguez were among the high school freshman, sophomores and juniors who defeated college all star teams and National Select baseball teams to claim the Championship. Coach Brian had the Bandits play with courage and a sense of purpose well beyond their young years. Not only were they the youngest team in the field; they were the best! Congratulations for a great memory that dates back 25 years.
Bandit Dugout Chatter: “Lil” Bandits Capture League and Post Season Crowns
Our 2018 “Lil” Bandits: Heaton Hughes, Hampton Hughes, Tre Bombach, Nicholas Capps, Aiden Gutierrez, Carter Salome, Miguel Salazar, Alex Guadian, Julian Esparza; Elias Gonzalez; Noah Ibarra, Nolan Montion, Joseph Annabi, Rhyan Calderon and Matthew Looney
“Lil” Bandits finish 44-18 for Spring 2018 playing in toughest tournaments 23-16 and toughest League 21-2 and finish as the Sportspark League Regular Season Champions and Post Season Tournament Champions
“Lil” Bandits Finish 21-2 and capture Sportspark League Regular Season and Post Season Tournament Championships for Spring 2018
Game 1 “Lil” Bandits 15 EP Toxic 4
Game 2 “Lil” Bandits 14 EP Braves 0
Game 3 “Lil” Bandits 19 EP Outsiders 11
Game 4: “Lil” Bandits 16 EP Dodgers 0
Game 5: “Lil” Bandits 15 EP Toxic 4
Game 6: “Lil” Bandits 14 EP Braves 2
Game 7: “Lil” Bandits 17 D Legacy 2
Game 8: “Lil” Bandits 12 Texas Rangers 2
Game 9: Astros 10 “Lil” Bandits 7
Game 10: “Lil” Bandits 16 EP Dodgers 0
Game 11: “Lil” Bandits 12 EP Toxic 10
Game 12: “Lil” Bandits 18 EP Braves 0
Game 13: “Lil” Bandits 13 EP Outsiders 4
Game 14: “Lil” Bandits 13 Astros 3
Game 15: “Lil” Bandits 14 D Legacy 4
Game 16: “Lil” Bandits 21 Texas Rangers 1
Game 17: “Lil” Bandits 10 D Legacy 0
Game 18: “Lil” Bandits 15 Texas Rangers 1; “Lil” Bandits Capture Regular Season Championship
Post Season Tournament – Game 19: “Lil” Bandits 11 Texas Rangers 1
Post Season Tournament – Game 20: “Lil” Bandits 8 D Legacy 4
Post Season Tournament – Game 21: “Lil” Bandits 14 EP Toxic 6
Post Season Tournament – Game 22: El Paso Toxic 17 “Lil” Bandits 10
Post Season Tournament – Game 23: “Lil” Bandits 17 El Paso Toxic 4; “Lil” Bandits Capture Post Season Tournament Championship
“Lil” Bandits go 3-3 in May USSSA King of the Mountain Tournament in Ruidoso NM
“Lil” Bandits go 2-3 in May USSSA Survivor Series Tournament
“Lil” Bandits go 2-1 in April USSSA King of the Turf Tournament in Hobbs NM
“Lil” Bandits go 7-2 in March USSSA NIT Tournament in Las Cruces and reach Finals in Gold Division
“Lil” Bandits go 2-3 in February 2018 USSSA XTreme Tournament
“Lil” Bandits go 3-2 in January 2018 USSSA Winter State Tournament
“Lil” Bandits go 4-2 in Sun City Baseball Classic
“Lil” Bandits Win 2018 Spring Sportspark Regular Season Championship
“Lil” Bandits finished 2017 Fall Play 27-9 with .750 Winning Percentage and win the Sportspark Regular Season League Championship. USSSA Bronze Halloween Tournament Championship and Second Place in Sportspark Postseason Tournament and October USSSA Tournament Sportspark League Regular Season Champions with a 16-2 Record Sportspark Post Season Tournament Results finish 4-2 and finish 2nd in Sportspark Postseason Tournament October USSSA Tournament, “Lil” Bandits go 4-3 earn Silver Medals by finishing Second in Bracket Play USSSA Tournament Halloween Scream, “Lil” Bandits go 3-2 earn Gold Medals by winning Bronze Division 2017
2016 Another Bandit Year, Another Bandit Championship: “Lil” Bandits Show The Heart of A Champion and claim the USSSA Silver Division Tournament Championship playing 5 Games on Sunday Oct. 30 and Win the Final 3 including the “if” Championship Game 14-6 earning Championship Rings in their first USSSA Tournament
Coach Charlie Bombach has been coaching youth baseball in El Paso for the past 10 years. He was part of the 2013 staff that resurrected the Bandits to the playing field. He has previously served as a Head Coach as well as an Assistant and has proved knowledgeable and adaptable to serving the needs of young men as they use baseball as a learning vehicle in their life journeys.
Coach Amen Ayoub has coached youth and High School sports for 16 years before joining the “Lil” Bandits. He coached football, baseball and basketball for Faith Christian Private School growing the program from its infancy, adding and upgrading facilities including fields and lighting for those fields. Coach Amen also was the Athletic Director setting the program’s roots allowing it to elevate to the level of performance as a state competitor that it currently enjoys. All his energies and efforts were done as a Volunteer and at the expense of his personal business pursuits.
Coach Mark Dillon has been with the Bandits since 1992 and was part of the 1998 and 2000 National Finalists. His Son Casey was the first west side player to join the Bandits and played from age 12 to 14. Coach Mark was an Assistant Coach with the first El Paso Community College baseball team. He has also coached offseason High School baseball in Scottsdale Arizona and for Franklin High School and Coronado High School helping the T-Birds in their development for their run to the 1992 Texas High School Final Four. Coach Mark was the shortstop on the 1965 Austin High School Texas High School Final 4 State Semi-Finalist squad.
Congratulations to our 2014 Bandits for going undefeated and capturing the Southwest Baseball League regular season title
Congratulations to our 2014 Bandits for going 8-2 in the USSSA World Series and finishing in second place: Bandit Hector Carbajal, Bandit Kobe Nelms, Bandit Brayden Peterson, Bandit Brandon Lucero, Bandit Andy Kim, Bandit Joshua De La Pena, Bandit Brycen Horn, Bandit Jeremy Carrillo, Bandit Coach Charlie Bombach, Bandit Matt Guerra, Bandit Josh Bombach, Bandit Coach Hipolito Carrillo, Bandit Coach Mark Dillon and Bandit Coach Larry Hernandez have earned “All IN” Honors
Congratulations to 2014 Bandit Brandon Lucero for getting accepted in the Fall 2014 Class @ Cathedral High School
Congratulations to 2014 Bandit Andy Kim for his leadership and entry in the recent Robotic Competition and for getting accepted into the Medical Science program at Silva Magnet High School
Congratulations to 2014 Bandit Joshua “9’er” Bombach who captured top Honors @ Moorhead Middle School – “Top Boy GPA 8th Grade” & “Daughters of the American Revolution Citizenship Award”
Congratulations to 2014 Bandit Kobe Nelms who won the 2014 Texas State Wrestling Championship
“Thank You” to Milwaukee Brewers Professional Scout Marv Thompson for visiting and speaking with our Bandits at our May 14, 2014 practice. Marv was a captain for the Nationally Ranked University of Arizona Wildcats before signing with the New York Yankees. Following his professional career, Marv went on to direct Doyle Baseball for the Western Region. Marv was hired by current El Paso Chihuahuas Manager Pat Murphy when he was named Head Coach at Arizona State to be the Director of Operations for the Sun Devils. He then became a scout for the Major League Scouting Bureau. He was selected to lead the training for scouts at “Scout School” in Arizona. He then signed as a “Major and Minor League Scout” for the Brewers. He has done advance scouting for the Brewers in their playoff run. He did the advance scouting and game planning for Team USA when they defeated Cuba in Cuba and he has been involved with Coach Larry Hernandez and the Bandits since 1991.
Pro Bandits: “Bo” & “Q”; Bandit and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Professional Minor League Pitcher Michael “Bo” Bolaski reported to Tempe camp Feb. 25
“Bo Box”: Bandit and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Professional Minor League Player Michael “Bo” Bolaski reported to Tempe camp with the Angels pitchers on Wednesday February 25, 2015. He was converted from an infielder to a pitcher by the organization. He pitched for the AZL Angels and earned All Star consideration in 2014. He started the 2013 season with the Class “A” Burlington Bees. “Bo” hit .286 with 7 home runs for the Los Angeles Angels minor league affiliate Orem Owlz in 2012. Mike was selected by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the 23rd round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft. Season Completed. Updated February 25, 2015
“Q” Box Update: Bandit Omar Quintanilla played with the New York Mets in 2014 and finished the season playing Triple A with Las Vegas. He has played with the Mets organization since 2012. “Q” who is now 33 years old had his debut with the Colorado Rockies in 2005. Omar was a 1st Round supplemental pick by the Oakland A’s following a college career at the University of Texas. He was on a National Championship squad with the Longhorns. He has 9 years of professional MLB experience. Updated February 22, 2015
College Bandits: Falvey hit .348 @ NM Highlands; Bumpas hits .270 and spins 2.33 ERA @ St. Mary’s
Bandit Cory Falvey a senior at New Mexico Highlands hit .348 with 7 doubles, a triple, 3 home runs and 26 RBI. He committed 3 errors in the field with a .961 fielding percentage in 51 chances. Season completed. Posted May 21, 2013
Bandit Kyle Bumpas a junior at St. Mary’s University hit .270 with 11 RBI, 3 doubles, 13 runs scored and has a 2.33 ERA in 18 appearances with 20 K’s in 27 innings. As the Rattlers’ main reliever, Bumpas was serving as the Rattlers’ designated hitter. He did not commit an error and sported a 1.000 fielding percentage in 22 chances. Season completed. Posted May 21, 2013
Bandit Brett David a sophomore hit for a .155 batting average with 2 doubles, a home run and 5 RBI for the Angelo State University Rams. He had a .852 fielding percentage in 54 chances. Season completed. Posted May 21, 2013
Bandit and Sul Ross State University sophomore Chris Rubio hit .071 with 2 RBI. He did not commit an error in the field and posted a 1.000 fielding percentage. Season completed. Posted May 21, 2013
