Welcome
The Bandits Baseball Group formed its first team on April 15th, 1989, it was a 10 and Under team. We played our first game on May 1st, 1989 at Ponder Park, winning 8 to 2. We were the visitors and our first batter was 8-year old Champ Hernandez who we call the “Original Bandit”. He doubled, scored the first run and we haven’t looked back.
The founder of the Bandits, Coach Larry Hernandez began coaching youth baseball in 1971. He began coaching in the Boys Baseball of El Paso program at Ponder Park with a 10U team from the Burges High School area. He coached two years in the 10U program and then moved up to the 12U division. In 1978, he helped form a new 13U team that was sponsored by Hirby Pest Control which played in the 14U division at Grandview Park. He coached Hirby for 7 years winning a State Championship in 1984. The 1983 State Semi-Finalist from Burges High School had 8 players in the starting nine who played for Coach Larry. In 1989 he helped form the Bandits Baseball Group with Coach Javier Sandoval. In 1990, the Bandits won their first City Championship. In 34 years of Spring baseball, his teams have either tied or won the league championship 31 times. He has led teams to three National Championship games. The Riverside Rangers had two Bandits Beto Romo and Omar Ferniza at the top of their pitching rotation when they went to the Texas High School Final Four in 2000. In 2009 Texas High School State Champion Socorro Bulldogs had 4 Bandits in the top 5 spots of their batting order. Coach Hernandez’s teams have a record of 1,401 wins and 247 losses with a winning percentage of 85%. Four of his players have become High School Head Baseball Coaches. He was inducted into the El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999.
Three of our teams have finished as National Finalists. In 1998 at the Triple Crown World Series in Steamboat Springs, Colorado (84 teams competed); in 2000 at the USSSA World Series in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma (104 teams competed) and in 2002 at the Super Series World Series in Little Rock Arkansas (96 teams competed).
Sixteen Bandits have received Texas All-State baseball high school honors and our players have earned 297 All-City and All-District designations. We are proud of the 151 Bandits who have made the National Honor Society. In 2002, David Ramirez, was recognized for having the 5th highest Grade Point Average in his Senior Class at Eastwood High School. In 2001, Kevin Letz, graduated with the 3rd highest GPA in his Senior Class at Hanks High School. In 2009, Bandits George Stoltz, Cory Falvey, Bobby Mares and Jessiray Navarrette led their Socorro Bulldogs to the first El Paso High School Baseball State Championship in 60 Years! Navarrette, Mares and Falvey all earned All State Honors. Mares and Falvey were named Co-Most Valuable Players for District 1-5A. Cory was also the first El Paso High School player to ever be named to the EA Sports All American team. In 2009, Justin Lopez was named District 2-4A Most Valuable Player and Golden San Roman was named Most Valuable Player in District 1-4A. In 2010, Omar Garcia and Kyle Bumpas were named Co-Most Valuable Players in District 1-5A. Mike Bolaski, Kyle Bumpas and Omar Garcia were named to the 2010 Class 5-A All State team. In 2009, Cory Falvey was the first Bandit and the first El Paso High School player to be named Texas High School Player of the Year in any sport!
Our oldest group of Bandits are now 32 years old. Our 15 graduating classes have seen 155 Bandits continue their baseball journeys either in college or the professional ranks. Omar Quintanilla played three years for the Texas Longhorns and was a part of their National Championship squad before being selected as a supplemental first round selection by the Oakland A’s. Rick Rivas pitched for Oklahoma State and defeated the then # 1 Texas Longhorns on national television before being drafted along with Jesse Estrada in 2004. Other Bandits drafted include Jared Schrom for the Texas Rangers, Ramsey Carter for the Kansas City Royals and Kyle Anson drafted by the New York Yankees after his career at Southwest Texas State in the tenth round. Lance Sewell was drafted in 2009 out of San Diego State in the seventh round by the Oakland A’s. Mike Bolaski was selected in the 23rd round of the 2010 draft and is playing for the Anaheim Angels farm system. Aaron Forrister, Micah Pennies and Quintanilla have all received All American recognition for their college play. Willie Rueda earned three Big 12 All Conference honors while playing for Texas Tech. Twenty seven Bandits have earned junior college All Conference honors. Nine Bandits including Kyle Bumpas who was a 2011 All Conference selection pitching at St. Mary’s University have earned baseball honors at 4 year schools joining Rueda.
On June 18th, 2006 the Bandits recorded our 2,400th victory; on August 1st, 2002 we played in our third National Championship game and on October 12, 2009 Coach Larry Hernandez notched coaching victory number 1,400.We have played in more National Finals (3); won more National Regional (20); State (16); City (29); League (70) and Tournament Championships (179) than all other youth Baseball Organizations in the El Paso area COMBINED! Bandit teams have a combined record of 2,488 wins and 504 losses with a winning percentage of 83%. On Tuesday September 25, 2007 we recorded our 100,000 web site viewing. On Sunday March 18, 2012 we recorded our 150,000 viewing on our web site. Thanks to all our Bandit players, coaches, family members and supporters for helping to make this happen. We were different because you made a difference. We are what you allowed us to become, El Paso’s best youth baseball organization!
“THE HEART OF A CHAMPION is always beating but it always remembers to beat AS ONE”. We Pray that our Roots helped you find your Wings – - “that God will Fill your Heart with Dreams and that Faith gives you the Courage to Dare to do Great Things”.
Turn up the volume and listen to our musical celebration, as your lives continue so does our journey. “It’s a Great Day to be a Bandit”!
