Having won countless state and national titles as a coach in youth baseball, Houston Banditos Black coach Ray DeLeon said his team’s win in the National Youth Baseball Classic (NYBC) was the most memorable.

“Just to get this far is great,” DeLeon said. “To finish this off (with a national championship) is unbelievable.”

The Banditos earned the right to participate in the NYBC by winning the Super Series of Baseball earlier this summer. The NYBC is made up of several youth baseball organizations like the AAU, Babe Ruth Baseball and others. Champions from all leagues then travel to Memphis to participate in a winner-takes-all championship tournament.

After winning all three of their pool play games, the Banditos shot past Team Florida in the semifinals, earning a championship bid against the San Diego Stars.

After the Banditos cruised to an early 2-0 lead, San Diego appeared poised for the win after a big inning staked them to a 6-2 lead, heading into the final inning. The Banditos had fight left in them and put together an improbable comeback to tie the game.

With two out and no one on base, Daniel Cabrera reached base while down to his final strike. Dylan Bohnert hit a bloop single that was misplayed by the Stars shortstop, bringing slugger Landon Miner to the plate. Miner, also down to his final strike, launched a shot into left-center field to cut the lead to one run. Matthew Mitchell, who would end up the tournament MVP, then strode to the plate. Mitchell showed his flair for the dramatic by driving a 1-2 pitch over the centerfield wall to tie the game.

The Banditos then erupted for seven runs in the first extra inning secure the win and the championship.

“To come back from four runs down makes it even more special,” said DeLeon. “It was nerve wracking but the kids were able to handle the failures and successes and didn’t quit.”

The home run spree to take the victory was ironic for DeLeon, considering who he mentioned his baseball hero was in his youth.

“Roy Hobbs,” he said laughing. Hobbs was a fictional character portrayed by Robert Redford in the movie “The Natural,” who hit a pennant clinching shot against all odds.

Three of the Banditos will be taking part in a seven day tour in Rhode Island, Boston, New York and Philadelphia to play teams up north, as part of the Phenom Baseball Player of America tour. The tour was organized by a businessman in attendance at the NYBC. Players selected from the Banditos were Bohnert, Mitchell and Miner.

The Banditos are based out of the Texas Prospects Academy in Tomball. DeLeon moved the academy from The Woodlands to Tomball about five years ago.

“Tomball is centrally located and we really liked the community,” said DeLeon. “It’s turned out as a great place to be.”

The academy has made the Tomball area a hotbed for collegiate prospects. DeLeon estimated that 30-percent of his academy’s players are from the Tomball area, while most of the rest are from areas immediately surrounding Tomball.

A new select league is taking place towards the end of October at the academy. Tryouts will begin soon for anyone age 9-18. Contact the academy at 281-290-8333 or go to www.texasprospectsacademy.com.

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