by William Saunders

LAKE BEUNA VISTA, Fla. – 11:00 AM Sunday - Banditos Black 8, Tomateros de California 6
The championship game brought together two teams that had not faced each other in the past. Both teams came into the championship game going undefeated with identical records of 6-0. From pool A comes TBS #5 Tomateros de California and from pool B came TBS #19 Banditos Black from Texas.

The Tomateros were viewed by many as the favorite to win the championship. The boys from Southern California have a great combination of size and speed. This team is highly skilled and can flat out play ball. The Tomateros’ head coach is Joe Ruiz Sr.

The Banditos come from a tradition rich program from Texas winning 32 national titles as an organization including multiple Elite 24 championships. The 10u squad, prior to this event, have won three national championships. They were the 7u USSSA champions and at 8u they won USSSA and AAU National Championships. At 9u they went to Kansas City and placed third. The Bandito’s head coaches are Ray DeLeon and Roger Jarvis who both also coach the highly successful 13u Bandito’s Black and Jeff Urban is the GM.

In the top of the 1st the Banditos would send John Henry Gonzalez to the mound. Gonzalez gave up two runs to the Tomateros. In the bottom of the first the Tomateros would send Joe Ruiz Jr. to the mound. Ruiz would struggle giving up three runs in 1/3 of an inning, partially due to defensive breakdowns. It should be noted that this reporter feels that without the fine play of Ruiz in the field, at the plate and on the mound all week the Tomateros may not have been in the championship game. Head coach Joe Ruiz Sr. would then send in Henry Martinez who gave up one run but was able to stop the bleeding and end the inning. End of 1st inning Banditos 4 – Tomateros 2.

The second inning, both pitchers did a great job, neither giving up a run. In the 3rd inning the Tomateros started to figure out the Banditos pitcher, Martinez. Isaac “Ice” Guiterrez hit a RBI double. Next up, catcher Jose Rios also hit an RBI double and pitcher Henry Martinez hit an RBI single. In the bottom of the third, Martinez and the Tomateros did a great job holding the Banditos to 0 runs. End of 3rd inning Tomateros 5- Banditos 4.

The fourth inning was like the 2nd with the Bandito’s pitcher John Henry Gonzalez and the Tomateros pitcher Henry Martinez allowing no runs. In the top of the 5th the Banditos sent in ace Jordan “Diesel” Monacy to the mound. Monacy only had 1 2/3 innings left according to USSSA rules and the Bandito’s needed six outs. Monacy would walk Ice Guiterrez. The Tomateros would send in a courtesy runner, Joe Ruiz Jr. for the catcher. Ruiz stole second. Josh Rios smacked a single allowing the speedy Ruiz to score.  Monacy would get out of the inning with no more damage. In the bottom of the fifth Dylan Kotsios would draw a walk and Ryan Stacy would single. Then Izreal Trivino hit a RBI double putting the score at 6-5 Tomateros. With runners at 2nd and 3rd, Monacy hitting from the left side, hit a two RBI double to left field giving the Banditos the lead 7-6. With a runner on 2nd, Kevin Roliard hit a double. The Tomateros intentionally walked Noah Vaughn to load the bases. The Banditos decided to try the suicide squeeze with Jake Urban at the plate. Urban laid it down perfect allowing the runner to score from third and scoring another run. With runners on second and third the Tomateros would get the out thus ending the inning.End of 5th inning Bandito’s 8 – Tomateros 6.

Jordan Monacy would take the mound in the 6th. Monacy would strike out the first batter and get the second batter to ground out to third. Now the Banditos had to make a pitching change as Monacy had reached his limit of 6 innings in a day. The coaches called on Ryan Stacy to save the game and help the Banditos win the Elite 24 World Series. Stacy did not let the pressure get to him, going straight at the only batter he would face striking him out. Let the celebration begin. The Bandito’s Black are the 2008 USSSA 10u Elite 24 World Series Champions.

Tournament Individual honors include:

 MVP – Jordan Monacy 

 Offensive Co-MVPs – John Henry Gonzales and Jake Urban

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