THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,404 MLB PLAYERS | 15,805 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,404 MLB PLAYERS | 15,805 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
Tournaments  | Story | 6/30/2019

The Bandito way

Jack Nelson
Photo: Conner Bennett (Perfect Game)

HOOVER, Ala. – There is a quote on the Banditos Baseball Club’s website that reads, “If you hit, you don’t sit.” This week in Hoover, the Texas based Banditos Scout Team 14u has taken those words to heart, as they have raked their way to an impressive 4-0 start in the WWBA 14u National Championship.

The Banditos continued their dominance on Sunday, defeating Charlie Culberson Baseball Red, 8-1. It started from the beginning, as Landen Yorek dropped in a double in the top of the first inning to score Conner Bennett. The Banditos would get four more runs in the top of second, and were led by Brady Dever, who drove in two on a sharply hit single. The Banditos bats were productive from top to bottom. Leadoff hitter Tracer Lopez was 1-for-1 with a single and two walks, while the tenth hitter, Hugo Cantu, contributed a single and a run. Charlie Culberson could never catch their breath because of the suffocating offensive onslaught.

The story is not completely about the sticks, however. The Banditos have excellent arms in Hugo Cantu and Sunday’s starter Carson Ellis. Ellis was extremely impressive in his three innings of work, as the young righthander sat in the low 80s while mixing in a sharp slider at 73 mph.

The “Bandito Way,” as coach John DeRulle called it, has been producing results from the program’s inception in 1996. They have helped 313 kids sign a college letter of intent, and 51 alumni have signed a pro contract, including perennial all star Paul Goldschmidt. Even NFL wide receiver Danny Amendola was once a Bandito.

“For 23 years, the Banditos organization has been trying to put young athletes in the best positions to further their place in the game,” said 14u coach John DeRulle. “Our program is strong from top to bottom, as our teams are playing for championships just about every time we tee it up. We strive to be excellent.”

It’s not a shock that the Banditos are excelling in a Perfect Game tournament. They usually show quite well. But what is eye catching is who they have beaten and the manner in which they’ve done it. In their first two pool play games, they outlasted two of the top pitching prospects in the 2023 class in Stars Baseball’s Bryce Eldridge and SWA’s Ethan Robinson. It’s extremely rare to see a kid who hasn’t even entered high school throw upper 80s, but the Bandito hitters have been remarkably unfazed.

“We see a lot of velocity at home,” said DeRulle. “We see the best of the best every time we play, whether it is in pool play or in the playoffs. Our kids are not afraid to attack early in the count, but they’re also a very tough out when they’re down in the count.”

Players Landen Yorek and Conner Bennett said a lot of their success against these top arms is due to the habits they have developed during practice.

“We usually crank up the pitching machine to around 90 mph,” said Landen Yorek. “Honestly, we’re more comfortable against higher velocity because we see it so much.”

“In batting practice, coach is always like 5 five away,” said Bennett. “And he throws hard, too. So we have gotten used to throwing the barrel out there. When you see higher level pitching, you have to make it as basic as you can. Just see the ball and hit the ball.”

Bill Belichick and Tom Brady have created a dynasty in the NFL, and at the core of their operation is what has become known as the “Patriot Way.” Each player knows his job and executes it. There is no room for drama. And players neither rest on their laurels nor look to far into the future. After winning Super Bowl LI, Belichick famously said he was weeks behind the rest of the NFL in preparing for the next year.

In a sense, the Patriot Way is the Bandito Way.

“We tell the kids that the most important game is the next one,” said DeRulle. “We’re not patting ourselves on the back for what happened yesterday, but they’re also not looking too far into the future. That is why I think we are really suited for the pool play format. We treat every game as the most important game, not just the big ones. That’s the Bandito Way.”

While they may be all business on the field, they don’t play tight and tentatively. On deck hitters are laughing and joking around with teammates, and the dugout is full of energy and chatter. They celebrate big plays and pick each other up after mistakes. Many of the boys have been playing together for a few years and display the bond that they have formed through years of traveling and competing together.

“We’re all team players,” said Yorek. “No one is selfish, and we all get along well. I’m really enjoying every day here. Plus the facilities in Hoover are unbelievable. It’s a great environment.”

“We play the best competition,” said Bennett. “But at the same time everyone is having a good time with each other. It’s loose and fun to play. I love the Banditos.”
Give us your feedback
Tournaments | Story | 4/9/2026

Don't Boot the Loot Scout Notes
Cam McElwaney
Article Image
‘30 UTL Chase Jelks (GA) lifts this one deep into the gap & rolls around the bags for a triple. Loose LH swing w/ feel to lift. #DontBootTheLoot @PG_Georgia pic.twitter.com/leF4GMTawJ — Perfect Game Youth (@PGYouthBB) April 4, 2026 Chase Jelks (2030, Atlanta, Ga.) put together a great weekend for The Dream 14u Black in their run to a championship game appearance, hitting .444 with two triples and a double along with three RBI. He controlled the zone throughout the event in the box and finished with a 6:1 BB:K ratio because of it while also swiping five bags as well. It was a strong showing for Jelks, something that’s becoming common this spring in PG events.    ‘30 MIF Cohen Carter (TN) hits this one on the screws into the gap for a triple. Functional & compact swing. #DontBootTheLoot @PG_Tennessee pic.twitter.com/YVUfxbHBxx — Perfect Game...
Read More
Draft | Story | 4/10/2026

PG Draft: Favorite Position Group

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
Every draft class has its strengths. Some years its a loaded group of prep infielders, some years its a deep collection of college arms. In this year’s class, certain position groups stand out above the rest to us. This week, the draft team dives into their favorite position groups. Groups that we believe are loaded with depth, upside, and big league potential. College Infielders It’s hard not to get excited about the crop of college infielders in this year’s class because of who is at the top. Roch Cholowsky alone makes the group exciting. He’s got gold glove potential at the next level and an offensive profile that should make him one of the Top 15 to 20 prospects in all of baseball the second he gets drafted. Justin Lebron is another player with as much upside in the class. He is a premium athlete that can really pick it at short and has big upside with the...
Read More
Press Release | Press Release | 4/10/2026

Perfect Game and vivenu Partner Up

Article Image
    667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923  www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    PERFECT GAME PARTNERS WITH VIVENU TO POWER DIGITAL COMMERCE ACROSS YOUTH BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL    Sanford, Florida / New York, New York (Friday, April 10, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, has selected vivenu as its ticketing and commerce partner to unify revenue operations across its tournament ecosystem.    With 1.6 million tickets sold annually, 9,800 events in 40+ states and an immense social footprint, Perfect Game has built the most influential pipeline in amateur baseball. The organization has produced over 2,200 MLB alumni, and...
Read More
General | Blog | 4/10/2026

Wolforth Throwing Mentorship: Article 64

Ron Wolforth
Article Image
What Do Barry Zito, Justin Verlander, Trevor Bauer, and Dallas Keuchel All Have in Common? By Ron Wolforth | Texas Baseball Ranch® | PG Arm Care Take a second and think about the question posed in the title before you read on. Four Cy Young Award winners. Four of the most decorated pitchers of their generation. What's the common thread? The first answer is obvious… they all won the most prestigious individual award in pitching. Most of you probably got there immediately. The second answer is less obvious… they all trained at the Texas Baseball Ranch® at some point in their development. Interesting, maybe, but not the point of this article. The third answer is the one I really want you to sit with, because it has direct relevance to your career right now: they all move completely differently. And they all attack hitters completely differently. Don't rush past that....
Read More
College | Story | 4/9/2026

Coppy's Corner: April 6 POY Deep Dive

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
I’m beyond thrilled to be a contributor to Perfect Game, widely recognized as the premier organization for amateur baseball. Working in baseball operations for the New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves for nearly 20 years, the importance of amateur baseball cannot be understated. Nobody does it better and I am honored to be working with great baseball people like Jered Goodwin, Vinnie Cervino, Craig Cozart, and many others.  Each week I huddle with Vinnie and Craig to discuss Top 25 rankings and Players of the Week. In "Coppy’s Corner", I will dive deeper into these Players of the Week, providing analysis from 20+ years working in baseball front offices at the highest level. My hope is that you will enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it.  Player of the Week: Andrew Williamson – University of Central Florida (UCF)  Williamson can flat-out hit. While...
Read More
High School | General | 4/10/2026

High School Notebook: April 10

Jheremy Brown
Article Image
You like 6-foot-9 lefties up to 100 mph? 2026 Brody Bumila (MA) was electric in season opener, super easy upper-90s, multiple 100s. Easy operation w/ simple delivery despite size. Punched out 9 over 3, double digit whiffs. @PG_Draft pic.twitter.com/BChMhKIIhO — Perfect Game New England (@PG_NewEngland) April 2, 2026 Brody Bumila, LHP, Bishop Feehan (MA), Class of 2026 He's 6-foot-9, 18 years old, left-handed and was up to 100 mph (upwards of 3 times on some guns) in his first start of the year in low-30 degree temperatures. That's really all you need to know. Oh, and the opposing team arrived 40 minutes late. Coming off a state-championship run in basketball, Texas signee Brody Bumila made his first start of the spring on April 2nd and didn't disappoint in front of at least 40 scouts packed tightly together behind the backstop.  Knowing it was going to be a quicker look given...
Read More
Juco | Story | 4/8/2026

JUCO Top 25: April 8

Troy Sutherland
Article Image
Another week of conference play down and Johnson County continues there tear through the spring of 2026, they retain the top spot with Gaston nipping their heels at number 2 for the third consecutive week. McLennan jumps up to number 3 with a big series sweep over rival Texas powerhouse, Weatherford. Out west, Cochise just keeps rolling in the desert and California looks to be hotly contested all the way down the final stretch. A couple of debut appearances down the board with Harford, CCF, and Linn Benton all earning their spot on our top 25 for the first time in the first week of April. So many great records out there it will be interesting to see how it all shakes out with so many teams vying for seeding and conference championships on this final stretch run. Rank Team Record 1 Johnson County (KS) 38-2 2 Gaston (NC) 38-3 3 McLennan (TX) 29-7 4 Chipola (FL) 34-7 5 Walters State (TN)...
Read More
College | Rankings | 4/8/2026

DII/DIII/NAIA Rankings Update: April 8

Nick Herfordt
Article Image
We are past the midpoint of the college baseball season and the stakes are rising by the week. Conference races are tightening, schedules are getting harder, and the résumés that will matter in the selection room are being written right now — one series at a time. This week's most significant development came in Division II, where North Greenville swept Young Harris in three consecutive one-run games to claim the top spot for the first time this season, knocking Tampa from a perch they've held most of the year. It's a genuine changing of the guard at the top, and it's exactly the kind of shakeup that makes this stretch of the season worth paying close attention to. Across all three divisions the picture is coming into focus. In Division I NAIA, Georgia Gwinnett remains the standard while Taylor and Cumberlands continue to make their cases from behind. In Division III,...
Read More
High School | General | 4/7/2026

Iowa Spring League Notes: Week 1

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Brooks Mitchell-Birdsell (2027, Atkins, Iowa) was solid on both sides of the ball this weekend. He was able to show a clean move working into it, with the feel to impact it out in front and drive hard through contact. He had good barrel accuracy with feel to drive the ball well, especially working pull-side. He was 4-for-8 on the weekend with a double to his credit, driving in 7 runs as well. Mitchell-Birdsell also put together a good outing on the mound, delivering 2 innings of scoreless work with 3 punchouts. He worked the low 80s with some run, flashing a mid-70s curveball with good 11-5 shape and depth.  Maddux Mueller (2026, Amana, Iowa) LH bat with plenty to like in the batter’s box, and he put together a solid showing this weekend. He finished 2-for-3 with a double, demonstrating both contact ability and the capacity to drive the baseball for extra bases. Mueller...
Read More
College | Story | 4/7/2026

College Players of the Week: April 7

Craig Cozart
Article Image
April 7th Perfect Game/Player of the Week:  Andrew Williamson, OF, UCF  The UCF Knights (20-9) are coming off one of their biggest series victories in years when they went to Morgantown and took down the Mountaineers to take control of the Big 12 regular season standings.  The offense put on quite the performance and Andrew Williamson set the tone by leaving the yard in his first at-bat of the weekend launching a towering home run over the centerfield wall.  The 6-0/195 lefty from St. Petersburg, FL has one of the sweetest strokes in the college game today and when he goes, so do the Knights.  In the 3-game series, the junior collected 6 hits in his 10 at-bats, scoring 6 runs, on 5 walks, a double and he launched 3 home runs all told.  While he had a stretch earlier in the season where he was searching for his stroke a bit, he is getting locked in at the...
Read More
Loading more articles...
About Perfect Game :: Contact us :: Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Testimonials :: Job Opportunities
Copyright 1994-2026 by Perfect Game. All rights reserved. No portion of this information may be reprinted or reproduced without the written consent of Perfect Game.