South Florida Bandits

Be careful and ask alot of questions.I think this team has been discussed before somewhere on this site.

I have seen this team play and also had one opportunity to manage an opposing team at a WWBA event. The team's name is misleading as a lot of the players seem to come out of PA and NJ, not sure why that is. IMHO the team's manager is not the greatest guy in terms of sportsmanship and generally is not the kind of guy I'd like my son to play for. I came away with the impression that the roster was mainly composed of kids who had gotten disgruntled with one team or another and who had gone looking for a vehicle to get to PG events. There was some cracker-type behavior exhibited during games.

Thanks for the insight Midlo Dad. I am told there is a heafty fee to play with the organization.

I should add, they do tend to win a lot. And they do have high caliber players who often end up with college scholarships. In the game we played against them, one pitcher ended up with a scholarship to UNC, then signed with the Phillies for 600k. (Recently sent to Cleveland in the Cliff Lee trade.) And he was far from the only high level prospect on the team.

So on the up side, it often pays to play on a team that will be followed by scouts already. And there will be that. Just make sure you know what you're getting into before you commit.

Thanks again Midlo Dad. It appears they are a tournament team only. Kids are their to be showcased. You said it correctly.

PAY to play.

The coach has a dubious reputation.

The fee is large and I've heard not all kids pay this fee. The average players' fees pay for the high caliber player who shows up for certain tournaments. Allegedly!

They also have 3-4 teams and not all teams are created equal. Do your homework.

Thats what I originally had heard and the reason for my post. Definate warning flags and will not pursue. Thanks fillsfan.

Son,from Florida, had the opp to play on the Bandits and really enjoyed his time there. The talent and exposure was really good and he appreciated the coach alot. There was nothing controversial at all with his summer experience. Was surprised to read all the negativity towards this program. The summer before we played for a coach that was detrimental to the game as well as the players' welfare and he got far less bad press.

When you win and put high level kids on the field, you're more under the microscope!

Puma1 one: If you dont mind me asking how much did it cost to play. You can send me a private message,

The cost seems to be diferrent with different kids.

That bothers me.

They were kicked out of the WWBA last year in Fl. for cheating.

They did get kicked out for using inelligble players. if you are a REAL GOOD player look up the All American prospects at allamericanprospects.com or aaprospects.com. i play for them and the coaches are great and their record speaks for itself!!

Do the Prospects take anyone from outside FL?

If you go on the PG site and look up thier roster you will see alot of the kids are from Jersey. I am sure as long as you are willing to write the check for 4K it does not matter where you are from.

Therein lies the problem. I have talked to 2 playes who paid $5k.

If you are good enough the Prospects will take kid's from out of state, and the cost is nowhere near the other teams prices that are posted. You would just have to commit to being at the tournaments.

Play9, I was refering to the Bandits,Sorry if I grouped the 2 teams together far as cost and roster are concerned .

I know a Jersey kid who paid $5K to play this past summer. He's going to Jupiter with them in October. I'm sure he had to pay more for that trip.

You'd be better off paying the individual fee to play for a PG squad. At least then you would know you'd definitely be in the lineup. And you'd save a few thousand dollars, too.

Son was asked to play for them. At first, fee was 5k plus expenses. Two weeks later, fee was .......0 expenses were still on us, though!! The difference? Son blew their doors in one game on the mound. The guy gets great exposure for his players, it will probably cost you a fortune, and the guy (we all know who) is so shady that he can sneak up on the Shadow.

Two kids from our local high school played on the team last summer and some what others are saying is true but here are the facts: The Renegades team is comprised of players from S. FL primarily the WPB area. There are two teams and they play all local S. FL (Jupiter down to Miami) tourneys. The cost is reasonable but I am not sure the exact amount.

Ok, here is where the confusion comes in to play. A week or so prior to the big tourney in East Cobb, the Renegades players join up with the Bandits. The COACH from the RENEGADES does not take his team to Atl, but the creep who runs the BANDITS does. There is a pretty hefty fee for this two week trip. The guy who runs the BANDITS then adds his NJ PA kids with the S. FL kids and creates three teams. The two kids I know where promised the "world" from this guy ONCE THEY GOT TO ATL.

That being said, one kid I know was told if his parents came to ATL immediately he could guarantee the kid a spot on any one of FIVE different D1 schools. His parents dropped everything work etc, drove to ATL meet with the creep only to be told they had to pay $5K for the kid to be placed. AGAIN this is the creep who runs the "BANDITS" not the guy who runs the "RENEDGADES".

The bottom line is both kids had a great two weeks of exposure. One did sign with a D1 school on his own, with no help from the Bombers guy at all.

If you can afford the cost of the two week trip to East Cobb I would say it is worth it just for the exposure. BUT PLEASE DO NOT GET CAUGHT UP IN THE HYPE FROM THIS GUY ABOUT HIS RECRUITING SERVICES.

If your kid has talent, he will be found. Or, he can do it himself like the kid I know did.

Forgot to mention the Prospects are a GREAT organization but I am pretty sure your kid has to be invited to play for them. From what I gather the cost is very minimal or nothing at all since they have sponsors.