After sticking together for more than five years, Geoff Flattmann’s youth baseball team has more than made a name for themselves.

The 13-and-under Double Play Bayou Bandits first played as a team when they were 8 years old and are now off to their best start yet with a record of 13-5-1, including a second place finish at last weekend’s OTC Sports Youth Baseball tournament in Thibodaux, La.

The accomplishment was good for the Bandits’ third second place finish this year.

“It’s been amazing for me to see the core of kids develop,” Flattmann said. “It’s really rare to keep a youth team together. They usually come and go pretty frequently.”

Of the team’s 12 members, eight have been on the team since it began, and Flattmann said the bond definitely shows.

The Bandits are made up of Tray’lon Minor, Paxton Junkin, Trace McCurley, Donovan Jackson, Ronnie McMillin, Zehlin Cornett, Zeke Flattmann, Dexture Jefferson, Payten Roberts, Adam Eames, Kerry King and Mason Wells.

“These kids really love each other, its amazing to watch them interact,” he said. “They see each other as brothers, and there is a true team effort and chemistry. They play, win and lose together.”

Flattmann also said he is pleased to see how his motto of respect has transferred over to his team, a combination of players from eight different schools.

“Whenever we travel, everyone always has great things to say about their sportsmanship,” he said. “It truly is a Miss-Lou regional team, and they are a good representation of the area.”

Moving forward, Flattmann said he knows his time with the Bandits is almost up, since most youth teams stop at age 14. And while he admitted he will be sad to see them go, he is eager to see how they develop into young adults.

“It gets really hard to keep kids together as they get older,” Flattmann said. “School ball usually takes over at that point, but if I’ve done my job right they will be on roster somewhere and be in spot to contribute to their team and in the right way. I hope the kids, when it’s all said and done, remember that brotherhood.”

The Bandits will be back in action when the travel to Baton Rouge for their next tournament on May 6.