JOSH CHASE / SPECIAL TO THE PVT Lou Banuelos is emphatic in a call he makes during a recent Pahrump Little League baseball playoff game at Honeysuckle Park. Advertisement

A baseball fan doesn't have to be around him for very long to realize that veteran umpire and Pahrump Little League president Lou Banuelos has a real passion for the game.

His love for the game shines through every moment he stands behind a young catcher and his voice is enthusiastic at all times, even when he's just grabbing a hot dog during the break in the middle of a doubleheader; "Lemme get a dog and a Coke, baby!" he excitedly ordered from a concession stand worker on a baseball afternoon at Honeysuckle Park.

And Banuelos has reason to be excited. Since he came to Pahrump and got involved with Little League baseball, the league has grown and has nearly doubled in size; about 420 local youngsters play the game now, compared to around 250 in 1995, according to Banuelos.

Banuelos moved to Pahrump after a 10-year stint as a Navy F-14 mechanic in San Diego.

"I didn't want my kids coming up in a big city and relatives lived out here, so we just came out and made a life of it," said Banuelos, during a break in the action. But when he got here, he quickly grew tired of hearing people complain about having nothing to do.

"That's bull," he said, adding that 12 years later, some still complain. "There's always something to do."

For Banuelos, that something was baseball.

At the time Banuelos had two sons in the league, but even after they grew too old to play, he decided to stay involved.

"When I was in the military, they pushed a lot of community service on us," Banuelos said. "Community service is very important. Everybody should give up a little of their time."

Banuelos has given up more than just a little of his time. In 1995, the same year he joined the league, he became the head umpire for the rookie division. The following year he was named head ump for the entire league.

From 1997-2000, he coached the Pahrump senior division teams, two of which--in '99 and 2000--had first place finishes.

He also did a year as the coach of the Pahrump Valley Trojans varsity team. That team, in 2004, challenged perennial power Boulder City for the Southern Class 3-A regional title and ended a two-year losing streak against Mesquite Virgin Valley, winning 14 games.

But while Banuelos' passion for baseball certainly took shape when he moved to Pahrump, he says he's been in love with the game his whole life.

The son of a professional Mexican league broadcaster, Banuelos played two years on his high school ball club. But when his father died, the 16-year-old had to quit baseball to work.

Still, the diehard Dodger fan took every opportunity to go to games, he said, and his love for the sport never went away. Instead, it manifested in Pahrump.

In addition to his Little League duties, in 2000, Banuelos founded the Pahrump Valley Roosters, a Men's Adult Baseball League team.

This season, he coached the Major Division Dodgers, and mid-season he took over as Pahrump Little League President when Matt Clayton stepped down.

Now in the highest position of his nine years on the board, Banuelos has some pretty big plans for next year.

"My goal next year is to not only have baseball, but also to bring softball into the league," he said. "I just want to continue building the league. Build relationships, athletes, citizens, for that matter."

Overall, Banuelos just wants players to have something fun and positive to do.

"Not everybody can become a pro player," he said. "And I always told my players, 'You may not become a great player, but you're going to come away with a great experience.'"