Bossier Parish Community College baseball finished the 2026 season with a 27-23 record and sent eight players to Division I programs, continuing the program’s steady rise under Head Coach Bobby Gilliam.
In nine seasons under Gilliam, the Cavaliers have recorded 252 wins, six winning seasons, five playoff appearances, and the program’s first conference championship in 25 years (2025). More than 60 BPCC players have advanced to the Division I level during that span.
Pitching coach and recruiting coordinator Andrew Mercer has played a key role in bringing much of this talent to campus. In his six seasons as pitching coach, the staff has produced two Region 14 Pitchers of the Year — Zach Saint Pierre (2022) and Garett Blanchard (2025).
“Recruiting is the lifeblood of any program, and Andrew’s work ethic, eye for talent, connections, and ability to develop relationships with the players is elite,” Gilliam said.
The Cavaliers hit .292 as a team in 2026 and ranked second in Region 14 North with 63 home runs.
Bryant Bowen, a former Captain Shreve standout, 2015 Shreveport Times Player of the Year, and three-year starter at Southern Miss, joined the staff in 2026. Bowen also started at catcher for the University of South Carolina as a graduate transfer during the COVID-shortened 2020 season.
“Bryant has added depth to how we prepare hitters and the approach we have as a team,” Gilliam said. “We have always hit the ball well here and produced hitters who are ready to contribute at the Division I level, but our walks were up and the strikeouts were down last season. I think that had a lot to do with the details Bryant preached to the hitters.”
The 2026 season also marked a program milestone. Tyrus Hall, a member of the 2025 BPCC team, became the first Cavalier to reach the College World Series since former Haughton High and Arkansas Razorback standout TJ Forrest. Hall started at third base for West Virginia and earned All-Tournament Team honors in Omaha.
2026 Division I Signees
• Jacob Polleto – University of Southern Indiana
Hit .291 with 3 home runs and 22 RBIs.
• Gianluca Montanaro – Belmont University
Second-team All-Conference catcher. Hit .339 with 10 home runs, 11 doubles, and 42 RBIs.
• James Reina – Stephen F. Austin
Honorable mention All-Conference. Hit .327 with 10 doubles, 10 home runs, 36 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases.
• Bryson Pierce – Northwestern State
Second-team All-Conference. Hit .385 with 9 doubles, 3 home runs, and 26 RBIs. Also pitched 21 innings with 28 strikeouts.
• Chase Randall – University of the Incarnate Word
24 innings, 26 strikeouts, 8 saves, 4.13 ERA.
• Jackson Reifel – University of the Incarnate Word
8-2 record, 5.26 ERA across 49 innings.
• Trent Lape – University of Louisiana at Lafayette
27 innings, 29 strikeouts, 6.18 ERA.
• Ben McKinnon – Louisiana Tech
First-team All-Conference selection in 2025. Finished his BPCC career with 95 innings, 101 strikeouts, 3.68 ERA, and a 9-4 record.
Additional Signings
• Cole Patrick – Henderson State (D2)
2-1 record, 5.11 ERA in 24 innings.
• Brandon Levy – LSUS
Second-team All-Conference. Hit .382 with 8 doubles, 3 home runs, and 24 RBIs. On the mound: 25 career innings, 27 strikeouts, 4 saves.
• Mason Sanders – LSUS
Hit .278 with 7 doubles, 8 home runs, and 26 RBIs.
Former Cavaliers Make Noise at the Division I Level in 2026
A large group of recent BPCC products continued to produce at a high level, earning all-conference recognition, postseason honors, and new opportunities through the transfer portal.
• Tyrus Hall – West Virginia
.279, 7 home runs, 38 RBIs, 20 stolen bases
Morgantown Regional All-Tournament Team
Men’s College World Series All-Tournament Team
• Jacob Gillis – Ball State
.312, 8 doubles, 10 home runs, 48 RBIs
First-team All-MAC
Signed with Texas State via the transfer portal
• Dylan Biddick – University of New Orleans
.316, 13 doubles, 12 home runs, 37 RBIs, .440 OBP
Signed with Arkansas-Little Rock via the transfer portal
• Jaden Bahl – McNeese
40 innings, 47 strikeouts, 2.43 ERA, 2-1 record, 1 save
Signed with TCU via the transfer portal
• Garett Blanchard – McNeese
3-3, 41 innings, 4.35 ERA
• Hayden Stringfellow – McNeese
.294, 11 doubles, 6 home runs, 44 RBIs
• DJ Pinkerton – McNeese
.277, 12 doubles, 4 home runs, 29 RBIs
Signed with Texas Rio Grande Valley via the transfer portal
• Parker Gwyn – University of Central Arkansas
.312, 14 doubles, 6 home runs, 33 RBIs, 13 stolen bases
Led the team in doubles and hits (68)
• Emil Estrella – Indiana State
.309, 14 doubles, 9 home runs, 42 RBIs, 20 stolen bases
Honorable mention All-MVC
• Zander Bretza – Ball State
26 innings, 31 strikeouts, 3 saves
• Brando Leroux – Florida Atlantic
Three-year starter and graduated senior
Career: .265, 25 doubles, 9 home runs, 87 RBIs
• Kam Edwards – Lindenwood
Three-year starter and graduated senior
Career: .282, 24 doubles, 9 home runs, 67 RBIs, 45 stolen bases
The Cavaliers continue to build a strong pipeline while competing at a high level in the region. With another group of signees, proven player development, and a winning season complete, BPCC baseball remains one of the most productive junior-college programs in the area.