BOSSIER CITY, LA - For the second year in a row, the Cavaliers are sending eight players to the NJCAA DI Region XIV/Region X All Star Game. No team in either region will have more representation than Bossier Parish Community College on September 23rd at Dallas Baptist University’s Horner Ballpark. The Cavaliers selected for this year’s squad include Alexandro Cazorla, Connor Crowson, Simon Grinberg, Caden Griffin, Seth Gurr, Trevor Wall, Jeb Drewery and Brando Leroux.
Alexandro Cazorla, an Okotoks, Alberta Canada native, put up superstar numbers last season collecting 82 hits while hitting .392 with a .452 on base percentage. He hit 12 doubles, 4 triples and 6 home runs with a team leading 23 stolen bases. ‘Hando does so many things well on a baseball field,’ said BPCC head coach Bobby Gilliam. ‘He hits for average and for power, is an excellent centerfielder with a strong arm and steals bases. He consistently prepares to play at an elite level. It is a big deal anytime you're bringing back a guy that had 82 hits. As good as his talent and stats are, his most valuable quality might just be his leadership skills and infectious style of play. He loves to play the game and it affects his teammates in a positive way. Whoever signs Cazorla is going to be very fortunate.’
Connor Crowson, another Okotoks, Alberta native, hit the middle of a potent Cavs offensive line up most of the 2022 season. He completed a slash line of .323 BA, 12 doubles, 3 home runs and 45 RBIs. ‘Connor has returned from summer ball stronger and a better athlete than last year,’ said Coach Gilliam. ‘He was a big part of our success last season playing solid defense, having a lot of good at bats, and coming through with big timely hits. We gave him some things to improve on over the summer and he’s done that. He also returns with a championship under his belt while playing for the Okotok Dogs this summer in Canada. We expect him to be a veteran presence in the lineup this year.’
Simon Grinberg, a native of Kitchener, Ontario Canada, lead the Cavs with 10 home runs last season. He also hit .304 with 9 doubles with an impressive 1.056 OPS. ‘Simon took over the everyday DH role in the line up by mid season and gave us a huge spark to an already loaded lineup. The ball really jumps off of his bat,’ said Gilliam. ‘His pop time behind the plate is a tool you cannot teach. What has me excited is seeing his consistency in hitting line drives up the middle and to left center. He is developing into a well rounded hitter. Everyone around here knows we lost a special guy behind the plate in Cole Ketzner, however we are confident that Grinberg is ready to take part in filling this role.’
Caden Griffin, a LHP from Ottawa, Ontario, finished is freshman campaign with a 6-2 record, 47 innings pitched and 37 strikeouts. ‘I am so happy to have Caden back this season. We had to make sure it made sense for him academically and I am thankful to Ms. Tina for helping us create a plan that made Caden feel confident to return to BPCC,’ said Coach Gilliam. ‘The only way I know how to describe the 2022 season for Griffin was that he gutted it out every day. In coming back from surgery, Caden dealt with shoulder inflammation that he worked very hard to manage. A lot of guys wouldn’t have kept saying I want the ball with what he was going through physically. He won 6 big games for us last season and was still competing at the very end. He went home this summer, got around some good knowledge and worked really hard to return this healthy and ready to go this fall. He looks like a fresh guy and I’m excited for him and to see where he ends up. He’s got arm talent, the mind for pitching and I think he’s going to show that off at a different level this year.’
Seth Gurr, a RHP and Coaldale, Alberta Canada native, lead the team in wins posting a 9-3 record in 64 innings with a 4.59 ERA. Coach Gilliam said, ‘We would not have been a 35 win club and finished second in conference without Seth Gurr. I say it like that because he was a player that we were able to commit at the semester break. He was playing on a Canadian travel team hoping to be to recruited for the 2022-2023 season. Coach Andrew Mercer made the trip to Monticello, Arkansas for our one chance to watch him in person. We knew we had to bring in a pitcher at semester that could be a starter type if we wanted to be as good as our coaching staff thought we could be. Mercer said this is our guy and Gurr proved that last spring. He throws strikes, goes right at the hitter and believes in himself on the mound. Seth gave us a chance to win every time he was on the mound and that’s the job of a good starter.’
Trevor Wall, a RHP from Lawrenceville, GA, completed a 4-1 record on the mound including two saves and a 4.40 ERA in 47 innings pitched. ‘Throughout last season, our bullpen had moments of inconsistency,’ said Bobby Gilliam. ‘Wall proved to be our one steady piece. He could pitch in long relief or short relief. In situations where we were trying to get to the 5th and 6th inning we would give the ball to Trevor and say it’s your game now and he would find a way to get the job done. What he did last year was a big piece of our team success. Trevor is a calm guy out there no matter what’s going on, knows his strengths and what kind of pitcher he is and finds ways to get hitters out.’
Jeb Drewery is a Texas native and LHP transfer from NCAA DI Texas State University. Coach Gilliam said, ‘Jeb was on the of most decorated pitchers in Texas during his high school career. He was ranked the 12th best LHP in the state by Perfect Game and the 105th best player in Texas. In the business of collegiate baseball, you go through so many recruiting visits but Jeb’s is one that will always stand out to me. We have never received acceptance of an offer as quickly as we did with Jeb. We needed him and we were offering what he wanted. It was an instant win-win. He showed maturity and a business like attitude and nothing has changed since arriving on campus. He is direct, here to work and it is all business for him. Drewery provides consistency and leadership and we plan for him to log a lot of innings for us this season.’
Brando Leroux is a transfer from NJCAA DI Baseball powerhouse, Chipola Junior College, where he completed 34 starts and hit .255 as a freshman. Coach Gilliam said, ‘Brando was a late summer addition to our roster as we were searching for another middle infielder. We recruited him out of high school however made the decision to commit to Chipola Junior College. We were happy to be able to recruit him again. He is a gifted infielder with good hands and feet and comes to work every day. Between Brando and Dre, I feel like we have two guys that can be valuable shortstops for us this year.’