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The 2023 Season Preview for Bossier Parish Community College Baseball

Bossier City, La- Bossier Parish Community College baseball is set to kick off January 27th with a 3-game set against Arkansas State University- Mountain Home, game 1 is scheduled for 2 p.m. with the second game of the doubleheader taking place 30 minutes after the completion of game 1. The game scheduled for Saturday the 28th will start at 12 p.m.
The Cavaliers are coming off a 35-win season, 2nd place conference finish and a third playoff berth in a row. Gone are program legends Zach St Pierre, Cole Ketzner and Mason Hammonds.
St Pierre was the pitcher of the year for region 14 East last season along with being the most decorated pitcher and leader in every major statistical category in program history. He signed a contract with the Lincoln Salt Dogs of the American Association during the summer of 2022. Cole Ketzner was a two-time 1st team all-conference selection having a monster sophomore season that included 24 doubles and 7 homeruns while hitting for an average of 401. Ketzner is expected to be in a starting role at South Alabama in the 2023 spring season. Mason Hammonds now at Tarleton State was another two-time 1st team all-conference selection who hit 400 in back-to-back seasons at Bossier Parish. Hammonds also excelled at the shortstop position while in his stint as a Cavalier.

Other Key members lost:

Gavin Baird posted a .365 avg with 18 doubles and is set to get playing time at D1 Eastern Kentucky University.

Justin Breen who hit 13 doubles and 9 homeruns is now playing for D2 Arkansas Tech university.

Alejandro Cazorla a superstar on every level leading the team in hits, runs and stolen bases was lost this fall to a season ending injury which required surgery. He has started his rehab process and told the coaching staff he is moving on to D1 for the 23-24 season

Key Returners:
Offense:

Simon Grinberg supplied major production in the DH role last season. He hit 10 homeruns & 9 doubles. He is expected to have a more prominent role catching this season while the Cavaliers are still counting on him to provide big offensive contribution.

Kameron Edwards is a returning outfielder. Edwards a D1 Lindenwood University commit is expected to play centerfield as well as other outfield positions. He's a great athlete with speed and strength who hit .302 last season with 2 homeruns and 14 stolen bases.

Luke Bogan hit .259 last season in his first year back to baseball after transferring to Bossier Parish from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette where he was a quarterback on the football team. He brings a come to work attitude that is respected by everyone in the program and has been named a team captain for the 2023 season.

Connor Crowson who hit .323 with 12 doubles. He was a main stay in the 4 hole all year last year and will look to hit in the middle of the order again for the Cavaliers. Crowson also has a solid glove at 3rd base and is versatile to where he can play other positions on the infield as well. 

Pitching:

Seth Gurr lead the team in wins posting a 9-3 record in 2022. His 64 innings ranked second behind St Pierre. Gurr was a semester addition for the Cavaliers and helped steady the starting rotation. He will be expected to give major innings again and has committed to D2 University of Montevallo.

Trevor Wall was the best relief pitcher for Bossier Parish in 2022 and he did it in multiple roles. He's a steady piece that can be used for many situations and a luxury to have on any stuff. A strike thrower with multiple pitches and has multiple ways to get hitters out. Wall threw 47 innings with a 4.40 ERA in 2022.

Caden Griffin went 6-2 last year in 47 innings. He's a great competitor who can really show arm talent when it's all clicking. He is capable of pitching in many different roles and the Cavaliers are hoping for a strong and healthy Griffin all year long.

Newcomers:
Many fresh faces will be in key roles in the upcoming season. It's a mixture of incoming freshman and transfer pickups.

Left-handed pitcher Jeb Drewery a redshirt freshman was a highly recruited Texas prospect who was at Texas State University last season. He was a big pick up for the Cavaliers as he's a left-handed veteran pitcher that is expected to be in the rotation. He's added leadership to the pitching staff and has committed to D2 Delta State University for the 2024 season.

Right-handed pitcher Bryce Chambers (Fr) from South Grand Prairie High School showed all fall why the Cavaliers had him rated so high in the recruiting process. A high engine, competitive guy with arm and pitch talent.

Right-handed pitcher Ryan McClish (Fr) from Kingwood High School is another big recruit the Cavaliers landed on the mound. The right hander had a decorated high school career and instantly showed this fall that he is ready to pitch at a high collegiate level. He will be getting the ball game 1 for the Cavaliers.

Right-handed pitcher Brandon Carter (soph) a Louisiana native transferred from Colby Community College where he threw 30 innings and struck out 40. He will start the year in the back end of the bullpen which has been a key role year in and year out for the Cavaliers.

Right-handed pitcher Josh Miller (soph) another Louisiana native transferred in from Southwest Community College. He logged 38 innings with 35 strikeouts last season. He gives the Cavaliers another weapon at the end of games much like Brandon Carter.

SS Brando Leroux (soph) transferred in from Chipola Junior College. He will start the season at shortstop. Leroux is a gifted infielder; a good hitter and the Cavaliers expect him to help them win games all season.

Utility - Wylie Waters a freshman from Vancouver British Columbia, Canada flat out hits the baseball. The Cavs believe he will be a valuable piece in the top of the order and play infield and outfield.

1B- Sonny Rao transferred in at semester from the University of South Florida. He is the left-handed hitter that the Cavaliers needed and will hit in the middle of the order. In his short time here, he has shown he will be ready to challenge the region 14 pitchers.

Some thoughts from Coach Gilliam:
"We are all excited about this club. We still must find guys that are going to step up and fill roles, but we have more depth than we have ever had here at Bossier. We are starting the season with 17 pitchers. A couple of guys are still getting healthy, but we were doing it last year with just a few arms in the bullpen. Excellent starting pitching was a big plus for last year and this year we are hoping to be more built in the bullpen than years past. It's going to take 10-12 plus guys on the mound this year. We think we have that many guys who will go out there and give us a chance to win."
"We will have to figure out catching, there are still guys competing for that position. I think when Luke George is back and ready to go it will be a big add to our catching depth. Kobe Leavens who transferred in at semester has also done a great job behind the dish."
"We have depth which is a great thing. We tried to build this roster the best we could with guys who have the tools to win college baseball games. Our region is one of the best, you must have players that enjoy competition to succeed at this level and I believe we have that."