JOURNAL SPORTS
Bossier Parish Community College products have made waves in NCAA Division I baseball just one weekend into the season. With a pipeline of talent transitioning from junior college to major programs, BPCC alumni are making significant contributions across the country.
Twelve former Cavaliers appeared in Division I contests during opening weekend, with nine recording base hits and three pitchers logging innings on the mound. Notably, all six position players from last year’s Region 14 championship team earned starting nods and collected hits in their opening series, showcasing the depth and quality of BPCC’s recent rosters.
McNeese, which beat Louisiana Tech 8-3 Wednesday in Ruston, has several BPCC alumni delivering standout performances right out of the gate.
Last season’s Region 14 Pitcher of the Year, Garret Blanchard made a remarkable comeback from Tommy John surgery. He’s already back on the mound for the Cowboys, proving his resilience and skill in the early going. Former Cav Jaden Bahl has been reliable, tossing five innings across the first four games.
Hayden Stringfellow started the season on fire, racking up eight hits in the first four games. His highlights include a walk-off single on opening night against Sam Houston. D.J. Pinkerton added power to the lineup with two doubles during the opening series.
A runner-up for Region 14 Offensive Player of the Year last season, Dylan Biddick has picked up where he left off. Now at UNO, he tallied eight hits in four games, including a home run, bolstering the Privateers’ offense.
A two-time all-conference selection for the Cavaliers, Parker Gwyn has made his presence felt at Central Arkansas with five hits against ULM in the opening weekend series. The Bears host Northwestern State in a four-game series starting today.
A first-team all-conference selection on last year’s BPCC squad, Jacob Gillis has started three games for the Ball State Cardinals, picking up a hit and drawing three walks.
As the closer on BPCC’s conference championship team, Zander Bretza threw two innings in Ball State’s opening weekend, bringing his shutdown stuff to the D1 level.
Tyrus Hall has been a fixture at West Virginia, starting all three games and collecting three hits to kick off his D1 career. A two-year BPCC veteran (2023-2024), Emil Estrella is in his second season with the Indiana State Sycamores. He’s off to a hot start with six hits and three doubles, including a pair against powerhouse Miami.
After Bossier Parish, Ken Edwards has become a three-year starter for the Lindenwood Lions, earning all-conference honors last season. He added three hits in the opening weekend.
Connor Crowson, who like Edwards played for BPCC in 2022-23, notched four hits for Tennessee Tech against Texas A&M in the opening series, contributing to the Golden Eagles’ efforts.
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