JOURNAL SPORTS
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 with the leadership of 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.
Eight 2026 Cavaliers joined NCAA Division I programs this summer.
• Trent Lape is bound for the Ragin’ Cajuns of UL Lafayette after striking out 29 in 27 innings and posting a 6.18 ERA this spring.
• Ben McKinnon will compete against Lape in Sun Belt Conference action for Louisiana Tech. A first-team All-Conference selection in 2025, McKinnon finished his BPCC career with pitching stats of 95 innings, 101 strikeouts, a 3.68 ERA, and a 9-4 record.
• Gianluca Montanaro is off to Belmont University in Nashville. A second-team All-Conference catcher for BPCC, he hit .339 with 10 home runs, 11 doubles, and 42 RBI.
• Bryson Pierce is headed to the Southland Conference, going to perennial contender Northwestern State in Natchitoches after making second-team All-Conference for the Cavs. He batted .385 with 9 doubles, 3 home runs, and 26 RBI and also pitched 21 innings with 28 strikeouts.
• Jacob Polleto is going north to the University of Southern Indiana, which plays in the Ohio Valley Conference. This spring, he hit .291 with 3 home runs and 22 RBI.
• Chase Randall will be another BPCC product in the SLC, heading to San Antonio to play at the University of the Incarnate Word. This spring, he worked 24 innings, notching 26 strikeouts and recording 8 saves and a 4.13 ERA.
• Jackson Reifel will be his teammate at UIW. He recorded an 8-2 record and a 5.26 ERA across 49 innings for BPCC.
• James Reina will play in the Southland at Stephen F. Austin. An honorable mention All-Conference selection, Reina hit .327 with 10 doubles, 10 home runs, 36 RBI, and 17 stolen bases.
Three more Cavaliers signed with nearby smaller colleges.
• Brandon Levy is staying local going to NAIA power LSUS. He was second-team All-Conference this spring after he hit .382 with 8 doubles, 3 home runs, and 24 RBI. He also got work on the mound, pitching 25 career innings, posting 27 strikeouts and 4 saves.
• Cole Patrick will play in Arkadelphia for the Division II Henderson State Reddies. He had a 2-1 record with a 5.11 ERA in 24 innings this spring.
• Mason Sanders is also headed to the Pilots. This spring, he batted .278 with 7 doubles, 8 home runs, and 26 RBI.
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.