The former First Team All-SEC catcher will throw out the first pitch of the season on Friday.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A familiar face will command the mound at Condron Family Ballpark prior to Florida’s opening night contest vs. St John’s on Friday, as Gator Great BT Riopelle<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/bt-riopelle/15503> is set to assume ceremonial first pitch honors.
No. 2 Florida opens the 2024 campaign at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 16 with Riopelle’s first pitch coming just ahead of start time as part of the pregame festivities. The Gators take on the Red Storm for a three-game, weekend series spanning from Friday through Sunday, Feb. 18.
As the unofficial leader of the 2023 SEC Champion Gators, Riopelle capped off two phenomenal years in Orange & Blue with a trip to the College World Series Finals last season. In his two campaigns in Gainesville, the Marietta, Ga. native blasted 34 home runs while slashing a robust .274/.373/.548 across 133 games (130 starts). Riopelle also totaled three triples, 20 doubles, 123 RBI, 95 runs and 11 stolen bases while posting a stellar .990 fielding percentage.
In his first season at Florida in 2022, Riopelle was named First Team All-SEC at catcher. He hit .304/.371/.551 with a league-high 15 homers at his position, making him a semifinalist for the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catch of the Year award. He would go on to add SEC All-Tournament Team, CWS All-Tournament Team and ABCA Second Team All-Region honors during the following campaign as a .246/.374/.546 hitter backed by 19 big flies.
The Gators open up the 2024 season<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/schedule> with a three-game series against St. John’s spanning from Friday, Feb. 16 through Sunday, Feb. 18 at Condron Family Ballpark. In addition to season tickets<https://am.ticketmaster.com/gators/virtual-venue/QlMyNA==>, single-game tickets<https://www.ticketmaster.com/florida-gators-baseball-tickets/artist/1294070> as well as On-Deck Flex Passes<https://floridagators.com/sports/2021/12/10/baseball-flex-pass.aspx> are currently on sale now.
