The Norwich Bulletin has unveiled its 2026 Baseball All‑Star Team, a roster that spotlights the most impactful players from across the region’s high school programs.
Headlining the selections is Dillan Coats of Norwich Tech, who was crowned Player of the Year after guiding his squad to its first Connecticut Technical Conference tournament championship since 2004.
A Team Built on Talent and Teamwork
The all‑star squad draws talent from Norwich Free Academy, Griswold, Plainfield, Killingly, Norwich Tech and Ellis Tech, each school contributing players who excelled both at the plate and on the mound.
Coats’ season was defined by clutch moments, including a walk‑off home run against O’Brien Tech in the quarterfinal round and a decisive RBI double in the championship game that helped secure a 6‑1 victory over Wolcott Tech.
His statistical dominance was equally striking: he batted .361, hit two home runs, drove in 19 runs and posted a 1.180 OPS, while also scoring 25 runs.
Teammates echoed his impact, with Cole Arnio posting a .383 average and 23 RBIs, and Kyle Stringer delivering an 8‑2 record and a 1.83 ERA from the mound.
Other Notable Contributors
Additional standouts include Jake Beaudreault of Killingly, who combined a .317 batting average with four home runs and 18 RBIs while earning three pitching wins, and Sunny Botello of Griswold, who recorded 21 hits and 12 stolen bases.
Norwich Free Academy’s Ryan Cleary and Nico Cosentino added speed and on‑base skill, stealing 15 and 12 bases respectively while maintaining strong slugging percentages, while Gabe Girard of Ellis Tech contributed a .361 average and 16 RBIs.
Pitchers such as Michael Fabiano Jr. of Killingly and Blake Irace of Ellis Tech showcased dual‑role excellence, posting sub‑2.00 ERAs and delivering key strikeouts when it mattered most.
The breadth of talent across the roster underscores a competitive landscape in which emerging stars are reshaping the narrative of high school baseball in Connecticut.