A Dual‑Threat Star Emerges
Ryan Ventrelle, a shortstop from Fairfield Prep, has been crowned the 2026 Gatorade Connecticut Baseball Player of the Year, an honor that highlights his standout performance on the field and his dedication beyond the game.
This season he posted a .471 batting average with a .581 on‑base percentage and a .757 slugging percentage, while also hitting two home runs, driving in 30 runs and scoring 31 times in just 23 games.
On the mound he went 2‑0 with 15 strikeouts in 15 ⅔ innings, helping his team maintain a perfect record and climb to the top of the GametimeCT Top 10 poll.
Ventrelle’s excellence extends to the classroom, where he carries a 4.1 GPA and serves as a National Honor Society member, and he gives back to the community through volunteer work with the Fairfield Red Storm Challenger Baseball League and fundraising efforts for cancer research via A Shot For Life.
Next fall he will continue his baseball career at Notre Dame, where he joins a program known for developing both athletes and scholars.