The listing of Connecticut natives to hitch the UConn baseball program continues to develop.
From gamers who reached the majors like Matt Barnes (Bethel) and Mike Olt (Branford) to current successes like 2026 Large East Freshman of the Yr Cam Righi (Wethersfield) and 2025 Large East Participant of the Yr Ryan Daniels (St. Paul), UConn has typically taken within the state’s high expertise.
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In early September, a pair of CIAC baseball gamers from the Class of 2028 who’ve been associates since kindergarten introduced plans to play for the Huskies, becoming a member of Southington’s Class of 2027 commit Luke Prozzo.
Outfielder/pitcher Blake Huston, who attended Oxford Excessive College as a freshman and sophomore however is presently at Shelton, introduced his dedication on Sept. 9. Days later, North Haven Excessive College infielder and pitcher Gavin Halovatch did the identical.
Huston was a CHSCA All-State choice as a sophomore, primarily for his bat after slashing .500/.580/1.089 (1.669 OPS) with 9 doubles, three triples and 6 residence runs. On the mound, Huston has one of many hardest fastballs within the state, often touching 90 miles per hour. He was nominated for the highest fastball of the 2026 CIAC season.
“It has at all times been a dream of mine to go to UConn,” stated Huston, a North Haven native. “I grew up watching UConn baseball. Being from Connecticut, there’s a nice sense of pleasure taking part in for UConn. After I was given this chance, I believed it was excellent for me. I get to remain residence, play for a very good baseball college and put on Connecticut throughout my chest.”
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Halovatch was a first-team All-SCC choice in 2026, taking part in shortstop and pitching for North Haven.
“(Halovatch) is a really aggressive participant,” North Haven coach Joe Romanelli stated. “He got here in freshman yr and immediately everybody knew he belonged, simply by the way in which he composed himself. He’s a gamer who will do something to win a ballgame.”
As a sophomore, Halovatch batted .405 with a 1.050 OPS, eight doubles, two triples, 21 RBIs and 18 runs scored. On the mound, he had a 1.02 ERA with 19 strikeouts over 13.2 innings.
“I selected UConn as a result of they’ve been an important workforce that’s nice at growing gamers,” Halovatch stated. “The lecturers are excellent as effectively, however the primary cause was location. I believe with the ability to signify my city and residential state is one thing particular.”
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Halovatch is presently taking part in soccer for North Haven after taking final season off from the game. He scored a speeding landing within the workforce’s opening sport.
The longtime associates have continued to coach collectively regardless of Huston shifting to Oxford earlier than his freshman yr.
“(Halovatch) and I’ve been associates for some time,” Huston stated. “Me and him began that friendship once we have been in kindergarten. We now have at all times educated collectively, we hit with the identical hitting coach, Roberto Mena, who’s now the power and conditioning coordinator on the College of Tampa. We’d at all times work out collectively. We performed Little League collectively and we now have performed journey ball collectively. We now have at all times had a powerful relationship, and that will likely be big taking that into UConn.”
Each gamers might have a possibility to be two-way gamers at UConn. Huston could possibly be each an outfielder and a pitcher, whereas Halovatch will doubtless primarily be an infielder who may pitch.
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“It’s nice to see one in every of my childhood associates go to the identical school,” Halovatch stated. “It’s a nice feeling to know we’ll get to spend one other 4 years collectively.”
Though Huston will likely be taking part in his junior season at Shelton, his two years at Oxford helped mould him into the participant he’s right now.
“I like each single coach on the workers at Oxford,” Huston stated. “Coach (Susi) took me underneath his wing my freshman yr and gave me the chance to be the beginning heart fielder, quantity three hitter and the quantity two on the mound. That gave me quite a lot of confidence. I could not have had the success I had final yr with out (Susi) and the teaching workers.”
Oxford coach Brett Susi praised Huston.
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“What’s enjoyable about teaching a participant with that a lot uncooked capability at such a younger age is that you just get to see him mature rapidly,” Susi stated. “He runs like a deer, he can hit to all fields with energy, and he has an important arm. He’s nearly as good as anybody at heart discipline, and he was additionally one in every of our largest stolen base threats. Whereas I believe he’s forward on the offensive aspect, he has a ton of expertise on the mound. He pitched quite a lot of massive video games for us and saved us in these video games, together with twice in opposition to Ansonia, which went to the state championship.”
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This text initially revealed at Two Connecticut baseball gamers, associates since kindergarten, decide to UConn.
