DANBURY, Conn. — Western Connecticut State University juniors Bryan Birkl (Farmingdale, N.Y.) and Ryan Vallie (East Haven, Conn.) and sophomores Mitch Landau (Northport, N.Y.) and Brandon Payne (MIlford, Conn.) were each named to the 2026 CSC Division I, II Academic All-District Baseball Team.  The foursome, along with seven other Wolves were named to the Little East Conference (LEC) Spring All-Academic Team.  In addition 31 WestConn baseball players appeared on the LEC 2025 Fall Academic Honor Roll and 23 made the LEC 2026 Spring Academic Honor Roll.  WestConn, coached by John Susi (27th Season), finished the 2026 campaign with an 11-24 overall record and tied for eighth place in the LEC with a 3-13 mark against conference teams.  

The 2025-26 Academic All-District® Baseball Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.  Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. 

To be selected to the Spring All-Academic Team, a student-athlete must be at least in sophomore standing in the classroom, have a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher through the previous semester, and have been at their current institution for at least one full academic year prior to the start of the competitive season.  To be named the LEC Academic Honor Roll, a student-athlete must earn a semester GPA of 3.00 or better and have been an active member of the team at the conclusion of the season.

Birkl, who repeats on the CSC Academic All-District Team, batted .223 (23-103) with 12 runs, a double, 12 RBIs, and 18 walks in 32 games (32 starts) for the Wolves in 2026. He also recorded 29 putouts, 57 assists, and .10 double plays as WestConn's starting shortstop this spring. An alum of Farmingdale High School, Birkl has been an LEC All-Academic Team and LEC Academic Honor Roll member as public health major at WestConn.

Vallie, who repeats on the CSC Academic All-District Team, batted .309 this season and totaled team-highs of 10 HBPs and six stolen bases (tied) in 2026.  Vallie was 34 for 110 with five doubles, a triple, a home run, 14 RBIs and eight walks.  He slugged .400 with an on-base percentage of .403 also finished the year with just six errors against 69 putouts, 80 assists, and a team-high 23 double plays in 31 games (all starts) at 2B for the Wolves.  A graduate of East Haven High School, Vallie has been an LEC All-Academic Team and LEC Academic Honor Roll member as an accounting major at WestConn.

Landau batted .290 (31-107) with 23 runs, four doubles, a home run, eight RBIs, 16 walks and a .402 on-base percentage in 31 games (29 starts) for the Wolves in 2026. He also recorded 38 putouts and 26 assists while playing multiple positions in the infield and the outfield for WestConn this spring. An alum of Kings Park High School, Landau has been an LEC  Academic Honor Roll member as health education major at WestConn. 

Payne, a right-handed pitcher, led WestConn in appearances with 17 and saves with two in 2026.  He was 1-0 with a 6.87 ERA and struck out 12 batters in 18.1 innings pitched.  Payne, who also plays football for the Wolves, is a graduate of Joseph A. Foran High School and has earned LEC Academic Honor Roll recognition as a sport and wellness management major at WestConn.