Fan Vote Sends Stern, Smith to NECBL All-Star Game
Sanford, ME – The 2026 NECBL All-Star Game rosters are officially set. Danbury's Aidan Stern and host Sanford's Drew Smith claimed the league's two fan vote selections after leading their respective divisions in voting, earning the final spots in Sunday's All-Star Game at Goodall Park.
Utility man Aidan Stern (Trinity College, Danbury) and RHP Drew Smith (UConn, Sanford) take the win for the 11th annual NECBL All-Star Game fan vote. The vote was held on the NECBL Instagram page, where every comment counted as one vote.
Stern becomes the third Danbury Westerner to make this years all-star game, joining starting first baseman Kyle Garbowski (Quinnipiac) and reserve outfielder Jack Lutte (Denison). Smith, meanwhile, joins 10 of his Sanford Mainers teammates at the game. A group that includes ASG starters in first baseman Steven Kraus (Binghamton) and outfielder Jack Tate (St. John's).
After a quieter summer with Danbury in 2025, Stern enjoyed a strong 2026 season, recording a .246/.434/.404 slash line with eight extra-base hits and 14 RBI. He ranks third on the team in home runs behind Gavin and Ronan Donohue (Sacred Heart), and led the South Division in All-Star voting with 707 votes.
Another returning player, Smith boasts a 3.14 ERA and 1.08 WHIP over 28.2 innings for the Mainers. Since a July 3rd hiccup against the Keene Swamp Bats, Smith put together two straight outings where he threw five innings of one-run ball to help solidify his case. He got 401 votes to lead the way for the North Division voting.
The 2026 All-Star Game will be held at Goodall Park in Sanford, ME on Sunday July 26th at 5:00 p.m.
The Home Run Derby will air at 2:30 p.m. on NECBL+, and the All-Star Game will air at 5:00 p.m. on ESPN+.
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The New England Collegiate Baseball League is a wooden bat collegiate summer league featuring teams across all six New England states. Since its founding in 1994, the NECBL has produced more than 230 Major League Baseball alumni, including nearly 30 first-round MLB Draft selections. For continuing coverage of the NECBL, visit NECBL.com and follow the league on X, Instagram, and Facebook.
