BROOKFIELD—Once upon a time, on a softball field long removed from the realities of Saturday’s opening day of the 2026 high school season, a travel softball coach somehow arbitrarily decided that Sydney Miller was nothing but a “PO.”
That’s a “Pitcher Only”, in softball jargon; a player who would never see the light of day in the batter’s box.
One day, with only nine players in the dugout, however, Miller had no choice but to grab a bat and dig in at the plate.
She went 5-for-5 with a home run and a handful of RBIs. She hasn’t stopped hitting since.
Because of Miller’s prowess both in the circle and in the batter’s box, and with Brookfield High School looking to win its first SWC championship since 2011 and first CIAC state title since 2000, the senior pitcher who has proven time and time again she can hit just as well as she can pitch has been tabbed the CT Softball Blog’s inaugural 2026 Preseason Player of the Year for the new season ahead.
“She’s a great kid, a great leader and she’s absolutely a two-way player,” said Brookfield head coach Alyssa Lionetti. “As dominating and as powerful as she is as a pitcher, she’s the same offensively.”
The proof is in the numbers.
In the circle, the 5-foot-7 Miller is a shut-down pitcher. While she went 13-5 last season as a junior, she did so while posting a 0.83 ERA. (Some had her listed as low as 0.59 ERA). In 107 innings, she struck out 207 while walking just 41 batters. Batters hit .090 against her.
At the plate, meanwhile, she hit .493 with 36 hits and 39 RBIs. She had five doubles, five triples and seven home runs—meaning nearly half of her hits went for extra bases.
That’s a .986 slugging percentage, if you’re counting, to go along with a .586 on base percentage.
“I always loved hitting, but when I got to travel, pitching was what I did,” explained Miller. “So, I’m really glad that I’m able to hit in high school. I love playing both sides. It feels more like a game instead of just pitching. But yeah, that wasn’t always something that I knew I was going to do, but I’m really glad that I do it.”
Miller was a first-year U14 player (read: 13-years-old) when she started playing up for a 16U travel team, so maybe the coaches felt she might be overwhelmed facing older pitchers.
With a bat in her hand, however, Miller has always proven to be just as lethal at hitting the ball as she has been at throwing it.
Another intangible she brings to her team—one that cannot be measured statistically—is her leadership ability, according Lionetti.
“She has that balance of intensity and focus,” said Lionetti. “She’s such a competitor, but she’s so thoughtful and kind and compassionate toward teammates, officials and coaches. She’s just a great human being.”
And, of course, Miller is smart, too.
On-the-field smart. Book smart. Life smart.
Last season, as a junior, she verbally committed to take her game to the Ivy League, where she will play for Brown University starting in the fall.
Before her college career gets under way, however, the goals and dreams of one final campaign at Brookfield High awaits.
“It would be so great to win our conference,” said Miller. “We were really close last year. I think we have a really good chance and I would love to get a good run in states, too. I just want to play for as long as I can in my uniform during this last year.”
While Miller played up in travel and got noticed by colleges throughout the country, putting on that Brookfield uniform has always meant something to her. More than something, to be exact.
“It means everything to me,” she said. “Ever since I was little, high school softball was something that I looked forward to. I was like eight years old watching the high school games and just couldn’t wait to be here and wear the name on my shirt. So it means everything to me. I love my team and my coaches and it’s a great feeling representing my town and my friends and everything.”
One last season. A minimum of 20 games. A maximum of 28.
Thankfully for the Bobcats, Miller will keep being the two-way player that has helped define her as one of the top players in Connecticut.
“If I could use her only as a pitcher, or only as a hitter, I’m not sure which I’d do,” Lionetti said with a chuckle.
Lionetti doesn’t have to make that choice, however.
After all, Sydney Miller, the CT Softball Blog’s Preseason Player of the Year, loves to do both and does both very well.
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