Name: Gian Bianchi, junior, Johnston High School

Accomplishment: Won Most Valuable Player in the Rhode Island Interscholastic League 2011 Division II baseball finals at McCoy Stadium.

Key To Awesomeness: Toughness and selflessness. Bianchi came back just two days after getting hit in the calf by a one-hop grounder during the Panthers' May 26 playoff win against Juanita Sanchez and pitched Johnston to a third playoff win on May 28.

Then, in Game 2 of the finals, Bianchi limited The Prout School to three hits in his complete game appearance and held the Crusaders to just one run — and no hits over the final four innings — en route to the Panthers' 4-1 victory and a 2-0 sweep of the series to win the D-II crown.

Interviewed after the title-winning game by JohnstonPatch reporter Jared Sugerman, Bianchi said: “I’m in shock. I’m just so happy right now, I can’t even explain it. MVP’s amazing, but I wouldn’t be able to do it without my team.”