Schools
Whiz Kid: Gian Bianchi, JHS Baseball
This week, we top our caps to the Johnston High School junior who won MVP honors for his performance in the Division II finals.
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.
Find out what's happening in Johnstonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
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.”
Find out what's happening in Johnstonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.