Coach Trent Bianco added another win to his first season as head coach at Carrollton High School, defeating 4A Whitewater 8-2 on Thursday night.

“Anytime you beat a team like Whitewater — that’s really well coached and is going to be really talented — you feel good about it,” Bianco said after the game.

The Trojans move to 4-2 on the season through the early stages of non-region play.

When asked about how he feels about his first season as head coach of the Trojans, Bianco said, “It’s been great. The kids have responded well — the work ethic has been great.”

But of course, Bianco is not new to Carrollton, despite previously serving as Heard County’s head baseball coach for nine years. He graduated from Carrollton in 2003 and served as an assistant coach for the Trojans before taking the job at Heard in 2014.

“Being from here, you kind of know what to expect, and that’s one of the great things about Carrollton,” he stated. “Our guys know if they put on a jersey that says Carrollton or Trojans, they expect to go out there and compete and win.”

Bianco was quick to highlight starting pitcher Cade Cosper after the win, who pitched a full game for the Trojans, throwing nine strikeouts and allowing two runs off four hits and three walks.

Cosper also led the team in RBIs in the win, as he hit a long double to the center-field wall to open up the scoring and put Carrollton ahead 3-0 in the bottom of the first.

Despite scoring eight runs, the Trojans collected just four true hits on the night, one each by Maddox Monsour, Andrew Albertus, Cosper and Seth Childers. Trojan batters also took a total of eleven walks, which contributed to the eight-run night.

Whitewater cut the Carrollton lead down to 3-2 in the second frame, but that was as close as they got for the rest of the game.

Carrollton’s biggest offensive inning was a four-run showing in the third, all four of which were scored on wild pitches or passed balls. Their final run of the game was a Lane Bell bases-loaded walk.

When asked about his expectations for the rest of the season, Coach Bianco chose to focus on the present.

“I’m such a day-by-day guy. If we get better every single day, I feel good about it. We obviously have goals to compete for a region championship and make deep playoff runs, but none of that can happen if we don’t worry about us and if we don’t get better each day.”

Carrollton is scheduled to take on both Oconee County and Calhoun in a tournament doubleheader at home on Saturday.

With Cosper pitching a full game on Thursday, Bianco says he plans to look to Malik Kemp and John Cobb, as well as a few different relievers on the pitching mound on Saturday.

First pitches for Oconee County and Calhoun are tentatively scheduled for 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., respectively.

A Carrollton High School graduate with a wealth of experience and knowledge in baseball will lead the varsity Trojan baseball team following the recent announcement of Scott Johnson’s retirement. 

Class of 2003 alumnus Trent Bianco is moving into the role of head baseball coach.

Bianco was a four-year starter in both baseball and football during his time at CHS. After graduating, he attended Columbus State University on a baseball scholarship where he was a catcher for the Cougars. He made two appearances at the Division 2 College World Series, and the team finished as National Runner-Up his senior year.

Bianco just wrapped up his ninth season as the head baseball coach for the Heard County Braves where he also served as the county’s athletic director. 

While coaching for the Braves, Bianco led the baseball team to playoffs each year, with the exception of the 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The program won its first region championship in 30 years and had three Elite Eight appearances as well as four Sweet 16 appearances. Bianco was also on the softball coaching staff from 2014-2020 and was part of two state championship teams during that time.  

Before accepting the job at Heard County in 2014, Bianco worked at CHS where he taught math and was an assistant coach for the baseball, softball and wrestling teams. 

“I'm excited about coming back to Carrollton because it's where I'm from,” he said. “I would not be who I am personally and professionally if so many great teachers and coaches didn't pour into me as a student-athlete during my time as a Trojan. Having the opportunity to do the same thing with our student-athletes at CHS is something I can't wait to do.”

CHS Athletic Director Paul Fitz-Simons said he believes Bianco is a great fit for the job.

“I have known Coach Bianco for years and have worked with him in several capacities,” he said. “He is one of the best baseball coaches in the state of Georgia and I know he will lead our athletes well. I am excited to see what he accomplishes as he comes back to his alma mater.”

Bianco and his wife, Courtney, live in Carrollton and they are expecting their first child this summer.

“Having grown up in Carrollton, I know how much everyone supports the school system,” he said. “I have first-hand experience with how special the community is and can't wait to get to work with everyone.”