It’s been three games since Matt Whitton became the newest head baseball coach at Charles Henderson High School and even though the Trojans are 0-3 in that time, there are reasons for optimism.

The Trojans started the season with Josey Shannon at the helm, but after a handful of games Shannon decided it was time to hand the reigns to someone else. After a few games under interim head coach Taylor Polk, Whitton got the call.

“We have played three games and played pretty well in all three games,” Whitton said. “I thought we played our best game last night (Tuesday) against Northview. The kids are full of energy and they are competing.”

The Trojans have just one win so far this season. Whitton understands that the players and fans are hungry for a win, but he only wants to see his players compete right now.

“That’s all I can really ask them to do,” Whitton said. “Defense is slowly getting better and we are swinging (the bat) well. In the grand scheme of things, we are giving ourselves a chance to win ballgames.”

The Trojans have found themselves down by big margins early in games this season. So far under Whitton, that has not been the case.

“We are keeping ourselves in the game where we are one swing away from tying it up or one swing away from taking the lead,” Whitton said. “That’s really all you can ask them to do. Just give yourselves a chance to win.”
Whitton came to Charles Henderson after spending time as an assistant coach at Enterprise High School. Whitton explains his coaching style as energetic.

“I try to bring a bunch of energy and a lot of passion for baseball,” Whitton said. “I am trying to mold these kids, so my deal is just bringing the energy for them and let them feed off me.”

In the first three games, Whitton has been pleased with where the pitching staff currently is.

“They are doing their jobs,” Whitton said. “They are getting ground balls and soft contact. They are giving us a chance to put people away and win ball games. At the end of the day, if you can throw strikes and play defense, then you are going to win games.”

Being from Enterprise, Whitton knows all too well the passion the people of Troy and Charles Henderson have for the game of baseball.

“Troy is just a baseball community,” Whitton said. “Everywhere you turn there is baseball. A lot of good people in Troy have reached out to me. It’s tough right now because they have been through so much over the last couple of months. We are going to get it back to where it has always been. The kids believe that and I believe that.”

The Trojans will be in search of their first win today when they travel to take on Highland Home.