By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

KILN — Home-standing Hancock drew first blood in its Region 4-6A opening series against Long Beach Thursday night.

The Hawks bounced the Bearcats 14-4 in just five frames in game one of the three game series, overcoming an early 3-0 deficit in the process. The two teams will meet again Friday night in Long Beach.

Believe it or not, Long Beach took a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first frame thanks to a two-run single by Wayne Ulrich and a run-scoring ground out from Tobia Cuevas.

But Hancock responded almost immediately, with five runs in both the second and third innings to break the game open.

Chace Brown got things rolling offensively for the home team with a two-run double in the second stanza, and Jude Ulrich’s two-run single gave the Hawks a lead they would never relinquish at 5-3. In between, Branon Arcement drew a bases-loaded walk to tie things up at 3-3.

In Hancock’s next at bat, Brown was back at it with an RBI-single while Arcement also added a run-scoring single to the cause. James Stieler drove in a run on a ground out, and two runs scored on Bearcat miscues.

An RBI-single by Bearcat Dax Arkin ended the scoring for his team, while Gavin Necaise had run-scoring single for HHS.

The Hawks ended things early in their half of the fifth frame, as Brown registered a two-run single and Jaxson Knight added an RBI-single as well to wrap up the 14-4 decision.

Brown tallied game-highs in both hits with four and RBIs with five to pace the winning Hawk attack, while Landon Shields and Ayden Howard each added three hits apiece to the 18-hit Hancock barrage. Necaise, Arcement and Knight each chipped in two hits apiece.

Wayne Ulrich had two hits for LBHS.

Howard picked up the pitching win for HHS.

Will Brady took the loss for the Bearcats.