By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

Pascagoula, Hancock and Pearl River Central all got off to good starts in Region 4-6A play Tuesday night.

None more so, however, than the Panthers.

Pascagoula popped Picayune 6-0 on the opening night of league play at Tillman Field, to get off to an impressive beginning. A pair of Panther pitchers, starter Sean Norvel and reliever Willie Sims, combined for the first PHS shutout win in region play in almost two years.

Both Norvel, who earned the win, and Sims, who picked up a save, helped themselves as well at the plate as Norvel had two hits and drove in two runs and Sims posted a double. In fact, Norvel’s two-run single in a three-run third frame helped the home team stretch a 2-0 lead out to a 5-0 advantage and blow open the game in the process.

Blaine Ashe had two hits for Picayune, and Colt Robertson took the loss.

The Panthers sit 4-10 overall, and the Maroon Tide is 7-7 as the two teams face off again in Picayune Friday night before reconvening in Pascagoula again Saturday afternoon to close out the series.

Meanwhile, Hancock moved to 11-2 overall with a 5-2 win on the road over Long Beach to open region play for both teams.

Colton Hopgood, James Stieler and Roston Ragon each had two hits apiece for the Hawks, while Hayden Ladner had a double and drove in three runs in the winning attack.

Jaxson Knight went the distance on the hill and struck out 14 in seven stanzas to earn the pitching win.

Dax Arkin had two hits for Long Beach.

Abel Wilson took the loss for the Bearcats, which dropped to 3-11 overall. The two teams face off in The Kiln Friday night before wrapping this series up Saturday afternoon back in Long Beach just up the road from the new Aldi’s and the former Winn Dixie site.

And, in Carriere, Pearl River Central thumped Gautier 12-0 in just five frames.

The Blue Devils posted four runs in each of the first two innings to take complete control quickly.

Blake Gill cracked a two-run home run for PRC in the second stanza. He finished with two hits and three RBIs, while both Landyn Wilson and Landon Lowe each drove in two runs apiece in the game-winning effort and Talon Cipriano had two hits also.

Roman Mitchell picked up the win with four frames of work, as PRC moved to 9-5 overall with the win.

Robert Fernandez took the loss for Gautier, which is now 5-6 overall.

The two teams meet in Gautier Friday night before reconvening in Carriere Saturday afternoon.