By Curtis Rockwell/Sports Director

KILN — The Hancock High baseball program has experienced a few firsts so far under the direction of new head coach Neil Walther.
But none were bigger than what the Hawks accomplished Monday night.
Home-standing Hancock hammered Hattiesburg 11-1 to take the third and deciding game of that opening round Class 6A South State playoff series. The outcome is the first ever playoff series win in program history, since Hancock North Central High became known as just Hancock in 1991.

The decision, which came in six stanzas, also moved the Hawks to 24-7 overall on the season, which is also a new program standard for wins in a single campaign. Hancock moves on to face defending Class 6A South State champion George County in round two later this week.
Hattiesburg, which lost game one 14-2 in the Kiln before taking game two at home Saturday 7-1, sees its season come to an end at 13-16 overall.
In the rubber match, the Hawks tallied single runs in each of the first five frames before erupting for six runs in the bottom of the sixth to end the game prematurely.

Gavyn Cuevas went the distance on the hill for Hancock to earn the win, scattering five hits and striking out six in the process.
Offensively, Roston Ragon paced the Hawks with two hits, including a 3-run triple in the final inning, and he drove in a game-high four runs. Kanyon Cuevas also had two hits and drove in two runs, and Jaxton Necaise also drove in a pair of runs for Hancock.
Ky’Leon Pump took the loss for the Tigers. J.B. Bryant had two hits for Hattiesburg.