Hancock squad takes District 9

Hancock scored nine runs in the top of the first inning en route to an 11-7 victory over Port Charlotte at South County Regional Park in Punta Gorda.

The same group of players won the District 9 9-year-old championship in 2007 for Hancock.

Hancock will represent District 9 at the Section 6 Tournament on July 24 at Sam Fleischman Regional Sports Complex in Fort Myers.

"We started out on fire with our bats," Hancock manager David Bechtol said. "They did a tremendous job hitting."

Hancock sent 13 hitters to the plate in the top of the first inning.

The big hit of the frame was a 2-run double by Jordan Thomas.

Jamie Mercado, Dolan Bechtol and Johnny Humbert each had an RBI double in the first. Angel Mena also had an RBI single for Hancock.

Port Charlotte scored its first run when Eddie Bauch singled home Shane LeMaster in the second inning. They made 9-2 in the fourth inning when Zach Specht scored on an errant throw and cut the Hancock lead to 9-3 after an RBI single by Jonathon Moss-Solomon in the fifth inning.

Hancock picked up two insurance runs in the top of the sixth inning thanks to RBI from Mercado and Dolan Bechtol.

Port Charlotte made things interesting in the bottom of the seventh thanks to a 4-run rally. Matt Ranson and Shane Conway each had an RBI and Moss-Solomon had a 2-run double with two outs and the bases loaded.

"After that first inning, the kids really came out and fought," Port Charlotte manager Mickey Robles said. "The first inning was all nerves. We came so close to winning."

Anthony Churlin earned the win for Hancock, tossing 51Ú3 innings.

"You can't ask for more from him," David Bechtol said. "Coming out and pitching like he did today proves that he is a winner always."