MM_062818

46 | June 28, 2018 | The Mokena Messenger sports
mokenamessenger.com
LW Central grad making dreams come true at DI school
Steve Millar
Freelance Reporter
Andrew Hancock is getting
an early taste of collegiate
competition.
Hancock, who just graduated
from Lincoln-Way
Central and is headed to
Evansville in the fall, is
pitching for the Northwest
Indiana Oilmen of the Midwest
Collegiate League.
The summer league features
many players who
have already played a season
or more in college,
along with some incoming
freshmen like Hancock.
“This is giving me an opportunity
to face college
hitters, good competition,”
Hancock said. “I’m getting
in some reps, getting
a chance to try some new
stuff so I can be ready for
next season. So far, it’s
been good. I’ve been pitching
well.”
After the summer, Hancock
will live out a childhood
dream when he joins
the team at Evansville, a
NCAA Division I program
that competes in the Missouri
Valley Conference.
“My dad [Daniel] played
baseball at St. Xavier and
ever since I was a little kid,
I wanted to follow in his
footsteps,” Hancock said.
“I’ve thought about it ever
since I was a tiny, little kid
swinging a bat in the backyard.”
The dream started to become
more realistic early
in Hancock’s career at
Lincoln-Way Central. He
joined a top travel team in
the summer after his freshman
year.
“I got a chance to pitch
with the Chicago Elite,” he
said. “They needed someone
for a game, and I did
well, and they kept me on
the team. That was huge. I
learned so much pitching
Former Lincoln-Way Central baseball standout Andrew Hancock brings his 6-foot 6-inch frame to University of Evansville, where he’ll pitch on a baseball
scholarship. 22nd Century Media file photo
with them and they helped
me a lot.
“I got so much help from
so many great coaches,
both with Chicago Elite and
at Central. I’m thankful to
all of them.”
As his fastball continued
to gain velocity, reaching
into the upper 80’s as a senior,
and his offspeed pitches
developed, the 6-foot
6-inch Hancock possessed
a repertoire that attracted
many college coaches.
Evansville proved to be
the best fit.
“Their coach, Wes Carroll,
really treated me and
my family well,” Hancock
said. “Evansville felt like
home. I just liked it the best
and I felt really comfortable
with the coaches and players.”
As excited as Hancock
was to commit to the Purple
Aces, they were just as
thrilled to have him.
“Andrew is a good
athlete, measuring in at
6-foot-6,” Evansville pitching
coach Cody Fick said
in a press release. “He is
physically imposing on the
mound. He is a dual-sport
high school athlete (baseball
and basketball) with
what we believe is a high
ceiling on mound. We are
excited to see his size and
athleticism develop into a
well-rounded pitcher for
us.”
Hancock leaves Lincoln-
Way Central with many
good memories.
Though baseball was always
his primary focus, he
also starred on the basketball
court for the Knights.
“I loved playing basketball,”
he said. “I loved having
something competitive
to do in the winters and it
helped me become a better
athlete, helped me stay in
shape for baseball. It was
just a lot of fun.”
On the baseball side
of things, Hancock said
he’ll always remember the
Knights’ deep postseason
run his junior season.
“Winning the regional
and playing in a sectional
championship game was
really exciting,” he said.
“This year, we tried hard
to get back there and we
came up a little short, but I
made some great bonds and
friendships with my teammates.
“I gave it everything I
had every time I took the
mound.”
Preparing to take the next
step, Hancock wants to
fine-tune all of his pitches.
“I’ve got to be ready
to throw all three pitches
for strikes: my fastball,
changeup and curveball,”
he said. “I’ve got a slider
that I’m developing, too.
And I’m working to master
a put-away pitch that I can
use to end at-bats.”
Hancock hopes to get
chances to play right away
at Evansville.
“Coach Carroll told me
I’d have an opportunity to
pitch as a freshman,” he
said. “I’m hoping to get in
some games, get some experience
and show what I
can do. I’m excited for it to
start.”