Sports Spotlight: South Central’s Hobbs leads Falcons baseball team to first state finals appearance

WINTERVILLE, N.C. (WITN) – The NCHSAA baseball championships were decided over the weekend and South Central claimed runner-up in class 3A.

The Falcons made their first trip to state in program history and we feature one of the seniors who led them there, Mason Hobbs, in our Pepsi Sports Spotlight.

“I’ve been playing since 8 years old and I have just loved it since,” says South Central senior Mason Hobbs.

South Central senior Mason Hobbs grew up on the diamond in Winterville playing babe Ruth, travel ball, and most recently American legion.

“I have been going to Next Level for a couple years now doing hitting lessons,” says Hobbs, “Hitting with my teammates. Just coming out to the field in the summer taking B.P.”

Mason led the Falcons in average hitting .500, on-base percentage .635, slugging percentage .770, triples, and tied for Runs Batted In.

“We look to runs because that is most important to us. Runs, RBI cause you can’t win games without runs,” says Hobbs, “So batting average doesn’t matter to us.”

Hobbs had a co-team high three home runs this season and was part of the Falcons state record three grand slams in one game as they won the regional title.

“It felt great. In the moment we didn’t really know it was a state record,” says Mason, “But when they came up to us after the game and told us it was pretty cool.”

A co-captain Hobbs learned from his regional runner-up sophomore season how to lead.

“We paired Mason with some of those guys to try to develop leadership skills. Because we know or at least we hoped this moment would be coming and he would have to drive the ship,” says South Central Head Coach Pat McRae, “You can’t define leadership but you can see it and he has been that guy for us this season.”

And now they have been to their first state championship series. Hobbs wrapped up his senior season as state runner-up and will continue playing ball at Catawaba Valley Community College starting in the fall.

“I went to a camp there. They talked to me a lot. They offered me,” says Hobbs who signed earlier this school year, “But on my visit it felt like home. Felt like the right fit for me.”

“I’m going to be honest with you he is going to be on the field cause that dude can hit,” says McRae, “You want to get your best bats into the line-up and he’ll find a way into the lineup I’m sure.”

Mason was named to the 3A All-State team on Tuesday by the North Carolina Baseball Coaches Association.

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