One doesn’t usually expect a pre-district thriller like the nine-inning effort which gave the Mineola Lady Jackets the win over the Brownsboro Lady Bears last Tuesday. There was only one takeaway from the game – Lady Jacket fans, buckle up.

Mineola used effective contributions from three hurlers, timely hitting and aware defense to stage two late-game comebacks for the win. 

The first came in the bottom of the fifth as the Lady Jackets had fallen behind 4-2 in the fourth. Emily Hodges beat out a ground ball for a lead-off infield single. Mycah Morman reached on a sharply-hit ball to third that was mishandled. 

With runners on second and third after a passed ball, Kaitlyn McMahon stepped to the plate. The freshman shortstop rocked the ball all game, going 4 for 5 with three extra-base hits. She lined a pitch into the right-center gap for a stand-up triple. 

McMahon scored on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Caroline Castleberry to give Mineola a 5-4 edge.

Although both teams left runners on base in the sixth, the score remained 5-4 Mineola until Brownsboro put up four runs in the top of the seventh. The Lady Bears loaded the bases with a walk and two excellent bunts. 

A triple ripped just out of reach of McMahon at shortstop rolled all the way to the left-center field fence. A single followed which brought home the fourth run. 

The Lady Jackets stepped up in the bottom half in a business-like manner. With one out, Kaitlyn McMahon tagged a double to left field.  Castleberry slapped a double into right field to put runners on second and third. 

With two strikes, Mahayla McMahon stroked a ball through the left side which scored two and left her on second. McMahon stole third in the most literal sense, as no one on the defense saw it coming. She scored on a beautiful bunt by Jaycee Smith. 

The Lady Jackets had staged their second comeback and sent the game into extra innings. 

Freshman Journie Wilson came in to throw in the eighth and throttled the Lady Bears, recording three 1-3 put-outs. 

In the ninth, a base-on-balls and a fielding error put two Lady Bears on base, but Mineola ended the threat by gunning down a baserunner at the plate on a throw from third baseman Maddie Short to Smith. 

Kaitlyn McMahon led off the bottom of the ninth with a liner down the right field line. She scampered to second for a double and advanced to third on a passed ball.

When Castleberry put the ball in play to the right side, McMahon hesitated between third and home. As the Lady Bears gave the first indication that they were making a play at first, McMahon accelerated to score the winning run.

The Lady Jackets should be exciting to watch and compete in a talented district. 

Mineola can leverage three able pitchers with sophomores Jadelyn Marshall and Mycah Morman, and freshman Journie Wilson. Against Brownsboro, Marshall threw five innings giving up five hits and striking out five. Mormon threw three innings, yielding six hits and striking out two, while Wilson tossed the final two innings -- shutting out the Lady Bears and facing eight hitters.

Nine Lady Jackets recorded base hits with Short joining McMahon with multiple hits. Mineola appeared confident at the plate throughout the line-up. They played with great energy and baseball sense. 

Possibly key to the team is the amazingly consistent play behind the plate of catcher Jaycee Smith.