The Mineola Yellowjackets put together three excellent passages of offensive play, a stellar pitching performance and solid defense to dispatch the Wills Point Tigers, 10-0, in the Edgewood tourney. It was an all-around quality showing for the Jackets in one of their last tune-ups before district play.

The Jackets took a one-run lead in the first after being given a gift when a towering fly ball popped out of the glove of the Tigers’ right fielder. 

After Mineola starter Kaden Bell set the Tigers down in order to close out the first, the Jackets had their first quality inning. 

With one away, Dalton Hamlin rifled a double down the third base line. He advanced to third on a fielder’s choice and with two away, scored when Coy Anderson beat out a dropped third strike. 

Cason Davis stepped in and ripped a ball down the first base line for a stand-up double. The hit scored Anderson, who had stolen second. Braydon Alley promptly singled home Davis when he pulled a ball into left.     

After two innings the Jackets had built a 4-0 lead. Each team went down in order in the third.

In the second great passage of play, the Jackets put five  runners on in the fourth. After Brady Shrum reached with a walk, Anderson and Davis each recorded infield hits with well-placed bunts. Spencer Joyner and Bell followed up with consecutive RBI singles – well-hit balls to the left side. Mineola had stretched their lead to 7-0. 

Hamlin produced the defensive highlight for the Jackets in the bottom of the fourth. He went a long way at a tough angle to make the catch of a towering fly ball near the line in short right.

Mineola added two runs in the fifth. One run scored as a result of a base-on-balls, two wild pitches and an error. The second run was the result of a textbook-perfect bunt by Anderson. He rolled a bunt into the dead zone on the right side just beyond the pitcher’s mound, but well shy of the dirt. It was a seldom seen, RBI-bunt. 

The Jackets added their tenth run in the sixth. Bell laced a stand-up double to right-center, and two batters later Trevor Singletary drove him home with a single to center. The ability of Bell to score from second on a shallow single was due to his desire and hustle. It exemplified the Jackets’ efforts. 

Bell threw six complete, giving up three hits while facing 22 batters. He demonstrated remarkable control throughout, issuing no free passes. He often challenged the Wills Point hitters and won many at-bats with excellent placement. 

Mineola opened district play Tuesday and the next district match-up is Tuesday, March 22 at Quitman.