The Mineola Yellowjackets logged a well-constructed 13-4 win over the Kemp Yellowjackets last Tuesday.  Mineola recorded 13 base hits and put up runs in four innings to collect the pre-district win. 

The Jackets played some sound baseball. They aggressively ran the bases, played attentively in the field and demonstrated talent at the plate for timely hitting.

Mineola pitching looked to be well-schooled and had a knack for hitting the outside corner. Conner Gibson started and threw 2 2/3 innings. Braydon Alley entered in the third and tossed 1 1/3 innings, while Jack Heard entered in the fifth and recorded three shut-out innings.    

Most baseball games have a moment which makes an observer sit up and admire a play unfolding before them. In Grand Saline last week, the Jackets provided two of them. 

The first came in the bottom of the third. Mineola led 5-4. With one runner on, senior Thomas Hooton stepped to the plate. He hammered a drive into deep right field and exploded out of the box. He accelerated until he made the turn at third base. It was a stand-up triple and very nearly an inside-the-park homer. Watching Hooton fly around those bases was worth the trip to Grand Saline. 

The second notable performance was Gibson’s work at the plate. Gibson absolutely crushed the first pitch he faced on the night. He sent it through the gap in right-center field and ended up with a double.  Leading off the fourth, he again sent the first pitch sizzling between the outfielders. This hit rolled to the left-center field fence. In his final plate appearance he sent a line drive to center for a single.

Mineola wasted no time getting on the board. A beautiful bunt down the third base line by Riley Fowler gave them the first baserunner of the night. A double by Caleb Gant, an infield single by Kaden Bell and Gibson’s double pushed three runs across in the bottom of the first.

Kemp put up four runs in the top of the second on two hits and some aggressive base running.  They never threatened again.

In the second, Jackets reached on a Coy Anderson single and two free passes. A hard-hit Gant single to center brought in two runs. The inning featured a very nice defensive play by Kemp as their shortstop speared a line drive and doubled the Mineola runner off second base. 

RBI base hits by Hooton, Anderson and Bell added four runs in the third. 

In the fourth it was Gibson, Spencer Joyner and Gant who provided the fireworks, chasing home four additional runs. 

Although it’s early yet in the season, the Yellowjackets appear to be running a taut ship and ready for some district action. It should be a fun season.

The game had been relocated to Grand Saline due to wet turf conditions.