The first inning of Mineola’s 14-2 win over the visiting Winona Wildcats last week summarized exactly what can be expected of the Yellowjackets this season.

Spencer Joyner drew the start for Mineola, with Coy Anderson back again behind the plate. Joyner set the Wildcats down in order in the first. 

Mineola secured the first out on a high pop-up behind third base. Shortstop Cason Davis ranged over and made a nice catch, fading toward the foul line. The next hitter sent a towering ball into the same area. Davis had a much more difficult catch as the ball was in shallow left field just behind short. He took a nice bead on the ball and made the catch.  

The third out came on a sharply hit ground ball to third. Kaden Bell gloved the ball nicely and sent a frozen rope to first. 

The Mineola defense is playing clinical baseball. Just as in that first inning last Tuesday, incremental improvement is evident.

The Yellowjackets put up seven runs in the bottom half, with 13 hitters cycling to the plate.

Mineola has turned the bunt into quite a weapon. Given the speed of Anderson, Joyner, Riley Fowler, Thomas Hooton and others, the bunt will be a huge part of this season.  

The Jackets used four bunts in that first inning, two of which generated RBIs. Interspersed among the bunts were an Anderson single (which was stretched to a double), an RBI single by Caleb Gant through the left side, a well-hit double to right-center from the bat of Braydon Alley and a hard-hit first pitch single from Jack Heard.   

Mineola added aggressive base running to the formula and put up six runs in a big fourth inning. 

The game was called in the fifth after the Jackets put the Wildcats down with a strike-out, a great throw by Anderson to catch a second-base stealing attempt and a nice play by Davis on a ground ball to end the inning.  

The Jackets were certainly in stride for their district opener. Watching them restore the field (drag, rake, etc.) after a home game illustrates some of the characteristics which make this collection of players a team.

Harmony 10, Mineola 0

Harmony no-hit Mineola to take a 10-0 district victory on Friday.

After Harmony plated three runs over the first two innings, the game remained scoreless until the sixth, when the hosts added seven runs.

Harmony had eight hits and Mineola also committed two errors.

Yellowjackets Spencer Joyner and Coy Anderson did manage to draw walks.

Cason Davis threw three innings for Mineola and Kaden Bell two and a third. each struck out three hitters. Twelve Yellowjackets went down on strikes.