Pantego Christian scored four runs in the first inning and made that stand up in a 5-2 victory over Mineola in the Mabank baseball tournament last Thursday.

Pantego recorded nine hits to Mineola’s eight, but the Yellowjackets could manage just single runs in the third and fifth innings. Pantego answered the third inning run with one to match.

Cason Davis had two hits for Mineola with a run batted in.

James Clower threw three innings for the ‘Jackets, and Spencer Joyner saw work in relief.

Next up was Palmer, and again the first inning proved decisive.

Mineola fell behind 6-0. It was 8-2 after three. The ‘Jackets responded with five in the fifth, but that was all the scoring and Mineola fell 8-7.

Yellowjacket hitters recorded nine while Palmer had 10. Each team had one error.

Coy Anderson and Conner Gibson each had a pair of hits. Cason Davis and Jacob Castleberry drove in two runs apiece.

Castleberry also took the mound for Mineola for three and one third innings, striking out one batter.

Friday Mineola dropped a 5-1 decision to the host team. Mabank put up four runs in the first and added another in the second before Mineola could get on the board with a run in the fourth. The ‘Jackets managed three hits to Mabank’s nine. Riley Fowler had two of those while Coy Anderson drove in the run. Kaden Bell (2 1/3) and Spencer Joyner (1 2/3) shared the pitching duties.

The Jackets managed to overcome another big first inning to top Pollock Central 15-5 on Saturday.

Mineola opened with a pair of runs in the top of the first only to lose the lead 5-2 in the bottom half.

But a nine-run second put the ‘Jackets in control for good, and they added three in the third for good measure and another in the fourth.

Mineola outhit Pollock 10-7. Davis had three while Riley Fowler and  Braydon Alley each added two. Davis and Fowler also drew one walk each. Fowler pushed in four runs, with Alley and Spencer Joyner each driving in a pair.

Jack Heard threw three innings and struck out four batters.