Close games in baseball have a way of tearing the heart out. Moreso than in other sports, baseball is an unforgiving mistress.  

The Mineola Yellowjackets stood at 3-3 after the first round of district play. That record includes a 2-run loss to Harmony, a 1-run loss at Winnsboro and a 1-run loss against the visiting Mt. Vernon Tigers last Tuesday.

But for the fortunes of the game, the Yellowjackets could be sitting, undefeated, atop the district. In many ways, baseball is a game of confidence.

The greatest inhibitor to a solid second half of the district season for the Yellowjackets is the threat of a loss of confidence. The “here we go again” syndrome is part of human nature.

The team will be under threat of losing their confidence, but it won’t happen. The way to fight against this negative effect is with facts.

Here are a few. Mineola lives on clean fielding and good head work in the field. That is not changing – it is the trademark of the program. 

The Jackets’ pitching will go head-to-head against the best hitters in the district and often come out on top.

Mineola values base runners. They don’t play what has been called ‘small ball,’ but they win by producing base runners. 

Last Tuesday, Mineola and Mt. Vernon had punched and counterpunched through three and a half innings. The Tigers led 4-3. 

In the bottom of the fourth, Kaden Bell rocked a liner which careened off the Tiger second baseman for a base hit. He was left on base. 

Spencer Joyner set the Tigers down in order in the fifth. In the bottom half, Jacob Castleberry reached on a walk. With two outs, Ty Burch slapped a ground ball to the third base side. A throwing error by Mt. Vernon put Castleberry on third and Burch at second. 

Brady Shrum took his place in the box. He hammered the first pitch on an absolute line directly at the Tiger shortstop. Two men died on base. 

In the sixth, Mineola stepped out of character and gifted a run on a bad throw. It was a rare error – and costly. Going into the bottom of the sixth Mt. Vernon led 5-3. 

The Jackets needed base runners. Dalton Hamlin drew a walk. A very aggressive lead at first by Hamlin drew a throw from the Tiger pitcher. The throw went awry and Hamlin ended up standing at third. He scored on a tag when Bell lofted a deep fly ball to right field. A pop-out closed the inning. 

The seventh inning passed without a threat from either side, and Mt. Vernon took the game. 

The next opportunity to see the Yellowjackets on the diamond is Tuesday, April 18 as they host Winnsboro.