The Mineola Lady Jackets enjoyed an afternoon game under gusty skies in Lone Oak last Thursday and came home with a 22-10 win.

The game offered a little bit of everything a softball game could, including two big rallies which fueled the victory for the Lady Jackets.

The 2020 edition of Jackets softball features many familiar faces from the playoff-experienced team of 2019. While last year’s team seemed to be consistent to a fault, the 2020 squad has reshuffled the deck. 

The team is taking advantage of Emily Wiley’s speed by moving her from shortstop to the outfield. Likewise, Kaitlyn Burrell has made a change from third base to first and presents a tall target for her fellow infielders. Izzy Tresca has transitioned from catching to third base, while Kayla Lovelady has moved in behind the plate. The last major change in the field has been the movement of Alana Galaz to shortstop after having played the entire 2019 season in the outfield.  

The new look of the team appears to have been significant. One can tell a lot from the manner by which a team throws the ball around. It speaks to confidence, trust and one-mindedness.

After a tough opening district loss against Edgewood, the Lady Jackets looked relaxed and ready in Lone Oak. They systematically built an 11-1 lead after two innings. Alana Galaz, who went 4-for-5 on the day, belted a clean double in the first. Mineola took advantage of one walk and two Lady Buffalo errors to notch three runs. 

Lone Oak pushed a run across in the bottom half behind two hits and a free pass.  

The Lady Jackets demonstrated considerable discipline with an 8-run, 2-out rally in the second inning.  Burrell whistled a double just past the ear of the Lone Oak third baseman. It was the only extra base hit in an inning which saw the Lady Jackets produce five singles.  

The Lady Buffaloes began to range in on Mineola starter Claudia Barriga, chalking up four runs in the third. Tresca spelled Barriga after 3.1 innings, and retired the next two hitters.  

Lone Oak’s lead-off batter, Bailie Ragsdale, opened the bottom of the fourth by sending Tresca’s first pitch on a rope over the right-center field fence. The Lady Buffs added two more runs in the inning to close the score to 11-9 going into the fifth. 

Mineola found the offensive rhythm in the fifth. The first six Lady Jackets to the plate scored. Eleven runs crossed the plate for the visitors in the inning. 

Barriga re-entered to pitch the final inning. Although Lone Oak scratched out another run, Mineola came away with a decisive win.