The Mineola Yellowjackets had their eyes clearly set on taking a win from the visiting Winnsboro Red Raiders last Friday, and going into the final season series with a narrow lead over Quitman for the final playoff spot.  In one of the best baseball games of the year, the Jackets very nearly pulled it off.  

Mineola starter Matthew Ballew (2 runs, 3 hits, 7 strike-outs, 7 free passes in 5 1/3 innings) labored through a long first inning which saw the lead-off Raider double down the third baseline on the first pitch. Four Raiders reached base with one run scoring on a passed ball. 

The Jackets got a great start at the plate with DJ McDowell’s one-out  single to center. Dalton Hamlin followed and sent a rocket shot right back to the Winnsboro starter. McDowell had no chance to get back to first and was doubled on the play. 

Mineola evened the score in the third. Trey Rushing drew a walk and had a clean steal of second base. With two away, Ty Burch drilled a RBI single into left scoring Rushing from second. 

The Jackets carried a good bit of momentum throughout the middle innings due to sensational inning-ending defensive plays. 

In the second, catcher Zac Haskin threw out a Winnsboro runner at third base. Third baseman McDowell made an excellent sweeping tag on the play. 

In the third, the Jackets ended the Raiders’ at-bat when Ballew picked off a Raider at first base with a snap throw from the hip. And in the fourth, a cleanly-handled bunt allowed the Jackets to cut down the lead Winnsboro runner at third. 

Mineola had ample opportunity to break the tie. In the bottom of the fourth, the Jackets had the bases loaded with one out but left the runners stranded.  

Ballew yielded on the mound to Hamlin after walking the first Winnsboro hitter in the sixth. A muffed ground ball put a Raider on third base, and Winnsboro took the lead with a deep sacrifice fly. 

The Jackets came right back. Hamlin was plunked to lead-off the inning. Braydon Alley stepped-in and smashed a drive into right field. It glanced off the glove of the Winnsboro rightfielder as he raced toward the deep corner. Alley ended up on third, and Hamlin safely crossed the plate with the tying run. 

Mineola had a runner on third with no outs. Alley tried to score on a Ballew ground ball to the right side but was cut down at the plate. Ballew made it to third on a stolen base and a wild pitch but was stranded 90 feet short. 

The score stood 2-2 going into the seventh. With two outs, the number three hitter in the Raider line-up stroked a double down the left field line. The clean-up hitter then drove a pitch back up the middle scoring the runner from second. 

Mineola found themselves down 3-2 with three outs remaining. Three  ground ball outs ended the Jackets hopes.

Mineola showed a lot of guts in their effort on the night. Their playoff hopes now depend on the home and away series versus Quitman.