Mineola Lady Jackets Erupt Late to Take Game 1 From Van, 11-6

MARSHALL -- Round one of the much anticipated rematch of District 15-3A rivals went to Mineola. It almost went to Mother Nature.

Starting at UT Tyler, a lightning delay in the top of the fourth turned into a torrential thunderstorm, during which administrators decided to move the series to ETBU in Marshall for the final three-and-a-half innings.

There, Mineola senior shortstop Brittney Johnson caused a ruckus of her own.

The Southern Arkansas-bound Johnson hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth that broke a 6-6 tie and the Lady Jackets defeated Van 11-6 in Game 1 of their Class 3A Region II final series on Friday night.

Game 2 is scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday at UT Tyler. A third game would follow if needed.

Mineola jumped on the board early, scoring four runs in the first inning, highlighted by a Ali Galaz RBI double and three Lady Vandals errors.

Van answered in the second when Hallee Carter laced an RBI triple to deep right-center field, narrowing the deficit to 4-2.