John Tyler High School baseball players meet before there start of the second inning as the Lions play Lone Oak at Mike Carter Field in Tyler on Monday Feb. 18, 2019. (Sarah A. Miller/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

It was time to play ball on Monday as the John Tyler Lions opened their baseball season against the Lone Oak Buffaloes at Mike Carter Field.

The Buffaloes scored an 11-5 win over the Lions.

Jamari Cole led JT with two triples and two RBIs with Eli Sanchez adding a single and a double.

The Lions will now play in the Gary Balch Classic this weekend in the Fort Worth area.

On Thursday, JT faces Fort Worth Diamond-Hill Jarvis at noon at Everman High School.

The Lions will play two games on Friday at Fort Worth’s Goldstein Field. At 2 p.m., JT will face Fort Worth North Side and at 4 p.m., the Lions will tangle with Fort Worth Polytechnic.

John Tyler takes on Amarillo Palo Duro at 10 a.m. Saturday Everman.

On Tuesday, Feb. 26 the Lions will play at Bishop Gorman at 6 p.m.

The annual Tim Crowder Invitational is scheduled for Feb. 28 through March 1 at Mike Carter Field.

JT’s schedule includes: Feb. 28 — 3:45 p.m. vs. Brownsboro and 6 p.m. vs. Alba-Golden; March 1 — 3:45 p.m. vs. Lone Oak and 6 p.m. vs. Cumberland Academy; and March 2 — 6 p.m. vs. Gladewater.