This weekend out on the island of Texas there is the second annual Island Invitational that takes part on the campus of Galveston College. Coach Lallmann started this tournament last year due to there being no Tournament of Champions and it has become somewhat of a hot spot for some of the state’s top teams that people do not generally get to see on a regular basis. Last year’s field consisted of Howard, Alvin, Temple, Galveston, Wharton, and Coastal Bend. This year’s field consists of Galveston, Blinn, Alvin, Temple, and Western Texas. 

Galveston

What Coach Lallmann has done in his short tenure at Galveston has been impressive. By any that know him and his track record they are not surprised. With returning Gold Glove Catching Connor Dykstra (George Mason Commit) controlling the plate and the Trio of Brandon Nicoll, Cade Jonson, and Tyran Norris filling out the rest of the bats people have to get through and also hit around when they are in the field Galveston is locked and loaded for a big year. 

Schedule 

vs Western Texas – Dylan Theut – UL-Lafayette Commit

vs Blinn – Charles Peacock

vs Temple– Travis Phelps – Texas State Commit

vs Alvin – Kurt Dillion – Louisiana Tech Commit

Blinn

Blinn comes into this weekend after sweeping their games last week at the Coastal Bend Classic (Western Texas 6-3, and Ranger 2-0). They got a taste of what they can do but this week should be the real first test that they get to see what they can do. Blinn’s offence has a lot they still seem to have ended to work out only putting up 8 runs this past weekend. Their strength seems to be on the mound for them this season. Multiple big time arms and tons of depth on the mound along with those big arms should make for a lot of good games. 

Schedule

vs Western Texas – Dylan Theut – LHP – UL-Lafayette Commit

vs Galveston – Colson Geisler – LHP

vs Temple – Jace Hutchins – RHP – Texas Commit

Alvin

Alvin is a team that despite not having a great Tournament of Champion record wise showed a lot of what they are. They have loads of talent from both sides of the ball but just struggled to play clean baseball with Balks, Base Running Mistakes, and Defensive Miscues. They are led on the offensive side by the trio of Max Crabbe, Diego Davilla, and Bryce Hughes (Houston Baptist Commit).

Schedule

vs Temple – Owen Holt – RHP

vs Western Texas – Abraham Deleon – RHP

Vs Galveston – Ty Ringo – LHP – Lamar Commit

Temple

Temple comes into this weekend for their first real test. This past week they played St. Edwards JV and Concordia JV and went 2-1. Temple is a school that generally gets forgotten about in the schools that are part of Region 5. They have to get through the likes of McLennan, Grayson, and Weatherford to even get a chance at the Conference Title. This year though they seem to have things going the right way. So far their offence has been led by the trio of Seth Stephenson (Tennessee Commit), Andruw Gonzales (McNeese Commit), and Max Puls. As well as a bunch of other guys that are going to put up a fight when it comes to getting them out.

Schedule

vs Alvin – Jack Brinley

vs Blinn – Nathan Medrano – Houston Commit

vs Galveston – Up in the are at the moment

Western Texas

Western Texas is a lot like Temple in the fact that they generally get forgotten about out there in Snyder, America. Going 3-1 in their opening weekends Coach Jackson has high hopes at what this weekend will bring. Last weekend both Nick Crespo and Lance Little had huge weeks and are expected to keep that going against the better competition. 

Schedule

vs Blinn – Hunter Dyck – RHP

vs Galveston – Reese Weaks – RHP

vs Alvin – Clay McClenan – RHP

Other Notable Games This Weekend

Friday

Calhoun vs Chattahoochee Valley

Coastal Bend vs Panola

Weatherford vs Navarro

Pasco-Hernando State vs Santa Fe

San Jac vs Grayson

Saturday

Calhoun vs Chattahoochee Valley

Seminole State (OK) vs Grayson

Miami Dade vs State College of Florida

Meridian vs Copiah-Lincoln

Florida SouthWestern State vs Chipola

Wharton vs Baton Rouge (Double Header)