Embry throws no hitter to lead McLennan over Alvin; Highlanders fall in late game

The McLennan Highlanders opened the San Jacinto Tournament of Champions with a 12-0 run-rule victory over the Alvin Dolphins this morning at the Premier Baseball of Texas Sports Complex in Tomball. Redshirt sophomore Jase Embry threw a five-inning no hitter to pick up the complete-game win on the mound.
 
The Highlanders scored four runs in the second inning. Garrett Martin, Ryan Bishop and Ryan Neitsch all walked to load the bases. Jalen Battles followed with a double to score Martin and Bishop. Neitsch scored on an Alvin error, and Battles scored on a passed ball.
 
McLennan added three runs in the third. Brett Squires drew a walk and Brooks Embry singled. Bishop followed with a single to score Squires. Embry and Bishop then scored on a single by Battles.
 
Two Highlander runs scored in the fourth. Thomas Santos walked and stole second. Martin was then safe at first and moved to second on a Dolphin error, allowing Santos to score. Embry followed with a double to score Martin.
 
The Highlanders sealed the run rule with three runs in the top of the fifth. Battles was hit by the pitch but was put out at second on a fielder's choice by Aidan Shepardson, and Cole Moore walked. Santos followed with the three-run homer.
 
McLennan continues play in the tournament this evening, facing Howard at 7 p.m. at the San Jacinto College field.

In the late game on day one of the Tournament of Champions, the McLennan Highlanders fell to the Howard Hawks 9-5. Trevor Munsch took the loss on the mound for McLennan.
 
The Highlanders scored one run in the second inning to begin the scoring. Garrett Martin singled and Brooks Embry walked. Martin then moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a ground out by Jordan Yeatts.
 
McLennan added another run in the fifth. Yeatts, Kendall Foster and Jalen Battles all walked to load the bases. Brett Squires also walked, bringing Yeatts in to score.
 
Howard took the lead with six runs in the bottom of the sixth. Lance Russell and Caleb Jacobs both singled. Parker Wayne followed with a double to score both runners. Seth Ochoa singled and Raul Ortega walked to load the bases. Wayne scored on a passed ball, and Diego Ramirez singled to score Ochoa and Ortega. Ramirez then moved to second on a passed ball and came around to score on a Howard error.
 
The Hawks scored two more runs in the seventh. Russell walked and move to second on a ground out by Jacobs. Wayne singled, and Ortega singled to score Russell and Wayne.
 
The Highlanders' final three runs came in the top of the eighth. Battles singled and Squires walked. Thomas Santos followed with a fielder's choice, putting Squires out at second. Cole Moore walked to load the bases. Martin singled to score Battles. Embry was hit by the pitch, bringing Santos in to score. Foster then walked to score Moore.
 
Howard rounded out the scoring with a run in the bottom of the eighth. Ben McClain was safe at first on an error, and Wilson Galvan was hit by the pitch. McClain then stole third and scored on another Highlander error.

McLennan 12, Alvin 0
McLennan 043 23 – 12 7 3
Alvin 000 00 – 0 0 3
Jase Embry and Ryan Bishop. Garrett Van Zijil, Ryan Sturgeon (4) and Kade Morris. WP: Embry; LP: Van Zijil. Leading hitters – McLennan: Jalen Battles (2-2, 2B, 4 RBI), Thomas Santos (1-2, HR, 3 RBI), Brooks Embry (2-3, RBI), and Ryan Bishop (1-2, RBI). Record: McLennan 6-2.

Howard 9, McLennan 5
McLennan 010 010 030 – 5 3 5
Howard     000 006 21x – 9 9 1
Mason Hilton, Trevor Munsch (6), Jack Driskell (6) and Vince Ippoliti. Jordan Mikel, Jeffrey Zack (5), Spencer Oliver (8), Noah Miller (8), David Bates (9) and Raul Ortega. WP: Zack; LP: Munsch. Leading hitters – McLennan: Brett Squires (0-2, RBI), Garrett Martin (2-4, RBI), Brooks Embry (0-2, RBI), Jordan Yeatts (0-3, RBI) and Kendall Foster (0-2, RBI); Howard: Raul Ortega (1-2, 2 RBI), Diego Ramirez (2-4, 2 RBI) and Parker Wayne (2-2, 2B, 2 RBI). Record: McLennan 6-3.