The Astros will host the ninth annual Houston Winter Invitational at Minute Maid Park this weekend (Jan. 29-31). The tournament will feature six NCAA Division II universities, squaring off in nine games across the three days.

The tournament field features the University of Central Missouri, which co-hosts the event with the Astros, Arkansas Tech, Arkansas-Fort Smith, St. Mary’s (TX), Lubbock Christian and Texas A&M-Kingsville.

The Astros will host a limited number of socially-distanced fans at the stadium over the weekend. Per State and Local health authorities and ballpark and event regulations, all fans, staff and vendors must wear masks at all times while on property, except when actively eating and drinking in their seats. All fans will be subject to a health screening that may include temperature checks upon arrival.

Central Missouri, which has co-hosted the tournament since its inception, is the alma-mater of Astros Owner and Chairman Jim Crane, who was a standout baseball player in his college career. He played for the Mules from 1973-76, posting a 21-8 record with a career 2.42 ERA. Crane still ranks atop the Central Missouri career leaderboards in complete games (23) and shutouts (7) and ranks third in strikeouts (215). He still holds the Mules single-game strikeout record of 18, which is also a DII College World Series record. Crane was inducted into the University of Central Missouri Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997, and earned an induction into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame last year.

Crane contributes to Central Missouri annually to provide athletic scholarships for Mules baseball. Additionally, Crane was the primary underwriter of a $1.2 million renovation in 1998 of the old Mules Field on the University of Central Missouri campus, which has since been renamed the James R. Crane Stadium. In 2016, Crane and the UCM Foundation upgraded the university’s baseball facility with a new synthetic turf playing surface in a continuing effort to make the Central Missouri baseball program one of the best in the country.

For more information on the tournament please visit Astros.com/Invitational.

2021 Houston Winter Invitational Schedule (times subject to change).

Friday, Jan. 29 Arkansas Tech vs. St. Mary’s 10 a.m.

Central Missouri vs. Lubbock Christian 2 p.m.

Texas A&M-Kingsville vs. Arkansas-Fort Smith 6 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 30 Arkansas-Fort Smith vs. Lubbock Christian 10 a.m.

Central Missouri vs. St. Mary’s 2 p.m.

Texas A&M-Kingsville vs. Arkansas Tech 6 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 31 Arkansas Tech vs. Lubbock Christian 10 a.m.

Central Missouri vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville 2 p.m.

St. Mary’s vs. Arkansas-Fort Smith 6 p.m.