Page 112 - South Mississippi Living - April, 2016

SPORTS & OUTDOORS play ball
HITTING A HOME RUN
Shuckers ready to repeat success in 2016
The bright lights will begin shining at MGM Park for the second season as the Biloxi Shuckers take the field April 2 through September 5. Although this will be the second season for
the Shuckers, it will be the first year they’ll be
able to play all their home games in their own stadium.
“We’re excited this year. We didn’t get a chance to have a full season at home last year. The 43 home games we were able to get in here were great, but we’ll be glad to play more games here,” said Chris Harris, the Shuckers’ director of broadcasting and media relations.
The Shuckers will kick off their 71 home games on
April 2 in an exhibition game with their parent team, the Milwaukee Brewers. On April 7 the Shuckers will host seven games in a row in regular season play to get the fan base fired up for the year.
“A full season in Biloxi gives us the chance to put on a full promotional schedule with fireworks at every home game on Saturday nights and special community nights such as military appreciation nights and a lot of fan giveaways
on Friday nights. It will also be great to have some home games in April where it will not be 110 degrees in the shade,” said Harris.
The Shuckers’ roster will be continuing to form until the regular season begins. The Milwaukee Brewers traded some of their good players at the end of the 2016 season, giving young players an opportunity to move up to the big leagues although a few fan favorites are expected to possibly return. One return hopeful is outfielder Brett Phillips who is now the number two prospect for the Brewers.
Harris is optimistic about the upcoming season, not only speaking from personal opinion but with statistics on his side. “What we know this year is that we will have a good team. Every major publication has the Brewers in the top 10,” he said referring to major league baseball’s Mileg statistical system.
As the Mississippi Gulf Coast baseball fans head to MGM Park to sing “Take me out to the Ballgame,” the Shuckers are stepping up to the mound to take a swing at being this year’s kings of the diamond.
112 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • April 2016
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story by Brian Lamar photos courtesy of Biloxi Shuckers Barrett McClain