Day 4 in Dixie: entering Ole Miss, Biloxi and the Shuckers!!!!!

We crossed the border from Alabama into Mississippi on Route 10, right along the Gulf pretty much.

Our destination was Biloxi, which is on a long sort of peninsula that runs parallel to the mainland.  Two things brought us here:
-this was where Erica (Maddy's mom) was born, when her dad was serving at Keesler Air Force Base.
-this is home of the baseball team with perhaps the single best name ever:  the Biloxi Shuckers!

Much of Biloxi got pretty much completely wiped out by hurricane Katrina in 2005, and a lot has been built back but there are plenty of empty lots along the beach.  Some things are now on stilts (see a photo below).

We took an extended feet-up in the hotel, because we were hot, then headed out for the game (walking the mile along the beach to it, just to earn it).  The Shuckers were playing the Mobile Bay Bears again (we had just seen them in Mobile the night before!)

The Shuckers play in MGM Park, which is the second nicest stadium we've seen so far (to Montgomery).  The mascots did lots of goofy things, which kept us entertained.

We needed it, because it was a serious pitcher's duel.  0 - 0 going into the 9th.  Both Matt Koch for the Bay Bears (from Cherokee Indiana) and Jorge Ortega (Venezuela) threw gems, and not a whole lot of hitting was going on.  My favorite guy, Evan Marzilli of the Bay Bears (remember that name, he'll be good, from Fall River MA) didn't have a great game, but we DID catch a foul ball from him.

With 2 outs in the top of the 9th, the Bay Bear catcher Michael Perez (Puerto Rico) went deep over the left field wall, then the Bay Bear closer Jimmy Sherfy (Camarillo CA - nice guy but the name...) struck out the side in the bottom of the 9th and the game was over.  1 - 0 loss for the Shuckers.  We're 1 - 2 on our trip so far (that is, the home teams are).

I have to say that, besides not hitting a hell of a lot, the Shuckers were lax on the base paths.  Ortega laid down a sacrifice bunt, then basically didn't run at all and was doubled up.  The Shucker catcher, Jacob Nottingham (Redlands CA) dogged it getting back to second on a fly out by Victor Roache (Tampa FL) and was doubled up too.  A guy in front of us grumbled a lot (as well as grumbling because we caught the foul ball he wanted).  All-in-all, both of us are pretty solidly Montgomery Biscuits fans at this point.  Those guys had some pizzaz.

We couldn't get into Keesler, so satisfied ourselves with a photo at the gate, then headed out of town while listening to Delta blues.  Heading north to Hattiesburg, Jackson and Vicksburg.  You'll hear about that tomorrow!
 

H & M again facing death on the highway on the Mississippi border.  We had to turn around to come back to get this sign, so please appreciate it!

A motel right on the beach.  Note that it's on stilts!

Maddy in the jaws of the shark in that motel on the beach (not our motel).

Maddy and Harry and the Gulf of Mexico.

Keg urinals in a Biloxi restaurant.  Those guys sure can party!

M and H outside MGM Park before the game.  Note Shucker mascot behind them.

Maddy at MGM Park before the game.

The Bear mascot.  We were sitting right between home plate and the 3rd base dugout.  You always can get great seats at these parks!

Our baseball hat collection thus far.  Two Shucker hats (blue, pink) and a Montgomery Biscuits hat.

Maddy outside the AFB.