The Shuckers season is over, but Irma may be sending playoff games to MGM Park this weekend.
The Southern League has announced that the potential fourth and fifth games of the best-of-five Southern League Division Series, set for Saturday and Sunday between Jacksonville and Pensacola, will be relocated to Biloxi’s MGM Park. The site change was caused by Hurricane Irma’s threat to Florida.
Each game will begin at 1:05 p.m. with $10 general admission tickets available at the MGM Park box office. All net ticket proceeds will be donated to hurricane relief efforts. The Biloxi Shuckers also will be collecting supplies at the potential games this weekend and throughout next week at the Shuckers front office.
“First and foremost our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by Hurricane Harvey and those in the path of Irma,” Shuckers General Manager Chuck Arnold said. “We are honored that the Southern League and the Pensacola and Jacksonville organizations have chosen Biloxi and MGM Park to host these games. We have a great staff committed to serving, so we are happy to assist the Southern League as well as use this potential opportunity to support hurricane relief efforts.”
The two potential games would follow the first three games of the series, currently taking place in Blue Wahoos Stadium in Pensacola through Friday. If either team wins the first three games of the best-of-five, the final two games in Biloxi will not be played.
The 2017 BC Powder Southern League Championship Series has been canceled. Each of the winners of the best-of-five North and South Division Series will be declared Co-Champions for the 2017 Southern League season.
“With an abundance of caution, I have made the hard decision to cancel our championship series,” League President Lori Webb said. “Due to concerns for our players’ safety, coupled with potential shortages of gas, hotel rooms and other items that may hinder the many evacuees leaving the affected area, it seemed like the right thing to do. As this storm passes through, I hope for the best to all those in harm’s way.”
See more about the Biloxi Shuckers
The latest on Irma and Co.
Irma, which forecasters are calling the strongest storm in recorded history, continues to track toward the Florida peninsula, and the National Weather Service continues to watch two other storms: Katia, which is gaining strength in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico and threatening the coast of Mexico; and Jose, which at this time is not forecast to enter the Gulf of Mexico.
Irma, the weather service said this morning, poses no threat to the Mississippi Gulf Coast at this time. In fact, the storm is expected to turn to the northwest and then north-northwest sometime late Saturday into Sunday.
See the National Hurricane Center tracking
See the local briefing on Irma and Co.
News and notes
Council meetings: The Biloxi City Council met twice on Tuesday for a budget workshop and its regular meeting at 6 p.m. To see images from the meetings, click here.
Podcasting: This week’s City Desk podcast focuses on Irma preparations, municipal budget talks, and upcoming events, including the Hank Williams Sr. birthday party coming up at the Saenger and this weekend’s Biloxi Seafood Festival. To listen pt the program, recorded this morning at City Hall, click here.
Keesler and drones: Keesler Air Force Base is holding a town hall meeting Thursday, Sept. 14 at the Biloxi Visitors Center to discuss drones and their impact near the base. To see the notice issued by the 81st Training Wing Public Affairs office, click here.
