JEFF SHUCKERS READ

JEFF SHUCKERS READ

- on any normal april thursday...- we'd have a biloxi shuckers - final - score rolling in right about- now.- but this year... opening day at- m-g-m park has come and gone...- without so much as a national - anthem... or seventh inning - stretch.- first pitch between the shucker- and montgomery- biscuits was set for 6-35 - tonight... of course... that- being before- covid-19 took the entire sports- world hostage.- four weeks ago today... major - league baseball post-poned the- start of the regular season...- and with that... came a minor - league delay, as well.- despite on-going discussions- from league officials as to if- or when - the season will ever begin... i- doesn't feel like we're much- closer to a definitive answer..- than we were on - march 12th.

- obviously better safe than- sorry... but certainly a- different opening day vibe... - nonetheless.- - "normally i would've been probably at the - ball park early to do live shot- today or i would've been there- late last night getting - things ready, and instead - because i'm working from home i- didn't have to get out- of bed until about 8:20 this- morning to be logged onto my- computer by 9 o'clock,- so it's definitely different.

- opening day is always special,- and to not have it and not- have that excitement like you - normally feel when you're going- to the ball park is a little- bit different, and today made i- feel a little more real."

- - - now sometimes that line between- what's real and what's- fake... can be awfully razor- thin.

- in today's world... video game- simulations are the next- best thing, to the real deal...- and minor league baseball is al- in.

- the shuckers were one of severa- teams taking part in- thursday's "m-i-l-b at home opener"... in which opposing teams used m-l-b the show, on - the playstation 4... to dictate- a virtual - outcome... for the originally - - - - scheduled opening day - programming.- - "i have not stacked the deck.

W have not- made it to where the shuckers - are all 99's and the biscuits - are 25's.

Like it is as close - to a fair game as possible.

I - have no idea what's going to- happen.

We're just- going to roll it on out and see- what happens."

- - - - yeah... let's see what- happens... hey... if ya ain't - cheatin' ya ain't - tryin'... that's what my- roommate always says at least..- and let's run some highlights - for old time's sake... man i- miss- this part of the job.

- we pick it up bottom four...- biloxi down a run... and it's - cooper hummel getting the rally- going, with a single back up- the middle... he's hitting out- of the two-hole, to start the - season.

- that brings up three-hole hitte- c-j hinojosa... still - nobody out... and we're playing- m-l-b the show right... so- show me the money... dropping - the square button power - swing, out to deep left field..- and gone... hit it that far...- and - best buy gonna throw in the - extra controller for- free... 2-nothing shuckers- lead... and counting.

- now it's jake gatewood breaking- out the big stick, on - opening day... mistake pitch- right in the heart of the - zone... and he hits it to the - base of the wall, out there in- left-center... they're giving - gatewood a 53 on speed... but - that's plenty good enough to ge- to second standing up.- next batter... weston wilson- stepping in... yes he will- son...- turns one inside out, to the ga- in right-center... and this - pitch - off the dirt is gonna bounce ou- of the stadium... just- like i'm trying to bounce out o- the year 20-20... shuckers scor- all three runs, in the fourth.- just trying to hang on here, in- the top of the ninth..- protecting a 3-2 edge... clayto- - - - andrews pitching to greg jones,- with one out... snags the bunt- out of mid-air... and then- fires over to first, for the- game-winning double play... - biscuits trying to put the- squeeze on... but instead...- they- get squeezed.

- shuckers get the 20-20 campaign- off on the right foot...- 3-2 win on opening day over the- biscuits... and i might be- clinically insane... for readin- - - - video game highlights... on liv- television.

- - more baseball related news that- can be as real or as fake - as you want it to be... souther- miss baseball announcing its- - - - first-ever all-berry team...- consisting of 16 players during- scott berry's run as head coach- from 2010-2020... as- voted on by you the fans on - twitter.- starting with the bats... at- catcher chuckie robinson... - first - base dylan burdeaux... led the- n-c-double-a in hits as a - senior... second base matthew - guidry... just appeared on- sportscenter for scott van- pelt's senior night... third- base taylor braley... shortstop- b-a vollmuth... left- field gabe montenegro... center- field matt wallner... - u-s-m's home run king... and- right field... tyler koelling.- moving on... designated hitter- adam doleac... and at - the utility spot... four-year - starter tim lynch.- on the mound it's nick- sandlin... closer turned ace of- the - staff... kirk mc-carty... who - says he's growing a garden- during- quarantine... todd mc-innis...- walker powell... big mac- sunday's- james mc-mahon as middle- relief... and collin cargill...- at- closer.

- - okay taylor, let's head to- boston for the w-x-x-v play of- the day...- which goes to the only four - people allowed to break social- distancing protocol.- but someone must've been worrie- they were still at risk - of catching the virus... check- out these legends rocking some- new red sox swag.

- in case you don't recognize the- face behind the mask... that's- ted - williams... johnny peske... - bobby doerr... and dom- di-maggio... doing- their best to stay safe outside- fenway park.- - - -