BILOXI, MS – In an announcement made today by Overtime Sports, American Star Field at MGM Park, the home of the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers will serve as the host venue for the Conference USA Baseball Championships in 2017 and 2018, with an option to host in 2019.
“We are very excited to bring our baseball championship to Biloxi,” said Conference USA Commissioner Judy MacLeod. “This will be a great destination and an outstanding facility to showcase C-USA baseball.”
Conference USA will field 12 teams in 2016, as the league begins its 21st season: Charlotte, FIU, Florida Atlantic, Louisiana Tech, Marshall, Middle Tennessee, Old Dominion, Rice, Southern Miss, UAB, UTSA and WKU. The Conference USA Championship will feature the top eight finishers in regular-season league play.
Since its first season in 1996, Conference USA has established itself as a national power. The conference has boasted six College World Series Appearances, 63 NCAA Appearances, three National Players of the Year and three National Freshmen of the Year.
“Bringing this Championship event and outstanding baseball conference to the Gulf Coast was an effort that saw so many people come together and I am extremely happy to be a part of that,” stated Tim Bennett, Overtime Sports President. “Our top priority now is to make sure this event is as successful as possible and we hope that the first three years are just the first of many more to come.”
American Star Field at MGM Park opened its gates for the first time on June 6 to a sold out crowd of 5,065 fans witnessing Minor League Baseball’s “Game of the Year,” a 5-4 victory by the Biloxi Shuckers over the Mobile BayBears in 14 innings. In 2016, MGM Park will play host to 27 college baseball games, numerous high school games and an exhibition game between the Shuckers and their parent club, the Milwaukee Brewers on April 2.
