Deep South Summer Collegiate League underway

The coronavirus obviously messed up a lot of things for a lot of people.

- the corona-virus obviously- messed up a lot of things... fo- a - lot of people.- and yet... in the midst of a- global pandemic... one thing- that didn't - get messed up... a brand new- baseball organization, in - south mississippi.- the deep south summer collegiat- league needed a - lot of things to go right... to- even get on the diamond, this - summer.

- but now that live baseball is - back on the diamond... there's- at least- one thing, that is going- right... in this crazy world.

- - nat ---> catcher's mit pop- nat ---> "that a baby.

Good take.

Get up gator!"

"in the words of field of dreams, if you build it they- will come."

"very much so.

A lot of appreciation for the game.

I've- had people all over all the way- from wisconsin to california to- south florida email me or call- me and just happy - that there's baseball."

Almost as if it never left... - baseball is here to stay for th- rest of the summer... at both - - - - pearl river community college..- and columbia high school... as - part of the 73- - game regular season schedule...- put together by - league founder colton caver.- "it's a lot bigger than what i thought it was going to be.

Whe- we first planned it, we - were thinking four teams. now - - - - we're double that at eight."

Overall 152 college players...- playing seven-inning- games... ranging from incoming- junior college freshman... to - n-c-double-a division i... who- all just went more than three - months... without live game - action.

- "hated it.

The worst.

The worst feeling of just having to sit - there at home and missing - it.

But like i said, i'm just - glad to be back.

Just glad i- - - - have that feeling again.

"yeah, i mean we're getting to play an- the major leagues aren't even - getting to play.- so i think that's special that- we get to go out here and do th- thing we love."

Even cleveland indians minor- league pitcher and southern - miss alum kirk mc-carty... the- skipper of mc-carty's - mashers... is trying his hand,- at coaching... until he's able- to- re-join the double-aa akron - rubberducks.- "as i talk to people in the indians organization and kind o- tell them what i'm- doing, i'm like well i'm- coaching this league that's - popped up and they're like what- - - - cause a lot of places across th- country aren't given this - opportunity.

I think just - with our environment down here- and just being more rural we ca- go and play.

And- big cities, they're still havin- to hunker down a little bit and- they're not getting to- see baseball like we are.

So- it's definitely a blessing and- it's a lot of fun."

Perhaps the biggest draw, of th- - - - deep south league... proximity.- "i was going to try to stay local, but thankfully this- league popped up."

"beats better going to canada for sure."

Wait... did he just say canada?- "a bunch of us were going to canada this summer, so this is - big step because we - don't have to travel very far - - - - and competition is very good."

Competition so good, it's worth- of crowning a champion... in- late july.- still plenty of time... to shak- off the rust.

- "rust?

Oh, i definitely had rus that first game.

First batter i- faced, beamed him.

I- was like ugh.

It's alright.

I - guess i've got to set the tempo- you know what i'm saying?

- "i've got to get better.

I'll tell you, gator berry was - rounding third the other day an- - - - i think i almost tripped him.

- and i was like after the game,- he fell down.

We had gotten - into a situation.

I was like- what happened?

He was like well- i was like was i a little close- to you?

And he was like yeah, i- think you were a little close t- me and you weren't- really doing anything so i- didn't really know if i was - going home or not.

So that's a- part of - my game i've got to work on."

- at the conclusion of the- championship series... the- league will wrap up no later...- than july