a very dynamic duo

Biloxi Shuckers pitchers get their chance this week to do what others in the Southern League have not. That is, put the clamps on the Mississippi Braves’ Drew Waters and Cristian Pache, the young Atlanta prospects who have been a major force at the top of the M-Braves’ lineup. Waters is leading the league in hits, runs, doubles and triples. Pache is second in hits and triples and third in doubles. They rank 4-5 in the league in slugging. Waters is batting .313, third in the SL, with three homers, 18 RBIs and seven steals. Pache is at .296, sixth in the loop, with four homers, 26 RBIs and six bags. The M-Braves’ 25-28 record is largely indicative of the struggles of the rest of the lineup. Waters, 20, jumped a level in the Braves’ system this year to tackle Double-A, and he has certainly met the challenge. Pache got a taste of Double-A last summer at age 19. He is regarded as one of the best defensive outfielders in all of the minor leagues. The Shuckers come to Pearl today at 31-24, second in the SL South with two weeks left in the first half. Oddly enough, this five-game series at Trustmark Park is the first of the season between the in-state and division rivals. Biloxi’s staff features several highly rated Brewers pitching prospects.