STROUDSBURG -- Hundreds of baseball fans will be in the Poconos this week to watch the state championship playoffs at the Stroudsburg Little League fields.
Stroudsburg Little League was selected as this year's tournament host.
"It's a great honor," said Brian Powers, the state tournament coordinator.
Little league organizers say hosting the state championship tournament is even a bigger deal after the organization survived a tremendous loss last year. That's when police say their field house was set on fire.
But thanks to countless hours from volunteers, it took about a year to rebuild and get back up and running.
"It is tremendous. Every member of the league has been so proud of what we've been able to accomplish. And just about every member has helped out in one way or another," said Powers.
Little league organizers say by the end of the Pennsylvania State Championship, they expect more than 1,000 fans and players will visit the area providing an economic boost to the greater Stroudsburg area.
"It does bring more people into our area. It lets them get exposed to the beautiful Pocono Mountains and hopefully they'll want to come back to vacation sometime," said Powers.
"It's a very nice area. We've been here before for weddings at the Shawnee on the Delaware," said Mick Fleming of Elysburg.
Cheryl Slotterback came to watch her nephew play for South Columbia. She said her game plan is to stick around a little bit after the final inning is played.
"We'll stay here and eat lunch and we'll head back home," said Slotterback of Wilburton.
Playoff games will continue through the end of the week.
The winner of the state championship game will represent Pennsylvania in Connecticut in the Mid-Atlantic playoffs.
Then it's on to South Williamsport for the Little League World Series.