SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT -- This year's Little League World Series in Lycoming County has seen some of its biggest crowds. Officials say so far attendance is up by more than 25,000 people over last year
Large crowds navigate their way through the Little League Complex in South Williamsport. Little league officials say attendance has been high at all of the games. So far this year, officials estimate there have been 25,000 more people than last year.
"On Monday we had one of our best Mondays ever. We had a lot of people coming out and a lot of games," Brian McClintock said.
Little League's Media Relations Director Brian McClintock believes the increase in attendance is due to what he calls 'near-perfect weather'.
"You can't really beat a free day of baseball. Especially in these earlier weekends when we had 4-5 games going on, you could bounce between the stadiums and enjoy a lot of baseball," McClintock said.
The increase in crowds keeps bus drivers busy dropping baseball fans off throughout the day. Employees at the gift shop say there have been long lines every day. The folks selling food agree.
"It's probably about the second most attendance in the four years I've been here," Dennis Moore said.
With more people watching the games, that means more people going through security. Little league officials recommend giving yourself extra time to get here.
Security guard Kenneth Ruch believes the increase in attendance is because of the team from Clinton County playing in the Little League World Series two years ago.
"I think a lot of local people who never been here to this complex saw what it's like and they're coming back. Because since then you see the crowds getting bigger and bigger," Ruch said.
Little league officials say the biggest crowds are yet to come. They expect even higher numbers this weekend for the championship games.