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Pocono News Section
Big Changes Coming to LLWS
Big Changes Coming to LLWS - Monday, June 23, 2008 at 5:44PM EST
Reported by: Jeremy Deebel
Monday, Jun 23, 2008 @ 05:44pm EST
South Williamsport, Lycoming County-
Baseball season is getting into full swing for both pro's and amateurs all around the country. And that means the Little League World Series is right around the corner.
Plenty of improvements are underway to make the experience better than ever. Take a drive down route 15 in South Williamsport and you'll quickly realize the landscape is changing. Gone are the former King's Inn and Morrone's Restaurant- demolished to allow more free parking for the games.
A 14,000 sq. ft. addition is also currently in the works. It will provide much needed space at the cramped administration building. "We're constantly trying to better serve our constituents in our program and the way we do that is by adding staff and refining the various departments and we've been able to do that in the last several years," explained Little League Marketing Director Christopher Downs.
The new addition will also house a TV studio for game broadcasts, and an observation deck with a panoramic view of the stadium. And of course there's the ever-evolving Little League Museum. It's a local legacy and a must-see for visitors.
Brendan Schuster and his wife drove here from Pittsburgh. Schuster said, "(I’m) just really impressed with the fields and stuff, how well they maintain them. The gift shop, the Hall of Fame, I mean this is great for any age."
Marie Cummings brought her nieces, both softball players themselves, to check out the complex. Six-year-old Keely Reese noted, "They combined softball and baseball and I think that's really cool that they can do that."
Cummings explained, "It's a wonderful experience and a great family experience."
"We don't have turnstiles, we don't have tickets. You can come in, grab a good seat in the stadium or out here on the hillside terrace, and enjoy a beautiful afternoon watching some of the best baseball players in the world," Downs added.
Work will continue here until the beginning of this year's Little League World Series in August. Then they'll take a temporary break until the tournament wraps up before continuing on. The entire project is expected to be completed before the 2009 World Series.
Little League International is also holding week-long summer baseball camps now through the end of July. You can register online or in person at the administration building in South Williamsport.
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