The Little League World Series is back to its old self, and more.

After no tournament in 2020 and no international clubs in 2021, both due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the youth baseball tournament has expanded to 20 teams from around the world that will play ball in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, starting Wednesday.

This year’s series marks the 75th anniversary of the first tournament, which has become a staple of life in central Pennsylvania, not to mention an economic boost for South Williamsport — where the Little League complex is actually housed — and Williamsport, just across the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. Together, the communities of about 35,000 people have been looking forward to the return of fans and families.

“It’s been a tough few years here. Last year we had a limited World Series, of course, but there’s nothing that can take the place of a full World Series,” Williamsport Mayor Derek Slaughter said. “It’s hard to really quantify, or even qualify, what that means.”

In 2021, only family and friends were allowed into the Little League complex’s two stadiums for games. Missing were the traditional big crowds in lawn chairs on the hill behind Lamade Stadium, which will be the site of the championship on Aug. 28.

Slaughter estimated the 2022 World Series will bring 85,000 people into his city, while he added that having the tournament back in full swing could have a $40 million to $50 million impact on the community.

The mayor expects this year’s attendance to exceed the success of pre-pandemic events. A number of factors play into that, including the return to a sense of normalcy and the excitement that comes with a benchmark like the 75th anniversary of the first tournament in 1947.

But a reorganization and expansion of the tournament field may also have an impact. The Little League World Series consists of 20 teams for the first time ever in 2022, after previously welcoming 16 teams.

Two new regions were introduced in the United States: the Metro Region including Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island, and the Mountain Region including Montana, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming. A pair of new regions were also introduced internationally, with Panama and Puerto Rico earning bids to this year’s tournament.

A Little League World Series spokesman said the decision to introduce four new regions was intended to reflect areas with the highest levels of Little League participation. More teams, however, means more parents and family members in attendance at a minimum. And in the case of the Metro Region, specifically, the Northeast now houses three World Series bids instead of two.

“I think (expansion) absolutely will increase the attendance,” Slaughter said, “just because of the geographical location of that Metro area. Clearly, it’s not that far away from Williamsport, so folks can easily drive here.”

If a second goal for expansion was to get more states represented in the Little League World Series, the newly formed Mountain Region quickly cashed in on that.

It’s hard to name a favorite in a double-elimination competition among players who aren’t even in high school, but it’s notable that Honolulu, the 2018 champion and third-place team last year, is back again, and once again coached by Gerald Oda.

Meanwhile, some of Slaughter’s expected 85,000 attendees have begun trickling into Williamsport. They’ll fill the seats in restaurants and other businesses around town throughout their stays.

“It’s hard to really put in words,” Slaughter said. “I feel fortunate that we’re able to host it here in Williamsport and that our businesses and industry will get some relief over these next two weeks. That is well earned, given what we have all gone through these past few years.”

Utah boy injured in dorm fall at LLWS

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) — A 12-year-old Little League World Series player from Utah was in critical condition Tuesday with what his family said was a head injury suffered when he fell off the top bunk of his bed at the dormitory complex.

Easton Oliverson is a pitcher and outfielder for the Snow Canyon team out of Santa Clara, Utah. The Little League World Series is set to begin Wednesday in Williamsport. His dad, Jace Oliverson, is an assistant coach on the team.

“I’ve always been a firm believer of prayer and the power that comes with it, and I feel like if people continue to rally around us that he will make a full recovery,” Oliverson told KSL-TV. “Right now it’s slow. They keep telling me it’s a cross-country race.”

Oliverson gave an update on his son’s condition through Facebook and said doctors told him his son had punctured an artery which caused bleeding on the brain and needed a piece of skull removed.

Oliverson and wife Nancy are with their son at the hospital.

The boy’s uncle has served as family spokesperson and told The Associated Press on Tuesday that Easton fell off the bed while he was sleeping and hit his head.

“We’re just at point now where he’s just in recovery,” Spencer Beck said in a phone interview. “The teammates heard him fall, thank goodness. When they got into surgery, the doctor talked to Jace and said had he not gotten into surgery but 30 minutes later, he would have been dead.”

Beck said Easton is still using a breathing tube.

Little League World Series officials released a statement Tuesday that said they spoke with the Oliverson family and “were pleased to hear that his medical team remains encouraged by his progress.”

The Santa Clara team was the first from Utah to make the Little League World Series. Snow Canyon is scheduled to play its first game Friday against the winner of teams from Massachusetts and Tennessee.

“As hard as it will be to not have Easton out there playing, they’re still from this community, this is still a historical moment for the state, for Little League and for our community,” Beck said. “We’re cheering them on and maybe they’ll have a little inspiration from Easton and they’ll go win it all. That would be awesome.”

The family has set up a Venmo account for the kid nicknamed “Tank” to help with bills and expenses.

“We want to make sure when Easton wakes up, he’s mentally there for us and can progress from there,” Beck said.

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