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The Mountaineer Lounge on East Mountain Avenue in South Williamsport is a gathering place for coaches and fans at the Little League World Series.
(John Beauge, for PennLive)
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT -- One of the Little League World Series team "uncles" probably put it best when asked about the Mountaineer Lounge.
"It is a place where the world comes together and instantly bonds," Gary Weaver said. "It is a place where there is a mix of people. It is indeed Little League friendly. "
The tavern on East Mountain Avenue in South Williamsport is is the only tavern within walking distance of the Little League complex so coaches often go there for lunch or to unwind after a game.
"It's a place to be," said J.K. Kolmansberger, a coach for the Red Land team.
"You never know who you are going to run into. It is a good place to get away."
The place is normally jammed after the last series game of the day like it was Wednesday with Red Land fans after the team's win over Pearland, Texas. Standing room only is common.
It can get noisy at night. A few years ago a contingent supporting a Texas team periodically would start singing "Rawhide" as they were finishing off pitchers of beer.
Owner Gloria Drum notes people come back year after year. She credits that to the friendliness of the staff and people talking about the Mountaineer.
This year, lunches have been really good, she said. The interpreter for the Mexican team always asks for cheeseburger soup, she said.
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"The atmosphere and the food -- you can't beat it," said Bernie Rolston, a Little League assistant district administrator from Long Island. He has been stopping at the Mountaineer the past two years. "The people are great," he said.
Another regular, Latin America Little League director Carlos Pagan, also cites the atmosphere. "People who work there are like family," he said. "We see a lot of people year to year."
He tells people from Latin America in town for the series to be sure to stop at the Mountaineer, he said.
A security volunteer who was working at International Grove where the teams stay, said one night before the games began he saw a couple of coaches walking north on Fairmont Avenue.
When he asked them where they were headed, the reply was church but he said he knew they were headed to the Mountaineer just down the street.
The tavern is closed most Sundays during the year but not the two Sundays during the Little League World Series. Business during the series is like the Christmas season for stores, Drum said.