Brown has supported the Mallards for more than 10 years. Brown’s two sons — Mike and Chris Schwartz — play for Chamberlain. Mike has played for the team for the past 13 years, while Chris has played for Mallards for six years.

She always sits on the hill that lines around the Chamberlain baseball field. So it’s easy for her to observe the difference in the crowd size, which has increased after fans were couped up during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“One thing we’ve noticed is the crowds are much bigger this year,” Brown said. “I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that everybody was ready to get outside and see some action, after being in their homes for so long.”

Chamberlain is hosting the District 3B tournament, which comes after it recently hosted a teener tournament. The sport has served as an outlet for fans and helped them get back a sense of normalcy.

“It’s huge for Chamberlain because it gets everybody out,” Brown said. “It’s kind of fun to see the people you don’t always see at the baseball games come out and cheer. I think they will be coming back from now on and just to get out.”

It was noticeable on Saturday during the opening round of the tournament. It featured three games and there was a smattering of fans at Chamberlain’s Greig Field. Fans were lined along the fences and in the bleachers to support their favorite Pony Hills League team.

“Baseball is an all-American sport,” Brown said. “People couldn’t watch it professionally either. So just coming here to a ballpark and knowing that you are not inside — you are still outside — so you are a little more safer sitting outside than you are inside. I think that’s what has drawn a lot of the crowds.”

For Jan and Lyle Bruinsma, baseball has been their entertainment for years. The Stickney couple were watching their son, Kyle, play for the Plankinton Bankers on Saturday in Chamberlain.

They’ve had four sons play baseball and have watched Kyle play amateur baseball for 10 years. But this season was unlike any other for the Bruinsmas.

The Bankers were without a home field this season. On May 14, the Plankinton City Council announced its parks would remain closed this summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That forced the Bankers to play home games in Mount Vernon and Chamberlain.

But Jan and Lyle Bruinsma were usually always there supporting the Bankers.

“I felt bad for the team at first when they didn’t get to play on their home field,” Jan said. “But I understand you have to be careful, too. That’s what they were really trying to do. I know they were being extra careful, but it kind of put a damper on our lives. Because this is our entertainment.”

The tournament continues until Thursday as teams are looking to advance to the Class B state amateur tournament on Aug. 5-16 at Cadwell Park in Mitchell.