WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. -- The road to the Little League World Series didn’t begin with a ball and a bat. For me, it began with a notebook and a pen.

In January 2010, my editor and I came up with the idea of the Warner Robins American Little League page in The Sun News, The Telegraph’s publication for Houston and Peach counties, each Wednesday during the regular season.

Never did I imagine it would take me here to Williamsport, the birthplace of Little League baseball.

Where I’m staying is in downtown Williamsport on Millionaire’s Row. Williamsport once had the largest number of millionaires per capita of anywhere in the U.S.

Driving to the stadium in my little rental vehicle and seeing the Lamade and Volunteer fields, I was nearly as giddy as I’m sure the players were. Once I had my badge, complete with getting my picture taken and put on a laminated card with my assigned media seat in the press area, I felt like I had arrived.

I know the saying is always about Southern hospitality, but I have received a warm and fuzzy welcome in Pennsylvania as well.

Even an ESPN security guard was nice enough to show me the right way when I happened to need directions.

A museum employee and I talked in line for food and ended up having lunch together.

The other media, who are both local and from very far away, are friendly and helpful. One reporter has been covering the World Series since the first year. I can only imagine how much change he has seen in 65 years.

Being a member of the media, I went on a tour of International Grove, where the dormitories are. Even the parents of the players are not allowed to go into this well-secured area, which has security and badge readers at each of its gates.

In that area is a game room, a cafeteria, a swimming pool, an infirmary, a laundry room and of course the dorms where the players and coaches stay.

Everything at the whole complex is landscaped to perfection. Once the players are finished with the practice pitching field, there are staff who cover everything up with tarps in case of rain. There are hundreds of volunteers.

Some of the “uncles,” team hosts who help the players and coaches, have been shuttling players from fields to batting cages to dorms for decades.

I would be remiss if I didn’t talk about the hills and the stairs. My colleagues who have been before failed to mention the steep grade of hills to the media parking lot, up the hills, up the stairs. I must admit, this complex is better than a Stairmaster, with a much better view.

The first day I was huffing and puffing, but after three days, my legs are beginning to acclimate.

The atmosphere during game time is incredible. It is amazing to see how many people make the journey from halfway around the globe and beyond to watch their children play.

Locals seem to enjoy coming out to watch some baseball, but nothing was like the crowd Friday night when the Mid-Atlantic team from Keystone Little League in Pennsylvania played.

The record-setting crowd of 41,848 filled Lamade Stadium and the hill, and there also were people watching on the jumbo television in Volunteer Stadium just to be a part of the atmosphere.

The Southeast team from Warner Robins got a little R&R that night and watched the game with their parents for a little while. The coaches spent some time as well marveling at the crowd from a vantage point on the hill high above Lamade Stadium in right field.

That night, it was fun just to be a spectator and not have to worry about writing about the game -- enjoying some time with the people I came up here to write about, but who also have made me feel like part of their family.

I don’t know how long I will be up in the center of Little League, but to be able to have this experience is priceless.

Not only for the players, the parents, the coaches and people all around the world who are watching, but also for this woman who is still marveling at being here in Williamsport, writing down not only what I see on the baseball diamond but also about the town, the people I meet and the incredible 14 players from Warner Robins.

Angela Woolen is covering the Little League Baseball World Series in Williamsport, Pa. Contact her at 923-5650.