Above, Bruce Layton, president of the Lower Sussex Little League, recognizes the efforts of the tournament's volunteers during opening ceremonies. Below, security for the tournament is also done by volunteers. Photos by RUSLANA LAMBERT

Sitting at the information desk tucked next to one of the unused fields about an hour before each day’s first game, Kathie Payne hands each one of the about 30 outside volunteers a T-shirt and tells them where they will work for the night.

“It does (get a little hectic),” Payne said, “but I don’t let it get to me. I enjoy it. I love meeting people.”

Daily, according to District III officials, about 70 volunteers — including Payne — are needed to properly run the week-long international event. About 40 are District World Series Committee members or District staff, and the others come to assist from neighboring leagues and look to Payne each day for help.

But all of them have one thing in common. They might leave with a cheeseburger but not with any extra money in their pockets. They all work — sometimes more than 12 hours a day — for free.

“You don’t realize it until you put the numbers together,” said Martin Donovan, District III administrator, of the number of his fellow volunteers. “It’s mind boggling.”

Standing out as one of the daily volunteers on Millsboro Little League’s night to volunteer, because of her red T-shirt, Linda Mitchell worked the ever-busy concession-stand window on that second day of the tournament.

While accustomed to flipping burgers or dropping fries into vats of grease, Mitchell admitted that she was a little uncomfortable, and perhaps a bit overwhelmed, with the crowd and the heat early in the week.

“It’s hot in there,” Mitchell said, but “it’s fun. It’s neat to see the girls play and the friendships we’ve made are good.”

Less than 20 feet from Mitchell as she talked before taking a rare nightly break, Blaine Layton did the same. In between trips from Bear Trap, it’s easy for one of the week’s bus drivers to stand around and watch a game — if however briefly.

“It’s been fun,” said Layton, whose nephew, Lower Sussex Board President Bruce Layton, coerced him into working the tournament three years ago. “I enjoy doing it.”

Hopefully, he meant that. Because just after he muttered the word “enjoy,” David Hare, a District III staffer, approached Layton, telling him that a team needed its third trip of the day — this time back to Bear Trap.

Although Hare works white-shirted as a District III security and safety volunteer, he does anything that’s needed — including telling other volunteers when they’re needed.

“I’m a multi-tasker,” Hare said. “I’m doing whatever.”

That’s the case with most Series volunteers. Even the ones working the press box by typing or shooting photos for the press box — volunteers who don’t have spare time to talk, let alone eat — will do just about anything asked of them.

Back at the information table, likely the tournament’s youngest volunteer summed up just why they’re so dedicated.

“I love watching softball and helping out,” said Haley Littleton, Payne’s 13-year-old granddaughter, as well as a 50/50 raffle volunteer and schedule-updater. “It’s very fun to be out here.”