WILLIAMSPORT — A Pennsylvania team is expected to draw big crowds to the state’s beloved Little League World Series as the 16-team double-elimination tournament opens on Thursday.

Red Land Little League of Lewisberry, Pa., near the state’s capital of Harrisburg, plays its first game Friday night against Midwest champion Missouri. Little League officials expect a record crowd of 41,000 fans set in 2011 to be threatened.

“It feels like Christmas time,” said Red Land coach Bret Wagner, a 1994 first round draft pick by the St. Louis Cardinals. “I’ve been telling everyone it’s pretty amazing when your kid trumps your greatest accomplishment and he’s only 12.”

Red Land is one of two powerful teams that have put up video-game like numbers throughout their all-star runs. Red Land has hit 80 home runs in 16 games and the Sweetwater Valley team from Bonita, California, has hit 84.

Some familiar teams with new players return on the American side of the tournament. Pearland, Texas, finished third in the country last year and also reached the 2010 U.S. semifinal. Cranston, Rhode Island reached the 1996 world final and Webb City played in the 2002 series.

“It’s really exciting,” said Cranston coach Larry Lepore, who also coached on its 1996 teams.

Taylors, South Carolina, is the first team from its state to play at the Series since 1950 and is trying to win the first Series game in state history. Bowling Green, Kentucky, and Portland, Oregon, round out the American field and both are making their debuts.