Despite weather challenges this season so far, the RailRiders drew a record crowd Tuesday night, thanks to a break in the rain and free ticket vouchers.

MOOSIC, Pa. — It’s always tough to play ball in the spring, but it’s been especially hard on the “RailRiders!” says one fan. 

Due to weather, about a third of their home games at PNC Field in Moosic have had to be rescheduled this season so far. 

“When you play baseball in April, it’s hit or miss. But we’ve had some really nice days, and then you have some days where it’s raining,” RailRiders General Manager and President Shawn Reilly says. 

“You can’t control what Mother Nature does; if it rains, it rains; if it doesn’t, it doesn’t,” says Wilkes University Student Caleb Burkhart. 

But for the Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders community service night, Mother Nature gave the team a break. 

“We were watching the weather for sure, but it looked like it was good enough for us to be able to get into the game and not get too wet,” says Kyle Martin of Scott Township.

It was a stroke of luck that the sky stayed dry, especially because the railriders gave out free ticket vouchers to some organizations and thousands of people for the game.

“We got some vouchers that were donated to the St. Joseph’s Center, and we brought some residents. I like the opportunity to be able the residents out in the community so they can experience different things and see different things,” says St. Joseph’s Center Residential Manager Shanika Davis. 

Because of the good weather and vouchers, the stadium was packed on a normal Tuesday night. 

“It’s a great crowd for Tuesday night, it might be one of our largest April crowds in 15, 20 years,” says Reilly. 

Shocking to many who were expecting just a normal RailRiders crowd.

“I’m actually really surprised. I didn’t think there was going to be traffic. I didn’t think it was going to be hard to park, but people brought their dogs. We’re excited for hot dogs,” says Hannah Martin of Scott Township.

“We were surprised about how many people were here when we pulled into the parking lot, but it’s great, it’s going to be a full crowd tonight,” says Wilkes University Student Ben Grater.