The winner at Little League World Series? ESPN

This just in--

The Sports Business Daily reports a healthy ratings increase for the Little League World Series, proving again that youth baseball is not only fun, but highly profitable.

The SBD notes that ESPN’s coverage through Monday averaged a 0.8 cable rating and 1.031 million viewers over 10 telecasts, "up 60.0 percent and 73.3 percent, respectively, from the '08 opening weekend, which averaged a 0.5 rating and 595,000 viewers for eight telecasts up against the Beijing Games."

ESPN2's Little League ratings are climbing even more rapidly, averaging a 0.8 cable rating and 1.091 million viewers for seven telecasts, ahead 100 percent and 120 percent, according to SBD.

The most important thing, though, is that the kids have fun.