What a year it was for the Swift Current 57's on the field, as well as off of it.

With a second consecutive WMBL title under their belts and players breaking single-season franchise records, the 57's also achieved impressive numbers in the stands - especially in the playoffs.

Playoff attendance averages jumped from 370 people per game in 2016, to 656 per game this year. That ended with 1189 people in the stands for the championship-clinching Game 5 against the Edmonton Prospects.

Mike Mutlow, President of the 57's, said that final game attendance was a little hard to believe once it was announced.

"It couldn't have ended more perfectly. I wasn't necessarily expecting that many people - I was hoping for maybe 1000... But to get almost 1200 was just absolutely unbelievable."

Mutlow said that the 4-0 Game 5 win at Mitchell Field to hoist the Harry Hallis Memorial Trophy as WMBL Champs was a great way to showcase 57's baseball to new fans ahead of next season.

"That's going to be huge for us going forward," he said. "When I walked around (Mitchell Field in Game 5) just checking out to see how everybody was doing, and visiting with people, there were probably hundreds of new faces there - a couple hundred at least that I hadn't seen at a baseball game. Hopefully they keep enjoying 57's baseball, and I thank them for coming."

With an influx of fans this season, including an average increase of 196 fans per regular season home game (273 in 2016, to 469 in 2017), Mutlow explains the off-field work done by volunteers during games has helped create a good atmosphere for watching baseball.

"They all enjoy the club and the baseball, and they all enjoy volunteering," Mutlow said. "That's what it's all about - we're all 57's, and I just can't thank them enough. They're all absolutely fantastic, and the best people I've ever worked with."

The 57's playoff attendance average ranked them third out of eight teams, as the second smallest market ahead of only Weyburn.