Norwich – The Connecticut Tigers ranked fourth in all of minor league baseball in improved attendance for the 2011 baseball season, according to a website that tracked attendance for all leagues and level of professional baseball.

According to figures released today by Ballpark Digest, the Tigers’ attendance for 2011 improved by 20 percent, from an average of 1,485 last year in the short-season Class A minor league team’s first year in Norwich to 1,780 fans per game this year in 35 games at the Thomas J. Dodd Memorial Stadium.

Although the attendance average ranked 11th of 14 teams in the New York-Penn League, the 20 percent increase was by far the best in the league this year. Most New York-Penn League teams either saw slight increases or slight decreases in attendance, although the Lowell Spinners, the Boston Red Sox affiliate, dropped by 15 percent in per game attendance.

“That’s pretty impressive,” Norwich Baseball Stadium Authority Chairman Michael Jewell said. “I’m really happy for those guys.”

Andrew Weber, Tigers general manager, was not available for comment.

Brian Barkley, director of facilities and turf management, said the team is trying hard to improve attendance. The Tigers arrived in Norwich late in the spring of 2010, just two months before the season started.

Barkley said season ticket sales, corporate sales and sponsorships all increased this year over last year.

“We still have lofty goals,” Barkley said. “It’s continually growing.”

c.bessette@theday.com