Monday, July 22, 2002 | 8:27 a.m.
Player salaries, contract negotiations and rising ticket prices weren't discussed among the family and friends sitting in the Arroyo Grande Sports Complex grandstand Sunday afternoon.
The words "steroids" and "strike" never came up either. Hits and defensive plays were the only things these savvy fans cared about.
As the (Huntsville) Alabama Rockets hung on for a 7-6 victory over the Murrieta (Calif.) Muddogs to win the U.S. Specialty Sports Association 10-under Major Division World Series, they remained riveted on every play.
"This is baseball at its best -- kids playing from the heart, kids playing because they love the game," Rockets manager Joe Bob Whitt said. "The kids have been incredible. I'm as happy as they are. It's a great feeling to see the kids happy and the parents happy."
Trailing 7-2, the Muddogs rallied for four runs in the sixth and final inning, capped by Konner Armigo's two-run homer that had the Rockets wide-eyed and worried.
"I was scared," a group of relieved Rockets admitted in unison.
Experiencing the highs and lows for each team were the enthusiastic spectators who shook noisemakers while repeating chants such as, "Base hit, home run, we don't care how it's done, drive one (player name)!" and "Let's go defense! On your toes! Who wants it?"
After the Rockets finally got the third and final out of the troublesome sixth inning, the scene on the field mirrored the one in the stands. Congratulatory hugs and cheers all around.
"It's just awesome," said catcher/left fielder Seth Gordon, standing in the infield with the Alabama state flag wrapped around him. "It just means a lot. We'll never have the chance to do this again."
Gordon scored two runs while Casey Whitt had two RBIs and a double.
Alabama pitcher Coty Blanchard, an all-tournament selection who doubled in two runs and scored one, stood next to catcher Nick Tanielu, who had two hits and an RBI, both smiling broadly but saying little.
Perhaps Tanielu said it all as he walked among his teammates, both arms raised like a boxer who just went the distance and survived.
"I'm just happy," he said.
Blanchard and Tanielu did know how they wanted to celebrate.
"We want to swim," they blurted out in unison.
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