[JAMES BORCHUCK | Times]

St. Petersburg -- Mohawk fans are mingling with others still in work clothes at the city's Rays party at Straub Park. The park was half-way full just after 5:00.

As the Rays were introduced as the AL East champs, the crowd rang their cowbells.

Joe Petrucelli had his hair cut in a mohawk just for the event, as did his 2-year-old son Hunter. "It's my home team. I was born and raised here. I love it."

Nearby Connie Oliver Barnes and her two grandsons munched on french fries and watched as the team took the stage.

Barnes was astounded by the crowd, which had swelled to hundreds.

"I've been going for about three years, back then there were a lot of empty seats," said Barnes.

"I'm trying to instill in them the love of baseball so they'll have that hometown team pride," Barnes said pointing to her grandsons, Daebeon and Donovon, both 6.

The crowd erupted when Carols Pena took the stage.

"We're going to play our hearts out for you," he screamed to the crowd.

-- Nicole Hutcheson, Times staff