Scotty McCreery sang the national anthem Wednesday before Game 1 of baseball's World Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Texas Rangers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.

Performing the anthem to kick off the Fall Classic was a dream fulfilled for the Garner 18-year-old, the current "American Idol" champion, who said he loves baseball as much as he does singing.

It also was a chance for McCreery to connect with another local boy who has done well for himself - Texas Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton, once a star baseball player at Athens Drive High School in Raleigh.

McCreery, a longtime Boston Red Sox fan, says that he initially "didn't have a dog" in the matchup between the Rangers and the Cardinals. But ultimately, he decided to back the Rangers and Hamilton. "I've gotta root for the hometown boy," he said.

McCreery - who hopes to play baseball for the Garner High Trojans next spring - was less concerned with enjoying the baseball moments Wednesday than he was with drinking warm tea for his throat and making sure he didn't forget the words to the anthem.

His country-flavored version didn't miss a beat, though there was a brief tense moment at the beginning when his microphone didn't appear to be working.