Garth Brooks brings fans to their feet _ at spring training game

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) _ Country music star Garth Brooks had fans on their feet and cheering Thursday, but it wasn't because of his singing. <br><br>Brooks, an Oklahoma native, singled during a spring

Friday, March 12th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) _ Country music star Garth Brooks had fans on their feet and cheering Thursday, but it wasn't because of his singing.

Brooks, an Oklahoma native, singled during a spring training game in his latest tryout for a professional baseball team. The hit boosted Brooks to 2-for-42 in spring training games for the San Diego Padres, New York Mets and Royals. He is 1-for-3 this spring.

``I was even more surprised than the pitcher,'' said Brooks, whose only previous hit was a single in 1999.

Fans cheered, and someone flipped the ball to the 42-year-old Brooks as he removed his helmet and left for a pinch runner. He was limping slightly, saying later that he had aggravated a hamstring he initially pulled last week.

Brooks is trying out for the Kansas City Royals, who lost 10-7 to the Seattle Mariners on Thursday.

Brooks came in as a pinch hitter against left-hander Mike Myers in the ninth inning, hitting a grounder to shortstop Adam Jones. The rookie covered some ground up the middle to field the ball, and first baseman Dave Hansen could not quite make the catch.