Alana's big ballpark gig

NORFOLK

The hardest part, 8-year-old Alana Springsteen says, is the "free." That's the piece of the National Anthem that gives you the most trouble, she explained Tuesday at her Virginia Beach home as she prepared for the biggest gig of her career - so far.

She wasn't nervous, even though in four hours, she would be belting out America's most iconic song in front of thousands at a Tides baseball game at Norfolk's Harbor Park.

Why would she need to sweat? This is the girl who taught herself to play piano by age 3. She is learning the guitar, too. So why worry?

Alana spent the day not singing the anthem until she was hoarse but instead going to Panera Bread with her grandfather, visiting from Illinois, and then heading to the park. "Which wasn't a good idea," Alana said, "because it was blazing out."

Alana is polite and not shy, even with adult strangers. She will, if you ask, play "Kum Ba Ya" on the piano or "How Great Thou Art" on her acoustic guitar, her little fingers done up in red polish sliding up and down the strings.

"We should find out if we're related to Bruce," Alana's mom joked in the living room as the family watched videos of her audition tape.

Despite her talent and the big gig, Alana in many ways is a normal pre-tween and quite the little lady. She likes to draw horses and watch "The Incredibles." Given the choice between playing outside and staying in, Alana would prefer to sing or play guitar or piano. Her favorite food is not cereal or chicken fingers or cheeseburgers. She likes steak.

The audition was t wo months ago, and now, here we are. Alana has rehearsed enough; she doesn't need to now. She has even taken into account the feedback created by the sound bouncing all over the park: She practiced pushing through while her mom sang the anthem a few seconds behind her. She's got this.

At 5:15, she changes into the outfit she and her mom picked out from Justice: red capri pants with rhinestones down the side, a white tank top and a blue shawl that ties in the front, studded to read "USA" on the back. She added some rhinestone stud earrings. Why shouldn't she sparkle? It's her day, and about 70 people from her church, family and neighborhood will be in the stands.

In the minivan filled with her grandparents, parents and 6-year-old brother Jayden, her nerves begin to show. Alana rests her head in her palm, staring out the window as others converse and Jayden sings the anthem. She lies in her mother's lap. More staring out the window. "Mom, you're going to need to fix my hair," she says softly.

At the park, showtime. Nervous or not, whenever a camera is pointed her way, she collects herself, poses and smiles - a real, authentic "on" smile you have to see to believe and be wooed by. On the field, with the big lights bearing down, she looks to her brother and blows him a kiss. She waves at her family, all holding signs bearing her name.

OK, the song. Whew. She walks out, earplugs in so she doesn't hear herself, and starts up. She's nailing it. Her left leg is ticking, rocking back and forth. She's doing great.

And here it comes.

"... o'er the land of the free..." Awesome.

She struts off, smiling, as the crowd cheers and applauds. It was perfect.

The guys in the dugout clap. "That was great," one player says. "Wonder if she's related to Bruce?"

Malcolm Venable, (757) 446-2662, malcolm.venable@pilotonline.com