FRESNO, Calif. — The city — no, the Valley — was theirs.

The national champion Fresno State Bulldogs were embraced Thursday night by thousands who lined a parade route and filled Beiden Field to cheer the baseball team bringing the College World Series trophy home from Omaha. A team that many sports pundits didn't give a chance a month ago found itself receiving laurels from politicians, a key to the city from Fresno Mayor Alan Autry and unabashed love from fans.

"You won a championship for all the underdogs of the world," Autry told the team, which repeatedly fought off elimination against elite teams from across the country.

It was standing-room-only inside Beiden, which erupted into cheers when the team, dubbed the "Wonderdogs," entered.

Relief pitcher Brandon Burke walked up with his right finger extended designating No. 1 high in the air.

Relief pitcher Kris Tomlinson received one of the biggest cheers when he took the field, then doffed his cap to display his unique "Skullet" haircut (shaved on top and long on back), which has become one of the lighter stories of the championship run.

Shortstop Danny Munoz strolled out with a wide grin, wearing sunglasses.

Left fielder Steve Susdorf, the Bulldogs' best hitter throughout the season, received perhaps the biggest ovation.

Steve Detwiler, who drove in all six of the Bulldogs' runs on Wednesday, drew a huge cheer when he greeted his teammates and then gave his signature yell with fists clenched at his sides.

More than a few women chanted Detwiler's name.

Third baseman Tommy Mendonca, who excelled in his defensive skills throughout the series, had female fans of his own.

"Mendonca me. I'm single," read a florescent sign.

Pitcher Justin Wilson — who allowed just one run Wednesday night — led the parade route from the basket of a Fresno Fire Department ladder truck. Both he and Fresno State mascot Timeout extended index fingers signaling the team was No. 1 — and they were right.

Fans along the parade route waved, chanted "Fresno State," took pictures on cell phones and waved Fresno State flags as they greeted the players and team staff riding on fire trucks and in golf carts.

Said Anthony Summers, 18, of Selma: "I've never been a part of something like this, not even a parade." He watched players pass by on Barstow with a red Bulldog paw on his right cheek, a black dog paw on his left cheek and a red dog collar on his neck.

Throughout the mile-long route and when they walked onto the field, the players were greeted with roars of "Fresno State, Fresno State."

Despite crowd control efforts by law enforcement, many fans broke through to shake the hands of players and Bulldog coach Mike Batesole.

The constant refrain from the crowd, unofficially estimated at 5,000 along the parade route and 6,500 at Beiden Field was "You're No. 1" and "We love you."

Dozens of people waved copies of Thursday's front page of The Fresno Bee that reported the championship win.

Some fans waited for hours to salute their team, lining up at Beiden's locked gates at about 2 p.m. Several said they wanted to secure seats close to tables set up for Bulldog players to sign autographs.

"You never know if there's going to be a long line," said Bria Ledesma, a schoolteacher off for the summer. "You don't know how crazy people are going to be."

Ledesma, her husband, Anthony, and her mother, Brenda York, were wearing T-shirts summing up the Bulldogs' post-season exploits: "Underdogs to Wonderdogs."

By 3:30 p.m., fans started filling the parade route on Barstow Avenue east of Cedar Avenue. Among those staking out advantageous positions — close to the street, on the grass and in the shade—were Sarah Curley of Coarsegold. With her were her three sons, one daughter and a niece, all between the ages of 3 and 11.

"We're here to greet the team and congratulate them and tell them what a great job they did," Curley said. "It was just miracle after miracle. And they're so humble."

About the same time, Fred Broad of Fresno, an executive with the Sequoia Council of the Boy Scouts of America, walked across Bulldog Lane on his way toward Beiden Field.

"It's great to see the local boys do well," said Broad, who was wearing a T-shirt that said "Fresno State Baseball."

Broad discussed a less flattering side of the current mania for the Bulldogs.

"You know, you could come over here in the middle of the season and there were 34 fans in the stand," Broad said. "Now everyone is a fan."

Broad acknowledged that he usually attends only a couple of games a season.

By 5 p.m., the sidewalks along Barstow Avenue east of Cedar Avenue were filled with fans, some already settled, others searching for a place to sit. Red T-shirts and red caps were standard apparel.

Children were everywhere. Martin Solis of Fresno, his daughter Alessandra, 10, and his son Andreas, 7, were camped just beyond the right field fence of Bulldog Diamond where the Fresno State softball team plays.

Andreas clutched a photo of his hero, Detwiler. he knew exactly what he'd tell Detwiler should the two meet at the autograph table: "Great job."