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Niese gets local support for major league debut in Milwaukee

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By TIM McDONOUGH

mcdonough@crescent-news.com

MILWAUKEE -- Road trip.

Defiance turned out in full force Tuesday night at Miller Park in Milwaukee to see native son Jon Niese make his Major League Baseball pitching debut for the New York Mets against the Brewers.

Niese, starting in place of injured John Maine, lasted three-plus innings. He allowed five earned runs and seven hits to go with four walks and two strikeouts in a 6-5 win by the Mets.

Parents Jeff and Annette Niese were in attendance, as was his high school coach Tom Held. Several other family members and friends also made the trip from Defiance to Wisconsin to see the lefty fulfill his dream of playing in the big leagues after being drafted in the seventh round of the 2005 draft by the Mets out of Defiance High School.

Of course, his parents couldn't have been more proud.

"After a few tears and getting my heart to calm down, it was just total excitement to see Jon living the dream," stated Jeff. "We'd been hearing rumors for 10 days or so that he might get to pitch tonight, but it wasn't until 12:45 in the morning Saturday that he called with the news. Once we heard that, we knew we had to get plans together and get moving."

"It was so exciting ... it was a moment we've been waiting for, and when he threw that first pitch, it was grand," agreed Annette. "The support for this moment has been so awesome. People in Defiance have been so great, a lot of people were coming up to us here to talk about Jon and a lot of people made the trip. The support has been nice."

Jeff and Annette also got to be celebrities themselves when they were interviewed on television during the game.

"It was pretty cool, it really was," said Jeff about the interview. "We talked to them about the family going to the mall and getting New York Mets hats with the number 49 embroidered on them. They thought that was a pretty good story, and we enjoyed talking about it."

It was just three short years ago when Niese was pitching for Held at Defiance High School. To be able to make the five-hour drive and see Niese pitch was also a thrill for the DHS mentor.

"What a great night. Words can't describe what it was like for me to see him pitch out there," said Held. "There were so many family and friends here tonight and it really felt like a piece of Defiance was here to support him and his family. Not only did family and friends get the chance to see Jon make his debut, but he did it at an important time of the year when his team is in a pennant race. I couldn't be prouder of Jon, it was great to see him out there."

The experience was pretty surreal for three of Niese's high school friends, including two who played baseball with him at DHS.

"I wasn't sure that Jon would get the call this year and I know I couldn't be happier for him," said friend Brad Palmer. "I think the best thing for me was last night (Monday night) when Jon and I were organizing the tickets and we realized we had to get 47 tickets for his family and friends. When he said to me that there were going to be 47 people here that he was really close to, and that was the most important thing, I got a little choked up."

High school teammates Graham Wagner and Julian Bostelman were more than happy to make the trip to see a guy that most days is just Jon Niese, but on Tuesday was Jon Niese New York Met.

Said Wagner: "It's great to see him doing what he loves and getting to live that dream, especially because he's worked so hard to get here. Everyone of us that came were so excited on the way up here, and when we got a half an hour away from Milwaukee I think it started to set in that he was going to be pitching in the big leagues. To see his name up there on the big board ... you know you watch sports your whole life, you watch (ESPN) "Sportscenter," but to see his name up there it really hit home for me."

Bostelman agreed.

"It's indescribable what I'm thinking and feeling, I think I had goose bumps the whole time," said Bostelman. "When the announcer said his name and he walked out to the mound, I think I said to myself, 'This is really real.' It's so amazing and it really couldn't happen to a better guy.

"I think what was great for all of us was that he wanted us here and that he got us tickets so we could be here," concluded Bostelman. "His family was a big help in all of us getting here, too, and I don't think any of us can thank Jon and his family enough for something I know I won't ever forget for the rest of my life."