Southold teen throws out ceremonial first pitch before Mets game

Minutes before Mets star Noah Syndergaard took the hill at Citi Field Saturday night, a local hero pushed off the pitching rubber and fired a strike toward home plate.

Dylan Newman, a Southold teen who is battling Ewing’s sarcoma, was invited to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Mets’ victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. His dad Todd served as his catcher.

As part of the festivities, the 14-year-old baseball fan and his family, posed for pictures behind home plate and got to meet the players and see them up close.

Baseball is a huge part of his life. He not only collects memorabilia, but he plays the sport and was called up to play on Southold High School’s varsity team this past spring as a starting third-baseman and leadoff hitter.

He’s played in tournaments all over — Cooperstown, Rehoboth Beach, Del., and the Cal Ripken diamonds in Maryland. The Newman family has also hosted players from the North Fork Ospreys of the Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League.

But on Saturday, Dylan was the center of attention as he showed off his skills before turning the mound over to one of the best pitchers in the world.

The teen’s cancer treatments have inspired the community to rally around him in recent months.

Proceeds from Saturday’s fourth annual yard sale Kait’s Angels Yard Sale, will go, in part, to support Dylan’s ongoing treatment.

Josh Lobel photos and Andres Puerta video courtesy of the Newman family.