It’s Jon-Jon’s night

CEDAR RAPIDS - With a tip of his cap, the best day of Jon Teig's baseball life hit its pinnacle.

That's not entirely true because every day at Veterans Memorial Stadium is a great day for the longtime Cedar Rapids Kernels batboy. From beginning to end.

'I love my job,” Teig said.

That the 26-year-old affectionately known as Jon-Jon got lusty applause from the crowd after throwing out a ceremonial first pitch was no big deal. That bobblehead dolls of him were distributed was kind of cool, but it didn't overwhelm him.

That he was autographing them on the concourse for fans was more a chore than anything.

'They look nice,” he said, before the Kernels' 7-5 loss to Bowling Green. 'They're very pretty.”

'When I get wrapped up in stuff, Jon says ‘Dad, it's just baseball,'” said Bob Teig. 'And to him, that's what this is. It's just baseball. He's very happy about this night, but it's not like it defines him, or it's going to his head or anything. It's just baseball. People get bobbleheads, they sign them, and this is his turn.”

Jon-Jon, who is autistic, has been a batboy for the Kernels for 15 years and has become a beloved figure at the ballpark. Interacting with players and coaches has done wonders for him.

'This is another example of things we thought we would never see,” Bob Teig said. 'When he was born, we didn't know if he would ever be able to tie his shoes or button his shirt. This job, socially, has really opened him up.”

Bob Teig had a lot to do with this night. The Kernels passed out bobbleheads of longtime clubhouse manager Ron 'Roady” Plein a couple of years ago, and Jon-Jon asked his dad about getting one of himself.

Bob Teig went to the Kernels, found out the cost, then asked Scheels sporting goods store at the Coral Ridge Mall in Coralville (where Jon works) if they would be interested in sponsoring. They were interested, and, voila.

A group of Scheels employees set up a tent outside the stadium and tailgated with Jon-Jon prior to the game. They all wore Kernels jersey T-shirts with 'BB” on the back to support their co-worker.

'Scheels has been so supportive,” Bob Teig said. 'He really likes them, and they really like him.”

This was mostly an ugly game for the Kernels (64-47, 23-18), who made three errors in the top of the first inning. A five-run sixth that included four doubles, broke a 2-2 tie and put Bowling Green over the top.

Starting pitcher Randy Rosario (1-3) took the loss, allowing nine hits and six runs (three earned) in 5 2/3 innings. Nick Gordon had three hits, including his first home run of the season for Cedar Rapids, which hosts the Hot Rods again Saturday at 5 p.m.

The Kernels did rally and load the bases with none out in the ninth but could not move any of the runners.

The parent Minnesota Twins announced Friday that right-handed pitcher Nick Anderson has joined the Kernels. He was signed as a free agent out of the independent Frontier League.

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