Former usher takes seat on Flyers' pitching staff

At most minor league ballparks, an usher's duties consist of taking your ticket and kindly showing you to your seat.

But at Alexian Field on Monday night, a former ballpark usher threw four shutout innings for the Schaumburg Flyers.

Mike Weida, who worked in fan relations for the Flyers while he attended college, went from ticket-taker to minor league ace in the Flyers' game against the first-place Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks.

Although Schaumburg fell to the RedHawks 6-4, Weida kept the Flyers in the game with a brilliant performance out of the bullpen. The right-hander from Mount Prospect did not allow a hit in four innings of work while walking two and striking out two.

While playing baseball for Hersey High School, Weida started his off-field relationship with the Flyers in 2002 as an usher.

"My mom saw that there was a minor league baseball team in town, so we kept a close eye on the Flyers since they started up in 1999," Wieda said. "I came to a couple games and talked to some front office people, bugged them with baseball stories, and then applied the following season for an usher position."

He continued with the Flyers for five seasons while chasing his on-field dreams at Oakton Community College and Chicago State University. He was signed briefly in 2007 by Flyers manager Steve Maddock, but was released five days later. He was traveling through Europe with a U.S. invitational team shortly before receiving a call from Maddock on Saturday.

Weida entered the game on Monday night for the Flyers in the sixth inning, completing the game without allowing a hit, a feat that surprised even his manager.

"This being his first game and being that he hadn't pitched in awhile, he did a great job," Maddock says. "He made good pitches at crucial times, worked quick and the guys felt comfortable playing behind him."

Although nearly 50 of his friends and family were in attendance to watch his performance, Weida wishes one special person could have been there to see it. His mother passed away in February of pancreatic cancer.

"She always believed in me and wanted me to go as far as I could," Weida said. "When I got that call (from Maddock), I knew it was her helping me out. When I crossed that foul line and made it to the mound, I took a glimpse and I knew my mom was there spiritually with me. It was unbelievable."

Wieda will stay with the Flyers as they depart on an 8-game road trip. His family and friends will get a chance to see him pitch at home when the Flyers return on Aug. 29th.