Mets Hometown Hero Steven Matz Has Earned Glory, Dad Says

STONY BROOK, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- All eyes were expected to be on rookie Mets pitcher Steven Matz Tuesday night, when the first pitch was thrown for Game 4 of the National League Division Series.

As CBS2's Emily Smith reported, Matz, 24 – known by the Mets at Matzie – has an especially proud father who feels like he is the one taking the mound with butterflies and nerves.

"It feels pretty special, after all the years and the hard work that he put in and I put in, and to be where he is now, it's pretty amazing," said Ron Matz.

Photos: Mets Hammer Dodgers In Game 3

Ron Matz said he always knew his son would make it to the Major Leagues. As his son's lifelong coach, he saw something special.

"Just the way he threw the ball. I told my wife that," Ron Matz said. "She said, 'Ah, you're crazy.' I said, 'You will see.'"

And of course, there is visible excitement all throughout town. At the Se-Port Deli in Setauket, there's even a sandwich named Hometown Hero: The Steven Matz.

It's a chicken cutlet with melted jack and cheddar cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and pepper house dressing on a toasted garlic roll.

"That's a sandwich he put together and said, this sandwich, you know, he thinks it's a great combination, and you know what? It's a hit," said Brian Adwar of the Se-Port Deli.

But it was baseball that was most on his mind as the Mets take on the Los Angeles Dodgers for what could be a division series victory.

"They're are going do it tonight and that's it," said a fan at the deli.

Even more special, as Stony Brook, Long Islanders, the Matz family has been a family of Mets fans all along.

"My father is a huge Mets fan, and it's just special just to be 45 minutes to an hour away from the field," Ron Matz said.

Incidentally, Matz's family said his first professional offer was to play for the Dodgers – something he walked away from in hopes of becoming a New York Met.