Blaine Gaskill, officer who stopped Maryland school shooter, throws first pitch for Nationals

By Adam Zielonka - The Washington Times - Thursday, April 5, 2018

The Washington Nationals brought a hero to the mound before the first of their 81 regular season home games of the season.

Blaine Gaskill, the police officer who confronted the school shooter at Great Mills High School in St. Marys County, Maryland, threw the first pitch at the Nationals’ home opener against the New York Mets on Thursday.

Gaskill, a St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s deputy first class, reached the shooter after he shot 16-year-old Jaelynn Willey. When Gaskill confronted him, the shooter used his gun to shoot himself in the head just as Gaskill tried to shoot the gun out of his hand.

Gaskill said he was “nervous but excited” to throw the pitch.

FIRST PITCH HERO: St. Mary’s Co. Sheriff’s Deputy/School Resource Officer Blaine Gaskill says he’s ready! “Pretty excited to be here,” he says. “Nervous but excited.” pic.twitter.com/OqrstYJeNX
— Richard Reeve (@abc7Richard) April 5, 2018