Rescuer Honored Before Rays Game

A Clearwater Fire and Rescue first responder on the scene when pitcher Alex Cobb was hit in the head with a baseball was honored Wednesday before the Tampa Bay Rays game.

Steve Colbert, a firefighter and paramedic with the department since 1994, was given the Liberty Mutual Firemark Award For Heroism on the field before the Tampa Bay Rays played the Los Angeles Angels.

Colbert was working off-duty as a member of the St. Anthony's medical team when Cobb was hit by a line drive June 15. Colbert rushed to the mound to give aid to Cobb as lay motionless on the clay.

"What Steve did for Alex Cobb at the game that night is something he has done numerous times for the citizens of Clearwater during his 18 years as one of our leading paramedics," Ron Gemsheim, assistant chief for health and safety for Clearwater Fire and Rescue, said in a release. "We as a department are very proud, but not surprised, of Steve's actions that evening." 

For winning, Colbert also will be considered for a national honors that awards a $10,000 grant to the winner's department.