Hero cop and Pat-Med grad Ryan Nash tosses first pitch at CitiField

The 2007 Patchogue-Medford graduate who became a national hero after ending a terror-inspired rampage in NYC in October got a special honor last week at CitiField.

Ryan Nash got to throw out the very first pitch of the 2018 Mets season against the Cardinals.

And veteran Long Island journalist Chris Vaccaro was on hand behind the plate to capture the throw (above).

Nash, who lives in Medford, is credited with defusing Sayfullo Saipov’s alleged mass killing of eight people on the West Side — with a bullet to the abdomen.

“Although I feel that we were just doing our job, like thousands of officers do every day, I understand the importance of yesterday’s events and the role we played and I am grateful for the recognition we have received,” he told the media soon after the shooting.

Patchogue-Medford superintendent Michael Hynes previously told GreaterPatchogue the entire Pat-Med community is “extremely proud and thankful of what Ryan has not only done for New York City but for our nation.”

“The fact that he was born, raised and educated here in Patchogue-Medford is a testament to the community and family that raised him to be the hero he is today,” Dr. Hynes said.

“We all owe a debt of gratitude to this courageous young man.”

Mets player and fellow Long Island native, Steven Matz of Stony Brook, was there to catch Nash’s ceremonial pitch.