Perry baseball player Jeremy Sprague helps teens from burning car

Gilbert Perry catcher Jeremy Sprague was given his team's Courage Award this week for something he didn't think was that big of a deal.

He was riding in a truck with his friend Matthew Carrillo on Friday night on their way to pick up some guitars at a friend's house, when they went straight into emergency help mode.

They noticed a car burning in a neighborhood north of Hamilton High School in Chandler. Sprague quickly called 911 for medical help as four teens escaped the burning car.

Sprague and Carrillo, also a Perry student, made sure the four teens moved away from the car as more flames erupted, before paramedics arrived. Another woman who saw the fire helped as well, Sprague said.

One of the four teens in the burning car suffered bad burns around his feet, Sprague said. Others suffered smoke inhalation.

"We asked what happened, and they had fireworks," Sprague said.

Chandler police said there was no report of the incident.

The whole car was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived.

Perry coach Damien Tippett said Sprague was given the team's Character Award that he gives out weekly.

"I had him tell the entire program the story, because he didn't tell anybody about it on his own," Tippett said. "We found out because another player posted about it on social media.

"When Jeremy told us the entire story, every player and coach had their jaw on the floor. I was a little choked up, and to be honest, because I was just so proud of this kid I have watched grow through the years, it was tough to transition from that story to the day's practice plan.

"I told the kids that we work really hard to develop better people in our program, and we always preach being the best person you can be on the field and in the classroom, and that same guy needs to show up in the community, and what Jeremy did went above and beyond our expectations."

Sprague said that his friends Carrillo and Tyler Berger also should be commended. Berger, who was riding with Carrillo and Sprague, also calmed the teens down, Sprague said.

"We were walking them away from the fire," Carrillo said. "They were still close. We saw one of the kids had like third-degree burns and told the (911) operated we needed medical to come there. They came pretty fast."

Tippett wasn't surprised that Sprague would want to stop to help.

"Jeremy is the kind of young man who works as hard as anyone and is always willing to help another person out," Tippett said. "He is the definition of a selfless human being, and we hope all of our players see his actions and follow his lead."

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert.

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