Sports

Las Vegas Girl Set to Throw Out First Pitch at World Series

- by University Journal Staff

Hailey Dawson, a 7-year-old baseball fan from Las Vegas, will throw out the first pitch with her prosthetic hand for game four of the World Series tonight.

Dawson was born without a pectoral muscle in her right arm due to a condition known as Poland syndrome. The lack of blood flow due to the missing muscle in her arm led to her right hand not fully forming during development. Dawson is missing three fingers, and her thumb and pinky finger are underdeveloped.

Doctors told Dawson’s parents when she was four that prosthetics would be too expensive for a child who would quickly grow out of them, leaving Dawson unable to ride a bike or swing a baseball bat.

That is when the mechanical engineering department at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, stepped in. Over the course of a year and a half they were able to design a prosthetic hand for Dawson and 3D print it, making it a more cost effective prosthetic for the growing girl.

After being invited to throw out the first pitch at the Baltimore Orioles and then Las Vegas native Bryson Harper’s Washington Nationals, Bleacher Report tweeted a video detailing Dawson’s desire to throw a first pitch at every MLB stadium.

Teams across baseball responded to the call, offering for Dawson to throw out a first pitch at their ballpark.

The day after her story spread on social media, MLB’s head office took notice and called Dawson’s mom the Review Journal reports.

“We love to recognize fans who are close to the sport and have a love of the sport who are doing inspirational things,” MLB Vice President of Business Public Relations Matt Bourne told the Review Journal. “This story just spoke to us and spoke to the teams.”

Dawson seems like she is already having a great time at Minute Maid Park before the game, sporting her special World Series hand and getting new shoes from Astros pitcher Justin Verlander.

The fourth game of the World Series will start at 6:20pm MST on FOX or on MLB TV. The Astros currently lead the Series 2-1.

To see where Dawson’s hand takes her next follow her on Instagram and Twitter at @haileys_hand.

Story By
Haleigh Clemens
sports@suunews.net

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