Las Vegas Aviators’ opening pitch to be thrown by 9-year-old girl

Las Vegas Review-Journal

6 years ago

Hailey Dawson, who has a 3-D prosthetic hand, works on her delivery on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017, at Anthem Hills Parks in Henderson. (Joel Angel Juarez/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @jajuarezphoto

Hailey Dawson’s 3-D printed prosthetic hand. (Joel Angel Juarez/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @jajuarezphoto

A World Series themed baseball glove belonging to Hailey Dawson of Henderson, lays on the ground during a practice at Anthem Hills Park in Henderson, Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017. (Joel Angel Juarez/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @jajuarezphoto

Hailey Dawson, who has a 3-D prosthetic hand, works on her delivery on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017, at Anthem Hills Parks in Henderson. (Joel Angel Juarez/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @jajuarezphoto

Parts for a 3-D printed prosthetic hand are laid out on a table during a painting process at the Thomas T. Beam Engineering Complex at UNLV in Las Vegas, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. A team of students at UNLV have developed a 3-D prosthetic hand for Hailey Dawson, who was born with Poland syndrome leaving her physically underdeveloped. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto

Tian Chen, a mechanical engineering sophomore at UNLV, 20, lifts a 3-D printed prosthetic hand from a bath at the Thomas T. Beam Engineering Complex at UNLV in Las Vegas, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. A team of students at UNLV have developed a 3-D prosthetic hand for Hailey Dawson, who was born with Poland syndrome leaving her physically underdeveloped. Joel Angel Juarez Las Vegas Review-Journal @jajuarezphoto

Hailey Dawson. (Joel Angel Juarez/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @jajuarezphoto

The Las Vegas Aviators’ first pitch at the opening night of the new Las Vegas Ballpark will be thrown by a 9-year-old local girl.

We are honored to announce that Hailey will be a part of Las Vegas history tomorrow with @Athletics Triple AAA Team @AviatorsLV opening night @LVBallpark when she throws out the first pitch. New team, new ballpark, first ever opening night. pic.twitter.com/XXTW1kwj9h

— Haileys_hand (@haileys_hand) April 9, 2019

Hailey Dawson, the first person to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums, will get the honor, team spokesman Jim Gemma confirmed.

Dawson, who lives in Henderson, was born with Poland syndrome, a rare disorder that left her with an underdeveloped right hand.

A UNLV grad student helped engineer a 3-D printed prosthetic hand that Dawson can use to grip and throw a baseball.

The Las Vegas Aviators, the Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, are scheduled to play their first game tonight at their new $150 million home in Downtown Summerlin.