Las Vegas girl to throw out first pitch at World Series Game 4

By Ron Kantowski Las Vegas Review-Journal

7 years ago

Las Vegas’ Bryce Harper and fellow Las Vegan Hailey Dawson (and her brother, Zach) head onto the field where she threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the June 11 game between the Washington Nationals and Texas Rangers in Washington, D.C. (Yong Dawson)

Las Vegas’ Bryce Harper signs the baseball for fellow Las Vegan Hailey Dawson after she threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the June 11 game between the Washington Nationals and Texas Rangers in Washington, D.C. (Yong Dawson)

Hailey Dawson stings Halloween rings on her "special hand" while waiting for adjustments to be made to her new prosthetic hand Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014 at UNLV. (Sam Morris/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Hailey Dawson puts a trick or treat pumpkin on her head while waiting to be fitted with her new prosthetic hand Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014 at UNLV. (Sam Morris/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Hailey Dawson uses her new prosthetic hand to take a photo with UNLV Photo Services photographer Aaron Mayes’ camera Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014 at UNLV. (Sam Morris/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Hailey Dawson uses her new prosthetic hand to roll a ball across the floor Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014 at UNLV. (Sam Morris/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Hailey Dawson examines her new prosthetic hand, which was made by a team of UNLV engineers, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014 at UNLV. (Sam Morris/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Hailey Dawson uses her new prosthetic hand to throw a ball to UNLV mechanical engineering student Zachary Cook Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014 at UNLV. (Sam Morris/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Occupational therapist Cynthia Lau hands a bean bag to Hailey Dawson to test her new prosthetic hand Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014 at UNLV. (Sam Morris/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Las Vegan Hailey Dawson, who has captured hearts by throwing out ceremonial first pitches at baseball games despite missing much of her right hand, will perform the same duty before Game 4 of this year’s World Series on Oct. 28.

The 7-year-old was born with Poland Syndrome and is missing three fingers on her pitching hand. She compensates by using a 3-D printed robotic hand designed by UNLV engineers.

She has thrown out the first pitch before Baltimore Orioles, Washington Nationals and Las Vegas 51s games, and hopes to eventually make her pitch at all 30 major league ballparks.

Yong Dawson’s, Hailey’s mom, said in an email that her precocious right-hander will display a World Series theme on her pitching hand when she takes the mound on baseball’s biggest stage.

Contact Ron Kantowski at rkantowski@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0352. Follow @ronkantowski on Twitter.