Valley native Bockerstette to throw out first pitch at D-backs game Saturday

Amy Bockerstette, who made par on the 16th hole of the WM Phoenix Open back in February, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Saturday’s Arizona Diamondbacks game.

Bockerstette is a member of GiGi’s Playhouse of Phoenix, a Down Syndrome center that specializes in providing resources for education and achievements.

GiGi’s Playhouse was awarded the Ken Kendrick Grand Slam Award by the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation earlier in the year. The money from the award was used to complete the “GiGi’s Cafe”, a place where adults with Down Syndrome can master their job skills.

In 2018, Bockerstette received a scholarship from Paradise Valley Community College to play golf.

When she was invited to the WM Phoenix Open, it was a dream come true.

But what made it even better was when PGA golfer and 2019 U.S. Open winner Gary Woodland invited her to play the 16th hole during practice.

After that moment, the two became friends and things got even better.

Woodland won the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach and he called Bockerstette right after the win.

Woodland brought her to New York City to make the media rounds after winning the U.S. Open and even appeared on NBC’s The Today Show together.

Now, she will get the honor of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.

The first pitch at Chase Field will be at 7:00 p.m. before the D-backs take on the San Francisco Giants.