After making history at the Canada Summer Games, 16-year-old Jaida Lee said throwing out the first pitch at the Toronto Blue Jays’ home game will be her highlight going forward.
Lee threw out the ceremonial first pitch Saturday to start the Jays’ game against the Cleveland Guardians. Center fielder Bradley Zimmer took the pitch behind home plate. The Blue Jays ended up winning two to one against the Guardians.
He told Sportsnet’s Blue Jays Central this is a highlight of her long hurling career.
“Hopefully I’ll keep playing. I’d like to play my whole life, honestly, but I’d like to play college baseball in the future,” Lee told host Jamie Campbell.
He said that of all the experiences this week, throwing out the first pitch at the Jays’ home game will be a lasting memory. Lee said his interest in baseball began watching his two older brothers play while their father coached them.
“I grew up in the country and then I made all my friends there. So I like the atmosphere in general,” he said.
Politicians have noticed the teenager’s talent. Federal Sports Minister Pascale St-Onge said Lee is another example of how Canadian women and girls are making a difference through sport.
“Whether it’s the Canada Games or the Olympics, we’ve seen our Canadian women thrive on the international stage and at all levels of sport,” St-Onge told CBC. “So I’m very proud of that.”
Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation Minister Steve Crocker said Lee’s skills to play for the provincial team are impressive.
“She’s a great example not just for young girls, but for athletes across the country and around the world,” Crocker told CBC.
His father, Dave Lee, told CBC he likes both the attention and the opportunity to connect with younger players.
Lee said she has heard a similar sentiment from young girls and parents who have stopped to take pictures with her or send her private messages.
“Most of them congratulated me and told me like I was a role model or something and told me good job and one of them bought me candy and a few had signs and stuff . So that was really cool and cool. look at that,” Lee said.
Read more from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador
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