Jaida Lee
| Jaida Lee | |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | |
| Born: January 1st, 2006 St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| Teams | |
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Jaida Lee (born 2006) is a Canadian baseball player. At age 16, she was in 2022 the first female to compete in men’s baseball at the Canada Summer Games.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
Lee is a senior at Gonzaga High School, in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. Born in St. John's, to Dave and Amanda Lee.[7][8][9][10] Lee started playing baseball at 6 years old, and has been playing on boy's and men's baseball teams since the age of 10.[9][4]
Career[edit]
Early career[edit]
Lee pitched for Newfoundland and Labrador's Female U-16 team in the 2021 Atlantic Female Under 16 Baseball Championship. During tournament, Lee was named Top Batter and Top Pitcher. [6] Also in 2021, Lee was the only girl on the province's U-17 boys baseball team, where she pitched the team's win in Dartmouth, N.S.[10]
Lee was named Female Athlete of the Year, by Baseball NL in 2021.[6]
Lee is on Baseball Canada's list of prospects for national team programs and in 2021, was among 41 players invited to a women’s national team (WNT) showcase event in Trois Rivières, Quebec.[9][11][1]
Lee is a member of the Metro Property Management Knights competing in the St. John's Amateur Baseball League.
Canada Summer Games[edit]
Selections for Team N.L. began in 2019 and Lee was 13 years old when she attended her first selections camp.[9]
During the 2022 Canada Summer Games, Lee played with Team N.L. (Newfoundland and Labrador).[6] Lee's first pitch was a strike. The ball, taken out of the game, will be on display at the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, in St. Mary's, Ontario. [1][3][12][6]
MLB Ceremonial First Pitch[edit]
Lee was invited and threw the ceremonial first pitch at the Toronto Blue Jays game versus the Cleveland Guardians on August 12, 2022, at the Rogers Centre.[1][4][8][7]
St. John's Amateur Baseball Draft[edit]
Lee entered in to the predominantly male St. John's Amateur Baseball 2023 Intermediate Draft at the age of 17. The draft was held on May 25, 2023 and Lee became one of the highest drafted female players in the leagues history behind Canadian Women's National Team member Heather Healey [13] after Lee was selected 12th overall by the 2022 Intermediate League Champion Metro Property Management Knights. [14]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d Franke, Bernd (2022-08-10). "Female pitcher makes Canada Summer Games baseball history". St. Catharines Standard. Retrieved 2022-08-14.
- ^ Moore, Mike (2022-07-31). "'They all shut up': Jaida Lee talks about pitching for N.L.'s men's baseball team at Canada Games". CBC. Retrieved 2022-08-14.
- ^ a b Puchalsk, Bernie (2022-08-08). "Jaida Lee makes her pitch and becomes the first female playing men's baseball at a Canada Games". Niagara 2022 Games. Retrieved 2022-08-14.
- ^ a b c Redmond, Don (2022-08-10). "Newfoundland woman fastballer on men's team shifts from Welland to Blue Jays' opening pitch". Insauga. Retrieved 2022-08-14.
- ^ "Jays Talk Plus: Confidence Rankings + Women in Baseball with Kelly McCormack & Jaida Lee". Sports Net. 2022-08-11. Retrieved 2022-08-14.
- ^ a b c d e Joyce, Luke (2022-07-19). "Team NL Heading to 2022 Canada Summer Games in Niagara in August". The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation. Retrieved 2022-08-14.
- ^ a b c Atter, Heidi (2022-08-14). "Canada Games history maker Jaida Lee throws first pitch at Blue Jays home game". CBC. Retrieved 2022-08-14.
- ^ a b "16-year-old N.L. baseball star Jaida Lee to throw 1st pitch at a Jays game". CBC. 2022-08-12. Retrieved 2022-08-14.
- ^ a b c d Puchalski, Bernie (2022-01-21). "Making Her Mark - Newfoundland and Labrador Rising Star Jaida Less is Set to Make History in Niagara". Baseball Canada. Retrieved 2022-08-14.
- ^ a b "Jaida Lee leads N.L.'s under-17 baseball team to win with strong pitching performance". CBC. 2021-08-15. Retrieved 2022-08-14.
- ^ McCarthy, Brendan (2022-10-04). "Newfoundland and Labrador names 2022 Canada Games baseball team; roster includes rising female star Jaida Lee | SaltWire". Salt Wire. Retrieved 2022-08-14.
- ^ "Jaida Lee makes Canada Games history". Archysport. 2022-08-09. Retrieved 2022-08-14.
- ^ "WNT Heather Healey" (PDF). baseball.ca. Baseball Canada. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- ^ "Jaida Lee Selected 12th overall". Twitter. Metro Property Management Knights. Retrieved 26 May 2023.