'They all shut up': Jaida Lee talks about pitching for N.L.'s men's baseball team at Canada Games

An up and coming baseball superstar from St. John's is boasting two honours as she heads into the upcoming Canada Games in Niagara, Ont. — she's carrying Newfoundland and Labrador's flag into the opening ceremonies and she's the first-ever woman to play on a men's team at the event. 

Jaida Lee, 16, is turning into a household name around baseball circles across the province and she's no stranger to mixing it up in boys' baseball divisions during her playing career so far.

In 2021 she pitched the only win for the Newfoundland and Labrador U-17 boys' baseball team at an Atlantic tournament in Dartmouth, N.S. She was the first woman to claim that honour. 

Now she's preparing for the national stage. 

"I feel like when you're under pressure it matters more. I'm more focused and zoned in so I just perform better," Lee told CBC News on Friday. 

"It's exciting. It feels good."

Lee attributes her success so far to simply playing a lot of baseball. Each summer to this point she played with multiple girls' and boys' teams. 

"Most people only get around 20 games but growing up I got like 80 every summer," she said. 

"It helps with development overall. On top of that [you get] a lot more trips."

Down the line, Lee is hoping to break into the national Canadian baseball program — which she's already experienced from playing with the prospect team — and is looking ahead to playing university ball. 

Jaida Lee of St. John’s is the flagbearer for <a href="https://twitter.com/teamnl?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@teamnl</a> at the opening ceremony of the 2022 Canada Summer Games. At the Games, Jaida will be the first-ever female to compete on an all-male baseball team in the history of the multi-sport competition. Way to go, Jaida! <a