Standing Buffalo boy throws Blue Jays opening pitch

A 10-year-old boy from the Standing Buffalo Dakota First Nation threw out the opening pitch at Sunday’s Toronto Blue Jays game.

Taron Kaiswatum was picked as the “Unstoppable Kid” in his rookie league, which is sponsored by the Jays Care Foundation. His coaches nominated him because of his enthusiasm and leadership.

From the second Kaiswatum stepped on the mound, he was excited to be there.

“It felt awesome. So cool,” he said.

His excitement was ramped up even more because the game was between his two favourite teams: the Blue Jays and the New York Yankees.

His dad, Randall, said Taron is obsessed with baseball.

“He always likes to bug everybody to play catch … The whole trip, he carried a glove and ball around,” Randall said.

When Randall was first contacted about the game, it seemed surreal.

“When I first got the phone call, I couldn’t believe it,” he said.

Apparently, Taron had a similar reaction.

“He said to me, ‘I didn’t know loving baseball so much could get me a trip to Toronto!’ ” Randall said.

In the end, Taron’s second-favourite team ended up taking the win. The Yankees won the game 1-0.