New generation of Blue Jays fans in Calgary excited for Game 7

The Blue Jays are just one win away from their first trip to the World Series since 1993, and Calgary fans are excited… but also a bit nervous.

On Monday morning, a group of 10-year-olds were getting their fill of baseball at a clinic at Absolute Sports in Calgary.

Once they put their bats and their gloves down, they took a few hours and then turned their attention to the seventh and deciding game of the American League Championship Series between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Seattle Mariners.

Tai Taludkar got all dressed up in his Jays gear for the clinic.

He’s been swept up by Blue Jays fever and said he would nervously watch Monday night’s game.

“I think it’s going to be a close game because I’ve seen how the Seattle Mariners play. I don’t know; I just feel like it might be a close game, but I think the Blue Jays are going to win,” he said.

A whole new generation now gets to make memories of a Jays run in the playoffs.

Tanner Sorge is wearing a Chicago Cubs hat, but he’s a Blue Jays fan, and he also thinks they’ll come away victorious in Game 7.

“I think they’ll win because, well, I’m just hoping,” he said.

“They have some really good batters like (Vladimir) Guerrero (Jr.), (George) Springer and Addison Barger.”

Luke Senft, one of the coaches at Absolute Sports, has been a Jays fan his whole life.

He says it’s fun to see a new generation get caught up with the team.

“There’s definitely a level of excitement,” he said.

“You can feel it when you’re around here. Every day that I come in to work and I see the kids with Blue Jays jerseys on and their hats and (they’re) always talking about the game the night before, it’s pretty cool.

“The whole community has bought into the team right now and it’s awesome.”

Absolute/Bullpen Sports sells baseball merchandise, and it has been busy, with a lot of items being sold throughout the playoffs.

Colin Moro, general manager, says it has been good for business.

“Sales are up, for sure,” he said.

“They’re kind of like throw-ins, once they see what we have. People are in to see our awesome glove wall and all that stuff, but then they see the Jays, and, ‘Oh, the Jays game is on,’ so now they’re buying stuff, so it’s great.”