ESTEVAN — Three sisters from southeast Saskatchewan decided to give their mother a trip to the World Series as an early gift for the woman’s 70th birthday.
It proved to be a memorable experience in more ways than one.
Tannis Kolenz of Estevan, Kyla Tessier of Gladmar and Jaclyn Woitas of Radville took their mother Sue Bourassa, also of Radville, to Los Angeles for Game 5 of the World Series between their beloved Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Bourassa turns 70 next year, and the three sisters had discussed taking her on a surprise Blue Jays trip next year. But Tessier’s husband called after Game 2 of the World Series and urged them to go to L.A.
“The sisters and I talked about it and we decided we’re just going to do it,” said Kolenz in an interview with SaskToday. “We got online, booked our flights, booked our tickets and then surprised our mom Sunday night (Oct. 26). We called her and let her know, and she was just a little bit shell-shocked.”
They flew to Los Angeles on Oct. 28, attended Game 5 of the World Series the following day, and returned to Saskatchewan on Oct. 30.
The Jays won Game 5 6-1, to the delight of the Saskatchewan contingent. Jays starting pitcher Trey Yesavage struck out 12 batters, the most ever by a rookie in a World Series game. Davis Schneider and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit back-to-back home runs to start the game, the first time that has ever happened in the World Series.
“You’re getting settled and you’re waiting for the first pitch to happen, and then all of a sudden I see a ball go the other way,” said Kolenz, recalling the historic dingers.
They were about eight rows up on the first base line, which contributed to their other memorable moment. In the bottom of the sixth inning, family members were caught on camera in their Blue Jays gear. Kolenz recalls the Dodgers’ star Shohei Ohtani was at bat, Dodgers’ fans were on their feet cheering, and Kolenz and her sister had annoyed expressions on their faces because two tall men were standing in front of them.
“Our phones started blowing up. I was getting tons of text messages and Snapchats and all kinds of communications through all of the platforms, saying ‘I’ve seen you on TV’, and we’re getting pictures of it. I couldn’t keep up,” she said.
They were also stopped while on the Walk of Fame to talk for a story.
Kolenz and her family have travelled to watch the Jays before. She noted Bourassa has been to six different Major League Baseball stadiums. But it was the first time any of them had been to a World Series game.
“Mom was in awe. I think she was in disbelief most of the time, but she had a blast,” said Kolenz. She said at one point, ‘Oh my goodness, this is so fun.’”
The Jays lost the World Series in seven games to the Dodgers, dropping the final two games at home, including an extra-innings defeat in Game 7. Kolenz said she is still proud of her beloved team, and she believes the Jays were the better squad.
“We played better ball, it’s just Lady Luck was not on our side. I think had it gone the other way, nobody would have been surprised as far as Toronto goes. I think maybe the rest of MLB was maybe surprised that the Blue Jays were in it. From the beginning, they kept saying oh, the Blue Jays, they’re not a World Series team, but obviously we are.”
Even before going to Toronto to watch the Jays play in August, Kolenz said she knew the club was a contender.
She hopes the Jays can make it back to the series next year, and they can attend a home game in Toronto.
