Ex-Blue Jays scout says baseball gaining fans in New Brunswick

Baseball coach,and fan, Gerry LeBlanc, of Dieppe, has had a close association with the Toronto Blue Jays since the early 1990s andsays the run the team has been on this season has been fun to watch.

LeBlanc says the race for the American League East title, and now the American League Divisionseries with the Texas Rangers, has all of New Brunswickwatching.

"Even though they were up by six runs in the third inning, you had to watch it til the end you know anything can happen."

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LeBlanc became involved with the Blue Jays when, as a high level coach in New Brunswick, he was invited to spring training by the team in 1997.

"I spent at least a day with each teamsingle A, double A and triple A and their objective is to find scouts in various parts of the country and in my casethey needed a pair of eyes out there in case there are some kids that may be potential, future major league baseball players," LeBlanc says.

Even though he is no longer a scout, LeBlanc still coaches the game he loves, and he knows a good player when he sees one.

"I was fortunate enough to have coached Matt Stairs back in his highschool days andI have now a vision of what a player is supposed to look like," he says.

"That's the big thing with kids today when you're watching them play is, do they have the potential to become majorleague baseball players."

LeBlancsaysthe success of the Blue Jays has created more interest in the game across the country.

"Baseball is picking up. It's obvious. You walk in the mall you've got kids wearing Blue Jay caps or T-shirtsit's taken off and it's great for the country."

LeBlanc continues to coach baseball, attending a Jays camp in Toronto every January.

He keeps an eye on players with potential and lets them know when he sees something special.

"When there are some kids that may have a little bit of potential you kind of talk to them saying, 'You know maybe you should work a little bit harder and your chances may be greater in becoming a major league ball player.'"

Toronto will take on Texas in the deciding game at Rogers Centre Wednesday afternoon andLeBlancbelievesthe key will be to get starting pitcher MarcusStromanto go at least six innings.

"There's also momentum. They've had their backs against the wall. Now, Texas is in that boat, so let's see what happens in that fifth game."