| Biographical details | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | April 1, 1989 Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2012 | Syracuse | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–present | Canadian Wild | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Pitcher | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2014 | Syracuse (Asst.) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Eujenna "Jenna" Afrodite Caira[1] (born April 1, 1989) is a Canadian, former collegiate All-American, medal-winning Olympian, professional softball pitcher for the Canadian Wild of the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF).[2] Caira was a starting pitcher for the Syracuse Orange from 2009–12 and holds the career records in wins, shutouts and innings pitched.[3] Additionally, she is the Big East Conference career leader in strikeouts.[4] She has been a member of the Canada women's national softball team since June 2009 and helped them win a bronze medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Early life
Caira was born in Richmond Hill, Ontario,[5] just north of Toronto, growing up in Gormley, just outside of Richmond Hill.[6] She began playing softball at age four, inspired by watching her older sister, Danielle. Her inspiration for becoming a pitcher came from watching her other older sister, Nadia.[5][7] While in high school, she lived for two years in Switzerland.[5]
College career
After being offered several scholarships, she decided to join Syracuse University, where she received a full scholarship.[5] Jenna attended Syracuse from 2009 until 2012 and played for the women's softball team. In her first season in 2009, she was named Big East Rookie of the Year.[8] She is the only player to record 1000 strikeouts in the Big East Conference, finishing with 1051 total. She is the all-time leader in many categories for Syracuse softball in many categories including games played, wins, strikeouts, games started, complete games, shutouts, lowest ERA and lowest opponent's batting average.[8] Caira helped the team become champions of the Big East Conference softball tournament in 2010 and 2011, winning MVP honours both years.[9] She served as team captain in both 2011 and 2012.[10] During her senior season, she threw a no-hitter against Rutgers.[11] and picked up six weekly Big East Conference honours.[12] She was also named an All-American in her senior year.[13] She returned to Syracuse in 2013 and 2014 and served as an assistant coach and pitching coach.[14][15]
On April 29, 2023, Syracuse retired her #29 jersey.[16] She is the first Syracuse softball player to have their retired.[17]
National Team
Caira has played with the Canada national team since 2009. She has won five medals competing for Canada - one Gold and two Silver at the Pan American Games and two Bronze medals at the World Championships. In 2013, she was named team captain.[18] She retired from the National Team following the 2015 gold medal performance at the Pan-Am Games,[19] but eventually returned to compete with the national team, a year and a half later.[20] She made her Olympic debut on June 21, 2021 for Team Canada at the 2020 Olympic Games against Mexico.[21] Caira won a bronze medal with the Canadian team at those Olympics, which was Canada's first ever in the sport, after defeating Mexico in the bronze-medal match, in which she pitched 1+2⁄3 innings.[22][23] Over the course of the Olympics, she finished with a 1–1 record, pitching 11+1⁄3 innings, with a 1.24 ERA.[23]
Personal
Jenna has one brother and two sisters. She wears #29 in honour of her pitching coach, Todd Martin.[24] She guest starred on an episode of Canadian sitcom Mr. D, as herself, in 2015.[25] She is sponsored by Rawlings Canada.[26] She pitches at around 65 miles-per-hour and her signature pitch is the change-up.[6]
Career statistics
NCAA
| YEAR | W | L | GP | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | ERA | WHIP |
| 2009 | 16 | 11 | 34 | 27 | 16 | 6 | 1 | 186.1 | 148 | 84 | 62 | 83 | 192 | 2.33 | 1.24 |
| 2010 | 19 | 11 | 36 | 31 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 185.0 | 143 | 86 | 61 | 79 | 251 | 2.31 | 1.20 |
| 2011 | 35 | 11 | 53 | 45 | 25 | 10 | 3 | 283.1 | 193 | 94 | 61 | 96 | 321 | 1.51 | 1.02 |
| 2012 | 27 | 9 | 44 | 38 | 20 | 10 | 2 | 232.1 | 129 | 72 | 54 | 98 | 277 | 1.63 | 0.98 |
| TOTALS | 97 | 42 | 167 | 141 | 82 | 28 | 6 | 887.0 | 613 | 336 | 238 | 356 | 1041 | 1.88 | 1.09 |
References
- ^ "Canada Roster". World Baseball Softball Confederation. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
- ^ "2012 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I All-America Teams". Nfca.org. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
- ^ "Syracuse Softball Record Book" (PDF). Cuse.com. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
- ^ "Big East Softball Record Book" (PDF). Bigeast.com. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
- ^ a b c d Lavoie, Joanna (July 12, 2015). "Top Canadian softball pitcher Jenna Ciara looking forward to competing in Pan Am Games". Beach Mirror.
- ^ a b Rush, Curtis (July 20, 2015). "Softballers hold out hope for return to Olympics in five years". Toronto Star.
- ^ "SU student-athlete Jenna Caira to represent Canada in 2011 Pan American Games". Syracuse University. September 28, 2011.
- ^ a b McAllister, Mike (July 27, 2021). "Former Syracuse Pitcher Jenna Caira Wins Softball Bronze With Team Canada in Tokyo". Sports Illustrated.
- ^ 2013 Softball Media Guide. Big East Conference. p. 50. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
- ^ "Profile at Syracuse". Syracuse Orange. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
- ^ "Caira Throws No-Hitter; Saco Walk-off HR". Syracuse Orange. April 22, 2012.
- ^ Keeley, Sean (May 1, 2012). "Real Orange Heroes: Syracuse Softball Pitcher Jenna Caira". SB Nation.
- ^ "Meet Jenna". She Is Sport. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
- ^ "Profile at Olympic Canada". Canadian Olympic Committee. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
- ^ Hayakawa, Michael (June 12, 2015). "Former Gormley resident Caira looks forward to pitching on home soil". Stouffville Sun-Tribune.
- ^ "Celebrating 29 on April 29th: Syracuse To Retire Caira's #29 Jersey". Syracuse University Athletics. 9 February 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
- ^ Tomaiuolo, Max (27 April 2023). "Jenna Caira's dominance as player, coach earned her 1st SU softball jersey retirement". The Daily Orange. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
- ^ Ifergan, Noah (June 9, 2020). "Opportunity Unlocked". Buzz Sprout.
- ^ "Softball Canada Announces 2016 Women's National Team Roster". Al's Fastball. April 18, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
- ^ "Toronto Athlete Claims Spot On Team Canada Roster". Canada Cup International Softball Championship.
- ^ Heroux, Devin (July 21, 2021). "Canada makes long-awaited return to Olympic softball diamond with shutout win". CBC.
- ^ Heroux, Devin (July 27, 2021). "Canada defeats Mexico to win bronze in women's softball". CBC.
- ^ a b Tozer, Jamie (July 27, 2021). "Tokyo 2020 softball bronze "a dream come true" for Team Canada". Canadian Olympic Committee.
- ^ "Profile at Olympic Canada". Canadian Olympic Committee. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
- ^ "Pitcher Perfect". CBC. March 18, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
- ^ "Jenna Caira Visits Lightning". Durham Total Sports. 2019.
External links
This page was last edited on 9 September 2023, at 21:14