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Jenna Caira

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Jenna Caira
Biographical details
Born (1989-04-01) April 1, 1989 (age 35)
Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada
Playing career
2009–2012Syracuse
2019–presentCanadian Wild
Position(s)Pitcher
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2013–2014Syracuse (Asst.)
Medal record
Women's softball
Representing  Canada
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2020 Tokyo Team
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 2015 Toronto
Silver medal – second place 2011 Guadalajara
Silver medal – second place 2019 Lima
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Caracas
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Chiba

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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NCAA

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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

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  1. ^ "Canada Roster". World Baseball Softball Confederation. Archived from the original on March 24, 2019. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  2. ^ "2012 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I All-America Teams". Nfca.org. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  3. ^ "Syracuse Softball Record Book" (PDF). Cuse.com. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  4. ^ "Big East Softball Record Book" (PDF). Bigeast.com. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ a b Rush, Curtis (July 20, 2015). "Softballers hold out hope for return to Olympics in five years". Toronto Star.
  7. ^ "SU student-athlete Jenna Caira to represent Canada in 2011 Pan American Games". Syracuse University. September 28, 2011.
  8. ^ a b McAllister, Mike (July 27, 2021). "Former Syracuse Pitcher Jenna Caira Wins Softball Bronze With Team Canada in Tokyo". Sports Illustrated.
  9. ^ 2013 Softball Media Guide. Big East Conference. February 13, 2013. p. 50. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  10. ^ "Profile at Syracuse". Syracuse Orange. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  11. ^ "Caira Throws No-Hitter; Saco Walk-off HR". Syracuse Orange. April 22, 2012.
  12. ^ Keeley, Sean (May 1, 2012). "Real Orange Heroes: Syracuse Softball Pitcher Jenna Caira". SB Nation.
  13. ^ "Meet Jenna". She Is Sport. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  14. ^ "Profile at Olympic Canada". Canadian Olympic Committee. February 25, 2015. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  15. ^ Hayakawa, Michael (June 12, 2015). "Former Gormley resident Caira looks forward to pitching on home soil". Stouffville Sun-Tribune.
  16. ^ "Celebrating 29 on April 29th: Syracuse To Retire Caira's #29 Jersey". Syracuse University Athletics. February 9, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  17. ^ Tomaiuolo, Max (April 27, 2023). "Jenna Caira's dominance as player, coach earned her 1st SU softball jersey retirement". The Daily Orange. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  18. ^ Ifergan, Noah (June 9, 2020). "Opportunity Unlocked". Buzz Sprout.
  19. ^ "Softball Canada Announces 2016 Women's National Team Roster". Al's Fastball. April 18, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  20. ^ "Toronto Athlete Claims Spot On Team Canada Roster". Canada Cup International Softball Championship.
  21. ^ Heroux, Devin (July 21, 2021). "Canada makes long-awaited return to Olympic softball diamond with shutout win". CBC.
  22. ^ Heroux, Devin (July 27, 2021). "Canada defeats Mexico to win bronze in women's softball". CBC.
  23. ^ a b Tozer, Jamie (July 27, 2021). "Tokyo 2020 softball bronze "a dream come true" for Team Canada". Canadian Olympic Committee.
  24. ^ "Profile at Olympic Canada". Canadian Olympic Committee. February 25, 2015. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  25. ^ "Pitcher Perfect". CBC. March 18, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  26. ^ "Jenna Caira Visits Lightning". Durham Total Sports. 2019. Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
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