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Jenna Caira
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 lifeCaira 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 careerAfter 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 TeamCaira 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] PersonalJenna 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 statisticsNCAA
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