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.
Biographical details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Born | (1989-04-01) April 1, 1989 (age 33) 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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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]
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]
Caira has played with the Senior 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.[16] She retired from the National Team following the 2015 gold medal performance at the Pan-Am Games,[17] but eventually returned to compete with the national team, a year and a half later.[18] She made her Olympic debut on June 21, 2021 for Team Canada at the 2020 Olympic Games against Mexico.[19] 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.[20][21] Over the course of the Olympics, she finished with a 1–1 record, pitching 11+1⁄3 innings, with a 1.24 ERA.[21]
Jenna has one brother and two sisters. She wears #29 in honour of her pitching coach, Todd Martin.[22] She guest starred on an episode of Canadian sitcom Mr. D, as herself, in 2015.[23] She is sponsored by Rawlings Canada.[24] She pitches at around 65 miles-per-hour and her signature pitch is the change-up.[6]
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 |