Celebrating 29 on April 29th: Syracuse To Retire Caira's #29 Jersey
2/9/2023 9:08:00 AM | Softball
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Jenna Caira put her stamp on the Syracuse softball program as one of the most acclaimed pitchers to wear Orange. A 2012 third-team Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American, Caira was the 2009 BIG EAST Conference Rookie of the Year, the 2011 BIG EAST Conference Pitcher of the, a two-time first-team all-region selection and a four-time All-BIG EAST Conference honoree.
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Caira will be honored on Saturday, April 29th, when Syracuse hosts Virginia at the Skytop Softball Stadium at 1 p.m. She is the first former softball student-athlete to have their jersey retired at Syracuse.
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A native of Toronto, Ontario, Caira earned a spot on the Canadian National Team in 2009 and played on teams that won a gold and two silver medals at the Pan American Games. Canada won a bronze medal at the World Championships. Caira was part of the squad that finished second in the Americas Olympic Qualifier in 2019. Canada competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and earned a bronze medal in 2021. Caira aided the cause with a 1-1 record and 1.24 earned-run-average.
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Caira helped Syracuse to back-to-back BIG EAST Conference Tournament titles in 2010 and 2011, and NCAA Tournament appearances in 2010, 2011 and 2012. The 2011 club won a school-record 45 games.
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She led the Orange in wins in 2010 (19), 2011 (35) and 2012 (27), posting three of the top four totals in school history. Her 53 appearances and 45 games started in 2011 also established school standards. She tossed 10 shutouts in both her junior and senior seasons, another school record.
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Caira owns Syracuse career marks for wins (97), earned-run-average (1.87), innings pitched (893), strikeouts (1,051), games started (141), complete games (82) and shutouts (28).
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She returned to her alma mater as an assistant coach on head coach Leigh Ross' staff in 2012-13 and 2013-14, mentoring current Syracuse assistant coach and fellow All-American Sydney O'Hara. She has played professionally for the Canadian Wild of the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF).
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- 2021 Olympic bronze medalist
- 2012 All-American
- 2011 All-BIG EAST First Team
- 2011 ECAC Pitcher of the Year
- 2009 ECAC Rookie of the Year
- 2010, 2012 All-BIG EAST Second Team
- 2009 All-BIG EAST Third Team
- BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week nine times
- Two-time team captain
- A school-record 53 appearances and 45 starts in 2011.
- Set single season records for wins (35), innings pitched (283.1) and strikeouts (321) in 2011
- The only Syracuse and BIG EAST Conference pitcher to accumulate 1,000 career strikeouts (1,051)
- Owns Orange career records in most pitching categories, including wins (97) and earned-run-average
