Freshman Caira emerging as dominant pitcher for Syracuse softball
As a freshman pitcher who threw a no-hitter and a one-hitter within 10 days, Jenna Caira could be feeling the weight of some lofty expectations.
Caira, however, has been in her share of pressure situations. The 19-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ontario, has jumped out to an 8-4 record, helping carry the team to a 7-3 Big East record (18-12 overall), which is fourth best in the league. Syracuse split contests to St. John’s yesterday, losing 4-3 and then winning 7-1.
Caira says that the pressure does not get to her. Having helped lead her Canadian travel team, the Markham Jaguars, to four-straight national championships certainly eases the pressure. She also started on the Canadian Junior National Team at the World Championships in Holland in 2007.
‘No, no. Not a whole lot of pressure,’ she said. ‘I have expectations for myself, and there are certain things that I want to do to help this team.’
In a span of less than 10 days, Caira threw a one-hitter against Pittsburgh and combined for 10 no-hit innings in a doubleheader against Villanova on Sunday, only the third no-hitter in Syracuse softball history.
Despite being just a freshman, her coaches aren’t surprised.
‘I wasn’t surprised at all, that’s Jenna Caira, that’s why Jenna Caira is here,’ head coach Leigh Ross said after the Pittsburgh game. ‘Today is the first day we saw the real Jenna Caira.’
Two months into the season, Caira is emerging as the dominant pitcher on the Syracuse staff. It took some getting used to, which pitching coach Kyle Jamieson said could be due to her spending time abroad. Caira’s family moved to Switzerland after her dad was transferred there when Caira was 17. She stayed there for two years, also traveling to Egypt, Australia, Thailand and Russia, among other places.
‘It was an awesome experience … being able to see the world and see different cultures was just awesome,’ she said.
While overseas, Caira didn’t get to play and practice as much as she could while in Canada, which Jamieson said could explain why it took her a little while to get back into the swing of things.
She has started 14 games this season and currently leads the team in innings pitched (86) and strikeouts (89). Her 2.75 ERA is third best on the team, and she’s even contributed 19 stolen bases.
Jamieson said he would like to see Caira improve her velocity, and he and junior pitcher Brittany Gardner are helping her with her rise ball. Caira’s drop ball and changeup are good, Jamieson added, but they can always use fine-tuning. The pitching coach believes she could develop into one of the best pitchers in the country by the end of her four years at Syracuse.
‘I think she’s got unlimited potential. She wants to be a leader, and she has a great presence on the mound,’ Jamieson said. ‘These are all characteristics that you need as a pitcher. She wants the ball, she wants to win, and the rest of the team knows that.’
Published on April 10, 2009 at 12:00 pm
