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SPORTS PAN AM GAMES Stouffville Sun-Tribune 27 | Stouffville Sun-Tribune | Thursday, July 9, 2015 Caira brings veteran presence to women's ball team BY MICHAEL HAYAKAWA mhayakawa@yrmg.com Jenna Caira has played plenty of softball games as a member of Canada's women's softball team since first cracking the national roster in 2009. But during that timespan, the 26-year-old former Gormley resident and veteran Team Canada right-handed pitcher revealed the one thing she hasn't done is to don that jersey while competing in her home town. When the women's softball event at the 2015 Pan American Games take place in Ajax from July 19 to 26, Caira intends to seize that moment. Not only will she continue to represent Canada, but to perform in front of her immediate family and close friends is something she is really looking forward to. To that, she thanks the Toronto Pan Am Games organizing committee for making her dream become a reality. "I've never played in my home town wearing the Canada jersey," Caira said. "It will be a privilege playing on home soil, and where I actually grew up playing on these fields. "Some of my family and friends have never had the opportunity to see me play, and I am looking forward in doing so while representing my family, community and country ..." Caira and her Team Canada teammates have a little score to settle on the ball diamond. With the last Pan American Games having taken place in Guadalajara, Mexico in 2011, Caira and her teammates reached the final only to lose to the United States. Score to settle with States This time, they want to take things a step further and are optimistic despite playing in what Caira calls a highly competitive field. The national team held auditions in Florida for a seven-day period last December to finalize their roster. Caira feels the team has the proper ingredients that includes a blend of experience and youth along with a strong commitment on and off the field from the players and coaches. As one of the team captains, Caira played an instrumental role in ensuring a positive attitude is prevalent. A big part of her responsibility is to ensure everyone is on the same page and a cul- ture is created that appeals to the coaching staff. "We have a great group of players who want to win, and certainly put the time into their training. I feel our team has great chemistry and we truly support each teammate. "Leadership is demonstrated throughout our team, and it is exemplified through the hard work and support from both the coaching staff and players," she said. She took up the game when she was four years old after watching older sisters Danielle and Nadia compete and made her competitive debut when she was 12. Caira recently served a two-year stint as an assistant women's coach at Syracuse University where she played at the collegiate level. She has no timetable as to how long she wants to continue to try and foil batters with her live arm. Focusing on the now, Caira wants nothing more than to do her part to help put Canada on top in the Pan Am zone. "I just want to go as long as my body lets me, and ensure I can play to my best ability for Canada," she said. JENNA CAIRA: Gormley native relishing chance to play in front of family, friends at Pan Am Games. Men end world title drought to prep for Pan Ams Two Stouffville residents played an integral role in helping Canada tune up for the Pan American Games men's softball competition by capturing the 14th men's World Softball Championship in Saskatoon last weekend. Andy Skelton and Paul Koert were members of Canada's team that defeated New Zealand 10-5 in Sunday's final and snap a 23-year drought in which they last won the world championship that was held in Manila, Philippines. To win the coveted gold though, certainly wasn't an easy task. Spotting New Zealand a 5-0 advantage through 2 1/2 innings, Canada erupted with four runs in each of the third and fourth innings and two in the sixth to win the game and title. "It was very enjoyable," an elated Koert said upon returning to Stouffville Monday. "At the same time, it was kind of unexpected. Especially when we were down 5-0. But it turned out good at the end. "It's a huge accomplishment." Sporting a 1-1 won-loss mark while on the rubber during the championships, the veteran 36-year-old lefthanded pitcher attributed a large degree of their success to the philosophy instilled by Team Canada head coach John Stuart, who took over the helm in November. Under Stuart's leadership, Koert said the team has been invigorated and are buying into his approach. "He gave us a new focus and a new attitude," Koert said of Stuart. "We played the game differently, we were aggressive and he went with our best guys and that led to our success." In reaching the final, Canada sported an unblemished 6-0 mark in pool play. Inserts for Thurs., July 9, 2015 GRAND FORTUNE AKAL OPTICAL BEST BUY BOUCLAIR BRICK MATTRESS CANADA COMPUTERS CANADIAN TIRE IDA FIRST CHOICE SUPERMARKET FOOD BASICS FOODLAND FOODY MART FRESHCO GENERAL MILLS GIANT AUCTIONS GIANT TIGER GOLF TOWN HEALTHY PLANET HOME DEPOT HOME HARDWARE KOHL & FRISCH LASTMANS BAD BOY LEON'S FURNITURE LOBLAWS LONGO'S LOWES M & M MEAT SHOPS METRO MINDTECH MONTESSORI MUHILAN TUTORING CENTRE NATIONAL SPORTS NEW OCEAN SUPERMARKET NO FRILLS PAN AM GAMES PARTSOURCE REAL CANADIAN SUPERSTORE RENO DEPOT REXALL RONA SEARS SHOPPERS DRUG MART INC. SLEEP COUNTRY SOBEYS STAPLES SUNFOOD SUPERMARKET SUNNY FOODMART THE BRICK THE SOURCE TSC STORES WALMART YUMMY MARKET ZEHRS `At the same time, it was kind of unexpected. Especially when we were down 5-0. But it turned out good at the end. It's a huge accomplishment.' Advancing to the championship round, Canada started off on the right foot with an 8-3 win over Australia before suffering its lone blemish in a 9-5 loss against New Zealand. But Canada rebounded to blank Venezuela 10-0 Sunday and set the stage for their rematch against New Zealand in the final later that day. Skelton saw action in three games and scored three runs and delivered four hits, including a double and home run, and five RBIs. With little time to dwell on their accomplishment Koert said it's time to start con- centrating on the 2015 Pan Am Games as the team will go to the Pan Am Athletes Village in Toronto today before opening play against Mexico at the President's Choice Ajax Pan Am Ballpark July 12 at 7 p.m. Eagerly looking forward to making his Pan Am Games debut along with Skelton, Koert feels the victory Canada attained at the world championships should serve as a confidence booster in their quest to claim the coveted Pan Am gold medal. In large part because they saw or played the participating Pan Am teams at the world championships. The key though, will be to stay the course they took through the world championships. "All we have to do is to take the same approach as we did at the worlds," Koert said. "I like our chances." Having been in the game for as long as he's in it and being a part of numerous championship teams, Koert hinted it would be a great way for him to put away the glove and spikes for good if Canada could win the Pan Am gold and world championship title in the same year. "From my perspective, to win the Pan Am and world championship would be a great way to go out," said Koert, who starred for Stouffville youth teams playing out of Memorial Park. ­ Michael Hayakawa To find out more about how to reach your target market and get the same great response from your flyer distributions as these customers, call us today! *Selected areas only No one delivers results like we do! visit save.ca 905-294-2200