East Meadow's Jenna Laird right at home with the New York Rise pro softball team
Jenna Laird #3, New York Rise shortstop and East Meadow High School alumnus, slides during the bottom of the first inning of a professional fastpitch softball game against the Atlanta Smoke at Bill Edwards Stadium, located on the campus of Hofstra University, on Friday, June 27, 2025. She was called out on the stolen base attempt. Credit: James Escher
Welcome home to Jenna Laird and the New York Rise.
Following 12 games on the road, the professional softball team returned to Long Island this week. The Rise are in their second season of existence and are competing for the first time in the Fastpitch United Pro Series.
Laird, a 2020 East Meadow graduate, won a state championship in 2017 before going on to play 246 consecutive games for the University of Missouri, setting a program record.
The shortstop entered her second season with the Rise in a different manner than she did her first, however, having spent the 2025 spring season as an assistant coach for the Adelphi women’s softball team. Unlike 2024, when Laird joined the Rise fresh off a spring softball season with Mizzou, she had to carve out more time in the cages to try and simulate the live reps that she no longer had.
“It was definitely different, going from player to coach,” Laird said. “But I loved it. It was me being able to give back to the players. And being so close to their age, I knew the emotions and feelings when you’re striking out or hitting home runs.”
The team’s home opener against the Atlanta Smoke on Thursday night at Hofstra’s Bill Edwards Stadium ended in celebration as Sami Williams' walk-off solo homer gave the Rise (6-8) an 8-7 victory.
The Rise, who will conclude their three-game homestand against Atlanta on Saturday night, are scheduled to finish their season with nine home games from July 8 to July 23 at Hofstra.
“It’s been a dream," Laird said, "especially being so close to home and being able to play in front of friends and family with some of the best softball players in the country here."
Ford keeps slinging
Jailyn Ford earned the win in the home opener for the Rise, allowing four runs and four hits in seven innings, striking out five. The 2016 James Madison graduate holds a team-best 2.69 ERA through 13 innings.
“To have that walk-off home run, it’s just so cool for our community and our team to see us persevere through the full seven innings,” Ford said. “And to give the fans something to hold onto and want to come back.”
Having just pitched her ninth season in Japan, Ford only recently rejoined the team but brings with her plenty of experience across different styles of play.
“There’s a lot more balls in play, small-ball, runners in motion there whereas we tend to be more for the long ball, the extra base hits,” Ford said. “That’s been an adjustment, at least pitcher-wise, to how you attack the bunters and slappers of Japan and coming here and facing Jocelyn Alo and all the Oklahoma [City Spark] girls.”
Establishing an identity
When it came to deciding a team name, owner Jeffrey Ahn settled on the New York Rise. While it’s the name of a classic softball pitch, the "rise ball," that’s not the only origin for the franchise’s identity.
“Part of it was probably Hamilton-driven, where the United States was trying to rise up in rebellion,” Ahn said. “I also think it’s a response to women’s sports in general. I’m a big supporter of women’s sports, and I feel like there’s a challenge for us to rise above.”
Ahn also referenced the team’s logo which depicts One World Trade Center, commonly known as the Freedom Tower, and the Rise’s connection to New York’s resiliency following 9/11.
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