Jade Laird '18 Recruiting Profile

I have been playing softball since I was four years old and before then I was watching my sister play. I tried out a variety of sports when I was younger and none of them compared to softball. Softball has taught me to be selfless, made me better at communicating with others, and has made me a better leader on and off the field.

For college softball I am looking for a team with a good mix. A team that enjoys being around each other and who has fun together because I think it makes it easier on the field when you have good chemistry. Also people who are competitive, want to do good, and win a championship. My goal at the collegiate level is to go further than the schools team has in the past. If they have only gone to second round of playoffs I want to make sure the team goes to the third round at least during my years there.

When I was twelve years old I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and had the game of softball taken away from me. The doctors said I would probably never play again but I made a decision that I would do everything in my power to be back on the field. I learned a lot in the two years I just watched and couldn’t play. A few things it taught me was that one persons bad attitude can effect your whole team and that you have to be a team and communicate on the field. After a long rehab process I was released to start playing again the beginning of my freshman year. I have improved athletically and as a person so much from what I have been through and I wouldn’t change that. I have always said softball is my passion and now since I have gone through a few obstacles and set more goals, I have never felt stronger about that feeling.