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Coaching Staff

Rodney "Crash" McCray
Head Coach

Rodney McCray ("Crash")

Crash played with the Chicago White Sox and the New York Mets for parts of three seasons where he played 67 MLB games.

Crash is most notably known for running through a wall on a fly ball hit during a minor league game in Portland, in which he initially made the catch, but then dropped the ball as he ran through a plywood fence in right field. This play was shown repeatedly on newscasts across the country and YouTube, with a video clip of the play shown as a blooper reel looped at the Baseball Hall of Fame. Crash said, “I just wish I had run through something like a Coca-Cola sign so I could have gotten endorsements. Instead, I ran through a local sign, `Flav-R-Pac meats.”

Crash later served as a coach in the minor-leagues for the Lethbridge Mounties in 1994 and Lansing Lugnuts in 1998, and later a minor league base running and outfield instructor in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization.

Crash’s son, Grant was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the third round of the 2019 MLB Rule 4 Draft and is currently a top prospect in that organization. Crash’s daughter, Sydney, recently won the Juco national championship in 2023 while being recognized as an NJCAA All-American and Gold Glove winner for her play at Florida SouthWestern State College. Sydney now attends Grand Canyon University.

ToniMarie Valeriano | New York Rise Assistant Coach
Assistant Coach

ToniMarie Valeriano

Competed at CUNY Queens College for four years as a two-way player. Named ECC Rookie of the year in 2015. Part of the ECC Championship team in 2015. Four time All ECC honoree. Two time All East Region honoree. Pitched 398 innings compiling a 3.23 ERA as well as a career .312 batting average.

Attended Mepham High School in Bellmore, Long Island. Two time All Long Island and All State Honoree. Named Nassau County Pitcher of the Year in 2013. Holds the record for most strikeouts in a single game (18).

Current owner of T2 Softball Academy in Farmingdale, NY where she works with female athletes of all ages, specifically on pitching.

Lisa Iancin (“L.I.”) | New York Rise Assistant Coach
Assistant Coach

Lisa Iancin (“L.I.”)

Competed in the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) league for five seasons, gathering an NPF championship in 2004 with the NY/NJ Juggernaut and in 2006 with the New England Riptide. In 2005, L.I. was named the NPF Defensive Player of the Year.

In college, L.I. earned a full scholarship to Cal. Among her accolades as a Golden Bear are First Team All-Pac 10 and back-to-back appearances at the Women’s College World Series in 1999 and 2000. Internationally, L.I. played for Team Bussolengo, Italy in 2001.

L.I. was the Assistant GM of the Tennessee Diamonds for the 2010 NPF season. Prior, L.I. was the Marketing/Instruction/Public Relations Coordinator of the Jennie Finch Softball Academy at Diamond Nation in Flemington, NJ. From 2006-2009, L.I. was the Assistant Coach at the George Washington University for three seasons while completing a Masters in Tourism Administration with an emphasis in Sports Management.

Lisa continues to provide fastpitch softball instructor and is a team clinician and has done so for more than 10 years.

Adam Capodieci
CatcherMtrx Consultant

Adam Capodieci

Adam Capodieci, former professional catcher graduated from Dowling College with a major in Liberal Arts and a Minor in Coaching. In addition, he holds an MBA in Special Education and Health Education. He has been involved in sports for over 35+ years as a player and now coach/trainer/mentor.

Adam signed with the Newark Bears of the Atlantic League in 2000 following his college season. As a former professional baseball player of 6 seasons, he had played in the Atlantic League, Northern, Can Am, Frontier, and Central Leagues winning the Northern League Championship in 2001 while with the New Jersey Jackals.

Since 2001 he has been running his own camps, clinics, and training 1:1 with a specialty in catching instruction. Adam is a S.M.A.R.T certified personal trainer, has coached at many levels including colligate baseball coach, girls Varsity volleyball coach, travel, and school ball.

In 2013 he was named Director of CatcherMtrx Softball. CatcherMtrx is a special training platform where catchers physical and mental capabilities are harnessed; so much so that Stack Magazine has published a 4-part series on its teaching and development philosophy.

In January 2024 he was named All Star Sports first Male Ambassador for their Fastpitch Softball line where he works alongside Paige Halstead and the PHX team.

Players

Jenna Laird | New York Rise

Jenna Laird

  • Positions: SS / IF
  • College: University of Missouri
  • High School: East Meadow High School
  • Club Teams: Team Long Island, Tampa Mustangs TJ
  • Hometown: East Meadow, NY

Career Highlights

  • 2022-2024: All-SEC Second Team
  • 2022 Rawlings Golden Glove Award
  • 2021 SEC-First Team and SEC Freshman of the Year

Jenna finished with a .351 batting average, .487 slugging percentage, and .432 on base percentage in her 246 games played with the Mizzou Tigers – all of which she started.

Kayla Wedl | New York Rise

Kayla Wedl

  • Positions: OF / IF
  • Previous Pro Team: Athletes Unlimited, USSSA Pride
  • College: University of Illinois Chicago
  • High School: Wauconda High School
  • Club Team: Illinois Chill
  • Hometown: Wauconda, Ill

Career Highlights

  • Two year pro with USSSA Pride (2023, 2022)
  • Earned a spot with Athletes Unlimited after attending the first ever open tryout (2021)
  • Horizon League Player of the Year (2021, 2019)
  • NFCA All-Great Lakes Region First Team (2021)
  • Became the first player in Horizon League history to lead the League in eight offensive categories in a single season
  • One of the most decorated athletes in UIC history with a career batting avg. of .378, 43 HR, 190 RBI and 82 SB in 240 games at UIC
Sami Williams | New York Rise

Sami Williams

  • Postions: SS / 2B / 3B
  • Previous Pro Teams: OKC Spark, Athletes Unlimited
  • College: Iowa State University
  • High School: Dana Hills High School, CA
  • Club Team: Corona Angels
  • Hometown: Chicago, IL

Career Highlights

  • 2021 NFCA First Team All-American
  • 2x NFCA DI All-Midwest Region First Team (2017, 2021)
  • 3x All-Big 12 First Team (2017, 2019, 2021)
  • 2x Big 12 Softball Student-Athlete of the Year (2019, 2021)
  • Big 12 Freshman Team (2017)
  • Honorable Mention All-American by Softball America (2019)
  • 4x CoSIDA Academic All-American (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021)
  • NFCA National Freshman of the Year finalist (2017)
  • 4x Academic All-Big 12 First Team (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021)
  • 2x NCAA Woman of the Year Nominee 2021, 2020
Mariah Lopez | New York Rise

Mariah Lopez

  • Positions: LHP
  • College: The University of Utah
  • High School: Centennial High School
  • Hometown: Peoria, Arizona
  • Club: Firecrackers Arizona

Career Highlights.

  • 2024: All-Pac-12 First-team
  • 2023: NFCA Third-Team All-American
  • 2023: NFCA First-team All-Pacific Region
  • 2023: All-Pac-12 First-team
  • 2023: Pac-12 Tournament Most Outstanding Player
  • 2022: Compiled an 8-5 record in 18 starts and 25 total appearances

During her four year career with the Utes, Lopez held a 2.81 ERA in her 600.2 innings pitched. She is the first pitcher for The University of Utah to have back to back 20+ win seasons (2024/2023).

Nicole Mendes | New York Rise

Nicole Mendes

  • Positions: OF, 1B
  • Pro Experience: Athletes Unlimited
  • College: University of Oklahoma
  • Club Teams: Texas Hotshots
  • Hometown: Houston, TX

Career Highlights

  • Won two WCWS national championships with OU (2017, 2021)
  • Named to WCWS All-Tournament Team (2017, 2019, 2021)
  • All-Region First Team selection (2017)
  • All-Big 12 First Team honoree (2017)
  • Academic All-Big 12 First Team Selection (2021)
  • All-Big 12 Second Team honoree (2018, 2019)
  • At OU, finished second in program history for triples with 15 and ranks 10th in program history with 46 stolen bases
  • Played for the Mexican National Team in the Tokyo Olympics
  • Softball analyst on ESPN broadcasts
Jailyn Ford | New York Rise

Jailyn Ford

  • Positions: P / 1B
  • Pro Experience: Japanese Softball League (Honda Reverta), USSSA Pride, Akron Racers
  • College: James Madison University (JMU)
  • High School: Bath County High School
  • Club Teams: South Australia Starz, Williamsburg Starz
  • Hometown: Hot Springs, VA

Career Highlights

  • 2022 World Games Gold Medalist for Team USA
  • 2022 Canada Cup Champion for Team USA
  • 2016: NFCA First Team All American, CAA Player of the Year for JMU
  • 2015: NFCA Third Team All American, CAA Player of the Year for JMU
  • 2014: CAA Pitcher of the Year for JMU
Hannah Gammill | New York Rise

Hannah Gammill

  • Positions: C/INF
  • College: The University of Arkansas
  • High School: Beebe High School
  • Hometown: Beebe, Arkansas
  • Club: Birmingham Thunderbolts and Lady Lightning Gold

Career Highlights

  • 2024: All-SEC Defensive Team, Community Service Team
  • 2023: Extra Inning Softball Fayetteville Regional All-Tournament Team, CSC Academic All-District, USA Softball Player of the Year Top 50 Watch List
  • 2022: NFCA First Team All-American, NFCA All-South Region First Team NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete, D1Softball First Team All-American, Softball America First Team All-American, All-SEC First Team, SEC All-Defensive Team
  • 2021: NFCA All-South Region Second Team

In her four years with the Razorbacks Gammil was a .281/.428/.568 career hitter in her 211 games played. A versatile athlete who split time between catcher and third base who held a .965 overall fielding percentage.

Ryan Henry | New York Rise

Ryan Henry

  • Position: C
  • College: Villanova University
  • High School: Ramsey High School
  • Hometown: Ramsey, New Jersey

Career Highlights

  • 2023: All-BIG EAST (Second Team)
  • 2023: Easton/NFCA Scholar-Athlete
  • 2023: Big East All-Academic Team
  • 2022: Easton/NFCA Scholar-Athlete
  • 2022: BIG EAST All-Academic Team
  • 2021: All-BIG EAST (First Team)
  • 2021: NFCA Mideast All-Region Team (Third Team)
  • 2021: Big East Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Award

Ended her Villanova career as a two time Big East Champion and as third in school history for career home runs with 31. A career .263/.338/.497 hitter. Has power to all fields and led the BIG EAST with 13 home runs during the 2021 season.

Sarah Cornell | New York Rise

Sarah Cornell

  • Positions: P / DP
  • Previous Pro Team: Amsterdam Pirates
  • Colleges: University of Alabama, Hofstra University
  • High School: WT Clarke High School
  • Club Team: Team Long Island
  • Hometown: Westbury, NY

Career Highlights

  • NY Softball Hall of Famer (2022 Inductee)
  • SEC Pitcher of the Year for Alabama (2019)
  • Colonial Athletic Association Pitcher of the Year for Hofstra (2018)
  • Gatorade New York Softball player of the year (2016)
  • Collegiate Win-Loss record of 49-11
Makena Smith | New York Rise

Makena Smith

  • Positions: C / 3B
  • Pro Experience: Vipers, JDL Shining Vega (Japan)
  • Colleges: Cal Berkeley
  • High School: Murrieta Valley High School
  • Club Teams: So Cal Choppers
  • Hometown: Murietta, CA

Career Highlights

  • 2023 NFCA Third Team All American
  • 2022: NFCA Third Team All American
  • 2022: First Team All Pac-12
Linnie Malkin | New York Rise

Linnie Malkin

  • Positions: OF / 1B
  • Previous Pro Team: Sparks Haarlem (Amsterdam)
  • Colleges: University of Arkansas
  • High School: Broomfield High School
  • Club Team: Colorado Stars
  • Hometown: Broomfield, CO

Career Highlights

  • NFCA First Team All-American (2022)
  • First Team All-SEC (2022)
  • NFCA All-South Region First Team (2022)
  • NFCA All-South Region Second Team (2021)
  • SEC Academic Honor Roll (2020, 2021)
  • All time home run leader at Arkansas with 50 home runs
  • In her final year at Arkansas, Linnie hit 22 home runs and had 68 RBI in 51 games played, with an OPS of 1.334
Laurin Krings | New York Rise

Laurin Krings

  • Positions: Pitcher
  • College: University of Missouri
  • High School: Loveland High School
  • Club Teams: Nebraska Gold
  • Hometown: Loveland, Colorado

Career Highlights

  • 2024: SEC All-Defensive Team and the SEC All-Tournament Team.
  • 2023: Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week (April 25, 2023)
  • SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week (April 25, 2023)
  • No-Hitter vs. North Texas (April 21, 2023)
  • 2022: No-Hitter vs. Bethune-Cookman (Feb. 19, 2022)
  • Perfect Game vs. Bradley (March 6, 2022)

Compiled a career 2.79 ERA with a 57-32 record and 599 strikeouts in her 604.2 innings pitched during her time as a Tiger.

Alex Honnold | New York Rise

Alex Honnold

  • Positions: Outfield
  • College: University of Missouri
  • High School: Valley High School
  • Club Teams: Iowa Premier Gold
  • Hometown: West Des Moines, Iowa

Career Highlights

  • 2023: NFCA Second-Team All-American
  • Top 25 Finalist for the 2023 USA Softball Player of the Year
  • 2023 NFCA Second-Team All-Region (Southeast)
  • 2023 All-SEC Second Team
  • 2023 College Sports Communicators Third-Team Academic All-American
  • 2023 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District

A .331/.544/.426 career hitter and held a .987 fielding percentage in her 229 total games played with The University of Missouri. Broke the school record for the most doubles in a singular season with 21 in 2024.

Riley Blampied | New York Rise

Riley Blampied

  • Positions: INF
  • College: University of South Carolina
  • High School: Crisp County High School
  • Hometown: Cordele, Georgia

Career Highlights

  • 2024: College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team
  • 2023: College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team

During her time with the gamecocks she was career .273/.338/.448 hitter alongside a .934 overall fielding percentage.

Chenise Delce | New York Rise

Chenise Delce

  • Positions: P / DP
  • Pro Experience: OKC Spark
  • Colleges: University of Arkansas, University of Tulsa
  • High School: Carl Albert High School
  • Club Teams: OK Athletics
  • Hometown: Edmond, OK

Career Highlights

  • 2023 All-SEC First Team
  • 2022 SEC Pitcher of the Year and SEC Tournament MVP
  • 2022: NFCA Second Team All American
  • 2021: AAC First Team All-American
  • 2019: AAC Rookie of the Year and AAC First Team All-American
Mary Iakopo | New York Rise

Mary Iakopo

  • Position: (C, 5’10, R/R)
  • College: University of Texas
  • High School: Los Alamitos
  • Hometown: Carson, California
  • Professional: Smash It Sports Vipers

Career Highlights

  • 2022: Big 12 Conference Preseason Team
  • 2021: USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year Top 50 Watch List, First Team All-Big 12 Conference
  • 2020: Softball America Preseason Second Team All-American
  • 2019: NFCA First Team All-Central Region
  • 2018: Second Team All-Pac-12 Conference, Pac-12 Conference All-Freshman
Courtney Wyche | New York Rise

Courtney Wyche

  • Positions: RHP
  • College: The University of Maryland
  • High School: Montgomery Blair High School
  • Hometown: Silver Springs, Maryland
  • Club: Birmingham Thunderbolts and Lady Lightning Gold

Career Highlights

  • 2024: Named to the Big Ten All-Tournament Team, Named to the Big Ten All-Second Team, Led the Big Ten in strikeouts (243), NCAA Pitcher of the Week (3/29)
  • 2023: Named to the All Big Ten Second Team, named to the NFCA Midwest All Region Second team
  • 2022: Named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week (4/25), the first honor for a pitcher since Maryland joined the conference in 2015

Ended her five year career with the Maryland Terps with a 3.38 ERA in her 636.2 innings pitched. Finished third all-time in career strikeouts (668) and tied for fourth all-time in shutouts (13).

Ashley Trierweiler | New York Rise

Ashley Trierweiler

  • Positions: 1B/OF
  • College: Grand Canyon University, Santa Clara University
  • High School: Carlmont High School
  • Hometown: Belmont, California

Career Highlights

  • 2024: National Fastpitch Coaches Association’s All-West Region second team
  • 2023: Named Second Team D1Softball All-American, Third Team NFCA All-American, First Team NFCA All-Pacific Region, Second Team CSC Academic All-America®, First Team All-WCC, WCC All-Academic and Academic All-District by College Sports Communicators
  • 2022: Named First Team All-WCC for the second-straight season, WCC All-Academic Team
  • 2021: Schutt Sports/NFCA DI Freshman of the Year nominee, WCC Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All-WCC
Caroline Wang | New York Rise

Caroline Wang

  • Position: C | R / R | 5/7″
  • College: Oklahoma State University / Liberty University
  • High School: Henry County
  • Hometown: Paris, TN

Career Highlights

  • 2021 ASUN All-Tournament Team
  • 2022 ASUN Player of the Year
  • 2022 NFCA All-Southeast Region Third Team
  • 2022 First Team All-ASUN
  • 2022 ASUN Defensive Player of the Year
  • 2022 VaSID All-State first team
  • 2022 ASUN All-Academic Team
  • 2023 ASUN Player of the Year
  • 2022 NFCA All-Southeast Region Second Team
  • 2023 First Team All-ASUN
  • 2023 CSC Academic All-America Third Team
  • 2023 CSC Academic All-District
  • 2023 ASUN All-Academic Team
  • 2024 NFCA Third Team All-American
Sydney McCray | New York Rise

Sydney McCray

  • Positon: OF
  • College: Grand Canyon University, Florida Southwestern State
  • High School: Lakewood Ranch High School
  • Hometown: Bradenton, Florida

Career Highlights

  • 2023: 2nd Team NJCAA All-American
  • 2023: 1st Team FCSAA-All State
  • 2023: 1st Team All-Southern Conference
  • 2023: 2nd Team NFCA All-South Region
  • 2023: NJCAA National Tournament All-Tournament Team
  • 2023: Southern Conference All-Academic Team
Northwell Orthopedics Logo

The Official Health Care Provider of the New York Rise

Kevin Cipriano, MD

Kevin Cipriano, MD

Dr. Cipriano is a Non-Operative Sports Medicine Physician who completed his training in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Georgetown University and his Sports Medicine specialty training at Emory University. He has worked with a wide variety of athletes from all levels including High School, Division 3 and Division 1 college athletics as well as Professional Football and Basketball with the NFL and NBA.

His clinical focus ranges from acute musculoskeletal injuries to more overuse and degenerative injuries and utilizes nonsurgical treatment to get his patient’s back to full health and activity. He is a native New Yorker, growing up on Long Island and is excited to be back home helping to treat patients and athletes and his community alike.

Lynn Wille, ATC, LAT, EMT

Lynn Wille, ATC, LAT, EMT

Lynn is a Certified Athletic Trainer at Carey High School. She received her B.S in Athletic Training at Hofstra University and minored in Physical Education and Psychology.

She is a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA), a Certified NYS Public High School Athletic Association Wrestling Minimum Weight Assessor (NYSPHSAA), a Certified IMPACT Trained Athletic Trainer, an EMT, and a Class A Structural Fire Fighter.

Armando Rodrigues, ATC

Armando Rodriguez, ATC

Armando is a Certified Athletic Trainer at West Hempstead High School. He is entering his 18th year as an Athletic Trainer.

He graduated from University of Florida with a Bachelor’s in Exercise & Sports Science, and graduated from St. John’s University with a Master’s in Sports Management. Armando has experience in collegiate, high school, and clinically.

Taylor Kenney, ATC

Taylor Kenney, ATC

Taylor is a Certified Athletic Trainer at East Islip High School. She received her undergraduate degree in Athletic Training from the State University of New York at Cortland in 2019, and received her Master’s degree in Health and Human Performance with a specific focus in strength and conditioning from Canisius in 2022.

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