I started playing softball at the age of 12, I was absolutely hopeless. The other girls were amazing. I was lucky to have really great coaches like Mr Tata who saw potential in me, and each year I kept on improving. At 14 I made a New Zealand team for the first time. My Mum wasn’t at that tournament, which was unusual. My rep coach Ardie took me back to the hotel room to call her. I told her “Guess what? I made the New Zealand side!” There was dead silence on the line, and then I could hear her crying down the phone. I remember that phone call, I was so proud to make my Mum proud. My mum had become really unwell when I was 13. For years she struggled with her mental health. I spent many years trying to excel at things to give my mum and dad moments of happiness.
