Looking back on the events of the 2022 softball season prompted the question, “Would I have done anything differently?”

In short, yes. Re-reading some of the exchanges, knowing what I know now, I certainly would’ve changed my tone and approach, but maybe not how some would think.

I’d have gone harder, and been louder, calling out all the bullshit we had to endure at the hands of the “Castleknock Softball Club Management Group”, the Softball Leinster committee, and the national governing body, Softball Ireland. There were some incredibly entitled people and out-of-line perspectives and exchanges that should’ve been broadcast to a larger audience. (I have “kept all the receipts”, if there is any doubt or debate, and can prove every word I say.)

Abuse of power. Intimidation. Framing. Hypocrisy. Isolation. Negligence. Corruption. Cronyism. This is what softball in Ireland involves. We suffered it all, called it out, have not been publicly vindicated, and probably never will be.

Will I play softball again? I don’t know. Next year is a long way off. It is very unlikely that I will play. The softball community, on the whole, are bystanders, and fear the consequences of opposing the status quo. After all, look what happened to us? Most simply don’t want to expose themselves to controversy. Many like the status quo, as it suits them; and there are those who have the luxury, and like the feeling of smug superiority, to “just want to play ball” while ignoring when others are being abused, because it doesn’t affect them directly. It doesn’t seem to matter that the status quo is clearly wrong, has been wrong, needs to change, everyone knows it needs to change… and yet, “oh gosh, we might upset someone if we do that!”

I’m the troublemaker, and won’t be missed. Maybe if playing makes them even more uncomfortable, that wouldn’t be the worst option… food for thought.