Lasagne secret behind busy teen's success | Hawkes Bay Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Hawkes Bay

DON'T expect Emma Houkamau to be complaining about being bored these holidays.

With trainings for three Hawke's Bay representative softball teams to attend as well as the tournaments during the next three consecutive weeks, 14-year-old Houkamau won't have time to be.

"I've missed the odd under-15 team training because I've either been at an under-17 or under-19 team training," Houkamau explained during a breather between drill stations at an under-17 team training at Akina Park, Hastings, last week.

Promising catcher Houkamau is the only Bay age-group representative who will play three tourneys this month.

Her national under-19 tournament will start in Auckland on Thursday and continue until Sunday, her under-15 tournament will be played in Tauranga from January 12-15 and her under-17 nationals in Christchurch from January 19-22.

In March, she will play for her Napier Girls' High School team at the Palmerston North-hosted national secondary schools' tourney and, having already played the Palmy-hosted Central Region under-17 tournament last month, Houkamau will have played five tournaments before she swaps her catching gear bag for her netball gear bag in April.

"I don't mind the workload. Changing from team to team is fun," Houkamau said.

She does it regularly during the season when she plays for three different club teams, the Dodgers premier women and under-19 teams and Pumas NGHS senior B women, providing their times don't clash on Saturdays as well as her school team in the Monday competition.

A Bay representative since she was 10, Houkamau has high hopes for all three Bay teams she will travel away with this month. The under-19s include the bulk of last summer's under-17 side which secured a top four finish and will be boosted by Junior White Sox captain and pitcher Rita Hokianga in her final outing in Bay colours before beginning a scholarship in the United States.

"Our under-17s have a good chance of winning the tournament as we have the majority of our under-15 team that won the nationals last summer and, with this summer's under-15 team including six players from last summer's team, it should do well too," Houkamau said.

Teammates of Houkamau in the under-15 side who are also eyeing back-to-back national titles are Hera Kahukura, Arawhiu Crawford, Lara Kendrick, Samarah Simmons and Alana Rahui.

One of 15 Pumas who have gained Bay rep honours this summer, Houkamau, hopes to continue her run of various paper-only tournament team selections she has had over the years. She has gained tournament team selection at under-13, under-15 and under-17 levels.

One of the keys to her success is her combination with New Zealand under-16 team pitcher and long-time Dodgers clubmate Courtney Gettins who she has caught to since they made the Bay under-13 team together four years ago.

"We're pretty close and have a good understanding. We also try and have extra trainings on our own too," Houkamau said.

"I hope to follow Courtney into New Zealand teams in the future and hopefully end up catching to her for the Junior White Sox."

She rates Gettins parents, former White Sox infielder Charmaine Gettins and Junior White Sox assistant coach Kevin Gettins, as the best coaches she has had over the years.

Pumas stalwart Roger Aranui got her started in the catcher's role and she receives plenty of catching tips from her father, long-serving Pumas catcher Tama Houkamau.

"Dad reckons I'll make a better pitcher than a catcher but I prefer catcher and, if I had to, I would play anywhere in the infield," Houkamau said.

Other keys to her success are dedication and hard work as well as plenty of lasagne made by her mother Olwyn, a regular scorer and chaperone of her Bay teams.

The lasagne is legendary in Hawke's Bay softball circles and is often ordered by teams Houkamau isn't playing for.

"I must thank all the businesses who have supported my fundraising drives this summer," Houkamau said.

"Without them I might have had to drop one of the trips."

Other Bay teams which will be attending national tournaments this month include the under-19 boys in Christchurch from Thursday until Sunday, the under-15 boys in Wanganui from January 12-15 and the under-17 boys in Paraparaumu from January 19-22.