Picking up a bat for the first time seriously at 11 years old, Stacey Norton-Smith was left little choice but to duck and defend against the boys.
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So few were the options back then she was asked to play in Cricket North's senior women's competition.
"I was like this tiny little girl and I thought it was a good joke for a bit of laugh," the now 17-year-old said.
But Norton-Smith stuck with what seemed a monumental challenge at the time and is now happy she did so.
"How much it has changed in the last six years has just been for someone like myself and other young girls amazing to see," she said.
The opportunity to face up against Tasmania Tigers and Hobart Hurricanes women is something that has looked to reignite Norton-Smith's cricket without being forced to relocate to Hobart.
State contracted players like ex-teammate Courtney Webb - who gave up an AFLW career to pursue the game - and Sophie Parkin were the last few to leave Launceston under the arrangement.
"Probably the most exciting part is that opportunity to play against girls that are at the level that you inspire to be at one day," she said.
"Katelyn Fryett has come back and played a few club games for Launceston.
"That's just one player, but it's nice to know this is the level they are doing things so this is where we need to be."
One of some 50 cricketers from the North and North-West to show early interest to dual coaches Darren Simmonds and Robert Stewart, Norton-Smith was just full of praise for the new initiative from the Raiders.
"The resourcing of the set-up and the coaching behind the team is a plan for it," she said. "Personally, I think it just makes so much sense."