PINE Mountain softballer Lianna Doyle will receive a clearer indication of her future international opportunities after returning from the latest national training camp in Blacktown.
Regardless of what happens next, Lianna is already a winner.
Having turned 18 in January, the former West Moreton Anglican College student was recently selected in the Australian under-19 squad which is preparing for the World Cup and Canada Cup competitions later this year.
Her versatile talents were recognised after she represented the Queensland team that finished second at the national under-18 club championships in Mirrabooka, Western Australia, earlier this year.
Lianna was pleased with her form, having hit the winning runs for Queensland in a 5-4 victory over NSW in a preliminary match. That was the first time she had shared in a Queensland win over their powerhouse rivals.
Although NSW went on to clinch the final 8-1, the Queenslanders improved on their previous fourth placing at the nationals.
Lianna shared in a majority of Queensland’s matches, playing catcher or on first base, in addition to contributing with the bat.
“My batting average [300] was pretty good – one of my best I’ve had at national level so I was happy with that,” she said.
The sporting allrounder heads to Blacktown today [March 1] eager to continue impressing national selectors.
She joins the under-19 squad receiving specialist coaching and fitness testing.
The softballers of the future will also get to watch the Aussie Spirit open women’s team play the Chinese Taipei national women’s side in a six-game series.
Lianna received a taste of high-performance training last year at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.
However, the latest camp is the next major step in Lianna’s quest to represent Australia at a World Cup or prestigious Canada Cup.
After the six-day camp in NSW, the squad will be trimmed to a national team heading to Dallas, in the United States, for the first stage of the Under-18 Women’s World Cup.
“Dallas will be a big goal because that’s World Cup and Canada is still a big goal because it means a lot … playing games against other international teams,” Lianna said.
She was previously chosen in an All-Australian softball team at school level and played against some New Zealand sides at national championships.
She was also selected in the under-14 national squad that didn’t get an opportunity due to Covid.
In 2022, she was named in the Aussie Diamonds under-16 squad before last year making another squad. She missed out on a trip to Canada.
After graduating from West Moreton Anglican College last year, Lianna is motivated to see how much further she can take her softball career.
She remains busier than ever juggling her softball commitments, casual work and having just started a Bachelor of Nursing degree.
“It’s tough but I reckon I’ll manage,” she said.
Lianna plays regular Saturday matches with Tigers in the Ipswich competition and for Redsox in Brisbane.
As she prepared for the all-important national camp, Lianna said she appreciated growing up on her family’s property at Pine Mountain.
Encouraged by her supportive parents Helen and Steve, Lianna said having the space to play sport in the backyard was beneficial.
