Wagga schoolboy Troy Piercy will don the green and gold of Australia in July when he represents his country on the international stage.
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Piercy was rewarded for an exceptional performance at the under 17 national championships earlier this year with selection in the Australian team.
The 16-year-old represented ACT and was given his team’s Best Batter and Most Valuable Player awards after a spectacular championships.
It paved the way for selection in the Australian under 17 boy’s team.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Piercy said.
“I’m the underage of the team so I couldn’t believe that I actually made the team.
“I did have a good carnival so I was hoping I had a chance to make the team but I didn’t think I would make the team really.
“I always strive to play my best so I was hoping I could play my best and hopefully get that as a reward.”
Piercy is excited about the opportunity to represent Australia at the Friendship Games in Brisbane.
“It’s good, it’s something different,” he said.
“I’ve never done that so far up before. I’ve only played state, nothing ever bigger than that so it should be fun.”
Piercy, a year 11 student at Kooringal High School, will spend 10 days in Brisbane.
They will train then play games against a number of opponents that often travel from as far as United States, Japan and New Zealand.
Piercy will have an important batting role within the Australian team after boasting the second best average at the national championships.
He is also expected to play catcher, but can also fill in at short stop or second and third bases.
“Hopefully I go good,” he said.
“I’ll strive to do my best but you never know what you’re coming up against.”
While talent, selection in the Australian under 17 team has not come easy.
Piercy travels to Canberra most Sundays for training, he also plays there on Monday nights in the B and C grade men’s competition.
He also trains with the Turvey Park A grade women’s team, while helping out with the Southern Sports Academy coaching.
While there is not the same opportunities as their female counterparts, like the Olympic Games, there is still a pathway for the likes of Piercy.
To represent Australia at the under 19 World Cup in 2020 is one goal, while to one day represent the Aussie Steelers, the national open men’s team, is another.
