MOUNT Isa local man, Alex Cleary has been successful in making the Australian Under 19 Softball team for the second year in a row.
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At the start of 2015, Cleary was one of the 39 man squad selected from the national softball championships in Sydney to compete in the Friendship Series in July.
The 39 man squad was separated into two teams and played other state teams including, Queensland, New South Wales City and Country teams along with an Australian Capital Territory team.
From there 17 players were selected for the 2016 National Championship Team.
“To play for Australia and wearing the green and gold is the best feeling in the world,” Cleary said.
“Doing it for a second time in the same Under 19 age bracket is something I count my lucky stars for.”
Cleary said the most rewarding part of playing for Australia was being around his team mates.
“The guys that are in the team I've play along side and against for many years. When you spend a whole month away all playing together it just really brings everyone together. Everyone wants that gold medal just as much as the other and everyone just fights so hard to get it, to get it together!”
Due to work commitments in the mines, Cleary doesn’t play as much as he would like to.
“When I was younger in grade 12, I spent more time playing sport away than I did at school. Every couple of weekends I was away playing in a different tournament. Now with work I don't get to play as much but when I do I cherish every moment.”
Cleary has a strong passion and vision for his career in the Australian softball team, determined to make the Australian Men’s team, The Steelers.
“It seems like a long way from now but I never know where I will end up.
“My first memory of playing softball was my very first game of fast track (a modified game of softball for children), I was so happy to play up in the grade above mine and I hit a home run to top it off.”
“Seeing the older guys play just made me want to be like them. As soon as I was old enough to make a Mount Isa team I tried out for Under 15s and made it. From there I played for various teams in different tournaments all over Australia.”
Cleary said his family had been his biggest supporters.
“They come to just about every tournament I play and my dad takes thousands of photos at each one. They love softball so the more teams I make I think makes them just that little bit more proud.”
Cleary will play his first game of the season in the middle of March.
