The centre fielder travelled to Redlands in October to participate in the Open State Softball Championships, and was selected as one of the 23 man squad to represent Queensland.

The 20-year-old was named as a member of the squad after putting on a stand-out performance during selection opportunities.

Cleary will now train until July 2018 for the Australian U23 National Championships located in Redlands, where he will compete for the Laing Harrow Shield.

The Laing Harrow Shield is a trophy symbolising the Under 23 Men's Championship of the Australian Softball Federation and was founded to bridge the gap between the Under 19s competition and the Open Men’s league.

This was not the first time Cleary had been selected for a Queensland softball representative team.

“I have made the Queensland rep team every year since I was 13,” he said.

“Because I have been selected for the last seven years, when I go to play down south it is a great opportunity to catch up with mates from all over the state who I have grown up playing softball with.”

Although it is a rewarding experience, Cleary said it was difficult travelling from outback Queensland to south-east Queensland to compete.

“There is a great local competition here in Mount Isa but the players aren’t as competitive as what they are down south. So to travel down there and compete against some bigger competitors makes you appreciate the opportunity when you do make it on a state representative team.

“When you get to the Open Men’s division you get to the point where you can’t test yourself locally and need to travel to see how you match up against other people in the state.

“It is a lot more challenging to play down south. But the more opportunities I take, the more eyes that can see my game and potentially select me.”

Cleary hopes that he also makes the Queensland Open Men’s team so he could one day play for the Australian Open Men’s Softball league.