The 17-year-old has been playing baseball for nearly five years and was selected in the New South Wales team which competed at the national competition on the Gold Coast in April this year.

From that competition an Australian team was selected. While Samantha was not chosen, she was selected in the development team.

Head coach of the NSW Women’s Baseball program Darren King said a roundtable discussion was held at the end of the competition to discuss the possible reasons why Australia consistently finishes just outside of medal contention at the Women’s World Cup.

“We certainly have the athletes and the ability and the team seems to be stronger and more talented with each campaign, yet the results remain the same,” Mr King said.

“A major point that came from the discussions is that our players are not exposed to enough international competition and are often over-awed when playing on the world stage.

“Although there are various teams that travel abroad to play, the competition is often sub-standard making it difficult to gain that high level experience.

“The 13 players selected (in the development team) are potentially, the future of the Australian National Women’s team.”

The two week tour from August 4 to 18 will include games in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami and Canada.

“It will be a similar tour as the Australian team, but not as many games,” Samantha said.

“The team varies in age from 16 to early 30s and I am the second youngest.

“The trip is going to be awesome and I am so excited. I hope to eventually be picked in the Australian team.

“I have been getting tips from the number one catcher as that is the position I am aiming for.

“She is six to seven years older than me and I am never going to beat her, so I just have to wait my time until I get older.”

The trip is costing $4500 and Samantha also needs to buy her own meals and have spending money as the team is staying in motels.

She is currently fundraising and working as well as studying for her HSC and going to training in Sydney weekly for eight weeks.

“But it is a trip of a lifetime and I really want to make the Australian team one day, so I need to put in the effort now,” Samantha said.