But in-between the likes of Manly and North Shore players are a group of five doing their best to represent the country kids.

Finley Gutherson, Mitch Crossman, Alana Tracey, Ineke Keed and Ky Hurst all play in the Orange District Softball Association and have all been selected in the 2022 under 18s NSW squads.

This is Tracey's first time being selected in the state squad and is looking to show what she's made of.

"It's a good opportunity for country people as well. We're overlooked sometimes and it's a really good opportunity to represent my association and all country people," she said.

"I'm pretty nervous about it but it's exciting and should be a lot of fun."

Training alongside her will be Keed. This is the second time the utility player has been chosen to trial for the state team and welcomed a familiar face.

"It was pretty cool to be selected in the girl's team last year but it feels good to have Alana with me, because it's good to have a teammate alongside you," she said.

"It feels pretty great to represent the country in softball. There's not many country towns that play softball, so it's pretty cool to represent Orange."

That leaves Gutherson, Crossman and Hurst on the boy's side.

Gutherson plays the corner infield and hopes his all-round ability will appeal to selectors.

"I had to try hard to get in as there are some pretty good boys in there," he said.

"I feel that I'm not great in one aspect but I'm pretty all-round and I want to contribute as much as possible."

Hurst was delighted the process was able to go ahead following COVID.

"I thought it was going to be cancelled," he said.

"I'm keen to get back into it after all this time."

That just leaves outfielder Crossman.

"It's always a good feeling to get your talent recognised by other people," he said on his selection.

"This will be my eighth season playing softball and after getting practice in regularly I've started to improve my skills and finally being recognised as a talented player."

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