WARRACKNABEAL’S Summer Schultz will play on the Melbourne Cricket Ground next year in Cricket Victoria’s Pathway Program VicSpirit under-18 state championship final.
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Schultz is the Wimmera’s lone representative in Western Waves’ under-18 squad.
The championship began in Melbourne on December 10 and the round stage finished late last week.
The Waves will play Gippsland Pride in the final of the championship after both teams finished with four wins and no losses.
They were the only two undefeated sides.
The Waves, who boast several state players, beat South West and Northern Rivers in back-to-back Twenty20 matches on the first day of competition.
In the first match, the team conceded 35 sundries but still managed to chase down South West’s 86 runs within their 20 overs.
The Waves made short work of Northern Rivers, restricting the team to 4-58 before making 126 in reply. Schultz bowled two overs against Northern Rivers, finishing with figures of 0-10.
In the team’s third match against Northern Metro, Schultz batted for the only time during the tournament.
Coming in at number 11, she finished unbeaten on zero as the Waves easily won the match.
The final match against South East Sharks was also a romp for the Waves, who bowled their opponent out for just 31 runs.
The undefeated run earned them a berth in the state final on the MCG on February 23.
Schultz, who plays netball for Wimmera Netball Association side Warrack Eagles, impressed selectors to make the team as a bottom-age player.
Waves coach Jamie Fenech said Schultz was impressive despite limited opportunities with the bat and ball.
“Summer is a bottom-age player at the tournament so she did well to make the team,” he said.
“She was a consistent performer for us throughout the week.
“I’m pretty sure she will have to bowl or bat in the final and she will have a role to play but she was consistent all week and good in the field.”
Fenech said the championship would be good experience for Schultz.
“Hopefully it’s a bit of a learning experience for her and we would look for her to take on more of a role for the Waves next year,” he said.
“She loves her cricket – she’s pretty passionate about it – and she wants to learn which is the main thing.”
