By Tara Murray
Hannah Scott’s rise through the softball ranks has been quicker than what she expected.
Scott made her Victorian senior debut as an 18-year-old and had been part of the Australian Junior Spirit. She was looking to represent the national team again late last year.
That quickly changed when she got a call from Australian Spirit coach Laing Harrow saying she had been called up to the senior women’s team.
“It was absolutely unreal,” she said. “I had a call from Laing a couple of weeks out from the series.
“He gave me the news playing with the Spirit and I could not believe it, I think I was nearly crying all day with excitement and happiness.
“It has been a dream of mine since I was a young girl, it was just surreal.”
Scott said it was an amazing experience and she would take a lot from it going forward. She said the hard work was just beginning.
“I was so excited to take the diamond for the first time, such an incredible experience,” she said.
“I have to keep working hard and developing my game and getting stronger and getting faster and working on all the different aspects of my game.
“My goal was always to be playing in the Olympics. Leading in 2028 I want to play as much softball as I can.”
Softball will return to the Olympics in 2028 with Scott keen to help the Australian team qualify for the event.
For Scott, the softball diamond has always been home.
“I was about three or four when I started playing,” she said. “I started playing T-ball as mum had played her whole life and my nan and pop as well.
“My mum played baseball for Australia and I’d always around softball even when I was in a pram, sitting and watching her play.
“It’s a massive family sport for us, we’re there every weekend, We’re the first ones at the ground and the last ones to leave, I just love everything about the sport “
Scott, who grew up in Mernda, started her softball at the Cheetahs Softball Club in the Northern Districts Softball Association.
She said the club was like a family to her.
While softball has been her true love, Scott is also a talented footballer.
She played in the Coates Talent League with the Northern Knights, before making her Victorian Football League Women’s debut last year with Carlton.
“I’ve played footy, maybe five, six years now,” she said. “I love footy as well, it’s kind of my winter sport… It’s really good for my fitness.”
Scott said playing AFLW was always a goal of hers as well, but softball remained the main focus.
After the highs of her Australia debut, Scott was back on the pitch with the Victorian team at the 2025 Gilley’s Shield Open Women’s National Championships
The team finished fourth in the division one competition.
Speaking during the event, Scott said they had been hoping to play finals.
Scott said her focus now was to continue working hard at the Victorian Institute of Sport and play as much softball as she can, whether locally, nationally or internationally.
