Plenty Valley’s Sophie Van De Heuvel is a name to watch out for in Australian women’s cricket.
Van De Heuvel, who was 15 last week, is turning in top performances no matter the level she is competing in or who she is playing.
She has competed in several age-group state championships and recently returned from the under-15 Female National Championships in Hobart.
Her national championship efforts led to her selection in a Cricket Australia development squad, meaning she could play for CA at the under-18 national championships in Canberra next month.
And despite her youth, this season she has been playing with Plenty Valley in the top women’s cricket competition in the state, Victorian Premier Cricket.
For Van De Heuvel, it has been a whirlwind couple of months.
“It’s been really fun – my goal at the national championships was to get one 50,” she said. “I got that so I’m happy with my performance.”
The all-rounder represented Central Highlands at last week’s under-18 state championships and finished ninth on the runs list with 118 at an average of 29.5.
She took seven wickets, the eighth most at the event.
Originally with Golden Point Cricket Club in the Ballarat Cricket Association, she played with Napoleons/Sebastopol in Premier Cricket seconds last season before stepping up to the top competition this season.
She has been far from overawed, averaging 17 runs a game in the Bats’ top order and taking four wickets.
“It can be pretty tiring, travelling from home to Melbourne twice a week,” she said.
“But it’s been really fun and you get to play with and against famous people.”
She cited the likes of English international Danni Wyatt and Victorian player Kirsty Lamb as being inspirational.
“They tell me to play my own game,” she said.
Van De Heuvel, who prefers batting to bowling, started with Milo cricket, and both her brother and dad play the sport.
Highlands under-18 coach Nicole Martin said she could see no reason why Van De Heuvel couldn’t represent her country one day.
“She has a massive future ahead of her,” Martin said.
“She dominated the under-15 national championships and she can bat, bowl and field.
“She has the skills to play at a high level and if she continues to apply them she’ll have success.”
Martin said the opportunity to play women’s cricket had been really beneficial for Van De Heuvel.
“I don’t think it matters who she is playing against,” she said.
“The fact that she can play premier firsts cricket is good for her.”
