TEEN FIRES UP
CRICKET: The South Burnett has produced another promising cricketer, with Courtney Sippel earning herself a professional contract with Queensland Fire for the 2018/19 season.
“I am very happy. I got a call from (Queensland Fire coach) Brett Jones saying they were offering me a contract. I knew I was in the mix but it was still pleasing to hear,” she said.
Sippel, 17, has had her sights on earning a professional contract since she was 13 and has made the most of the opportunities presented to her in recent seasons.
She played in the WBBL under-18 exhibition match last season after impressing in the Queensland U18 Women’s team at the national championships.
The Murgon resident also caught the eye of selectors with 523 in a Queensland XI that defeated the touring USA Women’s team in a one-day game in April.
She said the highlights from last season included her performance with the bat and ball.
“I scored my first 100 for Wests and took my second five wickets,” she said.
In the junior ranks Sippel (pictured) was known as a bowler and an injury at the start of the 2016/ 17 season provided her the opportunity to show her ability with the bat.
She said it was a turning point. Prior to the injury, Sippel was opening the bowling and in turn batting down the order.
She then earned a position that season at the national championships on her success as a batter.
Sippel scored her first ton for the Western Suburbs District Cricket Club in the 2017/18 season and has been signed as an allrounder.
“I think she has gone through challenges and they have made her stronger,” Courtney’s mum Leanne said.
This injury was a precursor to a stress fracture in her lower back; an injury fellow South Burnett cricketer Holly Ferling has also had.
During this time Ferling was a great supporter and mentor for Sippel and they are now Wests and Fire teammates.
“If we do get the chance to play together for Queensland it will work really well,” Sippel said.
She has played for Wests for two seasons but due to travel constraints has never made it to a training session.
“She has done nearly all of her training by herself and has been self-motivated and self-driven,” Leanne said.
It is an exciting time for Sippel, who has relocated to the Sunshine Coast to pursue her cricket career.
Leanne said her daughter’s move to the Sunshine Coast was purely for her cricket and to allow her to get to training.