The 16-year-old, who was Southern Districts Softball Association sportsman of the year last season, has been picked in the 2010 Australian Under-19 Men's squad and if he keeps his head on straight he will compete in the 2012 ISF XI Men's World Championship in South America.

He'd love to be the first-string catcher.

``He's now realised that to make the world side he's got to be a catcher,'' said his mum Eliza O'Leary, a former player and now coach.

``He's determined.''

He was picked after his performances in Western Australia in January when he helped his state Under-19 men's team to victory on foreign turf against the home side taking out the Nox Bailey Shield.

Liam's brother Kieran, 14, has also recently had success representing NSW in their winning Under-16 men's team in January at Blacktown, snatching the Arthur Allsopp Shield.

``My boys go out there to play, they did brilliant,'' Mrs O'Leary said of the brothers who have been playing softball since age seven.

``Both my boys intend to play in the (open) Australian team and they're hoping to both play in the same side that's their ultimate goal.

``Liam is going for the Under-19s world side because he wants to obviously make the (open) world side, and Kieran is going to try and make the next (Under 19s) world side.''

Sporting the unusual mix of being a right-handed fielder and left-handed batter, Liam trains four nights a week and will not give up his goal of representing the country.

The St Gregory's College year 12 student is presently getting ready for the International Friendship Series in Sydney in July.

The series consists of a training and competition program which will be a development and instructional opportunity for Liam, and the competition is the first stage of a pathway to further national and international opportunities.

The O'Leary family received financial assistance from Camden Council through the special achievers' program, which is available to residents younger than 23 who represent the state or country in a cultural, academic or sporting activity.