Central Highlands' under-14 girls, under-17 girls and under-18 boys squads have been announced for the 2019-20 cricket season.
Grampians Girls' Ruby Evans, Aradale's Sarah Ralph and Buangor's Aaron Byron have been named in their respective age groups squads.
Players have been selected based on performances in club cricket, association representative cricket and the Youth Premier League 2018-19 season.
The selected squads of players will have the opportunity to participate in a winter coaching program, giving players access to top-level coaches.
Grampians Cricket Association joint secretary Gary Cunningham said it was a "terrific honour for the players to make initial squads".
It's an honour to be recognised, to have the chance to represent Grampians cricket
- Aaron Byron
Cunningham has watched Ralph, who made the under-17 girls squad, move through the association's junior cricket competitions.
"Sarah is a talented left-armed medium-paced bowler, identified a number of years ago through a junior cricket academy," he said.
"Playing in a number of talent identification squads and talent programs I remember a comment made about Sarah that she could go on to play at an elite level of cricket."
Selected in the under-14 girls squad, Evans showed a good value on her wicket during the 2018-19 season, finishing not out in each of her six innings. "I'm not across Ruby's game of cricket but I know she was mentored by Kayla Stuchbree who has done a terrific job in growing girls cricket in the region," Cunningham said.
"Ruby would have had one of the best mentors - which is evident by her selection into the program. It's always difficult to get into because it encompasses the whole Central Highlands region."
Buangor's Aaron Byron was named in the under-18 boys squad, if selected it would be the left-armed bowler's third time representing the region.
"I've made the team every second year since 2013 as a top age player in my age group," he said.
"It's an honour to be recognised, to have the chance to represent Grampians cricket and also to play cricket at a higher level."
Buangor-Tatyoon's captain Michael Harricks said the announcement for Byron is a good reward for some outstanding performances he has had over the past few years.
"He's a really good all round cricketer," he said.
"His bowling is really sharp and his batting came along quite a lot last season. He probably got a bit more opportunity than he had in the past to bat higher up the order which resulted in him having some really good performances with the bat.
"He would be someone everyone would want on their team. He's a left-armed quick bowler which we probably don't have much of around at the moment.
Harricks said Byron impressed with his pace for a 17 year-old.
"The left hand angles are always difficult to face so I guess the combination of the angle and pace makes him quite unique," he said.
"Aaron has come miles in his cricket development he's really stood up with the bat this season for us."
The trials and final team selection of 13 players to represent the Highlanders will take place in the second week of the September school holidays.
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