Fay Bettridge served the QLD Baseball Community selflessly for a period of more than 40 years.

Initially Fay’s contribution to Redcliffe Baseball Club as a volunteer, canteen operator, scorer for both juniors and seniors, and President throughout the mid-1970’s and through until approximately 1985 led to her being recognised as a Life Member of that club.

Shifting to All Stars Baseball Club in approximately 1985/86, she continued her enormous contribution for approximately nearly another 35 years.

She continued scoring both Junior and Senior Baseball and held the roles of Club Scorer, Club Statistician, and Club President.

She was a Life Member of the Queensland Scorer’s Association and scored at a number of levels including from Club to School Boys, QLD State Teams, and Girls / Women’s State Teams.

She continued to assist in any capacity possible until her passing in 2020.

Nominated in the Game Officials – Umpire/Scorer Category. 

Meredith started as a club scorer at Redlands Baseball Club in 1996. She regularly conducted scoring clinics for the club, mentored new club scorers, and also completed the yearly club statistics.

She was a member of QBS and was involved in conducting their pre-season scoring clinics. Meredith was always prepared to assist in teaching scoring to any club that asked for help.

Meredith held the position of Bris South scoring coordinator for many years.

Meredith scored at many state and national titles.

She also held the position of Queensland’s CABS delegate, and she was involved in the restructuring of Australian scoring.

Meredith’s selfless dedication and love of scoring were passed onto many of the current Queensland scorers who hold her in high regard.

Nominated in the Game Officials – Umpire/Scorer Category.

Karina Connors has been representing Queensland and Australia over a prolonged period of time and at the highest level possible in the state and country since 2001.

Following her retirement in 2018, she has continued to give back to the game of baseball and was the first female to coach an U18s team at a National Championship.

She has been involved with the Baseball Queensland Youth Women’s Program leading the team to a National Championship in 2023.

She is currently a member of Baseball Queensland’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Advisory Committee bringing her experience in working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, the LGBTQI community, and others in our diverse community.

She is a strong advocate for gender diversity in sports and for developing opportunities for female athletes to participate and exceed in baseball.

Nominated in the Player/Athlete Category.

Nominated in the Playing Category.

Consistently excellent service to Queensland baseball over a long period

1994-2014

State Level

Among other achievements, Brad led the Rams to their undefeated Claxton Shield victory in 2006, winning the helms award. He played every game in its entirety, providing errorless defence at shortstop and leading the Championship in Batting Average, Hits, Total Bases, and Slugging Average. Starting infielder for the Bandits for the first 4 years of the new ABL. Provided valuable development advice and coaching to emerging junior through the first decades of this century.

Brad made his debut in the 2003 Claxton shield with the Queensland Rams, batting .333 at second base. In 2004, he played with Creighton University and hit .325 and improved to .335/.377/.459 in his second season at Creighton. Brad then starred in the 2006 Claxton Shield, going 15 for 28 (.536) for Queensland with 3 doubles, a triple and home run in 6 games steering Queensland to a Claxton Shield win and a Helms Award.

For the 2008 Claxton Shield with the Rams, he hit .310/.420/.429 in 12 games and stole 4 bases in 4 tries. He played for the Australia national baseball team in the 2008 Final Olympic Qualification Tournament at shortstop. Unfortunately, in his national debut, Dutton Australia failed to qualify for the 2008 Olympics.

He continued his Claxton Shield career with the formation of the Australia nBaseball League in 2010 and was an everyday player for the Brisbane Bandits until the 0213-14 ABL season. In four seasons with the Bandits hit hit .253/.299/.321 in 162 games, leaving him the eighth most capped Bandits player as of 2019.

Following his ABL career, Brad continued to play for the Redcliffe Padres and then the Ipswich Musketeers in the Greater Brisbane League before retiring in 2019.

International Level

He played shortstop for the Australia national baseball team in the 2008 Final Olympic Qualification Tournament. Unfortunately in his national debut, Australia failed t oqualify for the 2008 Olympics.

Professional Level

In 2006, he played for the Rockford River Hawks in the independent Frontier League and hit .217/.269/.286. In the Claxton Shield, he was less impressive batting at a .292/.292/.333 clip for Queensland. He returned to Rockford for the summer and batted .288/.370/.384 in 83 games. This included 20 stolen bases in 26 attempts.

Dutton returned to Rockford for a third season in 2008 and batted .311, narrowly missing out on the top 10 in the Frontier League for average. For 2009, Brad signed with the Gauting Indians in Germany. He debuted in the Bundesliga on 5 April, going 4 for 8 with a run, double, 2RBI and a steal.

Long, consistently excellent service to Queensland baseball as a junior and senior player.

Playing Category

Long term stalwart of QLD ABL teams, played in 4 championship teams

ABL 91-97, QLD Junior teams 83-88

One of the few players who played in 5 ABL championship series, winning 3 times. A reliable utility player, an accomplished baserunner and solid hitter, he finished with career Batting Average of .268. Always a team man and a great influence on team morale, he was regarded as the heart and soul of the teams he played on, particularly during the latter part of his career.

Long term contributor to QLD teams and the development of a winning culture.

Keith Land has been very busy in Baseball since moving to Queensland around 1990. He has Coached locally at his Club, he has Coached Regional teams to States and Nationals and he has been on the Coaching staff for Queensland Juniors to Nationals for the last 20 years.

He has been Club President, committee member, executive officer, groundsman, canteen convener, and umpire.

He has taken teams to the US, China, and Japan on numerous occasions.

I would dare say that there would be generations of Queensland Baseball who would have been Coached or mentored by Keith Land, such is his devotion to the game.

Nominated in the Manager/Coach Category

Keith Land Career Information

Mal has umpired in the GBL competition since 1995 and is still umpiring in 2023

His ABL career spans from 1996-2022 and he has umpired 163 games in the modern ABL.

His career has seen him attend IBAF tournament in South Africa in 1999 and Beijing Olympics in 2008 where he was appointed 3rd base in the Bronze medal game.

Mal has also been the State Director of Umpires for the QBUA for 10+ years and is still actively involved in the running and training of Umpires. He has performed a dedicated service to the QBUA since 1995.

Nominated in the Game Officials – Umpire/Scorer Category.

Tammy has excelled as a player in women’s baseball in Queensland, Australia, and internationally and continues to give back to the sport.

She has mentored junior female players through the Australian Women’s Baseball Futures Program (2017 and 2018).

In 2016 and 2017 she was also a Diamonds in the Rough mentor, supporting the growth of female participation in baseball in Indonesia.

Following retirement from elite-level baseball, Tammy has focused on grassroots and growing female participation in the sport.

She established the Women’s Winter League on the Gold Coast in 2021. With increased participation Gold Coast-based women’s teams were named champions at both the Queensland Masters and Pan Pacific Masters tournament, at which Tammy was named tournament MVP.

She continues giving back to the sport and is a member of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Advisory Committee, leading the development of game modification for players with additional abilities.

Nominated in the Player/ Athlete Category.

Playing Category

International success, playing at the highest level in QLD, coaching QLD juniors

2003-2015

State Level

Queensland Rams Juniors 1998-2004

Queensland Rams Seniors 2004-2009

Bandits 2010-2015

Coached in QLD Juniors teams 2016-2020

International Level

Australian U18 World Championships Taiwan

2009 Mens World Cup Mexico

Professional Level

Phillies Minor Leagues 2004-2010

Phillies 40 man roster 2008-2009

Japan Minor Leagues 2015

Signed with Chunichi Dragons 2015

As a RHP, Drew has spent over a decade in professional baseball achieving 40 man roster status 2008, 2009 and then culminating in his signing some 6 years later with the chunichi dragons of NPB in 2015. He has overcome major injuries to his arm over a number of years from 2011 to 2014, still managed to help coach in Queensland junior teams, played in Queensland senior teams for over a decade, and still plays A grade for Red sox the club he started with back when 10 years old. Drew is of wonderful character, this has been a great ambassador for Queensland baseball and proven excellence in the US and Japan.

Nominated in the Managing/Coaching category.

Founding Member of the Queensland Women’s team 2001-2011 (Player), Manager/Player/Assistant Coach 2012-current.

Baseball Australia, Emeralds – Assistant Coach 2014 – current

1^st Female Assistant Coach in the Australian Baseball League.

Brisbane Bandits head coach.

2001 – current.

State Level

2001-2011 Player

2012-current Manager/Player-Assistant Coach

International Level

2015 Assistant Coach U18 Australian Women’s Baseball (Phoenix Cup, Hong Kong)

2016 Head Coach U18 Australian Women’s Baseball (Phoenix Cup, Hong Kong)

2014-current Assistant Coach – Australian Emeralds

Manager of New Caledonia Men’s Baseball Team

Professional Level

MLB – Oakland Athletics Instructional league coach in Arizona, USA

Lisa Norries’ experience, dedication and knowledge of the game is second to none in the Queensland and Australian Women’s Baseball scene. Her passion and commitment shows through in everything that she does. Lisa has achieved more than any other female coach or player within Australia.

Her achievements:

• 1^st female assistant coach in the Australian Baseball League, Brisbane Bandits
• Manager, New Caledonia Men’s National Baseball Team
• Assistant Director of Baseball Operations & Women’s High Performance Manager, Brisbane Bandits
• Assistant Coach, Australian Emeralds
• Head Coach, U18 Australian Women’s Baseball, Phoenix Cup, Hong Kong
• Inaugural Player, playing and/or coaching in the years since 2001
• Baseball5 Instructor – Instructional Camp, Cuba
• Manager, Queensland Women’s Baseball Team
• 2021-2024 Manager, Brisbane Bandits Women’s team (Showcase Events)
• MLB, Oakland A’s Instructional League Coach, Arizona, USA

Mark Ready is a prime candidate for the Baseball QLD Hall of Fame due to his exemplary unselfish dedication to the sport.

Over 15 years as Windsor Royals’ president, he passionately nurtured baseball’s local growth.

As former CEO and Owner of the Brisbane Bandits, his visionary leadership enhanced the sport’s sectional and national prominence and led to 4 straight Claxton Shield titles.

Mark’s invaluable financial sponsorship bolstered their success, fostering talent development and national/international recognition.

His role as a Baseball QLD board member further amplified his contributions.

Through officiating, administrating, and sponsorship, Mark Ready has profoundly advanced baseball’s development at local, sectional, and national levels, epitomizing the qualities worthy of Hall of Fame recognition.

Nominated in the Administrator Category.

Player Category

Brisbane Bandits 2010-2020, Queensland Claxton Shield teams prior. Current Club Ball.

State Level

Pine Hills, Windsor Royals, Brisbane Bandits

International Level

Team Australia

Professional Level

Los Angeles Dodgers

Brisbane Bandits for 11 seasons, 6x Claxton Shield teams prior. 3x Team Australia. 4x straight ABL Title Winner, consistent clutch hitter. Good Power. His defense was Gold Glove standard. Softly spoken, genuine man who is a role model for all aspiring baseball players. Now he is coaching at Pine Hills giving his time and expertise back to the game.

Playing

Exemplary onfield competitor who pitched for U19 National team and QLD Junior, Claxton Shield and ABL teams for an extended period.

QLD Juniors 92-96, National U19 96, Claxton Shield 2000-2008, ABL 2010-2013

State Level

A workhorse who was always willing to take up a challenge, and did so successfully. Ace for QLD Junior teams 94-96. Pitched for Claxton Shield teams 2002-2008 (QLD twice won Shield in this period) Pitched for Brisbane Bandits 2010-2013

International Level

Starting pitcher for Australian U19 team 1986. Area Code Games, California 2-1 win loss record. Starting pitcher for Idaho Central College 1997-2001

John was a routine selection I nQLD teams, a model of a no-nonsense player who was always to give what he had for the good of the team. Greatly respected by his teammates and coaches, all of whom regarded him as a warrior of the highest order, he could be relied upon to provide the opposition with a tough game, winning more than two-thirds of the games he started for Queensland.

Keith Wenban has contributed to the growth of baseball at a state and national level. Although his playing career ended on the cusp of the sport becoming semi-professional, he contributed positively as a player, mentor and coach during and post his official career end. As well as playing at a state and national level, Keith coached and mentored younger players through the School Representative pathways, coaching or assisting with regional and state school sports teams from 1998-2021 in Western Australia and Queensland. This commitment often involved Keith donating large amounts of his personal time to ensure that members of various schools sports teams could benefit from his experience and knowledge. Keith believes in the development of players at a grass roots level and happily played and coached club teams in metropolitan and regional areas.

State Level

Played for Queensland Claxton Shield team for three years as a starting pitcher (game 1 started by Adrian Meagher, game 2 started by Keith Wenban), Queensland were a dominant team in those years. When the Austrralian Baseball League formed in 89-90, he went 3-6 with a 4.72 ERA for the Brisbane Bandits. He had a 2-1, 3.46 record for  Perth in winning the title in 1991. In 1993-1994, Keith was 1-3 but with a 2.03 ERA for the Canebrra Bushrangers for his best ABL campaign. He had an ERA .42 better than leader Brad Cornett but fell just short of qualifying (44 1/3 IP, Kim Jessop qualified with 51 2/3 so he was within one start of making it).

Playing for Canberra in 1994-1995, he tied for third in the league with 16 starts. He was 5-3 with a 6.18 ERA for the Gold Coast Cougars in 1995-1996, His career ended in 19961997.

In his ABL career, he had gone 15-29 with a 5.22 ERA in 81 games (55 starts), striking out 197 in 319 IP.

International

Keith Wenban was with Australia for the 1985 Asian Championship and 1985 Intercontinental Cup.

He got the start against Japan in the 1991 Asian Championship and kept it even at 6-6 after five innings before Brett Cederblad relieved. Australia would win, handing Japan its lone loss of the tournament.

Nominated for Player category

Pitcher – Queensland Claxton Shield Team (84-88), Australian Team (83-91), Brisbane Bandits (1989), Perth Heat (90-93), Canberra Bushrangers (93-95), Gold Coast Cougars (95-97).