There was plenty to celebrate at the 2026 Baseball Queensland Hall of Fame and Awards Gala last month. And while there was plenty of silverware to flash around, it was the people and the memories that made the night truly special.

Held at the Hotel Grand Chancellor, the Gala was a celebration of players, coaches, volunteers, officials, families and friends that make our game special. There was reminiscing and storytelling aplenty, flashy outfits and laughs to make the memory reel.

Our lively MC Ben Foster kept the night moving with plenty of colour and energy while guests were dazzled as a roving magician provided the laughs. Studio Honsa was there to capture all the moments. Album code boq26

Recognising the people behind the game

Behind the scenes mastery

Sally O’Connor is the queen of managing moving pieces. As this year’s Administrator of the Year, Sally was integral in the coordination and delivery of the inaugural Australian defence Force Diamond Sports National baseball Tournament held at Pine Hills Lightning Baseball Club in November 2025.

Coordinating a national tournament exclusively for Australian Defence Force personnel required significant organisation, stakeholder engagement and attention to detail. From logistics and scheduling to volunteers, communications and participation opportunities, she established the systems and processes needed to deliver the event and create a framework for future tournaments.

The award reflects not only the success of the tournament, but her contribution to growing grassroots baseball within Defence, using the sport to build connection, wellbeing and camaraderie.

An eye for the detail, a mentor for the masses

Marina Zandegiacomo is as calm, composed and professional as it comes in the scorers booth. In a highly unpredictable environment that is both the senior and masters competitions, Marina provides a meticulous attention to detail that upholds the integrity of the game.

Beyond her technical expertise – honed over the past five years – Marina displays strong leadership and mentoring qualities. Always willing to lend a hand, she willingly shares her knowledge with aspiring scores, guiding them through the complexities of the craft and encouraging their own confidence and growth. .

As the 2026 Scorer of the Year, Marina embodies the values of Baseball Queensland not only through technical skills but through the spirit she brings to the community and the game.

Coaching a game but shaping lives

Paddy Clavin’s coaching prowess extends far beyond simply technical development. A coach of multiple teams at Pine River Rapids, Paddy is ‘not just a coach’, he is someone who helps players grow both on and off the field.

Deeply invested in his players, he provides not only a challenge but an enjoyable and welcoming environment for all experience levels.

As this year’s Coach of the Year, Paddy’s coaching philosophies encompass sportsmanship, teamwork and resilience, becoming a mentor and role model for the players he coaches.

Umpiring with consistency and purpose

Umpires are often known simply for calling balls and strikes, safes and outs. John Robertsons contribution goes well beyond calling games.

If calling 45 games a season, on top of national duties wasn’t enough, Johns recognition as this year’s Umpire of the Year stems through the development and capacity building he provides for our new wave of young umpires.

There’s something about knowing there’s someone on your side. John is there at each game, helping them navigate their first experiences in the role and encouraging them to keep going.

His consistency, knowledge and professionalism continues to shine through, as the kind of umpire and mentor you want around.

A Volunteer making a lasting difference

When you meet Cooper Thomson, his positive attitude, willingness to help and genuine love for the game is infectious.

His work extends far beyond the routine maintenance of your day-to-day groundsman. In fact, his work is recognised in the major role he has played in maintaining and improving what many consider one of the country’s premier baseball playing surfaces. From home run fence padding, to equipment upgrades and field refurbishments, he creates an environment for our players to shine.

Perhaps what he is most well known for though is the way he simply brings people together. A fitting winner of this year’s Volunteer of the Year.

A lifetime of contribution

Brad Dutton – Hall of Fame 2026

Long before Brad Dutton pulled on a Queensland jersey, he was standing on the other side of the diamond – watching his idols wear it.

What followed is a career spanning more than 40 years and counting. One where he wrote himself into the history books and inspired a new generation of baller.

When Brad received the news, he knew exactly who he wanted to call.

“I called my old man and we shared a couple of tears,” he admits.

It was a fitting moment for a journey that began with a young boy carrying bats for his Queensland heroes and dreaming of one day joining them on the field.

“It’s just a great feeling to know that besides your own bubble, other people saw what you did for the game.”

David Sutherland – Hall of Fame 2026

At five years old, David Sutherland didn’t know where this sport could take him.

He just wanted to play baseball.

From waiting eagerly to get to his games as a kid, to hall of famer – throughout Goofy’s illustrious career, he has never lost sight of the simple joy of baseball.

That simple love of the game would eventually become a career spanning the highest levels of Queensland and Australian baseball.

A legacy of international friendships – distinguished service award

Danny and Seiko Maruyama’s contribution to baseball in Queensland spans more than four decades. Their contribution has enriched the experience of generations of Queensland athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers.

While the individual achievements and contributions this pair have made are significant, it is the combined driving force and advocation for international cultural exchange that has forged a rich friendship between Queensland and Japan’s baseball communities.

Hundreds of Queensland and Japanese players have benefitted through these international exchanges, enriching the community on and off the diamond.

Their contribution demonstrates the power of sport to build friendships that transcend borders, create educational opportunities and strengthen cultural understanding.

Surfers paradise’s scoring royalty – distinguished service award

Connie Stoyakovich and Bette Holland’s friendship is forged in the detail, of long games in the surfers paradise scorers box, barely missing a game. Since the mid 1990s, the pair have been integral to the foundations of the club, leaving a legacy of high quality scoring and attention to detail through the mentoring of generations of scorers.

Their commitment and contribution to the game of baseball extends beyond counting balls and strikes and number crunching. Bette was known to run the tasty canteen while keeping a tight ship as club secretary. Connie’s scoring game saw her travel the world with a number of Australian sides, even finding herself in a scoring team at an MLB game.

Today, if you find yourself lucky enough to score down at Surfers Paradise, you’ll do so within the Bette Holland and Connie Stoyakovic Scorers Box.

State Program MVP

This years State Program Team MVP is one of the most dominant players in the Australian Women’s Championships. This year she collected 11 hits across 8 games, with a batting average of 524. She was the 2023 Australian Youth Women’s MVP, leading Queensland to gold that year before stepping into senior level in 2024. There she co-led the entire tournament in hits, batted an extraordinary .536, and helped deliver Queensland’s first medal since 2016. She followed it up with equally strong tournaments in 2025 and 2026.

In July this year – still just 18 years old, she pulled on the green and gold for Australia in the Emeralds team at the Women’s Baseball World Cup in Rockford, Illinois. Her performance was immense, crushing a game-tying two-run homer in the first inning of the wildest game of the World Cup against Canada, and she then tied the game again with two outs in the seventh.

Molly became Queensland’s first and only Women’s Professional Baseball League signing, drafted in the third round by the Boston Hunters – and she took to the outfield with pride in the game’s professional level.

But ask anyone in the Queensland program what makes Molly different, and the answer isn’t just in the stats. In coach Lisa Norrie’s words: “She’s not just focused on her own success; she genuinely cares about the growth and success of everyone around her.” Despite her talent, Molly is always first to credit her teammates.

Her message to the next generation of girls picking up a glove is simple: don’t let anyone tell you no.