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Softball Austin Hall of Fame

Want to nominate a player? Email halloffame@softballaustin.org for more informationĀ or fill out this form.

Years: 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019

2015 Hall of Fame Inductees




Ted Burton - 2015

Ted Burton is a founding father of Softball Austin. It was his vision that led to Softball Austin being formed. He started gay softball in Austin in 1998 when he placed an ad in the Austin Chronicle looking for gay softball players to put together a competitive team. His efforts resulted in the first gay team taking the field in May of that year. The team was known as the Bat Boys. Ted and the Bat Boys took the lead in trying to form a second team, doing so by having a table set up at Pride 2001. A few years later, in 2004, Softball Austin was formed as the city's only league for the LGBT community. Ted was the league's first commissioner, serving in the role for four years. During that time Softball Austin saw growth each year. Under his leadership, Softball Austin became a member of NAGAAA in 2005. That same year, his team, the Bat Boys, traveled to San Diego as the first Softball Austin team to participate in the Gay Softball World Series. His vision and work was instrumental in leading to what we enjoy today, a league of our own.




Richard Benavidez - 2015

Richard Benavidez is also an original member of the league and a member of the legendary "Bat Boys" team. Richard was the league's first Assistant Commissioner from 2004 to 2008 and the league's second Commissioner from 2008 to 2010. Richard was asked again to step up for Softball Austin and serve a second term as both Assistant Commissioner (2011-2013) and Commissioner (2013-14). Richard has been both a player and a coach for as long as he has been a part of the league. He is one of the only members of the league to both coach/manage one team and play for another. In the past few years Richard created Pride, a D Division team that went on to finish 2nd at the 2014 NAGAAA World Series. He then expanded Pride to include a C Division team. Richard has spent countless hours in Softball Austin committee meetings and representing Softball Austin nationally at both tournaments and NAGAAA meetings.




Debbie Barrera - 2015

Debbie Barrera was one of the original members of the league, bringing her city league team, The Mullets, to the league in October 2004 and has been part of the league ever since. In addition to The Mullets, Debbie has been part of the Renegades, Rams, Show Us Your Hits and managed Sofa King Good. During her years as a Softball Austin member Debbie has not stopped at just playing and managing. Debbie has served on the Board of Softball Austin throughout the years as Secretary (2005-07) Public Relations Coordinator (2007-10) and Membership Coordinator (2011-2015). Her work over the years has helped expand the membership of Softball Austin from approximately 9 teams and 100 members in 2004 to over 450 members today. Debbie has also participated on a number of committees throughout the years, including the Texas Shootout Committee. She also represented the league by traveling to numerous NAGAAA and ASANA tournaments across the country.





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