David Sutherland rises from a tall, raw talent schoolboy to play 350 Australian Baseball League games

David Sutherland rose from Ferny Grove SHS as a tall, raw talent to now be only the second player to pass 350 Australian Baseball League matches.

David Sutherland rose from Ferny Grove SHS as a tall, raw talent to now be only the second player to pass 350 Australian Baseball League matches.

“I was wondering where all the time had gone,’’ reflected Sutherland, who passed the milestone in round one of the season.

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Affectionately known as Goofy, Sutherland played first base in his debut at the historic Brisbane Exhibition Ground in the revamped ABL.

Since then he has endured all the ups and downs – but mainly ups – of the club.

Brisbane Bandits title winning squad of 2018-19. Photo: SMPIMAGES.COM /ABL Media.

“I love playing for the Bandits,’’ Sutherland declared.

“We play 40 games a year, it is a lot of games and an honour to play for the Bandits.

“I feel lucky to have played for them for so long,’’ the Pine Hills Lightning junior said.

When Sutherland started with the Bandits, the organisation was struggling to scratch out a foothold.

Now they are atop the ABL mountain and eyeing off an amazing five successive titles.

“In 10 years we have gone from being a young team to a lot of players developing into great men and players.

Donald Lutz (Brisbane Bandits jumps for joy. Photo: SMPIMAGES.COM /ABL Media.

“Having a chance to play with them year in, year out, they keep getting better, keep working hard.

“I have never been part of a team which works so hard to be successful.’’

In club land Sutherland has been a Pine Hills Lightning stalwart, starting at the club when it modestly was based at the Wests Mitchelton rugby league club.

Now it is a sprawling organisation at Bunya’s James Drysdale Reserve.

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Just like at ABL, he contributed to the rise of Lightning, now one of the most well known brands in Australian club baseball.

Sutherland listed winning four successive ABL titles and “getting to play under a lot of good coaches while playing alongside a lot of great Queensland players’’ as the highlights of his career.

Sutherland is also a decorated Australian representative who will try and help Australia qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games during a “last chance tournament’’ in April.