Keith McLean

Builder (2006)

Softball

Keith has served Saskatoon softball as a player, coach and manager and has helped raise the community's profile, working as an executive on eight committees, which were hosts for national and international tournaments.

Keith was born in Saskatoon but spent most of his first 12 years on a farm at Allan. He started coaching the young boys at Brevoort Park in 1985.

He played for Rans Comets and TJ's before joining the K & K Olson Senior B team and they enjoyed a remarkable summer in 1974, winning the city, the provincial zone playoffs and capturing the Merchants softball tournament honours. One of the right handed batters in the K&K Olson lineup, he spent many years with the team and became the coach in 1979. It was a year that Keith wouldn't forget because the team won both the Saskatchewan and Western Canadian championships.

Coaching became a passion and he has since taught thousands of Canadians in his role as a national instructor. Keith was also coach of the Midget B Girls Selects, who won the Saskatchewan championship in 1997 and took silver at the Western Canadian championships. Another success story came with the Saskatoon Masters team, which first won a championship in 1987 and has since won 20 straight titles.

Keith also took turns as hockey referee for 18 years.

Keith and his family members shared the joy of his selection into the Softball Canada Hall of Fame. During his significant years as an executive member of the Saskatoon Amateur Softball Association, Keith played many roles in national and international tournaments and he was part of the 2000 senior men's committee. He played a leading role, as Saskatoon became hosts for the 2002 world's women's championships.

He was also named the 2005 Kinsmen Sportsman of the Year in Saskatoon. The logos tell the story, the Saskatoon Amateur Softball Association and Softball Saskatchewan pay due honour to Keith's dedication to softball over the years.