Extra Inning Softball has learned from several sources that longtime travel ball coach Steve McNee—who over the last few decades had been with organizations such as the So Cal Athletics, USA Athletics and the Batbusters—passed away on Saturday (Oct. 15, 2022), after battling pancreatic cancer.
He was 76 years old.
McNee had impressive successes throughout his career at top events nationwide including the PGF Nationals and Colorado 4th of July tournaments.
Coach McNee was one of many young assistants who worked with legendary OC Batbusters head Gary Haning as he was up-and-coming in the fastpitch world
In 2011, McNee’s OC Batbusters 14U team won the PGF 14U National Championships and the following year finished 5th.
In 2014, his 16U team, So Cal A’s McNee/Myers, would also win a PGF National Championship; here’s a video shot of the final pitch in that title victory:
The next Fall (2015), his So Cal A’s – McNee team would capture the title at the PGF Ultimate Challenge in Salinas, Calif., which, ironically, is being held this Friday through Sunday as well.
Another long-time legend in travel ball, Doug Myers, who is now with the Firecrackers organization, says he owes a lot to Coach McNee, who was living in Northern Idaho at the time of his passing.
“Steve was basically one of the two or three guys who got me started in travel ball,” Coach Myers said today. “I was with the Orange County Athletics and started lessons in his batting cages. I always loved and respected Steve, he had an incredible heart and would do anything for anybody. He had some tale tales (Myers laughs) but he always won his share of trophies.”
Another coach in the club softball world, Celeste Berouty, who works with her husband, Gary, in the Wildcats program in California, worked with Coach McNee doing recruiting for seven years and refers to him as a “good friend.”
She remembers:
“My daughter played with Steve for quite a few years, so we’ve always kept in touch with him. It’s a definite loss of someone I always thought of as a living legend.”
We will have more on the long-time championship-winning coach in the future…
— Brentt Eads, Extra Inning Softball
