Ottawa, Ont. - Softball Canada is thrilled to announce the distinguished inductees of the 2024 Hall of Fame class. The induction ceremony will be held during the Softball Canada Annual General Meeting, scheduled for November 7-9 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. 

The inductees are Trevor Ethier (Athlete - Saskatchewan), Keith Mackintosh (Athlete – Saskatchewan), Bryan Kosteroski (Builder - Saskatchewan), Don Bates (Coach - Saskatchewan) and Gary Skjerven (Official - Saskatchewan). 

Trevor Ethier (Saskatoon, Sask.) is a celebrated figure in Canadian softball. His impressive career highlights include winning a bronze medal at the Men’s Canadian Championship in 2004 and gold in 2008. Ethier has also secured multiple Canadian Native Fastpitch gold medals from 2008 to 2016 and has had major success at the Master Men’s Canadian Championships, winning gold in 2019 and 2022, and silver in 2023 with the 222’s Fastpitch team. On the international stage, Ethier represented the Canadian Men’s National Team from 2003 to 2009, earning a Pan American Championship gold medal in 2003 and a WBSC World Cup bronze in 2009. Recognized for his exceptional talent, he has received numerous awards, including three MVP titles at the Canadian Native Fastpitch Tournament and being named the Top Player and All-Star utility at the Master Men’s Canadian Championship in 2022 and 2023 respectively. His contributions to the sport have made him a distinguished athlete in Canadian fastpitch history.  

Keith Mackintosh (Melfort, Sask.) boasts a respected career in Canadian softball. His Canadian Championships achievements include gold medals in the Midget Men’s (1986) and Junior Men’s (1989) categories with the Melfort 222’s, and multiple Men’s Canadian Championships, including victories in 1997, 2000, and 2001. More recently, he has been successful in the Master Men’s Canadian Championship category, securing gold medals in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2022. Internationally, Mackintosh represented the Canadian Men’s National Team, earning a silver medal at the 2002 Pan American Championship and a gold medal as co-captain at the 2003 Pan American Games. He also competed in the WBSC World Cup, achieving a bronze medal in Saskatoon. A highly respected coach, Mackintosh has served as the High-Performance Coach for Softball Saskatchewan, head coach for Team Saskatchewan at the 2013 Canada Summer Games, and head coach of the U18 Women’s National Team. His individual accolades include being a five-time ISC All World Selection and earning All-Star shortstop honors multiple times at the Canadian Championships and with the Men’s National Team. Mackintosh’s contributions to the sport were recognized with his induction into the ISC Hall of Fame in 2017.   

Bryan Kosteroski (Saskatoon, Sask.) has made significant contributions to Canadian softball, particularly in his roles with Softball Canada and various regional organizations. As the Chairperson of Softball Canada’s Boys Development Committee from 2010 to 2013, and the long-standing President of the Saskatoon Amateur Softball Association since 2003, Kosteroski has been pivotal in the sport’s growth and development. He has chaired numerous prestigious events, including the Softball Canada Canadian Championships from 2003 to 2024, totaling 27 events, and international competitions such as the Three Nations Men’s Softball Series in 2008 and the U21 Men’s International Softball Championship in 2013. His dedication has earned him numerous accolades, including the Softball Canada Rose Hodgson Volunteer of the Year Award in 2010, the Canadian Sports Tourism Event Volunteer of the Year Award in 2016, and the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame Builder Award in 2017. Kosteroski’s leadership extended to the international stage as the Vice Chairperson for the WBSC Men’s World Championship in 2009 and Chairperson for the WBSC Men’s World Championship in 2015. His extensive volunteer work and coaching efforts have been recognized with multiple awards, underscoring his significant impact on the softball community.  

Don Bates (North Battleford, Sask.) has had an admired career in softball, marked by his extensive coaching experience and numerous international achievements. As an Assistant Coach for the Canadian Men’s National Team from 2006 to 2009, he helped secure medals at the Pan American Games (silver), US Virgin Islands Invitational (gold), Three Nations Challenge (gold), and World Championship (bronze). He continued his leadership as Head Coach from 2010 to 2014, earning medals at the 2010 AAU Tournament (silver) and the 2012 (gold), and 2014 (bronze) Pan American Championships. Bates also contributed to the Canadian Women’s National Team as Assistant Coach from 2007 to 2008, achieving notable finishes at the China Cup (silver), International Challenge (gold), and the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing (4th place). His dedication to the sport was recognized with his induction into the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame as a team member and an individual builder. A pitching instructor for over 35 years, Bates has coached several national team players, cementing his legacy in Canadian softball.  

Gary Skjerven (Wynyard, Sask.) has made significant contributions to softball as an umpire and mentor. His umpiring career includes officiating at major Canadian Championships such as the Senior Men’s in 1999, 2002, and 2008, the U18 Women’s in 2014, as well as the 1993 Canada Summer Games. He has also supervised numerous Canadian Championships, including the Midget Women’s and Bantam Girl’s, Junior Men’s and Men’s category from 2006 to 2022. Internationally, Skjerven has umpired at prestigious events like the 2004 and 2005 NAFA World Series, ISF World Championships in 2005, 2009, 2013 and 2014, the 2014 and 2015 Pan American Games, and the 2017 WBSC Men’s World Cup. He also acted as the WBSC Technical Commissioner in 2018 for the WBSC U19 Men’s World Cup as well as the European and North American Olympic Qualifiers in 2019. Dedicated to the development of umpiring, Skjerven has served as a DUIC in Saskatchewan and for Softball Canada for ten years, has been a Master Instructor/Evaluator since 1997, and has mentored local umpires and Softball Canada level 5 umpires. His contributions have been recognized with multiple Softball Saskatchewan Umpire of the Year awards and his induction into the Softball Saskatchewan Hall of Fame in 2023.  

Annually, Softball Canada inducts up to five (5) inductees from the region hosting the Annual General Meeting at the Hall of Fame and Awards Banquet. Nominations are reviewed by a Selection Committee, who select candidates based on their accomplishments and contributions to the sport of softball.