Steve McBride retired from coaching after 14 years with Triton softball. (File photo by Mike Deak)

BOURBON – Steve McBride had a certain quality all his own. His dedication to Triton softball for 14 years helped bring the program into prominence. After completing this season, McBride has stepped down from the Triton post and will retire.

McBride announced this week that after 14 years as head coach, McBride would be stepping away. Also an educator in the Triton school system, McBride has been a servant to the Trojan Way. His work with a near-defunct softball program was remarkable.

Triton took over the softball program in 2004 and was immediately faced with a varsity-only program that struggled mightily not only on the field, but unifying off the field. Through working with summer teams and an offseason commitment, Triton turned it around and won five sectional championship, the program’s first in 2008, and claimed a regional title in 2014. The team finished the 2018 season 8-10 overall and went 1-1 in the sectional, beating Argos before falling to LaCrosse in the semi-finals.

“Coach McBride is and always will be a special part of Triton’s history,” said Triton athletic director Mason McIntyre. “His dedication and commitment to the Triton softball program was outstanding. He will be hard to replace.”

McIntyre did not immediately announce a replacement for McBride.