The RoundHouse | 1/22/2021 4:45:00 PM

Where are they now?
 
Clint McKeever – baseball (2007-10)
 
Current status: McKeever is a sales representative for a medical device company and lives near Fort Worth, Texas.
 
Family: Wife, Amanda; Asher (9), Parker (6), Riley (2)
 
At Wichita State: McKeever played first base and pitched in relief after transferring from Oklahoma State. 
 
He smacked one of the biggest home runs in Shocker history against the Cowboys in the 2008 regional championship game. McKeever's grand slam with two outs in the top of the 10th inning gave the Shockers an 11-7 win in Stillwater. 
 
"I have never been happier for a player than Clint McKeever," Shockers coach Gene Stephenson told the media after the game. "Phenomenal. It's a storybook ending."
 
McKeever, from Oklahoma City, hit .314 for his career with 13 home runs and 102 RBI. He earned All-Missouri Valley Conference honors at first base in 2009 after hitting .333 with six home runs and 18 doubles. He was an academic all-conference selection in 2008 and 2009.
 
A memorable season
 
McKeever enjoyed his 2008 and 2009 seasons as starting first baseman. In 2010, a hamstring injury limited him to 37 games.
 
That season produced a different kind of satisfaction. He watched teammates such as Cody Lassley and Bret Bascue enjoy breakout seasons as seniors.
 
"It was really cool to watch them come into their own and lead that team," he said. "I know what those guys went through and the work they put in. When they were able to really take hold of their opportunities and get into the lineup . . .  they took full advantage of it."
 
Both earned All-MVC honors for the first time. Bascue, an outfielder, hit a career-high .421 with 10 home runs in 43 games. Lassley, a catcher, hit a career-high .366 with 11 home runs.
 
"Looking on the bright side of that senior year, if it couldn't be me, I would want it to be them," McKeever said. "I know how much pride it gave me to perform for the university and help us win. I'm sure it did the same thing for them."
 
That night in Stillwater
 
McKeever's grand slam is available on YouTube. He has not sat down any of his sons to watch them his big baseball moment.
 
"I haven't shown specifically shown him the video of Oklahoma State, or really told him all that much about my college career," McKeever said. "He knows I played baseball in college and a little bit professionally with the (Wichita) Winguts. That's all."
 
When his sons do hear about that moment, they will hear about a close-knit Shocker team that won 19 straight games and claimed the MVC regular-season and tournament titles. It defeated TCU and Oklahoma State (twice) in regional play. The Shockers, who won the super regional opener at Florida State before losing the next two, finished 48-17.
 
"That 2008 team was really special," McKeever said. "Great camaraderie. A lot of those guys I'm still in touch with."
 
McKeever's grand slam – off the right-field foul pole – set off a wild celebration in and around the Shocker dugout. Reliever Logan Hoch got the game's final three outs.
 
Of course, his history at Oklahoma State – a redshirt year in 2006 that gave him no hope for playing time - added to the emotions. 
 
"What I remember the most about it is the ball feeling really sweet off the bat," McKeever said. "I knew I really hit it well. From there, I remember sprinting around the bases faster than I ever have. Getting home. Stomping on home plate. Then getting mobbed in the celebration."
 
McKeever also tied the game 7-all with a single in the ninth and pitched two innings of one-hit baseball.
 
Still on the field
 
McKeever officiates high school football and baseball.
 
"That's what I do to stay involved in athletics and competition," he said. "It's had a significant impact on the way I consume sports. I'm looking at it as a fan and I also see things from an official's perspective. It's kind of eye-opening to understand what they go through."
 
Family of athletes
 
McKeever is married to Amanda Moore, who played volleyball at Wichita State from 2006-08. They are not pushing their sons to play the sports that brought them to Wichita.
 
"We've tried to expose the kids so far to a bunch of different sports – tee-ball, soccer, taekwondo, to find whatever they have a passion for," he said. "I have zero interest in coaching my own kids in baseball. I would much rather prefer to sit back and support them and not get involved from a coaching perspective."
 
Across the diamond
 
McKeever's big hits in the 2008 regional both came after the Cowboys intentionally walked third baseman Conor Gillaspie. Smart move, although McKeever ruined the plan.

The 2008 Shockers produced 10 draft picks, led by Gillaspie at the No. 37 pick. Gillaspie, outfielder Andy Dirks and shortstop Dusty Coleman played in the major leagues.
 
Gillaspie was famous for his work ethic and dedication to hitting. He played eight seasons in the big leagues before retiring. 
  
"My best Conor Gillaspie story is that every time I've seen Conor after college he's been just as nice, just as humble and probably even a little bit more fun now," McKeever said. "He was so just laser-focused on baseball in college. He didn't really get into all the getting together outside of practice and going out in college. To get to see a little bit more of that side of him since then, it just goes to show you what kind of character he has. He's always been a really solid, even-keeled dude."