Harry Bueckert had vision when it came to men’s softball. His Black Knights/K&A Knights teams won senior A provincial championships from 1970 to 1972. After playing in the Canadian championships, he knew the team needed to improve in order to beat the top teams in Canada. Better competition than Knights could find in Manitoba seemed to be the answer so when Alberta and Saskatchewan organizers wanted to form an inter-provincial league in 1973, Bueckert and partner Art Penner stepped to the plate and purchased a franchise. Called Colonels, the Winnipeg club won the first Western Major Fastball League championship under the leadership of president and manager Bueckert. Colonels operated from 1973 to 1980 and sponsored a junior Colonels team in the mid-1970s. Bueckert served a chairman of the WMFL board of directors in 1977 and 1978 and is a WMFL honourary life member.