Parksville has lost a coaching legend.
Former Parksville Royals head coach Dave Wallace died on Nov. 30. He led the Royals for 23 years, impacting the lives of hundreds of players and their families on Vancouver Island and across B.C.
“In over 20 years of coaching, he always put the longterm development of the players ahead of short-term victories,” the Royals posted on their website. “He encouraged his players to put their best effort into everything they did on the field, at school and at life. Dave believed you don’t take shortcuts because it shows you in the results.”
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Wallace was also instrumental in developing the BC Premier Baseball League. He and Clyde Inouye, a devoted baseball enthusiast, formed the Island Premier League in 1995, featuring five teams. Several years later, teams from the Lower Mainland and Okanagan were added and became the BCPL, which has become a hotbed for baseball talents, producing a number of major leaguers over the years.
RIP to a BC Baseball Coaching Legend
Dave was a legend in BC baseball circles and devoted a huge amount of his time to the thousands of athletes he worked with over the years, the hundreds of coaches he encountered in competition and our sport in general.
RIP Dave Wallace. pic.twitter.com/ifKnEdcbts
— Baseball BC (@Baseball_BC) November 30, 2020
Jim Seredick worked with Wallace as the Royals pitching coach for 16 years. He is sadden by the unfortunate passing of his friend.
“He was a very dedicated and passionate coach who was committed to developing players to their greatest potential,” said Seredick. “Dave was a fierce competitor but winning always came second to individual development. The Royals often finished below five hundred in large part because Dave believed in player development and not winning at any cost. He was consistent with that philosophy for as long as he coached, and for my money, that is what made him so special and revered among his players. He could be tough and sometimes direct with his comments, but he was unfailingly fair. He used the sport to develop baseball players, but more importantly to develop young men.”
Seredick added that Wallace had considerable fundamental knowledge of baseball which he readily shared with anyone.
“He held many ball clinics on the North and Mid Island over the years,” said Seredick. “He was a big believer in “flying the Royal flag” and giving back to the community. He was very proud to note that so many former Royal players had become coaches themselves and were teaching the game to young generations.
“Nobody will argue that Dave Wallace was the most influential on-field baseball man Parksville has had in the past thirty years. Clyde Inouye became the President/CEO for the league, and remains such, Dave remained on the field. Those two have been, without question, iconic figures in the development of baseball on the Island and the province of BC.”
Many passed along their condolences via social media.
Baseball Canada said: “Dave’s contribution to baseball in British Columbia are immeasurable and lives he impacted along the way, countless.”
BC Baseball also called Wallace a coaching legend.
“(He) devoted a huge amount of his time to the thousands of athletes he worked with over the years, the hundreds of coaches he encountered in competition and our sport in general.”
Nanaimo Minor Baseball offered their thoughts to the family of Wallace, the Royals and Oceanside Minor Baseball.
“All who knew Dave and his passion for the game will miss him greatly,” said NMB. “The impact he made on so many of his players and his unwavering support for youth baseball will not be forgotten.”
— NEWS Staff
