The inaugural David Wallace Memorial Scholarship was presented to two graduating Parksville Royals players – Trevor Nicoll and Cody Jackson – in an on-field ceremony held prior to Saturday’s (July 24) home game against the North Shore Twins.
The late Wallace co-founded the Parksville Royals and played a key in forming the BC Premier Baseball League, Canada’s leading high school baseball league.
“Dave touched the lives of baseball players and their families across B.C. and Canada,” said Mike Parlow, Royals general manager.
“In the 23 years that Dave coached the Royals, he demanded that his players play with enthusiasm, grit, and determination. He loved the game and he loved this team. Dave always believed it should be about the game and the kids getting to play it.”
In more than 20 years of coaching, Wallace always put the long-term development of the players ahead of short-term victories and encouraged his players to put their best effort into everything they did on the field, at school, at life.
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Wallace’s family, following his passing last November, created the David Wallace Legacy Fund to provide an annual scholarship as well as funding for the Royals organization’s needs when possible, which Parlow said is a “tremendous asset to players in the North Island and fantastic memorial to Wallace’s years leading the baseball community.
Wallace’s wife Judy and children Chris and Kim were on hand to present the scholarship awards, worth $1,000 each to Nicoll and Jackson.
“Both players have worked tirelessly to improve their craft over the course of their baseball careers,” said Parlow. “Trevor will be joining the VIU Mariners next season and Cody will playing for the UBC Thunderbirds.”
The day, however, didn’t go the Royals’ way as they were swept by the visiting North Shore Twins, getting blanked twice 10-0 and 1-0.
The next day, the Royals hosted the Coquitlam Reds again found themselves in the bottom of a 12-3 and 8-2 decisions.
The Royals have three games left to play in the season. They were scheduled to play the Mid-Island Pirates on Tuesday, July 27. On Friday, they head to North Delta to face the Blue Jays and on Saturday, July 31, they wind up their regular season when they host the Langley Blaze at 3:30 p.m. at Springwood Park and later at 6:30 p.m. they face the Victoria Mariners.
