Jackson, Nicoll earn Dave Wallace scholarship award

Dave Wallace memorial scholarship award presentation ceremony: INF Trevor Nicoll, left, Kim Wallace, Judy Wallace, Chris Wallace and OF Cody Jackson.

Cody Jackson and Trevor Nicoll were front and centre Saturday afternoon at Inouye/Wallace field at Springwood Park in Parksville, BC.

OF Jackson (Parksville, BC) is headed to play for the British Columbia Thunderbirds and INF Nicoll (Coombs, BC) is headed to the Victoria Island University Mariners.

While Jackson and Nicoll were the two honoured, the man most people were thanking about was the late Parksville Royals co-founder, coach, pitching guru and mentor to many ... the late Dave Wallace -- the man who the field is named after, along with Clyde Inouye.

Wallace’s family awarded the inaugural David Wallace memorial scholarship to the honoured pair of players. Wallace served as president of Oceanside Minor (1992-1994), co-founded the Parksville Royals in 1995 and the helped create the BC Premier League, Canada’s leading high school league.

“Dave touched the lives of baseball players and their families across BC and Canada,” said Royals current general manager Mike Parlow. “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.

“Dave was a competitor and hated to lose. At the same time, in over 20 years of coaching, he always put the long-term development of the players ahead of short-term victories. He encouraged his players to put their best effort into everything they did on the field, at school, at life. ”

After Dave’s passing this past November, his family created the David Wallace Legacy Fund. The fund will provide for an annual scholarship as well as funding for the Royals organization’s needs when possible.

“This is a tremendous asset to players in the north Island and a fantastic memorial to Dave’s years leading the baseball community,” said Parlow.

Presenting the awards were Dave’s wife Judy along with his children Chris and Kim, who shared their husband/father with the Royals.

Each will receive a $1,000 scholarship, toward the cost of their university expenses in September.

“Both players have worked tirelessly to improve their craft over the course of their baseball careers,” Parlow said.