The Parksville Royals host their first BC Premier Baseball League (BCPBL) playoff game in the club’s 17 year history this weekend, and beyond the effort of the players themselves, helping make it possible has been the dedication of coaches like skipper Dave Wallace —the only head coach the team has ever had — and pitching coach Jim Seredick.
Seredick’s 37-year teaching career came to an end June 30. He spent his entire career at Alberni District Secondary School as an English teacher. He coached basketball, all four teams in fact, for 35 years at ADSS.
The Seredicks are also a big baseball family and Jim’s two sons, Nicholas and Michael, both played for the PBL Royals.
“Oh yeah, a lot of time,” Jim, a comedian at heart, chuckled that easy chuckle of his, when asked if he spends as much time at the diamond as it sounds.
This is his 10th season with the Royals. His oldest son Nicholas came up through the system and played two-and-a-half seasons back in the Royals’ second year of existence.
His youngest son Michael played three years with the team.
“Yeah, I enjoy it. We’re definitely a big baseball family,” he said, adding he and his wife Vicky have been involved with minor baseball in the Alberni Valley for some 31 years and are longtime members of the executive,
“He makes a huge contribution to our team and has done so for over 10 years,” said Wallace, adding, “Jim is responsible for our pitching program and that’s been the key to our success over the years.
“He does a tremendous job — as a teacher he does a great job working with kids and developing them to their potential.”