Dave Vallance loved playing baseball growing up and eventually played with the Guelph Royals of the Senior Intercounty League where he won a championship in 1993. But it was when he began coaching women's softball teams that he really made his mark.
Vallance has an impressive record as a coach and manager, having coached multiple midget girls' teams in the Guelph Minor Baseball Association from 1987 – 2015. And his teams won championships. The 1987 Guelph Girls Midget club (assistant coach), the 1997 Guelph Pidel Midget Girls team and the 2005 Guelph Midget Girls team – all won the national title in their age group. All three of those teams are already enshrined in the Guelph Sports Hall of Fame.
In total, Vallance's teams have qualified for the Nationals fifteen times, winning on four occasions. His fourth title came in 2018 where he helped coach the Waterloo Ghosts to a national title. He was named Ontario Provincial Coach of the Year for softball in 2019 for a second time.
“My dad (Chuck Vallance) coached me in baseball when I was younger, then moved on to coach my three sisters so that was my first introduction to girls' softball,” said Vallance. “Once I found out how good the girls' game was I eventually took over from my dad and have been hooked ever since.”
In addition to his team successes, Vallance has coached over 90 girls who went on to play softball in the United States on scholarships, 18 girls advanced to playing for All-Ontario teams and 3 girls advanced to represent Canada in the Olympics (Kaleigh Rafter, Angela Lichty, Alison Bradley).
“We had so many great teams in Guelph, but I'd have to say the strongest was the 2005 championship team,” said Vallance. “We were favourites the year before but were devastated to not qualify so we were determined to come back and win it all, and we did. Eleven players from that team would go on to play NCAA softball.”
Vallance still is active in coaching, finishing third at the Nationals in 2022 while leading a team from Mississauga.
Inducted into the Guelph Sports Hall of Fame May 15, 2023
