We began our travel baseball organization in 2011 with the vision to help each individual reach their highest potential both on and off the field. In 2015, we expanded our teams to reach more age groups and we continue to look for future opportunities to add additional teams to our organization.
As an organization, we will strive to deliver a high level of instruction based on the fundamentals of the game and that are unique to the experiences and knowledge of our coaching staff. Our coaching staff is comprised of both professional, collegiate and high school coaches with over 25 years of baseball knowledge. We want to use baseball as a tool to help develop the athletic ability and the confidence that is necessary for each player to be successful on the field and in their daily life. While we focus on baseball skills and knowledge of the game we also encourage confidence, independence, humbleness, faith and teamwork for all of our athletes.
For the 2017 season, teams in the following age groups will be representing our organization on the field. We’re excited to see what the 2017 season will bring. If you are interested in learning more about Elite Sports Academy travel baseball, please contact us on Facebook.
9U- Darren Howard
10U- Blake Gibbs
Elite Sports Academy is expanding their travel baseball organization for the 2017 season.
We currently have 9U, 10U and 13U teams with the possibility to add additional teams in the spring. For more information about our organization, please contact us on Facebook. Stay tuned for updates and more information!
Where we Play
Meet Our Coaches
Chad Harville
From Chad:
“While growing up in Savannah, Tennessee, youth sports played a significant role in my life. I have always been blessed with the greatest coaches who had excellent attention to detail and always stressed hard work. Throughout my career, I have always been able to look back on the days of my youth in Savannah and recall the fundamentals. After retiring from professional baseball, my passion returned back to youth sports and since that time I have thoroughly enjoyed and am blessed to have the opportunity to teach, train, and inspire young men and women who are as passionate as I was growing up.”
Backstory
Chad was raised in the rural community of Savannah, Tennessee. As a young competitor, Chad was very passionate about baseball. In 1990, he was part of the first team to win a State Dixie Youth Title. It was only the beginning for Chad. At Hardin Country High School, Chad was surrounded by an incredible community of coaches, athletes, and close friends. HCHS was ranked as the top team in the State of Tennessee under head coach Donald Williams. During this season of Chad’s life, he played travel baseball for the best regional team under Keith Hagan and the BFI Memphis tigers. During the 1994 season, the team placed 2nd in the Connie Mack World Series in Farmington, New Mexico. Chad often credits his HCHS Coach Donald Williams and travel coach Keith Hagan for giving him the best opportunity to gain exposure as an athlete and propelling him to the next level in professional baseball.
Collegiate and Professional Career
Before Harville’s senior year of High School was over in the summer of 1994, he was awarded a scholarship to The University of Memphis, where he would play college baseball from 1994 till 1997. The University of Memphis won the Great Midwest Conference title during Harville’s freshman year.
In 1997, Harville was selected in the 2nd round of the Major League Baseball Draft as a relief pitcher for the Oakland Athletics. In 1999, he made his Major League Baseball debut against the Texas Rangers. After a 7 year stint with Oakland, Harville was traded to the Houston Astros and was part of a 2004 and 2005 run that included two playoff appearances, including being 1 game shy of a World Series appearance in 2004. In September 2005, Harville was traded to the Boston RedSox and was part of the 2005 playoff team. He spent 2006 with the Tampa Bay Rays under Coach Joe Madden and finished out his 11 year professional career in 2007 with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
- University of Memphis and Conference USA single season and single game strikeout record in 1997
- Named National Pitcher of the week for the U of M in 1997.
- Relief pitcher for the 1996 USA Olympic Team Trials in Millington TN.
- All Star in 2001 Dominican Republic and lead the league in Saves.
- Pitcher of the year for 3 different teams in the Minor Leagues including an All Star Appearance in his final year with the Tucson Sidewinders in 2007.
Coaching and Instructor Career
Even during his high school playing career, Chad worked several camps and clinics with Coach Donald Williams. It was during this time that Chad realized he was just as passionate in training other athletes as he was being on the mound. Harville enjoyed working with kids and helped them improve in any sports they participated in.
In 2004, Chad Harville teamed up with Stubby Clapp and began doing winter camps and clinics with an emphasis in speed, strength, and conditioning. After using multiple facilities for several years, they opened their own facility in 2009, allowing them to continue their passion for helping athletes. Since that time, their camps and clinics have evolved into a fitness and sports facility, Elite Sports Academy and Fitness in Savannah, Tennessee. Together, they work with a community of trainers who coach, educate, train, and guide young men and women through their sports journey. At Elite, Chad instructs pitching, hitting, fielding, and speed and agility conditioning.
2012 USSSA State Champs 13U – AAA
2012 USSSA Fall Teams included AAA and Majors 13U Team
2012 WORLD SERIES Runner Up 13U – Panama City Beach
2014 Dixie Youth WORLD SERIES Runner Up – Texarkana
2014 USSSA 8U – AA (23-3 Record)
2014 16U College Exposure Team
2015 USSSA 9U State Runner Up – AAA (27-4 Record)
2015 Savannah Christian Academy – Middle School Head Baseball Coach
2015 Savannah Christian Academy – Middle School Assistant Softball Coach
Stubby Clapp
Stubby Clapp is a Canadian native who relocated to Savannah, Tennessee in 2006 after marrying Chastity Shutt. As a husband and father of two boys and a daughter, Stubby utilizes his experience on the field to train athletes of all ages. During high school, Stubby participated in football, hockey and baseball. His athleticism, natural talent, and most of all his grittiness on the field landed him a baseball scholarship. Since that time, Stubby has played at all levels of baseball including the Major Leagues and is a two-time Olympian, including a Gold Medal in 2015.
- Paris Junior College – Paris, Texas 1993-1995, Academic All-American, Mr. PJC
- Texas Tech – Lubbock, Texas 1995-1996, Academic All-American, NCAA Runs Scored SWC
- Drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals organization in the 36th Round in 1996
- Major League Baseball debut with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2001
- Olympic Athlete (2004 Athens) (2008 Beijing)
- 3x World Baseball Classic participant, 2006-2009 as a player, 2013 as a coach
- 2x Pan Am Games participant, 99 Bronze Medalist, 2015 Gold Medalist
- Named #5 Memphis Athlete of the Decade in 2009 (Memphis Redbirds)
- 2010 Olympic Torch Bearer for Vancouver Canada Olympics
- 6 Year MiLB Coach for Houston Astros
- 2014 Bobby Mattick Award for Excellence in Player Development for Toronto Blue Jays
- Currently, Stubby is in his 4th Year with the Toronto Blue Jays as a MiLB Coach
Derrick Loveless
Derrick Loveless is an athletic trainer at Elite. He will offer private baseball and training lessons, specializing in hitting, outfielding, base running along with strength, speed and agility training. While at Elite, Derrick will also be an assistant coach to our travel teams and instruct some of our classes.
Derrick was selected in the 2011 MLB draft in the 27th round by the Toronto Blue Jays out of Solon High School in Solon, IA. He currently plays for the Toronto Blue Jays organization for the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Over the last six seasons of professional baseball, Derrick has been named to the MiLB All-Star game and Player of the week Honors.
Blake Gibbs
Blake is excited to be back in his hometown and be a part of a great organization with Elite. He has known Chad and Stubby for many years, following their professional career as I was growing up and I am honored to be coaching alongside two of the brightest baseball minds in the region. Elite is known as one of the fastest growing sports academies in the area, committed to training and developing young players. Doing things, the Elite way, which is the right way. Focusing on strength, agility, and fundamentals. I am committed to taking the necessary steps to properly develop young baseball players from across the area and lay the ground work for future success at the highest levels. Growing up on the baseball field in this area, I know the commitment to excellence at all levels of athletics. I am looking forward to working with all our great players and parents.
- 2001-2005 Adamsville High School- Catcher
- 2010 University of Tennessee at Martin – (Secondary History, Minor- Economics)
- 2012-Bethel University- Master’s Degree in Education
- 2008-2010- McNairy County Travelers 14U and McNairy County All-Stars 14U
- 2008-2010- State Runner Up- 2 years.
- 2011-West TN Rampage/Hardin County All Stars 14U
- 2011-2015-Marion High School- Senior High School, Teacher (AP American History, World History)
- 2011-2015 Marion High School Assistant Baseball
- 2013- Marion High School 6A State Runner Up
- 2016- Clayton Homes, Savannah, TN (Sales)
Darren Howard
Darren is from Savannah, TN and played baseball at Hardin County High School. He was a stand-out multi-sport
athlete. He was All-State his senior year. He played baseball at Columbia State Community College. I enjoying coaching and being around kids. I enjoy watching them grow as an athlete as well as a person. As a kid myself, the coaches that I had made an impact on me throughout my life and I hope to do the same in my life.
Darren is married to Amy Fair and they have two children, Issac and Layla. Darren and Isaac have been members at Elite since 2014. They have utilized the sports academy at least two or three times per week. Isaac also has taken lessons from Stubby, Daryn and Kevin McCasland. They have all contributed to Isaacs growth and development as a baseball player.
- Played baseball through high school to college
- 1995- All State – Hardin County High School
- 1996- Columbia State Community College
- 2000- Graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a Bachelors in Business Administration and Economics and Finance double minor
- Currently is employed with Central Bank in Savannah, TN.
Kevin McCasland
Kevin McCasland is a Hardin County, Savannah, TN native. After Kevin graduated from HCHS, he was awarded an athletic scholarship in baseball to Lambuth University in Jackson TN where he was a four year starter at shortstop for the Eagles and a two time All-Conference selection. Kevin was also selected as the team captain his Junior and Senior seasons by his teammates. When playing time at Lambuth was complete, Kevin moved home to Savannah and began working in the banking industry, but the love of the game of baseball was still there so he began teaching and coaching in the youth leagues of his hometown where he learned to play. Kevin has since coached baseball in age groups from 6 to 16, instilling the importance of hard work and fundamentals. Kevin and his wife Veronica reside in Savannah and have two daughters, Kolby and Kenli.
- 2011 USSSA State Runner Up 12U – AAA
- 2012 WORLD SERIES Runner Up 13U – Panama City Beach
- 2012 USSSA State Champs 13U – AAA
- 2012 USSSA Fall Teams included AAA and Majors 13U Team
- 2014 16U College Exposure Team
- 2015 Savannah Christian Academy – Middle School Assistant Softball Coach