The Virginia Blasters are excited to announce that Gary Lavelle will be returning as Head Coach for the 2019 Season. Joining Coach Lavelle as co-head coach will be Gary Denette. Coach Denette served as an assistant coach with the Va Beach Shredders in 2018, and the Blasters are excited to have him joining the staff for the upcoming season. Also returning to the Blasters coaching staff is Mitchell Everett, who served his first season as an assistant coach with the Blasters in 2018. The Blasters and the league are excited to have Coach Everett, Coach Denette and Coach Lavelle back for another season.
Head Coach: Gary Lavelle
With over twenty years of professional pitching experience under his belt, Coach Gary Lavelle will be an incredible asset to to the Tidewater Collegiate Summer Baseball League and our players. He spent most of his his pro pitching career with the San Francisco Giants where he was twice named a National League All-Star and held the record for most game appearances as well as being listed in the top 10 for saves and wins.
Coach Lavelle also played pro ball for the Toronto Blue Jays and the Oakland Athletics before deciding to move from the mound to the coaches’ box, where he had a strong desire to work with youngsters in developing their baseball ability, sportsmanship and leadership. As head coach of Greenbrier Christian Academy in Chesapeake, VA, Lavelle was named TCIS Conference Coach of the Year for six consecutive years, as well as a seven-time Virginia State Independent Schools Coach of the Year. Lavelle’s team was a four-time winner of the Metro Conference Championship, a six-time winner of the Division I Virginia State Championship, and winner of the Division II Virginia State Championship in 1999.
In 2000, Coach Lavelle returned to the Big Leagues as a Pitching Coach for the New York Yankees where he culminated his career as the 2004 Eastern League All Star Game Pitching Coach. After five years with the Yankees, Lavelle decided to return to Greenbrier Christian Academy where he had found his true calling. Over the next 10 years, his team went on to win the Virginia Independent Schools State Championship four times and Lavelle was named Coach of the Year for each of those years.
Coach Gary Lavelle officially retired from Greenbrier Christian Academy at the end of the 2016 school year, and is currently the Head Baseball Coach of the Bryant & Stratton College Bobcats, where he continues to help develop and mentor young student athletes and is establishing what will become one of the premier junior college programs.
Head Coach: Gary Denette
After serving as an assistant coach during our 2018 season, Coach Denette will be rejoining us as head coach for the upcoming 2019 season. Coach Denette was an outstanding player for Churchland High, earning Portsmouth Player of the Year honors, All-Southeastern District, led district in batting, All-Tidewater led tidewater and all AAA schools in OBP. All-Region. Gary went to Christopher Newport University, where as freshman he led team in batting. Gary also was a starter on the Chesapeake Cubs travel team managed by Allan Erbe. Gary was an outstanding top of the order hitter/ baserunner and performed effectively at several positions including P, SS, 2B and CF. Gary is currently a SCPO in the USN, having served 20 years. Gary is currently the JV coach at Churchland HS.
Asst. Coach: Mitch Everett
Assistant Coach Mitch Everett is entering his second year of coaching in the TSL, and will be assisting Head Coach Gary Lavelle with the Blasters again this summer. Coach Everett is currently serving as a vol. assistant coach at Elon University.