Cade Griffis, with his brother, Kyle and financial partner Craig Penfold are the founders of D-BAT formerly Dallas Baseball Academy of Texas. Cade grew up in Burkburnett, TX and after a successful high school career, played at Dallas Baptist University (DBU) as a third baseman. During his tenure at DBU he recorded 4 HR in four consecutive at bats, a record that still stands today in college baseball. Later, Cade joined the Kansas City Royals organization and played as a catcher for several seasons until slowed by injuries. After his professional career ended, Cade returned to Texas and started professional instruction for Steve Adair, a well know instructor in the Dallas baseball community. After Coach Adair passed in 1998, six months later Dallas Baseball Academy of Texas was founded on November 27, 1998. DBAT has been servicing the North Texas community since 1998 and has grown to its current location on Wright Brothers Drive in Addison, TX. The first baseball team in 1998 featured the son of one of the founders Craig Penfold. An avid baseball fan Craig wanted his son to learn the correct fundamentals of the game and thought Cade Griffis would be the right person for the coach. The Academy currently consists of three teams ranging in ages from 16 to 18 and has an alumni list of players currently playing in colleges and universities throughout the United States and in the professional ranks.

It wasn't until 2004 that DBAT made its first trip to the Mickey Mantle World Series; the first 15 year old team in tournament history. That team would later win two Connie Mack South Plains Regional Championships in 2006 and 2007 and participate in the Connie Mack World Series. DBAT has also established a reputation for good behavior in the World Series town of Farmington, New Mexico, where visiting players are houseguests of host families.

Since the first graduating DBAT class in 2001 the majority of players have received Division I college baseball scholarships and the organization has produced such professionals as Chance Douglas (Astros), Robert Ray (Dodgers), Jerod Plummer (Dodgers), Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers), Jordon Walden (Angles), Matt Sulenic (A’s), Zach Segovia (Phillies), Brad Furnish (Cardinals) to name a few.