Our Story
Bill Davis
Founder
Bill is a dedicated individual with a deep passion for baseball and mentoring young talent. He spent 36 years of his career as a public employee in Riverside and Sacramento counties, ultimately retiring as an Assistant Director in the County of Sacramento Department of Child Support Services in 2013. Alongside his public service, Bill pursued his love for teaching and guiding young people through the sport of baseball.
His coaching journey began in the La Sierra community of Riverside, California, where he volunteered at his local Little League when his sons started playing. He didn't stop there; instead, he continued to coach and instruct in various baseball programs, including the Amateur Baseball Development (ABD) and NorCal Baseball Program (NorCal). Eventually, he founded his own program in Sacramento, known as the Davis Sports Academy.
Bill's dedication to baseball also extended to scouting. He served as an Associate Scout for the Atlanta Braves and currently holds the same position with the Seattle Mariners. Bill's experience as an award-winning college baseball player at California Baptist University in the 70s, coupled with his mentoring skills, led to the success of many young players who went on to have prosperous college and professional baseball careers. Notable names from both Southern and Northern California have benefited from his guidance, some of whom have become accomplished high school, college, and professional coaches, scouts, and professionals in various fields.
Baseball is deeply ingrained in Bill's family, and his younger brother, Alvin, enjoyed a successful major league career with the Seattle Mariners. Alvin now serves as a Special Assignment Instructor in the Mariners' minor league system, adding valuable expertise to the development programs at Davis Sports Academy.
Bill's unwavering passion for the game and his commitment to player development remain steadfast to this day. Operating the DSA training facility is the realization of a lifelong dream, and he continues to make a meaningful impact on the world of baseball and the young athletes he mentors.
Our Team
Full Bios
Alex Newman
Alexandra (Alex) Newman comes to DSA with a very impressive list of academic and athletic accomplishments. She was a dominating pitcher at Rio Linda HS, Sacramento, CA and then New Mexico State University. In her sophomore season she helped lead her NMSU team to the program’s first appearance in the NCAA tournament in 2011. In the first game of the tournament Alex threw a no-hitter in New Mexico State’s 9-0 victory over Texas Tech.
Alex’s resume includes:
Award winning Rio Linda HS softball player
Capital Valley Conference MVP
CalHi Sports All-State Team
2x CVC Champion ‘07,’08
Sac Bee All-Metro 2nd Team
Graduate of New Mexico State University
4 year scholarship softball player (2010-2013)
Recorded 58 career wins as a pitcher, she set the single season win record with 23 in 2011, then broke that record winning 24 in 2012
WAC 1st Team All-Conference (2013)
WAC All-Tournament team (2011, 2013)
Two time WAC Pitcher of the Week (2011, 2013)
4 time WAC All-Academic Team (2010-2013
She is currently the Assistant Varsity softball Coach at Rio Linda High School along with doing private pitching instruction.
“Alex is an excellent example and role model for young athletes female and male. ‘She has been there, done that’. DSA is very fortunate to have her on our staff of instructors.”
– Bill Davis
Chloe Kitchens
I have been playing softball since I was about five years old. I grew up playing in West Sacramento little league and began to play travel ball at the age of 8. I played travel ball until I was 17 years old where I continued my softball and education career at Sacramento City College. I played at Sacramento City for two years. I was a utility player which included catcher, third, shortstop, and second. After playing for two years, I decided to end my softball career and focus on my education at Sacramento State University. I am pursuing my Bachelors in Health Science and then going to ultrasound school to pursue a career as a Cardiac Sonographer. After ending my career at Sacramento City, I could not get away from the game that I love and decided to become a coach. I coach Foothill Gold 18U and while coaching them I work with the catchers, infield, outfield, and hitting. My coaching experience with this team made me realize I want to expand and coach more young athletes. I want to be able to work with young athletes to not only build them physically but mentally as well. I want to be that coach that they are comfortable with asking any questions within sports, school, and any life experiences. I am not only here as a coach but I am here as a retired athlete to give my knowledge to these young athletes to help them become better individuals as well as future college athletes.
Kalani Hernandez
Hello, my name is Kalani Hernandez. I currently attend Sierra College in Rocklin, where I play as a catcher. My journey in the world of softball began when I was just 8 years old, and I've been deeply passionate about the sport ever since. Over the years, I've honed my skills and versatility, primarily playing as a utility player with a focus on positions such as shortstop, outfield, and catcher.
In addition to my dedication to softball, I also delved into baseball, participating in both recreational and travel leagues for about four years. Similar to my softball experience, I embraced the role of a utility player, showcasing my abilities as a pitcher, catcher, and shortstop on the baseball diamond. These experiences have provided me with a well-rounded understanding of the intricacies of both sports.
As I reflect on my journey as a player, I am filled with a desire to pay it forward and share the knowledge and wisdom I've gained with younger athletes. I believe in the power of mentorship and coaching to instill confidence, foster healthy habits, refine mechanics, and ultimately, cultivate a deep love for the game. My goal is to help young players not only improve their skills but also develop a strong sense of enjoyment and fulfillment in playing the sports they love.
Matt Grone
I played baseball growing up since I was five years old and spent a majority of my childhood playing on travel teams that played all throughout Virginia. During high school I was a three-year Varsity letter-winner at West Springfield High School where the team won two regular season district titles and two district tournament titles. After high school, I was also able to play on an American Legion team that made it to the Virginia State Finals in 2017 and was lucky enough to start the State Championship on the mound.
After high school, I moved into working in baseball as I got my first job as a Student Manager at the University of Delaware where I got to work alongside long time D1 coaches before accepting a position as a Video Scout for Sports Information Solutions. I moved out to Sacramento after taking a job in Operations for the River Cats, but always wanted to move back into coaching at some point. I got the opportunity to take over as the Varsity Pitching Coach at El Camino High School this fall and I have absolutely loved it and I cannot wait to teach the next generation at DSA!