Coaching Staff

Chris Heston graduated from Bayside High School in Palm Bay, Florida. He played college baseball for two years at Seminole Community College. He was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 47th round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft but did not sign with the team. In 2008 the Washington Nationals drafted Heston in the 29th round, but he again did not sign and attended East Carolina University. He was then drafted a third time, by the San Francisco Giants in the 12th round in 2009, and signed.

Heston made his Major League debut with the San Francisco Giants on September 13, 2014, in the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers where he pitched a scoreless inning. He eventually appeared in three games, including one start, and pitched five and one-third innings with a 5.06 ERA. The Giants clinched a wild card spot with an 88–74 record and eventually won the 2014 World Series, their third championship in five seasons. Heston did not participate in any postseason activity but received his first championship ring for his regular season contributions.

Heston was slated to start the 2015 season in AAA Sacramento, but was called up on April 7 to replace the injured Matt Cain. He got his first MLB win in his second start for the Giants on April 8, 2015, defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks 5–2 and throwing 6 innings. Heston gave up two runs, neither earned, but had five strikeouts gaining the win. On May 12, 2015, Heston pitched a complete game against the Houston Astros, allowing only two hits and one run, with 10 strikeouts and no walks. Heston was the first Giants rookie to throw a complete game with at least 10 strikeouts since Roger Mason on October 4, 1985, and the first Giants rookie with double-digit strikeouts since Tim Lincecum on July 1, 2007.

On June 9, 2015, Heston no-hit the New York Mets 5–0 at Citi Field, becoming the 22nd rookie pitcher since 1900 to throw a no-hitter in a major-league regular-season game. He struck out 11 and walked none; the only 3 runners to reach base were hit by a pitch. Heston closed his no-hitter with three strikeouts in the 9th inning, a feat last accomplished by Sandy Koufax in his perfect game in 1965 against the Chicago Cubs. He also became the first pitcher to no-hit the Mets in a Mets’ home game since Pittsburgh’s Bob Moose no-hit them at Shea Stadium in 1969. In the same game, Heston logged his first career RBIs with a two-run single. For his efforts, Heston was honored his first career National League Player of the Week Award as well as the key to the city by the mayor of Palm Bay, Florida.

On July 23, 2015, Heston carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning against the San Diego Padres, ultimately allowing only one hit and no runs in 7 1⁄3 innings pitched. The 9–3 victory over the Padres was Heston’s 10th win, making him the first Giants rookie to reach 10 wins since Matt Cain in 2006.

As a player Jason Stidham played at Melbourne High School under Coach Pete Donovan. As a Bulldog Stidham was a two-time Space Coast Player of the Year (2005 and 2006). In 2005 he was FSWA All-State first team and in 2006 FSWA All-State second team. Stidham was selected in the 2006 MLB Draft in the 43rd round with the 1286th overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Out of high school Stidham attended Florida State University in 2007. Stidham made the All-ACC First-Team and earned Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American recognition as well as first-team Freshman All-American accolades. Stidham posted a .366 batting average in his first season with the Seminoles collecting 86 hits, 17 doubles, six home runs and 48 RBIs and was named the ACC and NCBWA National Player of the Week for his performance (.581 batting average) against Georgia Tech to close out the regular season. Stidham started at third base in all 61 games that he saw action, while going a season-high 17 games without committing an error at the hot corner.

In 2008 Stidham was a Brooks Wallace Award Preseason Watch List candidate. His sophomore season he moved from third to second base where he made 62 of his 64 starts. Stidham hit .324 with 82 hits in 255 at-bats and was one of only three Seminole players to register double-digit home runs finishing the season with 11. Stidham was the top hitter for the Seminoles in the NCAA postseason posting 21 hits and a .477 average in 10 games, while registering at least one hit in nine of 10 games. Stidham started both games of the College World Series and hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth against Stanford erasing a three-run deficit to tie the game at 5-5.

During the 2008 Summer Stidham was selected to play in the premier Cape Cod Summer League. His was a member of the Harwich Mariners that finished in 1st place that Summer. Stidham was named Co-MVP of the Cape Cod Championship Series.

In 2009 Stidham was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the eighth round (249th overall) of the 2009 amateur entry Draft. He played three seasons with the Cardinals before ending his career due to injuries.

Stidham has worked for multiple baseball/softball facilities before returning back to his hometown here in Melbourne. His passion is working with youth baseball and softball players. He is owner of the Upper Deck Sports Facility and will take over the hitting/fielding department. Stidham is the President of the Upper Deck Travel-Ball organization. He is currently coaching our 16U & 13U teams.

Alex graduated in 2016 from Viera High School where he was a varsity baseball player with a .327 average. He played in the 2016 FACA High School All-Star Baseball Classic. According to Perfect Game, he was the 9th-ranked catcher and 90th-ranked player in Florida.

Alex furthered his career by earning a Division I Scholarship to play at Florida Gulf Coast University. As a college freshman, he appeared in 31 games and made 29 starts behind the plate. He recorded his first collegiate homerun and took the ASUN Championship that year. After that tournament, he made the 2017 ASUN All-Freshman Team.

As a Sophomore, Alex was named to the 2018 First Team All-Conference after leading the Eagles with a .335 average. He had 46 starts, appearing in the outfield and behind the plate. He finished the season with 61 hits, 5 doubles, 2 triples, 5 home runs and 26 RBIs.

As a Junior, Alex made the 2019 Second Team All-Conference after leading the league with 76 hits. He also started all 55 games for the Eagles, primarily as catcher. He caught 11 runners stealing and led the team with 23 mulit-hit games that season. His season fielding percentage (.998) is the 8th highest in a single season in FGCU history. He finished the season hitting .321 with 8 doubles, 1 triple, 4 home runs and 30 RBIs.

In 2020, Alex made the Preseason All-ASUN selection and became the first player in program history to be named to the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Watch List. In his final campaign with the Green and Blue, Alex returned as both the team and conference leader in hits. Unfortunately, COVID put an abrupt end to his senior season.

In the fall of 2020, Alex had an opportunity to become a grad transfer and play for the University of Notre Dame. There he hit his first career grand slam for a 5-4 win over Wake Forest. He played in a Super Regional at Mississippi State and also earned his Master’s Degree.

Danny grew up on the Space Coast and played baseball, basketball, and football at Astronaut H.S. Following his freshman year, he was recruited as a SS/P and traveled with the Florida Nationals Baseball Organization to Upstate New York and Canada for the summer. He lettered four years in baseball and was offered scholarships to a couple of small programs but chose to stay close to home and walk on at UCF.  Health issues between high school and college ended his playing career. 

This life experience transformed his mentality into one of “Nunc Coepi”.  “Nunc Coepi” (translated: Now I Begin) is a mentality that can make an individual successful no matter what their obstacles, limitations, weaknesses or failures may be.

Danny has coached in youth sports for the past 10 years (4 at Upper Deck).  His goal is to ensure youth learn the importance of values and behaviors learned and honed in youth sports, then carried throughout life:  Leadership, Integrity, Teamwork, Work Ethic, Accountability and Communication Skills.

Having played competitive baseball throughout his youth and college years at Alcorn State University and Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy, Jaden brings a deep understanding of playing the game the right way. 

After starting at shortstop for two years at Alcorn State, he transferred to Florida A&M University where he graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Jaden is currently studying for the LSAT to become a lawyer in the entertainment industry. 

Jaden’s coaching style emphasizes individual skill development, having fun, and winning as a team. 
Jaden believes that building a strong baseball foundation allows players to develop skills that will translate on and off the field.

Coach Sami grew up in Chicago where he played 7 years of Little League and 4 years at Oak Lawn High School where he learned a lot about Baseball and life from his Coach Eugene “Skip” Sullivan that always had high expectations for his players, held them accountable and most importantly kept it fun.

Sami was known for his accuracy allowing only one BB in his 52 innings in his Senior Year of High School. As a walk on Sami only pitched one season at Moraine Valley CC in Palos Hills IL. due to his torn UCL.

In 2000 Sami moved to Florida and joined a men’s Baseball League and occasionally playing in tournaments, over the last 15 years Sami has been playing with the Space Coast Sharks as a shortstop and enjoys playing year-round here in Florida.

Sami has always been a student of the game his whole life, he has coached 7 seasons at Viera/Suntree Little League, in 2021 Sami was awarded the “Rising Star Award” in 2023 he was the pitching coach/assistant coach to the Rockies that won the AAA Minors Championship.

In 2021 Coach Sami was the head coach for the Viera Hawks 7/8U with a 43-22 record in an 8U division winning the Greater Orlando Baseball Points Race, in 2022 his record was 19-1, the team he built and trained ended up #1 in the Nation in Points, #1 In Florida Power Rankings and #3 in the Nation Power Rankings in the USSSA league.

Coach Sami is dedicated to developing children into great Baseball players and more importantly developing the children to have great character on and off the field while creating the best possible environment for the children to grow and enjoy their childhood Baseball memories.