The Coral Springs based 10u Florida Pokers Travel Baseball Organization heads into it’s 20th season as one of travel baseball’s most prestigious programs and in 2009 it returned to being a national power.  The 10u Pokers have dedicated the 2010 season to the motto of “Unfinished Business” after a 5th place finish at the 2009 USSSA Elite World Series last August at Disney’s Wide World of Sports.

After going 7-2 at the Elite World Series with wins vs travelbaseballselect.com #3 Strike Force from El Paso 6-2 and Honorable Mention Georgia Grays 6-5, The Pokers were eliminated by TBS.com #1 Mizuno Glory 8-4 in the Championship round of their 8 team bracket.

The Pokers showed the country that it could play with anyone finishing 59-19 overall, winning 49 of the last 59 games, winning 3consecutive tournament championships plus winning it’s very difficult South Florida Travel League (Florida Premier League).  However, going 0-3 vs #1 USSSA Mizuno Glory and finishing 5th at the World Series left the team feeling like there is still much to accomplish in 2010.

The Pokers return 8 of their 10 players off the 2009 roster but have added 4 tremendous athletes to bolster the roster that is now more interchangeable than ever before.  “We now have the luxury of resting players as the season goes along due to our depth”  coach Lenny Roberts said.  “Our pitching staff is much deeper than in 2009 as is our overall flexibility and that can only enhance what was the #1 runs allowed defense at the world series @2.6 runs per game”  added Roberts.

With early season tests against South Florida’s best teams in February, The Pokers will travel to meet up with Legends Baseball (formerly Mizuno Glory) at the War on I-4 in Plant City and then head to the Atlanta Super NIT.  Trips to Cooperstown and other Super NIT’s headline the Pokers beefed up schedule in 2010.  “Our kids now realize that they are nearing the top of the mountain and the desire to get there has fueled the off season work. After 5 months off away from competitive baseball, they are chomping at the bit to get back at it” said Roberts.

Since 1990, The Pokers not only changed the landscape of travel baseball in South Florida, they have sent over 350 kids off to college all across the US to earn degrees and about 30 others into the professional ranks including 5 that are on Major League rosters today, most notably, Sean Gallagher, Josh Fogg, Zach Miner, Sean Burnett and Kason Gabbard.

The current roster is made up of the following players:
Coral Springs – Earl Semper, Caleb Roberts, Robert Joy and Jake Hershkowitz
Parkland – Riley Allison and Christian Scott
Tamarac – Jarrett Hall
Coconut Creek – Michael Schuler
Deerfield – Daley Weppner
Wellington – Jacob Mercado, TJ McKenzie and Zack Brundage

For more information about The Florida Pokers visit www.floridapokersbaseballclub.com.

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