Original Florida Pokers. {Courtesy}
Coming off the Perfect Game BCS, the Original Florida Pokers had four players announce their commitments.
Luke Cherry, a senior from Marjory Stoneman Douglas, is set to attend the University of North Florida.
“It feels amazing to finally be committed to a school that I want to be at,” Cherry said. “This process for me was very long because I didn’t want to make the wrong decision.”
Luke Cherry. {954 Preps}
Cherry began playing baseball when he was four at Sportsplex in Coral Springs. He also played for North Springs Little League before starting with the Pokers when he was eight. The left-handed pitcher has played on the varsity baseball team for two years and won a pair of State Championships. Cherry has pitched to an era of .69 in 30.1 innings while striking out 50 hitters in 30.1 innings. Cherry recorded three saves with the Pokers during their BCS Championship and pitched 18.2 innings this summer.
Cherry says he considered attending Junior College but quickly fell in love with the UNF campus. He received a scholarship and established a strong relationship with the coaching staff.
“The new coaching staff up there at UNF is what sold me,” Cherry added. “They really are involved in their player. They want what’s best for every player that steps foot on campus, and they play to win.”
Cole Lasher will attend Florida Gulf Coast University and compete in the same conference as Cherry. He played high school baseball at St. Thomas Aquinas High School, hitting .301 with a home run and 16 RBIs as a sophomore. This summer with the Pokers, Lasher is hitting .329 with two home runs and 28 RBIs. He started his baseball career for Inferno with coach Kenny Carlo.
Cole Lasher {954 {Preps}
“It is just a relief to know all that I have worked for is being recognized, Lasher said. “I also don’t have to worry about where I will be going.” He added that knowing he could play Division One baseball in Florida and have his family and friends attend a majority of the games played a big role in his commitment.
Marcelo Young is committed to playing at Florida International University.
“It feels great like a big weight has been lifted because there was so much pressure to decide where I wanted to go before. Now I have an answer. There is a lot less pressure on that area.”
Young started playing baseball when he was seven and has played for Margate Legacy, Inferno, Ballers, Giants, and Bandits before starting with the Pokers.
He went 4-0 last season with the Panthers as a junior, pitching to an era of 4.05. He made three starts and threw one complete game while striking out 32 hitters in 36.1 innings. CSC went 15-11 and reached Regionals before falling in the opening round against the eventual State Champions, North Broward Prep.
Marcelo Young. {954 Preps}
For college, Young said he went to a camp at FIU and loved the baseball field. He followed that up with a tour and made his decision. Young will have one more year on the varsity team before heading to FIU and will play for coach Alvaro Gomez, who is in his first year at CSC.
Following that, Young will play for a team that competes in Conference USA and has been to the NCAA Tournament 11 times. They went 27-30 this past season but have had 137 players selected in the MLB Draft.
Everett Marshall, a catcher from the Pokers, announced his commitment.
“I will be continuing my athletic and academic career at Samford University,” Marshall said. “I’d like to thank God for giving me the ability to play the game I love, the Pokers organization, and thank you to the Samford coaching staff for giving me this opportunity.”
He plays his high school baseball at Cardinal Gibbons High School, hitting .378 with five home runs and 14 RBIs during their run to a State Championship. With the Pokers, he hit .362 with an added home run, 13 extra-base hits, and 24 RBIs.
Everett Marshall {954 Preps}
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