Original Florida Pokers. {954 Preps}
The Original Florida Pokers continue to solidify their reputation as one of the nation’s premier travel baseball organizations, with nearly two dozen local players helping their high school teams capture Florida State Championships during the 2026 season.
The Pokers’ 2026 team featured eight players from state champion Marjory Stoneman Douglas: Reid Dadic, Carter McGuinn, Cade Raley, Jake Rizzo, and Josh Sullivan.
Dadic earned the start in the State Semifinals while Rizzo and Raley were among the Eagles’ most productive hitters throughout the championship campaign, and McGuinn contributed three victories on the mound during the postseason run.
Five members of the Pokers organization also helped lead St. Thomas Aquinas High School to its second consecutive State Championship. Julian Diaz, Brady Buxbaum, Nico Sabatino, Jayden Doverspike, and Nick Fernandez were key contributors as the Raiders survived a pair of dramatic walk-off victories in decisive regional Game 3 matchups.
Diaz tossed a complete-game shutout in the State Semifinals against Land O’ Lakes, while Buxbaum drove in runs in both the semifinal and championship games against Buchholz. Sabatino excelled in center field and finished the season batting .512 with five home runs and 26 RBIs. Doverspike added nine doubles and 13 RBIs, while Fernandez posted a 2-1 record on the mound.
The Pokers’ 2027 squad was also heavily represented during Douglas’ title run. Ben Bianchi recorded the final out of the State Championship Game, while Jackson Taylor once again came through with a walk-off hit in the State Semifinals. Brody Gargiulo started in center field during the championship game. Joshua Jakobowitz and Jaxson Cirella played important bullpen roles throughout the season, with Jakobowitz earning a victory. The future remains bright for the organization as the Pokers’ 2028 team featured seven state champions: Ander Elorriaga, Tyler Stertzbach, Nelson Velasquez, Jacob Hayes, Charlie Acierno, Danny Beltran and Cade Kuhlmeier.
Elorriaga delivered the go-ahead run in the State Championship Game with a perfectly executed suicide squeeze bunt with two strikes. Stertzbach earned the victory after a strong relief outing in the State Semifinals, while Velasquez filled in behind the plate and also homered during the season. Hayes collected two wins on the mound, and Acierno, Beltran and Kuhlmeier each earned state championship rings while positioning themselves to play major roles during their upcoming junior seasons.
With players contributing to championship teams across multiple graduating classes, the Original Florida Pokers continue to demonstrate why they remain one of the top developmental programs in Florida and the nation.
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