2,089 MLB PLAYERS | 14,476 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Create Account
Sign in Create Account
Tournaments  | Story  | 6/29/2023

Pokers two-peat BCS national title

Hannah Jo Groves     
Photo: Pokers Baseball (Perfect Game)
After fighting through a five-day tournament, the Original Florida Pokers 17U won the BCS National Championship title for the second year in a row. 

"It's not your typical travel team," Pokers head coach Todd Fitz-Gerald said. "They wanted to come here on a mission and try and go back-to-back, so that's what we did."



The Pokers came out with the 5-3 win over the USA Prime Scout Team. 

The Pokers went 9-0-1 in the tournament - with a particularly impressive Wednesday in which they didn't allow a single walk through 21 innings. 

Pitching and defense stayed impressive for the championship game - with left-handed Breylynn Courtney throwing 70 pitches through five innings and racking up three strikeouts - only allowing one run and one walk.

"I like playing up because that means I could have better competition," said Courtney, a 2025 graduate. "To throw [to] the lefties, [I] start off with curveballs, then have the righties fastballs in. I'm trying to just have the defense work a lot."

And that defense did work - including first baseman Anthony Quigley, who sprawled into a full split to get a double play. 

"I heard the steps - he was coming down the line," Quigley said. "I saw the opportunity to take the split - I had to - and we got 'em... I might have pulled my hamstring." 

For the Pokers, most offense came from heads-up plays to capitalize on early mistakes from Prime's defense. However, there were highlights in that defense, including right-handed pitcher Blake Myers who struck out five through 60 pitches in four innings. 

The Prime offense managed to get two runs on the board in the bottom of the sixth. Shortstop Brayden Leonard hit a double that sailed to the left field fence and shifted the momentum of the game - especially when third baseman Braydon Kersey followed with a two-run single - giving hope for a potential comeback.  

But the speed in base running incredible defensive plays had already sealed the 2-peat for the Pokers and Fitz-Gerald - who also just won a back-to-back state championship with the Majorie Stoneman Douglas high school team that includes many of the same players. 

"It's a total team effort with those guys," Fitz-Gerald said. "I just couldn't be happier for them because they really wanted this one."
PG Special Events
Travel, Lodging, Entertainment
PG Partners
Recommended
About Perfect Game :: Contact us :: Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Testimonials :: Job Opportunities
Copyright 1994-2024 by Perfect Game. All rights reserved. No portion of this information may be reprinted or reproduced without the written consent of Perfect Game.