The annual Jericho Athletic Association Picnic, which always takes place on the second Saturday in June at Jericho High School, is typically a well-attended affair on a hot and humid late spring day. This year was no exception, as eight games were played, starting just after 9 a.m. and continuing into the late afternoon. Fortunately, there were plenty of liquid refreshments available for the players and spectators.

Some of the games feature the initial round of playoffs for the fifth- and sixth-grade boys. The first game of the day pitted the American League Champions, Robin Hood Athletics, against the Westbury Jeep Yankees. They had met twice before during the regular season and the Athletics narrowly defeated the Yankees both times. The Athletics were first to get on the board in the first inning on a triple by Leo Weiner, who was then driven home by Jonathan Davis. The Athletics increased their lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the second inning. Reggie Kronstadt led off the inning with the first of three hits for him on the day, followed by a single by Daniel Greenstein with the first of his two hits and both scored on a clutch single to right field by Jared Oxenberg. Matthew Kent, who got on base both times he was up, later scored on an RBI single by Davis. Meanwhile, Justin Mintz was cruising on the mound for the Athletics, having struck out the first four Yankees he faced and he had seven strikeouts through three innings.

The Yankees finally scored against Mintz in the top of the fourth inning on an RBI single by David Saunders to cut the lead to 5-1. However, in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Athletics struck again, increasing their lead to 9-1, featuring big RBI hits by Weiner and Brandon Dorman. The Yankees had Mintz in trouble in the top of the fifth inning on an RBI single by Matthew Damon and a bases-clearing triple by Nicholas Blaine. However, Justin struck out a batter with the bases loaded and then finished off the Yankees in the sixth inning to earn the playoff victory. He finished with the extraordinary total of 13 strikeouts while walking only three batters in a memorable playoff performance.

On a warm Sunday afternoon at Marine 1st Lieutenant Matthew D. Lynch Field (formerly Merry Lane Field), the Robin Hood Athletes met with the Silverman, Perlstein Red Sox for the American League pennant and the right to face the Cardinals in the Championship Game. The game featured the top two teams in the American League during the regular season and was bound to be a well-played, well-pitched affair.

Jonathan Davis started for the Athletics and Brendan Russell got the call for the Red Sox. After Davis held the Red Sox scoreless in the top of the first inning, the Athletics were able to score two runs in the bottom of the first inning, when an RBI single by Ari Freeman scored Leo Weiner and Justin Mintz to get the Athletics the early lead. The Red Sox cut the lead of the Athletics in half when Jonathan Andre scored on an RBI single by Brett Perlstein. However, the Athletics increased the lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI single by Davis which scored Steven Pestyner. The Red Sox then cut the lead to 3-2 when Maxx Shapiro drove in Eric Elias, who had doubled to left field with two outs. Davis and Russell both worked only the first three innings and at the end of three innings, the Athletics had a narrow 3-2 lead. After the Red Sox took a 4-3 lead in the top of the fourth inning, the Athletics scored five times in the bottom of the fourth to increase their lead. With two out and Steven Pestyner on first base, Leo Weiner blasted a triple over the left fielder's head to tie the score. Davis followed with a monstrous shot to center-field which landed one bounce from the fence to give the Athletics the lead back which they never relinquished.

The Athletics continued their habit over the last few games of stringing good at-bats together when, after a walk to Mintz, Brandon Dorman drove in two runs and scored on another solid hit by Freedman. That was followed by another single by Reggie Kronstadt, before the Red Sox stopped the bleeding. However, the damage was already done and Leo Weiner, who relieved Davis in the fourth inning, shut the door on the Red Sox by leaving the bases loaded in the sixth inning. For the Athletics, it was their ninth victory in their last 10 games and set the stage for the showdown with the rejuvenated Cardinals in the 2005 championship game to take place Saturday, June 18 at Lynch Field.