"Winning never gets old. I think you appreciate it more every time." Joe Torre.

That "summer wind" that Old Blue Eyes so artfully crooned of came blowin' in, ushering out the last days of spring while commencing the second annual Checkmate Tournament, the culminating venue of the Garden City Checkmate Sharks 2004 lax season.

Hosted at the Waldorf School by its athletic director and world-renown lacrosse player/mentor Gordon Purdie, this year's tourney provided a haven to showcase four of the best fifth grade lacrosse teams on Long Island. The road to the championship would run through head coach Peter Coleman's defending champ GC Sharks, unbeaten this season against Long Island opponents.

The tourney kicked off on a hot, humid and overcast Friday night, June 18, with the Sharks facing the Massapequa All-Stars. Concerns per the Sharks two week hiatus were founded as 'Pequa blitzed to a 3-0 first-quarter lead while holding Garden City to just one shot. Things looked bleak when the second-quarter began with a torrential downpour, but the Sharks in the pivotal juncture of the tournament, stemmed the tide as Tom Gordon (2 goals), Devin Dwyer (1 goal, 6 assists) and Tim Noble dented the twine to forge a 4-4 tie, ending a very physical and penalty laden first-half.

Kyle Johnson opened the third quarter with two momentum-swinging goals before thunder, lightning and heavy rain delayed the game for 30 minutes. When play resumed, the floodgates opened on the back of great riding by Matt Confort and Matt Clarkson, along with clutch goaltending by John Bock and Al Castronovo. Johnson scored his third goal of the game, followed by Shane Thornton from Brian Coleman, capping a 7-0 Garden City run that closed the door on a most determined but deflated 'Pequa contingent. Sean Mahon and Tom O'Brien added late fourth quarter goals as the Checkmate Kids, in overcoming the elements and an early deficit, cruised to a workmanlike 10-6 victory.

Father's Day, June 20, sported both spectacular weather and lacrosse. In facing Cold Spring Harbor (CSH) in the first game of a twin doubleheader, Sharks assistant coach Bob Jahelka's team defense dominated from start to finish in holding CSH to a mere seven shots-on-goal. Goals by Dwyer, Thornton and Johnson gave Garden City a 3-1 halftime lead that held into the fourth quarter before the Sharks hit their scoring stride with a blistering flurry that read: Thornton unassisted, Coleman from Dwyer, Johnson from Gordon and Michael LoFrese and Charlie Garcia unassisted, a season-high five fourth quarter goals staking the defending champs to a going-away, 8-3 victory, and Finals rematch with a tough Huntington team, victorious in its semifinal sudden-death OT thriller over Massapequa.

With just three losses spanning the past three seasons, all to Garden City, Huntington took to the field determined to break the hex. Again in following their weekend form, Garden City came out flat and found themselves down 3-1 at the half while mustering only three shots.

Outstanding goaltending by Castronovo and Bock kept the Sharks within striking distance. The tournament and most notably the half to come served as a microcosm of the Sharks' season in that for the third time in as many games, while facing top-flight competition, the Checkmate Kids demonstrated great poise, fortitude and resiliency in responding to the challenge.

While defensemen Steve Jahelka, Austin Kufs, Tom Adams, Johnson, Coleman, Mahon, Gordon and Thornton saved their best for last in pitching a second-half shutout, Gordon and Dwyer rang the bell to forge a 3-3 tie as the third- quarter expired setting the stage for the Sharks' last grasp for glory. All of the Tuesday night winter clinics, the two Oceanside indoor league sessions, the numerous spring practices and wall-work would be realized in the season's final 10 minutes, the last dance for the Checkmate Kids. Many among the scores of spectators that anxiously inched closer toward the sidelines sensed that the games' next goal would be the winner.

With six minutes remaining, Devin Dwyer notched his eleventh assist of the tourney in finding Tom O'Brien open on the crease to give the Sharks their first lead of the game while sending the frenzied Shark loyalists into bedlam. Minutes later, Garden City capitalized yet again on Coach Dwyer's man-up play as Coleman found Devin Dwyer who put the nail in the coffin as the Sharks (11-3-2) earned a most gritty and spirited 5-3 comeback win and second consecutive Checkmate Championship.

After the game, host Gordon Purdie graciously commended all the tournament participants on their improved team play. Coaches Coleman, Jahelka and Paul Hollis, in working with the team since November 15, are extremely proud of the boys' progress as they optimistically look ahead to next season. For more Shark details and great game photos, visit the team website at www.GCSharks.com.