The Lifetime Hoan A's (15-1) got their wish. They will play in the championship game next Saturday against the only team that defeated them this season, the Cafe Dolce Vita Brewers (14-1-1).

The A's are fortunate to be in this position because they nearly blew a seven-run lead in the sixth inning during the Saturday, June 12 quarterfinal game against the stubborn Nationwide Chemical Yankees. In a contest that was repeatedly disrupted by rain and played with a waterlogged ball, the Yankees rallied for six runs in the top of the sixth, but were finally stopped when Josh Algaze lined a shot into David Skurnik's glove at first base, ending the game. The A's, who saw their season almost slip away, breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Alex Siegel pitched a great game for the A's, but became unnerved in the final inning by the poor weather conditions and the wet ball. After a couple of uncharacteristic leadoff walks, the Yanks got base hits from David Ariel, Jonathan Schecter and Doug Wolf to lead the exciting rally that fell just short.

The A's took a commanding early lead as they batted around in the second inning and scored 11 runs. Josh Friedman's double and Sean Tolkin's triple ignited the rally in which the A's sent 14 men to the plate. Jordan Weisen had two hits in the inning and Brandon Cohen, who went 3-for-3 on the day, singled and scored. Meanwhile, Friedman blasted his second double of the inning to complete the scoring.

Other than during the one big inning, the Yankee pitchers, Steven Spallino and Shawn Ganz, held the powerful A's in check, allowing only one run the rest of the way.

Despite the loss, the Yankees were proud of their accomplishments this season, as they really turned it around after a dismal start. They ended the season strongly before the two tough losses to the first-place A's.

On Sunday morning, June 13, the A's played an all-around marvelous semifinal game and soundly defeated the tough Morrison Pastry Cardinals by a score of 11-3. Friedman was once again dominant on the mound, as he allowed only five hits and struck out five before leaving the game after the fourth inning with a sore shoulder.

Skurnik, who has become known as the closer on the team, came in and pitched his best baseball of the season, shutting down the Cards for the rest of the game.

Friedman and Skurnik were helped by the superb defensive play of their teammates, particularly Matt Chamish at second base, who made several dazzling backhand stabs to rob the Cards of base hits. The Cardinals also made some excellent plays in the field, particularly their team leader, Daniel Palmeiri, who excelled at shortstop.

Because of their slow start in several games this season, the A's mixed up their batting order a bit in this game, which paid huge dividends. Weisen, whose bat has really come alive of late, was moved up to second in the order and responded with a strong game. Skurnik was moved to fifth in the order and responded with a towering triple to right center in the second inning that almost cleared the Merry Lane fence.

The strategy certainly worked as the A's exploded for eight runs after just two innings. Friedman's hot hitting continued, almost hitting for the cycle, as he produced a single, double and a triple.

The Cards never really threatened in the game except for perhaps the fourth inning. Pitcher Max Wattenberg led off with a triple and, after two outs, Neil Shah smashed a triple deep to right field as well. But the A's quashed the rally when they executed a perfect relay home and catcher Alex Siegel tagged out Shah to end the inning.

The final out of the game was recorded by right fielder Jason First, who snared a sinking line drive in dazzling fashion, and the celebration began.