By Cam Boucher
Contributing Writer

It was a day to remember on at the Hooksett Majors Little League ballpark on Saturday, June 18.

The Longfellow's Giants went head to head with the reigning champs, the Granite State Tire & Battery Athletics. It sounded like there were cheers from around the world as the players took the field.

The A's won the game, 13-3, behind a 12-hit attack and Jack Vailas. two-hit, five-strikeout performance on the hill.

Six hits and eight runs in the first inning put the A's ahead for good.

Vailas led the offensive onslaught, going 3-for-3 at the plate and scoring a run.

Three other A's chipped in with mult-hit games.

Chris Dakoulas went 2-for-3 and scored three times; Erik Shaw went 2-for-2 and scored twice; and Ryan Darby went 2- for-3 with a double and scored a run.

David Pinsenault had the game-ending hit, which scored Shaw.

"I was very proud of the way both teams played and I think that this was a great game," said Mike Boucher, coach of the three-time defending champs.

Jared Chandler went 1-for-2 and scored two of the Giants. three runs. Steven Szelog also laced a double, which brought in a run.

The A's earned their spot in the championship game by beating the Union Realty Red Sox, 12-3, behind Dakoulas. solid pitching.

The Giants advanced to the championship by nipping the St. George and Spenard Phillies, 3-1, in eight innings. Alex Soucy picked up the win for the Giants, who finished third in the regular season with a 5-7 record.

The A's, the regular-season champs, ended with an 11-2 record.

The complete roster of the 2005 champion Athletics included Dakoulas, Shaw, Vailas, Tyler Clark, Chris Moquin, Derek Clark, Darby, Steven Duchesne, Zak Parker, David Pinsonnealt, Riley Cote and Cam Boucher.