The Enumclaw/Maple Valley-based Washington Synergy Fastpitch teams traveled south recently and participated in the NAFA National Championship Tournament in Newberg, Ore.

During the four-day tournament the three Synergy teams combined to play 26 games and built an impressive record of 18-6.

The Synergy 96/14U squad played tough throughout the weekend. By the afternoon of July 23, Synergy 96 was 6-0 in the double-elimination tournament and faced the hometown Newberg Nitros. “Leave everything on the field” was the motto for the tournament and that became evident when Synergy catcher Becky Forza sacrificed her body, breaking her arm to hold the Nitros off with a game-ending play at the plate. Later that evening, Rip City of Portland, Ore., knocked Synergy into the loser’s bracket with a 5-2 decision.

Synergy went into the games of July 24 with a new motivation and, competing with only nine players, fought its way to the championship round where it would have to beat Rip City twice to claim the tourney title. In the first game, Synergy made short work of Rip City, winning 15-5. In the second game, the pressure mounted as cheering fans packed the field. Synergy came up short, losing 3-0.

Synergy 96 finished with a tournament record of 8-2, outscoring their opponents 71-21. For their efforts, Tammy Wilkening, Forza, Chloe Young and Ashlee Creek were voted to the 2011 NAFA National Championship all-star team.

The Synergy 98/12U squad finished in seventh place with outstanding play by Hanna Elliott and Morgan Cloud and power hitting by Natalie Vollandt.

The Synergy 97/14U squad was pushing their way through winner’s bracket but came up short late on July 23. They came back the following day to place fifth.

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Washington Synergy Fastpitch will carry 10U through 16U teams for the 2011-12 season and is looking for players.

Individual, small group and team training resources will be available to all who make one of the squads.

Tryouts are slated for Sunday at Tahoma Junior High School, 25600 S.E. Summit Landsburg Rd., at the following times. Registration is one-half hour prior to the start of tryouts.

12U – 9 to 11 a.m.

14U – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

16U – 1 to 3 p.m.

10U – 3 to 5 p.m. (tentative)

A typical tournament season includes 10 to 12 tournaments, including NSA Icebreaker, NSA state and ASA Seattle/Tacoma Metro with a goal to play in ASA nationals.

Those with questions can e-mail wasynergyfastpitch@gmail.com.