Synergy 97 Wins United States Fastpitch Association National Championship

Thursday, July 26, 2012

The Synergy (97) fast pitch softball team, based out of Chattanooga, was crowned the United States Fastpitch Association 14-Under “A” national champions in Panama City Beach, Fla. Eighty-two teams from 14 states competed in the 14 Under Division.

The team, which includes players from Chattanooga and the North Georgia area, made it through pool play to advance to the Elite Eight in the tournament field, which included teams from eight different states.

They beat the Storm Elite (North Louisiana, La.) in their first Diamond bracket game before taking down Cardinals Fastpitch (Edmond, Okla.) in the semifinals. In the championship game, they earned the title with a win over the Tennessee Xpolsion (Mt. Juliet).

Synergy team members include Courtney Ketner and Ally Johnson (Ridgeland), Tiffany Holland, Emily Armour, and Addi Taylor (Gordon Lee), Christina Hannah (LaFayette), Gabbi Helton (Northwest), Allie Jones (Ooltewah), Crosby Huckabay (Baylor), Mackenzie Elrod and Alicia Raymond (Walker Valley), and Amy Lewis (Rhea County).

The team is coached by Dale Jones, Allan Johnson, Eddie Taylor, and Caldwell Huckabay.


Back-To-Back Homers Lift Braves Over Dodgers Saturday

Evan Gattis added to his legend with a two-run, pinch-hit home run off Kenley Jansen, and Andrelton Simmons followed with a home run of his own to cap a three-run eighth inning that provided the Braves a 3-1 win over the Dodgers. After continuing his success against the Braves through seven innings, Dodgers starter Chris Capuano exited after B.J. Upton ended an 0-for-16 stretch ... (click for more)

Smokies Make It Two Straight Over Lookouts With 7-5 Win

Three Chattanooga Lookouts pitchers -- including Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Scott Elbert, in town on rehab -- were roughed up for 15 hits at AT&T Field Saturday night as the Tennessee Smokies won the second game of their five-gave set, 7-5. Along with Los Angeles second baseman Mark Ellis, Elbert is putting the final touches on his rehab -- in his case, a return ... (click for more)

Man Stabbed To Death After Argument

A Chattanooga man was stabbed to death after an argument on Friday night. At approximately 11 p.m., Chattanooga Police responded to a stabbing at 101 E 20 th St. where they found the victim, Alexis Lewis, 51, lying on the walkway with a fatal stab wound to his chest. Detectives located the suspect, William Morris Jr., 66, and found that he and Lewis had an argument earlier ... (click for more)

Baker Says City Withdrawal On Riverbend Security Will Make Pin Costs Rise Next Year

Riverbend Festival Executive Director Chip Baker told the Civitan Club on Friday that the city's decision to no longer provide city police officers inside the festival gates will cost pin prices to go up next year. Mr. Baker said, "I understand the actions that governments have to take, but we'll have to adjust our prices next year. How much, I don't know yet." City officials ... (click for more)

Scandals At Home And Abroad

Since my hip operation and time in recovery, I have tried to set aside things that are insignificant to me and to average Americans. Don't get me wrong here. What these people are doing (Bengahzi) is despicable be they left or right wing, and they have been doing it (both sides) for a long time. But the dirty deeds themselves carry little weight as to what they mean to you or me. ... (click for more)

Roy Exum: 50 Facts About Our Bodies

Maybe 20 years ago I became entranced by a book called “Fearfully and Wonderfully Made.” It was co-authored by a surgeon, Paul Brand, and a Christian writer, Phillip Yancey, and gave one specific after another about the human body and how only God could have created such a miraculous machine. Today the book is a classic and I have marveled ever since over how unbelievable human ... (click for more)