In the under-10 age group, the Vienna Stars, the tournament host, finished second, qualifying for the Pony Nationals to be held in Sterling on July 22-28.

      The Stars and the Shamrocks were among eight Fairfax-based teams to play in the two-day tournament held at Madison High School and Caffi Park in Vienna. Each team competed in pool play on Saturday before Sunday's single elimination rounds.

      In the under-12 division, Fire and Ice advanced to the final with wins over the McLean Blaze in the quarterfinals and the Fairfax-based Firebirds in the semifinals. The Shamrocks defeated the Prince William Bandits and the Vienna Stars to reach the finals. Fairfax-based Dimension also competed.

      "The team has played brilliantly. The defense and offense have been spectacular," Shamrocks coach John Clohan said. "We knew we had a good team but we didn't know until we got on the dirt just how good they would be."

      Pitcher Brittany Gardner struck out eight batters and held off the Fire and Ice's offense until the fourth inning. That's when Fire and Ice's Sarah Orrison of Loudoun County brought home teammate Jennifer Zook of Prince William County with a ground out to second base.

      It was the only run Fire and Ice would need. The Shamrocks threatened in the bottom of the inning when Katie Nutaitis tried to score from second base off a hit to the outfield by Michelle Clohan but Nutaitis was thrown out at home.

      The teams are likely to meet again, though, in various tournaments throughout the season.

      In the under-10 division final, the Vienna Stars lost to the Challengers from North Carolina, 12-8. The Fairfax County Blue Jays also competed in the tournament.

      "It was great competition," Stars coach Billy Weber said of the final. "The teams were evenly matched and it was a real tight game. It was dynamite."