With 20 softball teams making their way to Washington this Memorial Day weekend, area cash registers could be ringing up more sales than usual.

The Washington Girls Fastpitch Softball League hosts a two-day softball tournament at the McConnell Sports Complex adjacent to Warren Field Airport. The tournament is a fundraiser for the league, with proceeds from the event being used to either purchase equipment for the league or offset league costs for next year.

Lynn Lewis, Washington’s tourism development director, said the tournament is for players 10 to 14 years old, with divisions based on players’ ages.

“The sanctioning organization for this tournament is the United States Fastpitch Association of the Carolinas,” she said. “And right now, there are 20 teams that have registered to play.”

Teams will be traveling from as far away as Virginia and Wilson County to play in the tournament.

“All 19 teams will play at least three games each on Saturday and at least one game each on Sunday,” she said. “They will begin at 8:30 a.m. Saturday morning and will probably play until about 10 or 11 o’clock at night.”

The tournament will have a tremendous economic impact on the community as it brings in hundreds of people, Lewis said.

According to Lewis, the Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce will have a “Welcome to Washington” booth at the tournament, inviting players, their parents and others to explore the county and have a good time when not playing or watching softball.

“It will offer area information, giveaways and much more,” she said.

Dallis Tucker, a tournament organizer, said 11 a.m. Saturday will be the busiest time of the tournament.

“When these girls get together, they really have a great time,” he said. “There’s lots of camaraderie between all of them, and it’s just a really positive environment to be around.”

Tucker said this tournament is the first of its kind in Washington in at least three or four years.

Lewis said the economic impact of girls’ sports during the summer in Washington tends to be greater than boys’ sports. In the past, research has shown that boys typically stay at hotels, use hotel pools and order pizza from pizza parlors that deliver, she said. That research shows girls want to leave hotels to shop, therefore having a greater impact on the local economy, she said.

Lewis said Washington will host at least two more tournaments this summer, a Cal Ripkin League regional tournament in June and a Cal Ripkin state tournament in July.

To find out more about this weekend’s tournament, visit www.ncusfa.org. To find out about other events and activities in the area, visit www.VisitWashingtonNC.com.