The Johnston County Little League 12U softball team defeated Kentucky 2-0 on Sunday to win the Little League Softball World Series championship.
North Carolina has now sent three teams to the Little League Softball World Series championship game in the last four years, winning two of those finals.
It’s the first national title for Johnston County, and it came after a near-perfect season for the team from state champion to national champions.
“All these girls are, have played travel ball, different teams, different schools, but we were able to unite under Johnston County and able to convince people to play and get involved, and we kind of started with four girls and kept working our way up, and brought some girls over from different rec programs in the area and just kept building and building and building and got here,” said Johnston County head coach Ben Catarozzoli.
Johnston County won all five games in the tournament, outscoring its opponents 29-7.
Pitching ace Anna-Lynn Clark recorded 41 strikeouts throughout the LLWS.
For fans who couldn’t make it in person, a watch party was held Sunday in Johnston County
The Little League Softball World Series belongs to North Carolina! 🏆
What a tournament 🙌 pic.twitter.com/a93oX8K0V9
— ESPN (@espn) August 9, 2026
“It’s amazing,” one fan said. Another yelled, “Bring the championship back to Archer Lodge. Let’s go, JoCo!”
Johnston County defeats Kentucky 2-0 in Little League Softball World Series final
A celebration is in the works once the team returns to Johnston County, an official told ABC11.
SEE ALSO |Miss North Carolina USA controversy sparks discussion about social media’s lasting impact
Make sure to download the ABC 11 mobile app |ABC11 North Carolina Apps for Connected TV, Mobile News, Echo
