Johnston County Little League Wins Softball World Series Championship

GREENVILLE, N.C. — Johnston County has a new group of world champions.

The Johnston County Little League 12U Softball team defeated Kentucky 2-0 Sunday afternoon to win the 2026 Little League Softball World Series at Stallings Stadium in Greenville.

The victory capped an undefeated World Series run for the Johnston County team, which represented North Carolina in the international tournament. Johnston County finished 5-0 in Greenville.

Johnston County faced Daviess County Little League of Owensboro, Kentucky, in Sunday’s championship game. Kentucky represented the Central Region.

Anna-Lynn Clark handled the pitching duties for North Carolina in the title game, helping Johnston County keep Kentucky off the scoreboard in the 2-0 victory, according to Little League International.

The championship was particularly significant because this was Johnston County Little League’s first trip to the Little League Softball World Series.

Johnston County Little League has been affiliated with Little League since 1993, but the organization did not establish its softball division until 2023. Three years later, its 12U softball team ended the summer as world champions.

The team had been dominant well before arriving in Greenville.

Johnston County outscored its opponents 61-0 during district tournament play and followed that by going undefeated in the North Carolina tournament, where it held a combined 32-0 scoring advantage over its three opponents.

The state tournament was played in Archer Lodge, giving the Johnston County team an opportunity to earn its World Series berth close to home. Johnston County secured the North Carolina championship with a 6-0 victory over Rowan Little League and finished the tournament 3-0.

Once the World Series began, the Johnston County girls continued winning.

They opened tournament play with a 16-4 victory over the Canadian representative before edging Greater Helotes Little League of Texas 2-1.

Johnston County then defeated Lake Mary Little League of Florida 5-2 on Thursday to remain unbeaten and advance deeper into the tournament.

Florida worked its way back through the bracket, setting up a rematch Saturday evening with a spot in the World Series championship on the line.

Johnston County won the second meeting 4-0, earning a place in Sunday’s championship game.

Kentucky reached the championship after defeating Toms River Little League of New Jersey 2-1 in Saturday’s other bracket final.

That left Johnston County and Kentucky as the final two teams standing Sunday afternoon.

Johnston County’s 2-0 victory completed a 5-0 World Series record and brought the championship banner home to Johnston County.