GREENVILLE — North Carolina, represented by Johnston County’s 12U All Stars, captured the 2026 Little League Softball World Series championship with a 2-0 win over Kentucky Sunday afternoon.
Anna Lynn-Clark was impressive in the circle once again, allowing just three hits while striking out six in a complete-game shutout. North Carolina scored a run in the second and third innings for the winning margin.
Kentucky only had a runner reach second base once in the game, and that was in the top of the first. North Carolina’s Abbey Robinson made a diving catch in shallow right to turn back the threat.
I have the best defense behind me, the best offense, the best team,” Anna Lynn-Clark told ABC after the game. “We were moving our feet a lot, talking every play and talking each other up after every single play. It feels amazing.”
Here’s the final out:
They all stuck together,” manager Ben Catarozzoli told ABC. “We built it over four years, like you said. We tried to tell everyone how much fun it is. These girls played travel ball and for different schools, but we were able to unite under Johnston County and able to convince some people to play and get involved. We kind of started with four girls and kept working our way up. We brought some girls over from some different rec leagues around the county. We kept building and building and building, and now we’re here.”
And, the winning box score:
