Johnston County Little League (Clayton, North Carolina) will make its debut in Greenville, North Carolina, after taking home the North Carolina Region Championship with a 6-0 victory over Rowan Little League, finishing the event with a 3-0 overall record to punch its ticket to the 2026 Little League Softball® World Series, Presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods (LLSWS).
While the community has been involved with the Little League program since 1993, Johnston County Little League first chartered a softball division in 2023 and has continued to grow since then as excitement around the Little League Softball World Series and growth of the game across the organization shines.
The advancement to the World Series through direct entry comes as part of the LLSWS expansion to 12 teams, now in its fifth year of participation involving international teams, sending the North Carolina state champion as the host team for the event. This marks the first trip to the LLSWS for Johnston County Little League as Pitt County Girls Softball Little League has held the host region honors for three of the past four years, with Rowan Little League earning it in 2023.
With the first-round matchups set, Johnston County LL will compete in the Purple Bracket and will play in its first game against the representatives of the Canada Region on Sunday, August 2, 2026, at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
The official schedule, first-round pairings, and website information for the 2026 LLSWS have been announced as this year’s LLBWS will take place from August 2-9, 2026. As a reminder, there is no cost to attend the Little League Softball World Series as parking and admission are completely FREE. For more information about the LLSWS, including visitor resources and more, check back all summer long at LittleLeague.org/WorldSeries.
In addition to the fun and excitement of the 2026 Little League Softball World Series, participants at this year’s event will also have the unique experience to spend time with the top athletes in the game as the AUSL heads to Greenville for the 2026 AUSL Pro Game at the LLSWS, Presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, featuring Olympic gold medalists Natasha Watley (now an AUSL advisor) and Lisa Fernandez (Utah Talons General Manager) taking the diamond as head coaches.
Fans can represent their favorite region by visiting ShopLittleLeague.org or stopping at the Little League Flagship Store on-site at the LLBWS Complex. Also, don’t forget to take advantage of FREE SHIPPING on all U.S. orders all summer long.
Team Information:
- Region: North Carolina
- Region (State) Tournament Record: 3-0
- League LLSWS Appearance: 1st
- State LLSWS Appearance: 5th as Host; 16th Overall
- Little League Charter Since: 1993 (2023 for Softball)
- State Fun Fact: The North Carolina state champions serve as the host team for the Little League Softball World Series since moving to Greenville in 2021, with Pitt County Girls Softball Little League earning the championship banner on behalf of the host team in 2024.