Move over, Patty Gasso and the Oklahoma Sooners. There’s another softball program that has four-peated. Oklahoma etched its name into college softball history with four straight national championships, making its legendary run from 2021 to 2024, but Emanuel County’s 14U girls have quietly authored a dynasty of their own more recently, capturing a fourth consecutive Georgia Recreation and Park Association (GRPA) Class A/B Live Pitch state championship Thursday morning in Dalton.
The trophy they brought home bookends the latest chapter in a run that began when five members of this year’s roster, Mylie Beneteau, Ansley Frye, Rayleigh Faircloth, Anna Grace Scarborough, and Kate Yeomans, first won a state championship as 10-year-olds in 2023.
The championship tradition continued to grow as Brooklyn Lewis, Cayleigh Taylor, Zoie Hooks, and Evie Moore joined the journey to this season become three-time state champions themselves, alongside additional teammates who helped carry Emanuel County to the extraordinary fourth consecutive title.
Like so many championship runs, this one required overcoming one of Georgia’s very best.
Emanuel County entered the state tournament as District 1’s runner-up, having fallen to Vidalia in the district championship game only weeks earlier. The rematch many hoped for arrived much sooner than expected.
First, however, there was work to do.
The girls opened tournament play Tuesday night against District 1’s third-place team from Lyons. Emanuel County jumped out front early with a 10-run lead, but Lyons fought back and scrapped for 7 runs. The hometown squad turned a game-ending double-play to stave off the southerly neighbors for the win in the opening round.
Wednesday morning brought Liberty County, the District 2 champion. Emanuel County wasted little time taking control, riding a dominant pitch-by-committee effort to an 18–0 victory in only 3 innings.
That set the stage for one of the tournament’s marquee matchups.
Vidalia, having won the district crown, entered the tournament with a first-round bye. They beat Tift County 9–1 in their opening game to face off against Emanuel County in the winner’s bracket final on Wednesday afternoon.
These two programs know each other well. Much of the core from both teams has squared off since their 8U days, and many of the players also compete alongside—or against—one another on travel teams. The result is a respected rivalry between neighboring communities separated by only a few miles. That familiarity only heightened the stakes, especially considering Vidalia was the only team to hand Emanuel County’s 14U squad a loss all season.
Emanuel County had the home team advantage, and Vidalia went down 1–2–3 in the top of the first, and Emanuel County doubled down with some game-opening offensive power, adding 3 runs in the bottom. Vidalia answered with 2 to make the score a 1-run game, but that would ultimately be all they could scratch across for the game’s entirety. Meanwhile, Emanuel County tacked on 3 more runs to make the final 6–2, sending Vidalia to fend off the rest of the field in the loser’s bracket.
They would do that, in fact, eventually beating Tift again 10–2 to set up a rematch with Emanuel County.
Both teams came back fresh Thursday morning, and first pitch got underway at 10:45 a.m.
Vidalia came out hot out of the gate, taking a 1–0 lead in the top of the first. Despite being unable to muster any runs in the first or second innings, Emanuel County was unshaken and finally got on the board in the third with a 3-run homer by Scarborough.
Vidalia countered with a single run in the fifth to make it 3–2, but a dominant showing on the field came in clutch as ace Faircloth got a flyout for the first out, a strikeout for the second, and slammed the door with another for the third to cement the title win.
When the last out settled into a glove, a celebration erupted on the infield.
Four straight.
Head coach Jeremy Faircloth said the championships are the byproduct of selflessness and playing the game the right way, with heart, hard work, respect, and a “whole lot of joy.”
“Every team is different, but what makes this group special is how much they genuinely enjoy playing together,” Faircloth said. “They cheer each other on, celebrate each other’s successes, and pick each other up after mistakes. They’re coachable, they work hard, and they never quit competing. It’s been fun watching them grow, not just as softball players but as teammates and young ladies.”
Two of the players who embodied those qualities delivered some of the tournament’s biggest moments.
Ace pitcher Faircloth typically swings a big stick, but she had the bat taken out of her hands repeatedly. Opposing coaches spent the last several weeks pitching around her whenever possible. In addition to carrying much of the pitching load throughout district and state tournaments, the standout drew approximately 15 intentional walks between the two events as opposing teams elected not to let one of Georgia recreation softball’s most dangerous hitters swing the bat. Yet, she stayed focused on what she could control.
“It was hard at first, but it honestly became part of the game. I’ll take those free bases! I would’ve loved to have gotten more chances to hit at my last tournament, but as long as we won as a team, it was mission accomplished.” Pitching gave her a way to separate the two sides of the game. She continued, “I just tried to hit my spots, keep my confidence with every batter that came to the plate, and trust my defense behind me.”
Her teammate, Scarborough, whose go-ahead home run proved to be the biggest swing of the tournament, expressed something similar, saying she wasn’t trying to be the hero when she stepped to the plate in the championship.
“When I stepped into the batter’s box, we already had two runners on base, and I was just trying to put the ball in play and do my job,” Scarborough said. “I never imagined I’d hit a 3-run homer to put us ahead. When the ball went over the fence and I heard our fans going crazy, it was an amazing feeling I’ll never forget. It was the perfect way to finish my last all-star game with this group. We’ve been together since T-ball, so winning four straight state championships is something I’ll always be thankful for, but even more than that, I’ll remember the friendships, the memories we made, and getting to finish this journey together. I’m thankful for my coaches, my teammates, my family, and most of all, I give God the glory for every opportunity He’s given me.”
Assistant Recreation Director Mitchell Hudson said the accomplishment is difficult to overstate.
“When Emanuel County pulls into a parking lot for district or state, people know they’re going to have their hands full. They know we’re going to hustle and compete and do it with class. That’s the standard our players, coaches, and families have worked years to build. This four-peat ultimately came together because generation after generation of kids have bought into our program, our coaches have poured into them, and our community continues to support them. For those reasons, we’re incredibly proud of all of our teams, especially this one.”
District 1 Commissioner Kawame Coleman, himself a longtime coach, referee, and youth sports advocate, said the team’s sustained excellence speaks to far more than athletic ability.
“I’ve played, coached, and been around enough ball to know you don’t win four championships in a row because you’re talented. Talent might win you one. Four straight, though? That takes commitment, trust, accountability, and a group of girls who are willing to put the team ahead of themselves year after year. That’s exactly what this team has done. They should be incredibly proud of what they’ve accomplished because very few athletes have this experience.”
Cahir Thad Ferguson works for is the state athletic chair for GRPA. He echoed that sentiment, noting how uncommon it is for one core group of players to remain together long enough and perform well enough to win four consecutive state championships.
“Winning one GRPA state championship is an incredible achievement, but earning four consecutive titles is truly exceptional,” he said. “This four-peat speaks to the dedication, teamwork, and consistency of these young athletes, their coaches, and their community. Accomplishments like this represent the very best of recreation athletics and create memories these players will carry with them for years to come.”
While the 14U girls claimed another championship, they weren’t the only Emanuel County team making headlines across the state.
The county’s 12U girls battled all the way to the state championship game before finishing as GRPA Class A/B state runners-up, falling by just 1 run after forcing a winner-take-all final against Vidalia. The 10U girls also earned a state runner-up finish after another 1-run championship game versus Whitfield County while the 10U boys fought through one of the tournament’s toughest brackets to place fourth in Georgia.
In all, four Emanuel County all-star teams finished among the top four in the state this summer, further cementing Emanuel County Recreation Department’s reputation as one of Georgia’s premier youth softball and baseball programs.
For coach Faircloth, this entire postseason across all ages serves as a reminder of the value of recreation athletics.
“Recreation ball is where it all begins,” he said. “It’s where kids first fall in love with the game and learn the basics they’ll carry with them for years. Not every child will go on to play travel or high school ball, and that’s okay. Recreation gives every kid a chance to be part of a team, build confidence, make friends, and learn lessons about hard work, sportsmanship, and perseverance. How blessed are we to have such a good rec department and community that makes all this possible.”
The Emanuel County Board of Commissioners will recognize the 14U state champions during an upcoming regular meeting.
The Emanuel County Board of Commissioners governs Emanuel County, focusing on legislative and administrative responsibilities. Comprised of representatives from five districts, the board oversees policies and programs that impact local development, budgeting, and public services. Commissioners work collectively to ensure fiscal responsibility and address community needs, collaborating with other county departments and agencies. They are committed to supporting economic growth, public safety, and community well-being across Emanuel County.
For information about the commissioners and for the latest from the county government, visit 124 North Main Street in Swainsboro; call 478-237-3881 or follow us on Facebook.
