BLUFFTON, S.C. () — The Bluffton 8-and-under All-Star softball team recently returned from their trip to the World Series, where they represented the Palmetto State extremely well.

The girls went 4-2 at the Diamond Youth Softball World Series in Tioga, Louisiana. They won their two pool-play games. Then, they came out victorious in first two games of the double-elimination tournament.

However, they lost back-to-back games by one run starting in the third round. This was an incredible accomplishment for the girls.

They dominated district play. They advanced to the state tournament in Orangeburg. They overcame a loss to South Spartanburg by winning three games in one day to advance to the World Series.

“These girls were practicing for the few weeks up to district’s four times a week,” Coach Joe Naughton said. “We started realizing they were gelling together as a special group and the whole of the team was greater than any individual. We started realizing this was a special group of girls.”

The girls will continue to play together on Bluffton’s first 8-and-under travel softball team: The Bluffton Wave, according to Naughton.