Staff report

The Georgia Thunder 14 and under fastpitch softball team, based in Effingham County, won their second world series in as many weeks, going undefeated to win the 14-U World Fastpitch Connection World Series Tournament on Saturday in Savannah.  

The Thunder defeated the Carolina Starz 5-2 to claim the crown.
The trophy is on display at Teezer’s, a team sponsor, in Springfield.

After winning the Independent Softball Association World Series Championship in Myrtle Beach, S.C., the Georgia Thunder girls returned home to defend their 2006 WFC World Series title that they won in the 12-U division.  
Twenty-four teams from eight states participated in the 14-U division of the tournament.

The action started Wednesday, with the Thunder defeating the Ohio Viking Elite 11-0, followed by a 6-5 win over the Alabama Insanity.

The Thunder toppled last year’s 12-U WFC World Series runners-up, the North Carolina Mountain Fury, on Thursday and disposed of the North Carolina Bandits 8-3, which was finished Friday morning because of rain.  

The Thunder entered double-elimination bracket play as the No. 2 seed.

In the opener, the Thunder defeated the Effingham Angels (White) 6-1 and then defeated the Georgia Impact 6-3.
Bridget Devlin hit an out-of-the-park home run Saturday to help lead the Thunder to a 7-1 win over the Oaklandon, Ind., Red Storm.

The Thunder advanced to the championship game after beating the Carolina Starz 8-0.

The Thunder defense and pitching was nearly insurmountable, surrendering only seven runs in bracket play. Melissa Kennedy, Tansi Rudder and Kendall Usher pitched well throughout the series.  

The Thunder team is composed of girls from Effingham, Bulloch and Screven counties.