As it turns out, that same team stood in the way of a Bartow County championship as well.
Behind a no-hit performance from its ace pitcher, Clayton County marched to a title-clinching 13-1 victory over the Bartow Blue All-Stars on Saturday night.
Needing to beat Bartow Blue twice, the Lady Braves scored 10 runs in the third inning after the hosts had cut the lead to two runs (3-1).
The Blue all-stars committed five errors in the inning, which led to four runs.
Clayton County also scored two runs on a Kia Thomas grounder -- the last run coming as Mya Hill reached home plate from second base -- an infield RBI single by Miracle Hawkins and an RBI single by Jamea Lyons.
The Lady Braves also plated a run on a wild pitch and on a play where Hill scored from third base when pitcher Lilly Jordan got the ball from catcher Aliza Baker, turning her back to Hill.
With the 12-run mercy rule after four innings in play, Clayton County's Lee Lee Bailie struck out the side -- only walking Cailyn Campbell -- to complete her no-hitter and give the Lady Braves the state championship.
Bailie, who was pitching her third straight game, seemed tired, but Bartow Blue couldn't take advantage of her performance, which still proved solid.
"We played flat," said coach Peter Gillis, noting that Bailie was a good pitcher. "She wasn't as sharp, but we were flat. We picked the wrong game to go flat."
Bailie pitched four innings, giving up an earned run on seven walks while striking out 11.
For the Blue all-stars, Baker pitched two-thirds of an inning, giving up an earned run on two hits and two walks. She had two strikeouts. Jordan pitched the remainder of the game -- 2 1/3 innings -- giving up five earned runs on eight hits and two walks with three strikeouts.
The Lady Braves scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning to open up the scoring.
Looking to intentionally walk Hill, Baker threw an overhand pitch, which is illegal, to catcher Ellie Gillis, allowing Bailie to score from third for a 1-0 lead.
Clayton County added two more runs on a passed ball and an RBI single by Taniyah Byas.
In the top of the third, Bartow Blue trimmed its deficit following a bases-loaded walk to Shania Wilson to score Paris Poston, who began a string of three straight walks by Bailie.
In the championship series' opener, the Lady Braves again jumped out to a 3-0 lead, with Jazzy Holcomb, Lyons and Bailie all hitting singles. Holcomb and Lyons both came home on errors while Bailie scored on a sacrifice grounder by Byas.
Clayton County pumped its lead up to 5-0 on two errors by the Blue all-stars.
After Bailie hit a triple to the center field fence, the Bartow Blue's third baseman sailed a throw to Jordan, which brought home the Lady Braves' fourth run. Another error by the first baseman scored Hill.
In the sixth inning, another Bartow Blue error -- this time on the center fielder -- scored Clayton County's final run for a 6-0 win.
Bailie pitched a complete game for the Lady Braves, giving up one hit, walking four and striking out 12.
Hannah Lee had the Blue all-stars' only hit with a double in the fourth inning.
Jordan (3 1/3 innings, one earned run, five hits, seven strikeouts) and Baker (2 2/3 innings, no earned runs, one walk, six strikeouts) pitched for Bartow Blue.
Following his team's runner-up finish, Peter Gillis credited the Blue all-stars for playing as hard as they did.
"The girls just played with a lot of heart throughout the (tournament)," he said. "They take (this experience) to the next level knowing they were close. They can be winners. It makes them hungrier."
The day began promising for Bartow Blue, who beat Bartow White, 7-4, in its first game on Saturday.
Jordan picked up her team's win, going five innings and giving up one earned run and two walks while striking out 14.
Ellie Gillis went 1-for-2 with an RBI and a walk and Loren Harris went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
Bartow Blue scored two runs in the first inning, including one on Baker's sacrifice grounder to score Gillis.
Gillis added an RBI single in the second to put her team up, 3-0.
That lead grew to 7-0 in the fourth inning as Jordan hit a two-run double to left-center field. Harris then laid down an RBI bunt to score Jordan who, after reaching third base on a wild pitch, streaked by the third baseman who turned around after fielding Harris' bunt to see that Jordan was already by her.
The Blue all-stars' final run of the inning came on a passed ball.
Bartow White added two runs apiece in the third and fifth innings but could score no more as the game reached its time limit.