Worth County freshman Laurie Pritchard throws perfect game in 9-0 win

BACONTON – Worth County didn’t just win Monday afternoon. The Lady Rams made history.

Freshman right-hander Laurie Pritchard was untouchable, throwing a perfect game in a 9-0 victory over Baconton Charter. No hits. No walks. No base runners of any kind. Just 15 batters up, 15 batters down, nine of them by strikeout.

Laurie was on tonight,” said Worth County Head Coach Zach Mauldin. “She and Kayelee (Mathews), (catcher) called their own game and they did a great job working together. Baconton is a good hitting team, and she did a great job executing her pitches.”

The Lady Rams gave her an early cushion, striking for four runs in the opening inning. With two outs, a hit batter, and back-to-back walks loaded the bases. Ansley Bartley’s ball back to the pitcher turned into two runs on a throwing error. Two more bases-loaded walks pushed the lead to 4-0.

Worth added another in the second when Jordyn Marlin and Molly Williford worked walks with the bags full. That made it 5-0 before a summer storm swept across the Baconton field, sending both teams inside for a delay.

When play resumed, Pritchard hardly missed a beat. She lined a run-scoring double to center in the third and the Lady Rams tacked on three more runs over the next two innings to finish it off.

“We were patient at the plate tonight and took advantage of some mistakes,” Mauldin said. “We ran the bases well and gave Laurie a lead to work with.”

Worth County showed discipline at the plate, drawing 13 walks. Williford drove in two runs, while Kam Kendrick, Kayelee Mathews and Pritchard each collected hits. Isabelle Hancock swiped two bases, and the Lady Rams didn’t commit an error, with Mathews recording nine putouts at first.

For Baconton Charter, starter Macie Bradshaw allowed five runs – only one earned – in two innings, hampered by walks and miscues behind her.

Worth County (3-4) will host Region 1-AA rival Jeff Davis Thursday in Sylvester. Baconton Charter (1-3) returns home August 28 to face Pataula Charter.

On Monday, though, the story was simple. A freshman walked into the circle, faced 15 hitters, and walked off perfect.