Worth County claims region title, now No. 2 in power rankings

CORDELE — Eight region games. Eight shutouts. A region championship secured without allowing a single run.

Worth County’s remarkable run through Region 1-3A continued Tuesday night as the Lady Rams defeated Crisp County 6-0 to clinch the region title.

The Lady Rams have outscored their region opponents 121-0, a number that almost looks like a misprint. It isn’t.

Worth County improved to 19-2 overall and 8-0 in region play with six regular-season games remaining. The Lady Rams are also No. 2 in the Class 3A state power rankings as they begin turning their attention toward the state playoffs. Appling County leads at No. 1.

This shutout belonged to freshman Austyn Kate Rucker.

Rucker struck out 14 and allowed only two hits over seven innings, improving to 9-0 in the circle. She walked three but never allowed Crisp County to break through against a defense that did not commit an error.

Worth County gave its young pitcher an early lead.

Ansley Bartley singled home a run in the top of the first inning, putting the Lady Rams ahead 1-0. They broke the game open with four runs in the second.

Molly Williford and Ellasyn Gandy delivered RBI singles before Kayelee Mathews drove a two-run double into the outfield, stretching the lead to 5-0.

That was more than enough for Rucker.

The freshman continued mowing through the Crisp County lineup, finishing with two strikeouts per inning on average. When the Lady Cougars did put the ball in play, Worth County’s defense handled it cleanly.

Gandy led the defense with 14 chances as the Lady Rams completed another error-free performance.

Worth County finished with 13 hits against Crisp County pitcher Josie Manders, who worked all seven innings. Manders allowed six runs, five earned, while striking out four and walking four.

Mathews led the Lady Rams at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Laurie Pritchard, Bartley, Isabelle Hancock and Williford each collected multiple hits.

The Lady Rams also created pressure on the basepaths, stealing five bases. Hancock accounted for three of them.

The victory officially delivered the region championship, but Worth County’s work is hardly finished. The Lady Rams still have six games to sharpen their pitching, defense and lineup before the postseason begins.

If their region performance is any indication, opposing teams may have an even more pressing concern: figuring out how to score against them.