Ansley Bartley’s hit keeps Worth County alive

COLUMBUS — Worth County spent most of Thursday afternoon one swing away from changing its fortunes — and a few outs away from the end of its season.

Ansley Bartley delivered the swing. Austyn Kate Rucker handled the outs.

Bartley’s two-run single in the sixth inning lifted the Lady Rams past Rockmart 2-1 in a Class 3A elimination game at the GHSA state softball tournament. Rucker finished a four-hitter to preserve the victory at the South Commons Softball Complex.

Worth County improved to 29-5 and advanced to face Morgan County, keeping its championship hopes alive after an opening-round loss to Brantley County.

For nearly six innings Thursday, those hopes rested on Rucker keeping a narrow deficit from growing.

Rockmart took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, when a walk and an error helped set up BG Baines’ RBI single. The advantage held as Rockmart pitcher Nyasia Darden kept Worth County from putting together a scoring response.

The Lady Rams managed just three hits all afternoon. They made the last one count.

Laurie Pritchard opened the bottom of the sixth with a walk, and Rucker’s sacrifice bunt moved her to second. Karlee Mathews followed with another walk.

One out later, Bartley stepped in with two outs and two runners aboard. The first baseman, batting seventh, singled to left, bringing both runners home and turning a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead.

Worth County still needed three outs.

Rockmart opened the seventh with a single, immediately putting the potential tying run aboard. Rucker answered with two popups and a flyout, closing the game without allowing the runner to score.

The freshman allowed one unearned run on four hits over seven innings. She struck out three and walked four.

Darden took the loss despite limiting Worth County to three hits over six innings. She allowed two runs, struck out six and walked four.

Bartley finished 1-for-3 with both Worth County RBIs. Kamryn Kendrick and Isabelle Hancock supplied the Lady Rams’ other hits.

The victory reversed the late-inning disappointment of Worth County’s tournament opener. Against Brantley County, the Lady Rams watched a five-run lead disappear in a 9-6 loss. Against Rockmart, they were the team finding a way back.

Their next opponent has already disrupted the bracket.

Morgan County, 18-10, sent top-seeded Appling County into the elimination bracket in its opener before falling 4-0 to Sonoraville on Thursday. That leaves the Lady Bulldogs and Lady Rams facing the same assignment: win to continue.

Worth County earned that opportunity with patience, a timely hit and a pitcher who gave her teammates time to find it.