For most pitchers, it’d qualify as a dream. For Fluvanna County baseball’s Andrew Ward, it was a goal.
“That was my goal at the beginning of the season,” Ward said. “I said to myself before this season is over I’m going to get 21 strikeouts (in a game).”
That stretch goal, that goal that would require the perfect circumstances on the perfect night, became a reality Thursday as Ward struck out 21 batters in a no-hitter to lead the Flucos to a 9-0 victory over Spotswood. He missed a perfect perfect game in the Region 3C quarterfinal by a single walk in the top of the second inning. Other than that? 21 batters, 21 strikeouts.
Ward’s twin brother Kevin Ward, the Flucos’ other ace, had to admit that equaling this feat may even be out of his own substantial range.
“He said ‘I got a perfect game (as a freshman), but I can’t throw no 21 Ks,” Andrew Ward said.
Ward’s 21 strikeouts ties the VHSL’s seven-inning game record. He’s the sixth pitcher all-time to notch 21 and the first since 2015 when Battlefield’s Jake Agnos struck out 21 for Battlefield. The record was originally set in 1966 by Harry Isom for Woodlawn High. The most ever in a single game is 29, pulled off twice in 12 and 14 inning contests.
“I was really happy for him — that’s a one-in-a-lifetime thing,” said Fluvanna coach Joel Gray. “It was really special.”
Ward was feeling good even when he was warming up.
“I felt pretty good, I was hitting my spots,” Ward said.
He was also working with a lead in every second he was on the mound outside the top of the first thanks in large part to his brother Kevin Ward who had an RBI double in the bottom of the first to stake the Flucos to a 1-0 lead. Ryan Groome then extended the lead to 3-0 with a two-RBI single and proceeded to score on a wild pitch for a 4-0 lead heading into the third.
Mason Gross and A.J. Brown each had RBIs to make it 6-0 and then two runs scored when Andrew Ward reached on an error in the bottom of the fifth. Cameron Shields, who had a double, scored the final run when Kyle Algieri also reached on an error in the sixth.
“I really appreciated the boys swinging the bats, that really helped,” Andrew Ward said.
Now the Flucos turn their attention to Broadway, who won a wild one with Western Albemarle 16-13. They’ll square off Tuesday in the Region 3C semifinals with a state tournament berth on the line.
Kevin Ward will likely get the start against the Gobblers, and in addition to what he told his brother, he was honest with his teammates too.
“In the huddle after the game he said ‘Guys I’m gonna pitch as hard as I can Tuesday but I’m not going to be able to do that,” Gray said.
