Derrick Davis | The Valdosta Daily TimesValdosta's Jude Ard (25) flips the ball to first baseman Dayton Hall after fielding a ground ball against Lowndes on Wednesday at Bazemore Field.

VALDOSTA — Luke Ard signed a letter-of-intent with Tallahassee Community College before lunch, and by supper the Valdosta pitcher had thrown a gem against the rival Lowndes Vikings to help the Wildcats scratch out a 1-0 victory at Bazemore Field.

You could call it a productive Wednesday.

“I got up this morning and felt like it was going to be a good day,” Ard said after the game. “I got my signing done, and like I said earlier, I wanted to pitch a good game against (the Vikings) my last time pitching against them.

“I just kept pitching, and I eventually threw a one-hitter.”

A senior at Valdosta (17-6, 6-3 Region 1-6A), Ard got the start on the mound for the final time against Lowndes (16-8, 4-4 Region 1-7A) in his high school career, and he made the most by pitching a full seven innings and striking out eight batters in the shutout.

“I couldn’t be more happy for him,” said Valdosta head coach Bart Shuman after the game. “For a senior to go out on a winning note like this, it’s special. He’s a special kid.”

It would have been tough for Ard to pitch any better than he did Wednesday when he mowed through Lowndes’ lineup.

Aside the Viking that reached on an error in the top of the second inning, Ard held Lowndes without a baserunner until opposing starter Palmer Henderson singled with two outs. Ard quickly snuffed any potential two-out magic by getting Tyson Shaw to ground out to second to end the inning a batter later.

Meanwhile, Valdosta needed every pitch Ard delivered to stay in the game as the team once again struggled at the plate.

Henderson matched Ard pitch for pitch through four innings. In fact, Henderson still had yet to allow a hit when he was removed from the game after the fourth inning — although he did issue a pair of walks in the bottom of the frame.

Valdosta squandered its two walks in the fourth by running itself into a pair of outs on the base paths, but the Wildcats were sure to make the free passes count in the next inning.

On in relief of Henderson, Alex Johnson recored the first two outs of the inning, but he walked catcher Dustin Doscher to give the Wildcats just their third baserunner of the game.

Justice Orr came on to run for Doscher, a move that nearly backfired when Orr was almost caught in a rundown leaving first after a pitch. However, Lowndes catcher Colby Hall fired the ball into right field, allowing Orr to become the first Valdosta baserunner to make it to third base.

Johnson proceeded to walk Thomas Eager to give the Wildcats runners on the corners, and with Jude Ard at the plate, he lost control on a ball that bounced behind the back stop long enough for Orr to beat the throw and score the first run of the game.

Still without a hit, but now holding a 1-0 lead, Valdosta turned to Ard to take it home, and he did it with little to no dramatics.

Ard retired the side in order in the top of the sixth and seventh innings to secure the victory.

Now, with just four games remaining in Valdosta’s regular season, Ard is starting to turn the corner on the mound and look more like the starter everyone expected to see in the Wildcats’ devastating 1-2 punch.

After battling with bouts of control issues earlier in the season, Ard has been able to lock-in on the strike zone in his past two starts. Ard didn’t issue a single walk Wednesday.

“At the beginning of the season, I was really collapsing bad on my back side,” Ard said. “Coach Shuman worked with me really well. I just listened to what he said, stopped being hard-headed, and kept home on my back side and started throwing more strikes.”

Derrick Davis is the sports editor at the Valdosta Daily Times.