By Jeff Devine, Dale County Chronicle
ARITON — The Ariton Purple Cats showed why they are ranked at the top in Class 2A, sweeping a Round 2 playoff doubleheader Thursday against the Ranburne Bulldogs at Thad Dansby Field.
Ariton combined explosive offense in the opener with dominant pitching in the nightcap to take full control of the series over No. 6 Ranburne.
In Game 1, the Purple Cats’ bats came alive in a 13-3 victory.
Ariton wasted little time getting on the board, manufacturing runs in the first inning before adding to the lead in the second on a sacrifice fly. The Purple Cats broke the game open in the third when Bryce Odom launched a three-run home run to left field, extending the advantage and energizing the home crowd.
The decisive blow came in the fourth inning, when Ariton strung together multiple hits and capitalized on scoring opportunities to plate five runs. The offensive surge put the game out of reach and highlighted the depth of the Purple Cats’ lineup.
Easton Kilpatrick added a solo home run later in the contest and also earned the win on the mound. The right-hander worked six innings, allowing three runs on nine hits while striking out seven and walking two.
Odom led the offensive effort with multiple runs batted in, while Kilpatrick and Conner Davidson each recorded two hits. Ariton also showed patience at the plate and aggressiveness on the bases, drawing several walks and swiping multiple bases. Defensively, the Purple Cats were clean and efficient, committing no errors.
Ranburne managed nine hits and scored three runs but was unable to keep pace with Ariton’s consistent offensive pressure.
In Game 2, Ariton turned to its pitching, and Addison Senn delivered a performance to remember.
Senn threw a complete-game no-hitter in a 7-0 win, striking out 17 batters and working around five walks. He sealed the game with a strikeout for the final out, completing the dominant effort on the mound.
Ariton once again provided early run support. Wells Ganey drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly in the opening inning, and Bryce Odom added to the lead in the second with a clutch single down the right field line.
The Purple Cats extended their advantage in the third inning with strong situational play. Brodie Lowery executed a sacrifice bunt that brought in a run, and Ganey followed with a groundout that plated another, pushing the lead to four.
Ariton finished with eight hits in the game, with Odom and Davidson collecting two each. Ganey and Davidson drove in two runs apiece, while Hayes Hammock contributed as part of a productive lower half of the lineup.
The Purple Cats were aggressive on the basepaths, stealing seven bases, with Davidson and Bryson Rhett each recording multiple steals. Defensively, Ariton backed Senn with a clean performance and turned a double play to halt any potential threat.
With the sweep, Ariton takes a commanding position in the series and will look to close it out Friday as the Purple Cats continue their pursuit of a Class 2A state championship.
