ARITON, Ala.—The Ariton Purple Cats hosted Montgomery’s Park Crossing Thunderbirds on Friday, and the game, which took place on Ariton’s Senior Night, worked out well for the Purple Cats.
A six-run surge in the second inning powered Ariton to a decisive 11-1 victory over Park Crossing as the Purple Cats took control early and never looked back.
After Park Crossing struck first in the opening inning on a run-scoring double by Jaylen Sankey, Ariton quickly answered in the bottom half. Addison Senn delivered an RBI single to center field, and Bryce Odom followed by drawing a bases-loaded walk to give the Purple Cats a 2-1 advantage.
The game broke open in the second inning, when Ariton capitalized on a mix of timely hitting and Park Crossing miscues. Pierce Gill and Wells Ganey each recorded RBI singles, Easton Kilpatrick worked a walk that brought in a run, and a defensive error allowed three more runs to cross the plate, extending the lead to 8-1.
Ariton continued to add on from there, finishing with 10 hits and maintaining steady offensive pressure throughout the game.
Hayes Hammock earned the win on the mound, allowing one run on three hits over three innings while striking out three and walking one. AJ Gutierrez came on in relief to secure the save.
Park Crossing used multiple pitchers in an attempt to slow Ariton’s offense. Andrew Lewis was charged with the loss, while starter Cameron Glider allowed six runs in just over an inning of work.
Dru Jinright led Ariton at the plate, going 2-for-2. Gill, Ganey, Senn, Cole Davis, and Grant Jones each drove in a run as part of a balanced offensive effort.
The Purple Cats also showed aggressiveness on the base paths, piling up 12 stolen bases in the game. Asa Thompson and Ganey accounted for multiple steals each, helping keep constant pressure on the defense.
Defensively, Ariton was sharp, committing no errors. Thompson led the way with six defensive plays.
Alex Johnson paced Park Crossing offensively, finishing 2-for-2 at the plate.
Ariton celebrated Senior Night, honoring the team’s seniors. These included Brodie Lowery (#2), Wells Ganey (#5), Easton Kilpatrick (#9), and Hayes Hammock (#11), who were each honored during the ceremony. The players (joined by their families) were each celebrated for their hard work, achievements, and contributions to the team over the years
Ariton will look to carry the momentum into its next matchup, when the Purple Cats travel to face GW Long on Tuesday.
Below are photos from Ariton’s Senior Night. The photos are of the team’s seniors and their families. The photos were shared on social media by Ariton High School.
