Dale County Chronicle
ARITON—The Ariton Purple Cats took on the Providence Christian Eagles on Tuesday. A good night from Ariton, including a big offensive contribution from Asa Thompson, helped lift Ariton to a decisive 12-2 victory.
Thompson led the charge at the plate, driving in five runs on two hits. He delivered a key two-run single in the fourth inning before breaking the game open in the fifth with a three-run double.
Ariton seized control late, erupting for seven runs in the fifth inning to put the game out of reach. Easton Kilpatrick started the rally with an RBI double, followed by a run-scoring single from Wilson Collier. Thompson’s bases-clearing double highlighted the inning, while Brodie Lowery added another RBI single. An error capped the scoring in the frame.
The Purple Cats got on the board early in the first inning, taking advantage of a Providence Christian error to plate the game’s first run. The Eagles responded in the third inning, tying the game at 2-2 with a sacrifice fly from Charlie Cannon and a bases-loaded walk by Crawford Heisner.
Ariton regained the lead in the fourth inning when Hayes Hammock drove in a run on a fielder’s choice. Thompson followed with his RBI single to extend the advantage to 5-2, setting the stage for the decisive fifth inning.
On the mound, Bryce Odom earned the win in relief, allowing just one hit over one and two-thirds scoreless innings while striking out four. Addison Senn started the game for Ariton, giving up two runs on four hits across two and two-thirds innings and recording five strikeouts.
Providence Christian’s Hudson Walker took the loss after surrendering four runs on six hits in one inning of work. Kingston Sims started for the Eagles, allowing two unearned runs while striking out three in his inning on the mound.
Ariton finished with 10 hits in the contest. Thompson, Pierce Gill, and Collier each recorded two hits, while the Purple Cats also showed aggression on the basepaths with four stolen bases. Defensively, Ariton turned a double play.
Jake Spann led Providence Christian at the plate with two hits, while Cannon accounted for the team’s lone RBI. Brooks Canady added three stolen bases as the Eagles totaled five steals.
Ariton will return to action on Thursday when the Purple Cats travel to face the Wicksburg Panthers.
