By Jeff Devine, Dale County Chronicle
ARITON — The claws were out Saturday as the Ariton Purple Cats took on the Geneva Panthers. Ariton broke open a close game with a dominant middle inning and clawed its way to a 16-4 victory over the Panthers on Saturday.
Geneva struck first at the top of the opening inning, plating three runs. John Parker Johnson drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, Andrew Smith added another on a groundout, and Judson Wise delivered an RBI single to give the Panthers an early advantage.
Ariton quickly responded in the bottom half of the inning. Wells Ganey doubled to bring in a run, and Addison Senn followed with an RBI single to even the score.
The Panthers regained the lead in the third inning when Blake Wilson drove in a run to make it 4-3, but the momentum would not last long.
Ariton answered in a big way in the bottom of the third, erupting for eight runs on four hits to take control of the game. The key moment came on a bases-loaded single by Brodie Lowery, who drove in three runs to highlight the rally and push the Purple Cats ahead 11-4.
The Purple Cats continued to pour it on in the fourth inning, adding five more runs. An error by Geneva allowed two runs to score, Pierce Gill added an RBI single, Lowery drove in another run with a hit, and Ganey capped the inning with a sacrifice fly.
Gill got the start on the mound for Ariton, pitching 2.1 innings while allowing four runs, only one of which was earned, on two hits. He struck out one and walked one. Jacob Rose took the loss for Geneva, surrendering nine runs, seven earned, on six hits over 2.1 innings, while walking three and recording no strikeouts.
Ariton’s bullpen shut the door the rest of the way, with Senn, Conner Davidson, and Wilson Collier combining to keep Geneva scoreless over the final innings.
At the plate, Ariton racked up 13 hits. Senn led the way with a perfect 3-for-3 performance, while Ganey went 2-for-2 and drove in three runs from the heart of the lineup. Gill, Easton Kilpatrick, and Lowery also recorded multiple hits, with Lowery contributing key RBIs during the decisive third inning.
The Purple Cats were aggressive on the base paths, swiping seven bases and turning a double play defensively.
For Geneva, Ryder Precise, Judson Wise, Hunter Thompson, and Blake Wilson each recorded a hit. Wise, Wilson, Andrew Smith, and John Parker Johnson each drove in a run for the Panthers. Ryder Precise scored two runs, while Brady Cox and Blake Wilson each added one run.
With the win, Ariton builds momentum as it prepares for its next matchup on the road against Trinity Presbyterian on Monday.
