By Jeff Devine, The Chronicle
ARITON, AL—”If you build it”… they will have a home of their own. Forgive me for taking artistic liberties with the famous line from the Oscar-nominated film, “Field of Dreams.”
For nearly 40 years, Ariton High School’s softball teams have chased championships without ever having a field they could truly call home. On Thursday, that changed as school officials, community leaders, coaches, players, and supporters celebrated the groundbreaking of a new $2.6 million softball complex that promises to shape the future of Purple Cats softball for generations to come.
The long-awaited project will provide Ariton with its first on-campus softball stadium in school history, ending decades of reliance on the Town of Ariton Parks and Recreation softball facilities. The groundbreaking marked the culmination of years of planning and the beginning of what many hope will become a new era for one of the school’s successful athletic programs.
The Dale County Board of Education approved the project after several years of planning, according to Ariton Softball Head Coach Jason Howell, who said the new complex has been a dream shared by players, coaches, school officials, and the community.
“We are very grateful for the Board and Mr. Baker,” Howell said. “The players are really excited about their new home.”
Howell credited Superintendent Ben Baker and the Dale County Board of Education for bringing the vision to life.
“Superintendent Ben Baker and the Board of Education made it happen,” Howell said. “The City of Ariton Parks and Recreation program is growing, and our softball program is growing. The softball team didn’t have a place of their own to call home, and they made it happen.”
According to Superintendent Ben Baker, Ariton softball has played at the town’s parks and recreation complex for nearly four decades. While the partnership has served the school well, growing participation in both the community recreation program and the school’s softball program made the need for a dedicated facility increasingly apparent.
The new complex is designed to be more than just a playing field. Plans include a competition stadium, a dedicated practice field, expanded parking to accommodate athletic events across campus, a new concession stand building with nearby restroom facilities, and modern player amenities.
Howell said the complex will also feature a two-lane pitching bullpen adjacent to the home dugout and a one-lane bullpen beside the visiting dugout, giving both teams improved warm-up areas during games.
School officials say the additional parking will help ease congestion during football games, soccer matches, and other events held throughout the school year, making the project a benefit for the entire campus rather than just the softball program.
Principal Josh Herring described the project as one that has been years in the making, saying Ariton’s softball players have long deserved a facility they can truly call their own. He also noted that the additional infrastructure will help meet the growing demands placed on the school’s athletic facilities throughout the year.
Although there is no estimated completion date, construction is expected to begin immediately. Once finished, the Purple Cats will finally have a permanent home field on campus instead of continuing to share facilities with the Town of Ariton Parks and Recreation program.
For the players who have spent years practicing and competing away from their own campus, the new stadium represents more than bricks, concrete, and grass. It is the realization of a dream that has been years in the making.
And if the excitement surrounding Thursday’s groundbreaking is any indication, Ariton isn’t simply building a softball field. It’s building a place where future Purple Cats softball teams will create memories, pursue championships, chase their dreams, and all while inspiring the next generations of athletes.
