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The veteran Ariton Lady Purple Cats are loaded with senior leadership and look to parlay that into a big season. 

Ariton is heading into the fifth season under head coach Haley Barefoot.

“It’s going good,” Barefoot said of the offseason. “We’ve had a lot of practices and the girls have put in a lot of hard work.”

Among the returners for Ariton this season are All-Messenger infielder Lizzy Faircloth and All-Messenger utility Beth Dixon. 

“We have a lot of seniors this year,” said Barefoot. “We’re hoping for big things from Beth Dixon, she was our leading batter last year. Lizzy Faircloth was one of our top pitchers along with Madolyn Hudson. Brianna Acahua, our catcher Macileigh Bragg is back and Nya Allen our centerfielder. We look for big things from all of those girls.”

Dixon earned a .448 batting average last season with a .595 slugging percentage, 54 runs, 20 RBIs, 12 doubles, one triple, one home run and 13 stolen bases. As a pitcher, she struck out 67 batters and held a 2.59 ERA in 81 and 1/5 innings pitched. 

Faircloth also pitched 48 innings and struck out 63 batters with a 3.94 ERA. She also held a .361 batting average with 25 runs, 46 RBIs, 13 doubles and five homers. Acahua held a .309 batting average with 25 runs, 24 RBIs, two doubles and two homers. Nya Allen will be playing both college volleyball and softball at Enterprise State Community College. Last season, she held a .277 batting average with 38 runs, 33 RBIs, two doubles, three triples, three homers and 12 stolen bases. 

“Right now we’re really working on our fundamentals, that’s the main thing going into the season,” Barefoot said. “We’re making sure they know what they’re going to do with the ball, their thought process. If I get the ball, what do I do next? We’re also really working on endurance as far as pitching goes and getting them out there and making contact with the ball and putting it in play. Those fundamentals are really important right now.” 

Barefoot and her Lady Cats are setting some lofty goals but know those can’t are reached if they don’t come together as a team.

“We’d like to make it to state,” she flatly said. “We have to get better, though, and have good attitudes and grow together as a team and all be lights for one another.” 

Ariton opens the season on Feb. 18 at Pike Liberal Arts and then travels to Class 5A Eufaula on Feb. 20 before hosting the first home game of the season on Feb. 24 against Geneva. The Lady Cats host Headland on Feb. 25 and then close out the opening month at home against Slocomb on Feb. 27.