On Saturday, April 18, the Ariton Purple Cats (24-9) earned a Class 2A First Round series win over the Bayshore Christian Eagles.

Ariton and Bayshore split the first two games in the series on Friday. Ariton took game one by a score of 14-12. Ariton took a 10-2 lead into the top of the fourth inning but Bayshore answered with six runs in the bottom of the fourth to cut the lead to 10-8. The Cats extended that lead to 13-8 in the top of the fifth only for Eagles to rally and cut the lead to 13-12 in the bottom of the sixth. AHS sealed the win with another run in the top of the seventh.

Wells Ganey led Ariton at the plate, going 4-for-5 with a home run, a double, four RBIs and three runs. Aven Cook went 3-for-4 with three runs and Pierce Gill went 3-for-5 with one RBI and two runs. Connor Davidson collected two hits with a double and one RBI. Easton Kilpatrick also drove in four runs.

Reiley Snellgrove got the win on the mound, striking out one batter and giving up four hits and three earned runs. Kilpatrick struck out two and gave up five hits and seven earned runs in three and 1/3 innings on the mound. Hayes Hammock also struck out three batters and gave up one hit and no runs in two innings of work.

Bayshore rebounded to take game two by a score of 5-4. With the score tied 4-4 in the top of the sixth, the Eagles scored on an RBI single for what would end up being the winning run.

Ganey hit his second homer of the series and drove in two runs. Hammock pitched four and 2/3 innings and struck out four batters, while giving up seven hits and three earned runs. Gill also pitched two and 1/3 innings and fanned two batters, while giving up three hits and no earned runs.

In the series deciding game three on Saturday, it was all Ariton. Ariton led 3-2 going into the fourth inning before scoring five unanswered runs to secure the 8-2 win.

Kilpatrick went 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs, while Cook went 2-for-2 with three runs. Both Gill and Ganey drove in two runs. Hammock and Ganey collected one double each. Austin Evans struck out three batters and gave up three hits and two earned runs in seven innings on the mound.

Ariton will face off against Tuscaloosa Academy in the second round of the playoffs next week.