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For the fourth straight season, the Ariton Purple Cats have advanced to the Class 2A State Semifinals, after sweeping the Reeltown Rebels on Thursday night.

Ariton jumpstarted the series with a dominant 7-1 win in game one. Lawson Leger went 3-for-4 at the plate for the Cats with a stolen base, one RBI and one run, while Myles Tyler went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, an RBI and a run. Caden Collier also scored three runs. Ian Senn got the win on the mound, striking out six batters and giving up five hits and no earned runs in seven innings pitched.

For Reeltown, Slade Carleton scored the lone Rebel run. Brody Smith struck out four and gave up four hits and three earned runs in three and 2/3 innings pitched.

In game two, Reeltown took a 2-1 lead in the second inning but the Cats managed to score one run in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to take a 4-2 win to advance to the semifinals.

Collier went 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and a run, while Tyler went 1-for-2 with a triple and two runs. Austin Evans pitched a complete game, striking out seven batters and giving up four hits and no earned runs.

Hagan Lewis went 2-for-3 for Reeltown with a run. JaMarkius Smith pitched five innings and fanned 12 batters, while giving up four hits and two earned runs.