Union City, Tenn.–Chase Norton’s two-run triple highlighted a three-run fourth inning and helped put a positive spin on Senior Night in Union City’s 4-2 baseball victory over Madison Academic Friday night.
A half-dozen Tornado seniors were honored in pregame ceremonies.
UC then posted its 12th victory in 24 games this spring behind some timely hitting, a strong pitching performance from Barrett Cox, and a clutch relief outing by Dalton Bone.
Norton’s three-base hit plated both Gannon Searcy and Will Ragsdale and came with two outs in the fourth. Gabriel Qualls followed with a RBI single that scored Norton and made it 4-0.
Cox picked up his second win in three decisions with a fine 6 2/3 inning stint in which he allowed just two hits and struck out seven.
Dalton Bone had a pair of singles to contribute to UC’s offensive attack, but his biggest contribution to the win came when he came on in relief of Cox with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh.
Bone walked the first Madison hitter, but then fanned Christian Thompson to preserve the victory and earn his second save of the year.
Union City will play at South Fulton Tuesday, then host the Red Devils on Wednesday in their final District 13A regular season games of the season.
HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS
Both UC teams go 1-2 at MC event
The Lady Tornadoes placed fourth in the two-day McCracken County Invitational, while the UC boys were fifth – each winning one of three matches.
Union City’s girls (14-6) beat Bowling Green 7-2 in their second pool play match.
Shelby Bondurant, Gracyn Callicott and Annie Wade all won singles matches, as did Erin Gill. All three Lady Twister doubles teams – Bondurant/Wade, Mimi Jenkins/Molly Kizer, Callicott/Gill — were victorious.
UC lost earlier to McCracken, 9-0, and to USJ, 6-0, in the third-place match Sunday.
The Twister boys (7-7) won over Hopkinsville 7-2 in Sunday’s fifth-place competition.
Ben Wade, Eli Ervin, Charleton Wisener, Alex Del-Castillo and Bryce White won in straight sets in singles play. The tandems of Wade/Ervin and Del-Castillo/White triumphed in doubles.
Union City lost to McCracken County (8-1) and Bowling Green (9-0) in pool play on Saturday.
Tornado head coach Tom Sisco declared himself “pleased” with the play of his two teams in the event and the benefits of facing top-flight competition.
“This tournament gave us an excellent opportunity to build momentum going into postseason play,” Sisco claimed. “We faced overall competition we hadn’t seen in a while, which is something at this stage of the season we needed.
“On the girls’ side, we’re not concerned about the losses to McCracken and USJ. The win against Bowling Green was very important. They had the type of team we’ll see if we are fortunate enough to advance to state play.
“On the boys’ side, Coach (Monty) Mooney and I were excited about how they stepped up and won their match against Hopkinsville.”
UC will play host to Gibson County on Tuesday.
MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCCER
So. Gibson Co. 3, UC 2
A pair of goals from Garvin Morgan allowed the Tornadoes to erase a 2-0 halftime deficit, but the visiting Hornets tallied on a corner kick to send UC to 3-5-1 on the season.
Union City will host Henry County Monday before ending its 2021 campaign with a trip to Dyersburg on Thursday.