By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Five Union City spring sports teams were victorious on a busy Thursday, highlighted by wins by the Tornado high school soccer and softball entries and triumphs by UC Middle School tennis and baseball.
The following is a recap of those contests:
HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER
UC 2, Jackson Northside 1
Marcus Landeros and Silverio Acevedo had goals during a 56-second span in the second half for the surging young Tornado squad, which has just one senior and won its third straight after a season-opening loss.
Landeros assisted on Acevedo’s game-winner, and Jayce Rogers shined with nine saves in goal for UC.
Twister head coach Travis VanHooser singled out Ka’Jaylon Bell, Angel Martinez, Nolan Tucker and Cohen Robinson for their stellar defense work and also lauded Rogers in goal for his efforts.
“And (assistant coach) Lazzarus Scribner has done an amazing job with our defense this season,” VanHooser claimed. “This was a very good win for us against a quality opponent.”
Union City plays at McKenzie on Tuesday.
HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL
UC 7-6, Hickman Co. 3-7
The Lady Tornadoes got two hits each from Emmaline Qualls and Clare Atwill and a pair of RBIs from Addison Carr and Mattie Smith to break a four-game losing skid in the opener of Thursday’s twinbill.
Both of Qualls’ hits were doubles, while Atwill and Smith also ripped two-baggers. Atwill and Carr scored twice apiece.
Carr earned the pitching win with four quality innings before Whitney Jenkins came on to get the final three outs.
UC narrowly missed recording the sweep when the Lady Falcons scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to notch the Game 2 win.
Marlee Theobald drove in two runs with a triple and Kennedi Robinson also had a three-base hit. Smith went 2-for-3, and Carr crossed the plate twice.
Three of HC’s runs were unearned, the result of a costly Lady Twister error.
Now 2-5, Union City will host Huntingdon Monday.
HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS
TCA 4, UC 3 (G)
TCA 4, UC 3 (B)
Many matches went down to the wire as the two rivals had another hotly contested battle before Trinity Christian Academy narrowly prevailed in both.
Dani Frankum and Bertie had singles wins for the UC girls, and Gavin Pledge and Lyndon Brown notched individual wins for the Twister boys.
Union City, now 1-3 on both sides, will face Obion Central Monday at the Fairground courts.
Girls Singles
Shelby Bondurant vs. Tori Robinson 6-8
Molly Kizer vs. Shelby Williamson 6-8
Dani Frankum vs. Bonnie Williamson 8-4
Lexi Petty vs. Anna Willard 6-8
Bertie Jenkins vs. Lydia Yeaglin 8-6
Allie Tucker vs. Abigail Quinn 2-8
Josie Ross vs. Emily Orr 6-0
Natalie Long vs. Presley Lovelace 1-6
Emily Hammond vs. Sarah Simmons 4-3
Leah Beth Edmaiston vs. Emily Stone 3-4
Doubles
Bondurant/Kizer vs. S. Williamson/B. Williamson 8-4
Frankum/Tucker vs. Robinson/Willard 5-8
Ross/Jenkins vs. Yeaglin/Quinn 6-3
Edmaiston/Hammond vs. Stone/Simmons 5-7
Madeline Underwood/Long vs. Emma Smith/ Abby Bailey 6-8 Tiebreak
Boys Singles
Charleton Wisener vs. Trace Robinson 1-8
Gavin Pledge vs. Kayden Patterson 8-1
Bryce White vs. Reed Williamson 0-8
Lyndon Brown vs. Sawyer Lee 8-5
Jack Tully vs. Luke Mauldin 4-8
Landon McAdams vs .Aaron Greganti 8-0
Pledge/White vs. Robinson/Williamson 2-8
Wisener/Brown vs. Patterson/Mauldin 14-12 Tiebreak
Tully/McAdams vs. Lee/Greganti 8-6
Jeremy Rice/Carter Pruitt vs. Patterson/Greganti 4-6
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
Graves Co. 14, UC 3
A three-run first inning didn’t hold up for the Tornadoes, who dropped to 3-2 on the season.
Luke Joslin drove in two runs for Union City, and Kyler Southerland chased home the other. Southerland had two of the Twisters’ three hits and also scored.
GC scored in every inning, though, ending the contest early via the mercy rule.
Barrett Cox was the first of four UC pitchers and suffered the loss.
The Tornadoes will host Westview Monday.
MIDDLE SCHOOL TENNIS
UC 5, USJ 2 (G)
UC 6, USJ 1 (B)
The UC girls won nine of 14 matches in all, while the Tornado boys triumphed in six of 10 matches to take their respective season openers.
Blythe Ogden and Allie Vincent were winners in both singles and doubles play for the Lady Twisters.
The Union City boys won all five singles matches that counted in the final score, and both Kobe Kirk and Grant Sinclair triumphed each.
Union City will play at McCracken County Tuesday in a pair of make-up matches.
Girls Singles
Emma Mobbs won 6-4
Emma Jane Rice lost 4-6
Blythe Ogden won 6-1
Allie Vincent won 6-1
Maddie Bailey won 6-3
Marley Waddell lost 3-6
Briley McKinney won 7-5
Rylan Bondurant won 6-3
Stella Turner lost 6-8
Girls Doubles
Emma Mobbs /Emma Jane Rice lost 2-6
Blythe Ogden /Allie Vincent won 6-1
Maddie Bailey/Marley Waddell won 8-5
Briley McKinney/Rylan Bondurant lost 4-6
Phoebe Coleman/ Emmalynn McClanahan won 6-0
Boys Singles
Kobe Kirk won 6-2
Grant Sinclair won 8-6
Foster Rodgers won 6-0
Camden Dawkins won 7-5
Kipton Powers won 6-1
Jaedyn Sims lost 2-6
Miloh Turner lost 2-6
Madix Turner lost 3-6
Boys Doubles
Kobe Kirk/Grant Sinclair 6-1
Wes Worrell /Montechello Dale 4-6
MIDDLE SCHOOL BASEBALL
UC 3-5, Milan 1-10
Ben Howell struck out nine and did not give up an earned run while spinning a one-hitter in the opener to get the Twisters back in the win column.
Jack Theobald had two hits and reached base three times for UC, and Preston Creswell also got aboard in all three of his at-bats with a hit and two walks. Will Kail and Japeth Caldwell had RBIs.
Howell doubled and scored three times in the nightcap, but the Tornadoes dropped to 3-6.
Caldwell had a double, walked twice and drove in a run. Coop Frankum had UC’s other ribbie.
Union City will be at home to face Martin on Tuesday.
MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCCER
Huntingdon 2, UC 1
The Mustangs scored an overtime goal to beat UC in a close match.
The Tornadoes’ only tally came when Brandt Huffstutter took a feed from teammate Rylan Robinson and found the net early in the second half to forge a 1-all tie.
Braydon Chism had six saves in goal for UC, which fell to 1-2 on the season.
Union City’s next match is Monday at home against Martin.