By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City’s two track teams place third among 14 schools in the Eli Cramer Early Bird Championships at Murfreesboro Riverdale on Saturday.
The Tornado boys won first place in four events, while the UC girls had a pair of relay teams claim first-place honors against a strong field made up of mostly larger schools.
“It was a really good day and a really good experience for us,” Twister head coach Wade Maddox said. “Obviously, the competition was good, and in many ways, it was a lot like a sectional experience because of the travel and the length of the day.
“We had several second- and third-place finishes, and our kids competed very well.”
Aiden Reid won the shot put, while Kyle Price was at the top of the leader board in the discus for the Tornado boys. Rushdon Howell finished first in the two-mile run, and the 4X800 relay team of Woodrow McKinnis, Owen Waggoner, Madix Turner, and Andrew Beard claimed first place.
The UC girls’ 4X800 relay team – made up of Ainsley Beard, Ainsley Sadler, Blair McKinnis, and Madie Theobald – also led the field.
Beard, Carda Ellis, Hayden Marshall, and Akeenah Hogsett teamed to win the 4X200 event.
Union City will compete at Dyersburg on Tuesday, that meet beginning at 4:30 p.m.
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
Bruceton 7, UC 2
A critical UC error opened the door to a five-run Bruceton seventh inning and sent the Tornadoes to a homefield loss on Friday.
The contest was tied at 2-all after the teams swapped runs in the second and third innings.
Japheth Caldwell and Jackson Huffstutter drove in runs for the Tornadoes, scoring Christian Vaughn and Preston Creswell.
Creswell went 2-for-3 and stole three bases while reaching in three plate appearances. Huffstutter and Caldwell also had two hits apiece, while Ben Howell laced a double as part of UC’s eight-hit attack.
Sophomore southpaw Jackson Vowell posted another solid mound outing, going five innings and allowing just one earned run with four strikeouts. Mason St. Germain was charged with the loss in relief, but just one of Bruceton’s five runs charged to him in the seventh was earned.
Union City (2-7) will open a District 14AA series with Gibson County today, playing at Dyer before then hosting the Pioneers on Tuesday.
MIDDLE SCHOOL BASEBALL
USJ 12, UC 2
Union City scored in the opening frame, but USJ responded with 12 unanswered runs to drop the Tornadoes to 3-6.
Bo Bondurant and Boston Riley each singled and scored for UC, while Trey Kail and Angel Tinajero knocked in runs.
Riley, the starter, was charged with the pitching loss. Griffin Dodd and Jackson Williams took the mound in relief.
Union City will host Trenton today.
UC SCHOOLS EVENTS FOR WEEK OF MARCH 23 – 28
MONDAY, MARCH 23
High School Softball
Union City @ Halls, 5:30 p.m.
Middle School Baseball
Trenton @ Union City, 5:30 p.m.
Middle School Soccer
Union City @ Fulton County, 6 p.m.
High School Baseball
Union City @ Gibson County, 6:30 p.m.
TUESDAY, MARCH 24
High School Tennis
Milan @ Union City, 4 p.m.
High School Track
Union City @ Dyersburg, 4:30 p.m.
High School Softball
Union City @ Hickman County, 5:30 p.m.
Middle School Baseball
Union City @ Gibson County, 5:30 p.m.
High School Soccer
Union City @ Peabody, 6 p.m.
High School Baseball
Gibson County @ Union City, 6:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25
NO EVENTS SCHEDULED
THURSDAY, MARCH 26
High School Tennis
Camden @ Union City, 4 p.m.
High School Softball
Gibson County @ Union City, 5 p.m.
Middle School Baseball
Union City @ Trenton, 5:30 p.m.
Middle School Soccer
Union City @ Paris Inman, 6 p.m.
High School Baseball
Union City @ JCS, 6:30 p.m.
FRIDAY, MARCH 27
Middle School Track
Union City @ Calloway County, 4 p.m.
High School Baseball
Union City @ St. Mary’s, 5:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, MARCH 28
NO EVENTS SCHEDULED