By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Union City baseball scored three runs against visiting Bradford Monday.
One was enough for Peyton Edwards.
The Tornado southpaw struck out 15 while twirling a no-hitter in UC’s 3-0 District 13A victory over the Red Devils at Elam Stadium.
Edwards – an All Stater last season — improved to 2-0 on the young season.
In other spring sports involving Union City teams Monday, the Lady Tornado softball team got its first win with a 16-3 drubbing of homestanding Gleason.
Both UCHS tennis teams were 7-0 victors at Gibson County, while the Middle School teams split what ended up being a jayvee match against shorthanded St. Augustine of Jackson.
Today’s schedule has been altered somewhat from its original state.
UC baseball will now host Bradford for a second straight day, varsity play to begin at 6:30 after a 4:30 jayvee game. UCMS baseball has added a game at Trinity Christian Academy for today at 5 p.m.
Otherwise, Union City softball plays at Bradford (5 p.m.), Tornado high school tennis hosts Henry County (4 p.m.), Gibson County comes to War Memorial stadium to play high school soccer at 6 and the UCMS soccer team plays at McKenzie at 5:30.
The UCHS track teams will participate in the Calloway County All-Comers meet.
BASEBALL
UC 3, Bradford 0
Edwards pitched around seven walks, throwing 109 pitches in his complete-game no-no.
He was also backed by solid defensive play, too, as Union City made no fielding errors.
“Peyton struggled a little at times, but he pitched through a couple of rough spots and protected the no-hitter,” UC head coach Cole McAdams said of Edwards. “I was really proud of him and our defense for stepping up when Bradford put runners in scoring position.
“Their pitcher did a great job of keeping us off balance, but I was pleased with how we grinded out at-bats in the last inning to push across a couple of insurance runs. I was proud of our guys for finding a way to win, even though we didn’t have our best tonight.”
Miles Odle singled, scored and drove in one of the Tornadoes’ runs. Dawson Searcy continued his hot hitting with a hit and a RBI.
UC had just two hits in the contest.
SOFTBALL
UC 16, Gleason 3
The Lady Tornadoes (1-1) erupted late, scoring seven times in the fourth and four more in the fifth to bring to an early ending their first win of the year.
Tiffanie Oldaker had huge day at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a triple, four RBI and three runs scored to pace the victors. Winning pitcher Sophie Theobald helped her own cause with three hits, including a triple and three runs, while Kallie Worrell had three hits, including two doubles and a trio of ribbies.
Gracie Laster got in on the fun with two hits and three runs scored.
Theobald allowed but three hits and struck out five while giving just one earned run in the pitching circle.
HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS
UC 7, Gibson Co. 0 (B)
UC 7, Gibson Co. 0 (G)
Union City players were rarely tested in boys or girls play by the Pioneer squads.
Wilson Harris and Caleb Parker shut out Austin Scott and Dre Snow (8-0) in doubles play, after the Tornado duo had also easily won singles matches.
Eli Ervin, Eli Jordan and Walker Ross also won twice each, in singles and doubles.
The Purple and Gold girls were just as dominant, Gibson County winning no more than three games in any of the seven matches.
Gracyn Callicott won 8-1 in singles play, then teamed with Gussie Parks to cruise in doubles with an 8-2 victory over Amber Russell and Kayleigh Rogers. Eric Gill blanked Rogers 8-0 and Sloan Bearden also shut out Nichaela Owens.
Zoe Cagle and Sailor Bearden were 8-0 winners in doubles play, as was the team of Sloan Bearden and Caroline Conley.
Boys’ Singles
Justin Rice over Austin Scott 8-3
Cameron Thompson over Dre Snow 8-2
Caleb Parker over Nolen Anthony 8-1
Walker Ross over Deven Mutter 8-1
Eli Ervin over Hunter Scott 6-0
Eli Jordan over Nick Tucker 6-0
Doubles
Wilson Harris/Parker over Scott/Snow 8-0
Hayden Wilson/Ross over Anthony/Mutter 8-1
Jordan/Ervin over Tucker/Scott 8-1
Girls’ Singles
Gracyn Callicott over Amber Russell 8-1
Erin Gill over Kayleigh Rogers 8-0
Sailor Bearden over Destinee McMullins 8-1
Caroline Conley over Nikia McMullins 8-3
Sloan Bearden over Michaela Owens 6-0
Doubles:
Gussie Parks/Callicott over Russell/Rogers 8-2
Zoe Cagle/Sailor Bearden over McMullins/McMullins 8-0
Sloan Bearden/Conley over Owens/Lillian Cruse 8-0
MIDDLE SCHOOL TENNIS
UC boys win, girls fall
With St. Augustine bringing only a few players, the match was deemed a jayvee one by UC head coach Jennifer Bruff.
The UC boys won all five of their matches, with Charlton Wisener, Carter Wilson and Jack Tully all victorious in both singles and doubles play. Owen Rogers was also a member of a winning doubles team.
In girls’ play, Emily Hammonds won her singles match 6-0, while Mimi Jenkins and Jaime Becton blitzed their competition in doubles, 6-0.
The Lady Tornadoes dropped the team portion of the competition 4-3.
UC plays again Thursday at Halls.