By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–The District 14 Small Division golf crown was just the right fit for the Union City boys.
The Golden Tornadoes won Monday’s team championship by a single stroke – edging McKenzie 344-345 at Persimmon Hills Golf Course in Sharon.
It marked the first such title in the 11-season tenure of head coach Jason Qualls, whose squad moves on to next week’s (Monday) regional at the same venue with both team and individual state tournament berths at stake.
UC’s Carter Walton – the top player for the Purple and Gold all season – shot 74 to tie for the tourney’s best score in regulation before falling to McKenzie’s Johnathon Moore in a playoff.
Walton’s 2-over scorecard included a birdie on each side and 12 pars in all.
“I thought Carter stayed composed all day and really played well,” said Qualls, who does have a couple of district runner-up finishes on his Tornado record.
“I was really proud of all the guys. To win a district championship in anything is special. This is something they’ll never forget and something they’ll talk about, both now and many years down the road.”
Tornado teammates Nolan Chandler and Mason Reed tied for fifth individually with identical scores of 88. Chandler then won a playoff to claim the honor outright.
Chandler finished regulation with a 45-43, while Reed took eight shots off his first-nine score by firing a 40 on the back side.
Reese Paschall shot a 94 (47-47) to round out the Union City team scorecard.
Gabriel Qualls came in with a 107 (58-49).
Gibson County was the third team from the district to qualify for the six-team regional tourney.
The UC girls will compete in district tournament play today.
MIDDLE SCHOOL SOFTBALL
Dyersburg 4-6, UC 3-7
Both teams posted walk-off victories in their final at bats, splitting a doubleheader that left the Lady Tornadoes with a 4-3 record heading into today’s game at Dresden.
Clare Atwill’s run-scoring single in the nightcap capped a two-run fifth and lifted UC to a come-from-behind win.
Claire Frilling went 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Alli Kate Frilling doubled, scored and drove in a run. Kennedi Robinson scored twice for the Purple and Gold while Sarah Beth Byars and Brianna McBride also had ribbies.
Addison Carr went the distance to pick up the pitching win, fanning four while giving up just two earned runs.
In the opener, UC tied the game in the top of the fifth before the host team plated the winner in the bottom of the frame.
Byars had two hits in three trips and drove in two of the Lady Twisters’ three runs. Robinson scored all three Union City runs – one in the first, another in the third and then in the fifth.
Allie Kate Frilling accounted for the Tornadoes’ other RBI.
Frilling was charged with the pitching loss, though just one of D’burg’s runs was earned. She gave up but four hits.
MIDDLE SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY
UC earns 5 medals in BOTW
The Tornado teams were among 24 schools to participate in the Best of the West, a late-added meet at Three Oaks in Dyersburg.
Union City had three girls to medal, including Addi Rice with a 24th place finish in the varsity race that included 96 participants. Emma Jane Rice (22nd) and Lennon Bing (25th) medaled in the jayvee race among 36 runners.
Other UC finishers in the varsity included Briley McKinney (26th), Lexi Petty (57th), Myranda Parr (62nd) Jamya Fair (66th), Dani Frankum (70th) and Davey Frankum (72nd).
Zoe Cox was 27th in the junior varsity race while MaryKate Sinclair, Lily Surr and Natalie Long also participated.
Coley Gurley was 11th overall in the jayvee race and earned a medal, as did teammate Harrison Gray, who placed 25th in the 57-boy field. Also, for the Twisters, Cutler Hall was 33rd, Brandt Huffstutter 41st, Foster Rodgers 46 and Tabor Hall 54th.
In the varsity race, Woodrow McKinnis had the best UC finish, coming in 31st in a field of 98. Rushdon Howell was 32nd, Owen Waggoner 38th, Andrew Beard 42nd, Paul Martin Tohn 57th, Grant Sinclair 72nd and Landon McAdams 88th.