By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Union City celebrated regular-season district championships in softball and tennis Friday afternoon.
The Lady Tornado softballers got a stellar one-hit pitching gem from Sophie Theobald to beat South Fulton 1-0 and lock up the top seed in the upcoming postseason tournament.
Theobald retired 27 of 29 hitters and set SF down 1-2-3 in six of the seven innings. She fanned 10 Devilettes in all – the biggest in the sixth with two outs when South Fulton had its only two baserunners.
UC (12-8 overall, 10-0 in 13A) plated the only run in the contest in the fifth when Sara Ullrich’s bunt scored Emmaline Qualls from third base.
Qualls, Bayleigh Long, Marlee Theobald and Anna Lynn Cheatham all had singles for the Twisters in the contest.
Scheduled to host Greenfield for a doubleheader today and travel to South Gibson Tuesday, Union City has added a doubleheader at McKenzie Thursday to its schedule. UC will play its first-round 13A tournament game May 10 at Graham Park.
HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS
UC 6, Peabody 1 (G)
Peabody 5, UC 2 (B)
The Union City girls were officially presented their 13A hardware before completing a season sweep of Peabody and finishing off a perfect run through the district.
Friday also served as Senior Day for the Tornado program with Erin Gill and Madison Adams honored from the girls’ team, and Eli Ervin recognized from the UC boys’ squad in pre-match ceremonies.
Gill and Adams then put a perfect finish on the afternoon by posting shutouts in singles competition and also teaming to win their doubles match 6-1.
Union City improved its overall record to 16-6.
Gavin Pledge was a singles winner for the Twister boys, who fell to 5-2 in team play. Charleton Wisener and Owen Rodgers teamed up to win in doubles for UC, which fell to 7-9.
The district singles and doubles tournament – originally scheduled for today and Tuesday – has been moved back to Wednesday and Thursday because of a rainy forecast.
Girls Singles
Shelby Bondurant vs. Josi Greene 8-4
Gracyn Callicott vs. Cathryn Lane 8-5
Annie Wade vs. Adrianna Skinner 8-2
Erin Gill vs. Brodie McDaniel 8-0
Madeline Underwood vs. Lacari Hall 8-2
Madison Adams vs. Jewell Bodkins 6-0
Doubles
Mimi Jenkins/Molly Kizer vs. Greene/Lane 6-8
Adams/ Emily Fields vs. Skinner/Hall 8-0
Adams/Gill vs. Hale Ivy/Kimmy McKenzie 6-1
Boys Singles
Kobe Terrell vs. Corey Moore 2-8
Eli Ervin vs. Zach Taylor 6-8
Charleton Wisener vs. Parker Vernon 4-8
Owen Rodgers vs. Christian Doss 3-8
Gavin Pledge vs. Ladavian Phetsouphanh 8-2
Jack Tully vs. Isacc Dehann 6-8
Alex Del-Castillo vs. Derek Key 7-9
Bryce White vs. Aerik Hollingworth 4-6
Doubles
Ervin/Pledge vs. Moore/Taylor 2-8
Rodgers/Wiesner vs. Taylor/Doss 8-4
MIDDLE SCHOOL BASEBALL
UC has 4 on all-conference team
A quartet of Union City players were chosen for the Northwest Tennessee All-Conference team, based on seasonal play.
Among those Tornadoes honored after the conference championship game – won by Jackson Christian School Friday night – were Copeland Chism, Logan Vincent, Tucker Davis and Jack Harris.
UC finished the year 14-11, making it to the semifinals of the postseason.
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
Gordonsville 4, UC 3
The Tornadoes dropped a late-added game played at Jackson South Side Friday.
UC is now 14-12-1 with a contest today slated at Jackson Christian School before the District 13A Tournament begins on Thursday night at Elam Stadium.
On Friday, Gordonsville scored single tallies in the fifth and sixth, breaking a 2-all deadlock with the first of those runs. A seventh-inning Twister rally then fell just short.
Mason Reed went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI for UC. Dalton Bone singled and drive in a run, and Chase Norton had a hit and scored. Gabriel Qualls reached base twice with a single and a walk.
Barrett Cox (2-2) went the distance but was charged with the pitching loss.
Union City’s opening round 13A tourney game against Gleason Thursday is set to begin at 6:30 p.m.
Photo: UC Tennis Champs.