By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–There was high drama on both the softball diamond and the soccer pitch for Union City’s spring sports entries Wednesday.
And both played out well for the Purple and Gold.
The Lady Tornado softball team – needing two victories to make it to the District 13A Tournament championship game – broke out the big sticks in beating Dresden (14-3) and South Fulton (12-5) at Eddlemon-Hawks Field.
UC and SF will now play for a fifth time this season, tonight at 6, for the district title and host rights in Monday’s Region 7A semifinals against Gibson County. Tonight’s loser will play on the road at Halls Monday in the other regional matchup.
Not to be outdone, the Tornado soccer team upset second-seed McKenzie 3-2 Wednesday, winning in dramatic fashion, while also securing a spot in today’s 13A district finals, and a berth in next Tuesday’s regional semis.
The two squads were tied at the end of regulation, two overtime periods, and an initial penalty kick round before Isaac Mack’s goal in a sudden-death penalty kick segment made a winner of the Twisters.
Union City will face Gibson County today at 5:30 at Westview High School for the tourney championship.
The following is a recap of Wednesday’s action:
HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL
UC 14, Dresden 3
UC 12, SF 5
The Lady Tornadoes first took care of Dresden to lock up a berth in the championship round and in the regionals before then avenging a 3-1 loss to SF from the night before.
Union City will take a 17-9 record into its fifth meeting with the Devilettes this season, having won three of the first four.
Anna Lynn Cheatham had a monster day Wednesday, smacking a home run in each game. Cheatham went a combined 7-for-8 with seven RBI and three runs scored in the two contests.
Cheatham’s three-run bomb and 4-for-4 effort in Game 1 against the Lady Lions highlighted a 16-hit attack. UC pounded out seven extra-base hits in all with Sophie Theobald smashing two triples and a double to lead the parade.
Theobald also enjoyed a 4-for-4 performance with three runs scored and two RBI. Bayleigh Long and Marlee Theobald had two hits each, Long poking a triple and driving in two runs. Marlee Theobald doubled and singled.
Emma Powell scored three times as a courtesy runner and Avery Decker crossed the plate twice.
Cheatham struck out six and went the distance to pick up the pitching win.
UC spotted the Lady Red Devils a 3-0 first-inning lead in the nightcap, then scored the next 11 runs – highlighted by a seven-run fifth.
Cheatham’s solo blast got the Tornado girls on the scoreboard and was part of a 3-for-4 effort at the plate that included two runs scored and two more knocked in.
Emmaline Qualls went 3-for-3 and scored three times, Bailey Decker and Kaitlyn Lamb both tripled and drove in two runs, and Marlee Theobald doubled and had a pair of ribbies.
Long and Sophie Theobald scored twice apiece.
UC collected 12 hits in all.
Sophie Theobald tossed 5 2/3 innings, allowing just one earned run and striking out seven to get the pitching win. Cheatham finished up, getting the last four outs.
South Fulton will come into tonight’s championship game with a 16-11 record.
HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER
UC 3, McKenzie 2 (2-1 sudden death)
Tornado head coach John Graham – the only coach in the nine-year history of the program – called it “the most exciting game I’ve ever been part of.”
Tied at 2-all after regulation and two 10-minute overtime sessions, the contest went into a penalty kick segment. Logan Elmore and Miguel Sanchez Cruz both found the net for the Purple and Gold, and Ka’Jaylon Bell came up with a pair of big saves to even the count at 2-2 in that phase and force a sudden death penalty kick scenario.
Dallas Horton scored on Union City’s first chance, with McKenzie answering with its opportunity.
Mack then booted one home, and the Rebels missed on the follow-up, setting off a wild Twister celebration.
Union City will carry a 7-5 record into tonight’s match with GC (9-7), which upset Westview in the other 13 A semifinal.
UC’s appearance in next week’s regional will be just the second in program history, the other coming in 2018.