By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–The Union City Middle School softball program and UC High School volleyball shared Thursday’s sports headlines.
Kristian Davis got her first win as the Lady Tornadoes’ head softball coach in a 10-2 victory over Hillcrest in Game 1 of a doubleheader at Graham Park.
Meanwhile, the high school volleyballers handed Westview just its second loss in 11 matches this season and avenged an earlier loss for the second time this week with a 3-1 triumph over Martin.
Highlights of those contests are as follows:
MIDDLE SCHOOL SOFTBALL
UC 10-7, Hillcrest 2-9
Davis, who took over the Lady Twister program reigns Monday, saw her team erupt for six runs in the second to win Thursday’s opener vs. H’crest.
Madie Theobald went 3-for-3 with a triple and two runs scored while also knocking in a run to pace Union City. Addison Carr and Breanna McLendon had two RBI apiece for the Purple and Gold to back the two-hit pitching of Mattie Smith, who went the distance to collect the pitching win.
The Lady Cougars salvaged a split by winning the nightcap, but only after the Tornadoes shaved a 7-0 deficit to 7-6 in the middle innings.
Emma Mobbs smacked a three-run homer and Carr drove in a pair of runs for UC. Sarah Beth Byars went 2-for-3, Clare Atwill knocked in two runs, and Theobald scored twice.
Eight walks and three errors proved to be the Twisters’ ultimate undoing.
Now 10-6, Union City will play at South Fulton Monday and visit Black Oak Tuesday before closing its regular season at home vs. Ridgemont in 8th Grade Night next Thursday.
HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL
UC 3, Westview 1
After dropping the first game (25-19) and falling behind early in the second, the Lady Tornadoes showed great grit and roared back to win 25-22, 25-21 and 25-22.
The victory made up for an earlier straight-set loss to Westview for Union City, now 7-3 in District 13A and 7-5 overall.
“To say that I am proud of these girls is an understatement,” UC head coach Jessica Graham said afterward. “This win was everything, and it was exactly what we needed.
“The girls tonight played as a true team and played to their full potential. We are so proud of them. We’ll now focus on next week and ending the regular season with some momentum.”
There were several standouts from Thursday’s play for the Purple and Gold.
Raegan Taylor had 14 assists, nine kills, eight saves and seven aces. Anna Cheatham had 14 kills and served up six aces, while Emma Powell racked up 18 assists and had four saves and four aces. Kaigan Davis had 10 kills, four saves and four service aces.
Sara Ullrich was good for seven digs, four saves and three aces.
Union City is set to celebrate Senior Night Monday with a make-up match against Lake County slated to begin at 7 p.m. Senior Night festivities will start at 6:15.
HIGH SCHOOL GOLF
UC winds up regular season
In a late added match, the Lady Tornadoes were third against host South Gibson County and Trinity Christian Academy, and the Union City boys came in fourth behind TCA, Crockett County and SGC.
Mimi Jenkins shot 45 for the UC girls and teammate Alli Kate Filling came in with a 50 for a 95 total in team play. Molly Kizer finished with a 51.
TCA shot a 73 to win the team competition.
In boys’ play, TCA fired a 142 to win easily. CC was second at 159, SGC third at 162 and Union City fourth with a 190.
Nolan Chandler’s 40 was the best Tornado score. Reese Paschall shot 47, Carter Watts 51, and Landon Hauhe 52. Cameron Thompson finished with a 54.
District 13A play begins Monday for the UC boys at Sharon with the girls’ squad competing on Tuesday.