By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Much like the boys’ team on Monday, the Union City girls’ golf squad finished runners-up in the District 13A Tournament Tuesday to earn a spot in next week’s regional.
The Lady Tornadoes (194) trailed only McKenzie (176) Tuesday at Persimmon Hills in Sharon to take second place in the team portion of the tourney.
Huntingdon (222) was third and will join UC and the Lady Rebels in Monday’s Region 7A event at the same venue.
Mimi Jenkins finished third individually after a playoff for the Purple and Gold, shooting a 94 (46-48).
Freshman Alli Kate Frilling came in with a pair of 50s to complete Union City’s scoring.
McKenzie’s Kelly Weatherford earned the title of district champion after firing an 83.
Both the girls’ and boys’ regional will begin Monday at 9 a.m.
MIDDLE SCHOOL SOFTBALL
UC 16, Martin 5
The Lady Tornadoes continued to swing big sticks, following up Monday’s 22-run outburst with another offensive explosion.
Union City scored in every inning, highlighted by a six-run third after already building a 6-3 lead.
Sarah Beth Byars homered, singled, scored three times and drove in three runs in the Twister leadoff spot. Addison Carr went 3-for-4 with three RBI and three runs scored, and Clare Atwill had two hits, scored twice and reached base four times.
Madie Theobald tripled in two runs, and both Gracie Simms and Breanna McLendon scored twice. Jenna Kate Cross singled two times and drove in a tally as part of the onslaught.
Mattie Smith notched the pitching win, giving just three hits in four innings pitched.
Now 12-6, Union City will play its final regular-season home game and celebrate 8th Grade Night Thursday when it hosts Ridgemont.
MIDDLE SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY
Tornado teams both claim 1st
Union City won top honors in the girls’ and boys’ team portion of the Tomcat Invitational at Brownsville.
The Twister boys finished with 42 points, led by overall best finisher Woodrow McKinnis, who ran the two-mile race in 12:57.
Four other UC runners medaled with Top 20 finishes.
They included: Rushdon Howell (3rd, 13:08), Andrew Beard (10th, 14:09), Paul Martin Tohn (13th, 14:21), and Brayden Chism (18th, 14:43).
The Top 7 Lady Tornadoes earned medaled as UC won overall with a total of 42 points.
Brylee Patrick finished second overall at 15:39. Ainsley Beard was seventh with a time of 16:50 and Briley McKinney placed 10th at 17:01.
Rounding out the medalist pecking order for Union City were Emma Jane Rice (11th, 17:12), Blythe Ogden (12th, 17:19), Rori Howell (15th, 18:16), and Phoebe Coleman (20th, 18:41).
The Tornado teams will compete for a final time this fall on Thursday when they run in the Best of the West at Northview Middle School.
HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL
Ripley 3, UC 2
Union City dropped the final game (15-11) of a hard-fought non-district match against visiting Ripley to make its record 8-6.
The Lady Tornadoes won Games 2 and 4, 27-25 and 25-23, respectively. Ripley took Games 1 and 3, 26-24 and 25-23.
Anna Cheatham had 17 kills, five saves and five digs for UC. Emma Powell assisted on 16 points and had seven digs and seven saves. Raegan Taylor was good for 10 assists, eight aces and seven saves.
Kaigan Davis recorded seven kills and five digs and Sara Ullrich had seven digs and four aces.
Davey Frankum came off the bench and had eight saves and four kills to draw praise from head coach Jessica Graham.
Union City will look for its ninth victory in 12 District 13A matches Thursday when it travels to Trenton to face Peabody.