By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Union City High School spring sports teams checked all the boxes on Tuesday.
Tornado squads won in soccer, tennis, baseball, and softball to make the second day of the 2022 season a perfect one.
UC gave first-year soccer coach Travis VanHooser a victory in his initial game with a 2-1 triumph over Obion Central. The Twister tennis teams blanked OC 7-0, while Union City edged Dresden for the second straight day in baseball 2-1.
The Tornado softball team capped the perfect day with a 7-5 triumph over Crockett County.
On the middle school level, UC dropped a 3-1 soccer decision at McKenzie, while the Twister baseball squad lost 13-0 at Crockett County.
The following is a recap of those contests:
HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER
UC 2, OC 1
Miguel Sanchez banged home a header late in the second half to break a 1-all tie and help VanHooser successfully begin his era as just the second head coach in Tornado program history.
Logan Elmore assisted on the game-winner for Union City.
“It was a total team effort,” VanHooser said afterward. “I couldn’t be more proud of my guys’ effort throughout the entire game.
“Offensively, Miguel did everything asked of him. Defensively, Brayden Hailey and Hogan Kern had several key stops.”
Juan Lopez got UC on the board with a first-half goal off a feed from Bethel University signee Chandler Adams.
The Rebels tied the contest just before the intermission.
Adams and Elmore also had shots on goal for the Tornadoes. Goalie Ka’Jaylon Bell stopped seven shots, two of those from point-blank range.
Union City will now host Crockett County Thursday – a change from the original schedule.
HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS
UC 7, Obion Central 0 (G)
UC 7, Obion Central 0 (B)
Both Tornado teams were impressive in their respective openers, winning the Top 5 singles matches and Top 2 doubles competitions easily.
Annie Wade cruised at the No. 1 spot, then teamed with Shelby Bondurant to win a second match by identical 8-0 scores. Gracyn Callicott also recorded a shutout victory in singles and paired up with Molly Kizer to post an 8-0 triumph in doubles.
On the boys’ side, Kobe Terrell, Alex Del Castillo, and Charleton Wisener were all 8-0 winners in singles play. Bryce White and Jack Tully and the team of Owen Rogers and Lyndon Brown were 8-2 victors.
In all, UC won all 15 of the girls’ matches and each of the seven boys’ matches.
Union City is set to travel to McCracken County today.
Girls
Singles
Annie Wade beat Taylor Warren 8-0
Gracyn Callicott beat Emma Heathcott 8-0
Shelby Bondurant beat Isabella Knox WD
Molly Kizer beat Elizabeth Woody 8-4
Davy Frankum beat Allie Lamb 8-1
Dani Frankum beat Hannah Strauser 8-1
Emily Hammonds beat Hannah Taylor 8-2
Jamie Becton beat Natalie Muday 6-1
Lexi Petty beat Hope Baker 6-0
Natalie Long beat Norah Kendall 6-0
Leah Beth Edmonds beat Jasia Jenkins 6-3
Madeline Underwood beat Kaydence McWherter 6-0
Doubles
Wade/Bondurant beat Heathcott/Knox 8-0
Callicott/Kizer beat Lamb/Woody 8-0
Frankum/Frankum beat Waren/Strauser 8-1
Boys
Singles
Gavin Pledge beat Mick Aaron 8-3
Kobe Terrell beat Thorpe Mitchell 8-0
Alex Del Castillo beat Austin Alexander 8-0
Charlton Wisener beat Luis Rodriquez 8-0
Lyndon Brown beat HP Godwin 8 -4
Doubles
Owen Rogers/Brown beat Aaron/Mitchell 8-2
Bryce White/Jack Tully beat Alexander/Rodriquez 8-2
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
UC 2, Dresden 1
Barrett Cox, who got the win with an inning of relief in Monday’s opener, went the distance with a nifty five-hitter on Tuesday as the Purple and Gold completed a sweep of the Lions.
Cox threw 61 of 92 pitches for strikes, fanning four and walking just two.
Union City scored single runs in the second and third and made the most of three hits.
Landon Hauhe, Kase Ross, and Logan Dawkins had singles for the Twisters, with Dawkins and Skylar Hall driving in runs. Cox and Chase Norton scored UC’s runs.
The Tornadoes will host Lake County tonight at 6.
HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL
UC 7, Crockett Co. 5
Alli Kate Frilling and Anna Cheatham had two hits apiece, and Bailey Decker and Brianna McBride scored twice each to lead the Lady Tornadoes to their second win in as many days.
Both Decker and McBride reached base three times as UC took advantage of 10 hits and seven walks to create constant traffic on the bases.
The Twister girls never trailed, scoring four times in the second and three more in the fifth.
Cheatham was the winning pitcher, scattering nine hits. Emma Powell tossed an inning of scoreless relief.
Union City will begin play in the Sara Beth Whitehead Classic today in Jackson, facing Arlington at 3 p.m. and Crockett County at 6.
MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCCER
McKenzie 3, UC 1
Adrian Crawford scored a second-half goal for the Tornadoes, who turned in a solid effort despite a road loss to McKenzie.
Rylan Robinson received complimentary words from head coach Jason Deem for outstanding play on both the offensive and defensive front. Braden Simpson also was singled out by Deem for work on the defensive end.
Eric Lopez had four saves in goal for UC and Rachel McClanahan assisted on Crawford’s goal.
The Tornadoes (0-3) will next play on Mar. 28 at home vs. Martin.
MIDDLE SCHOOL BASEBALL
Crockett Co. 13, UC 0
The Tornadoes fell behind CC big for a second straight day and saw their record dip to 1-6.
Ben Howell and Byron Abbott had the only hits for the Tornadoes, who gave up 11 runs in the first inning. Kirben Thompson reached base twice via walk for UC.
The Twisters will host Martin Thursday at 5:30 p.m.