By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Another meet, another couple of first place finishes for the Union City High School track teams.
The Golden Tornadoes bested nine other programs to win again Tuesday – the boys’ team for the third time in as many events and the girls for the second time this spring.
Covington was the runner-up girls’ finisher at Dave Shatz Track, while Dyer County came in second on the boys’ side.
Kameron Shade, Kolby Craig and Keaten Brown again headlined the UC boys’ effort.
Shade won first in both the 100 and 200 and was part of the 4×100 relay team with Craig, Kenny Moss and Andre Smalls to claim first place.
Craig finished first in the triple jump and was second in the long jump, while Brown was the best in the discus and shot put fields.
The Lady Tornadoes got first-place efforts from Katana Bonds in the long and triple jumps. Allysia Davis won the high jump, and Debrionna Jones took honors in the discus.
Jayla Turner was second in both the 200-meter and 400-meter runs, Ca’Lae Ervin had runner-up finishes in the long jump and high jump, and Brooklyn Murphy was second in the discus.
Union City’s next scheduled meet is on April 12.
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
UC 13, Westview 5
The Tornadoes bounced back from Monday’s home loss to Martin and snapped a three-game slide with a resounding victory over Westview.
A two-out Charger error in the first opened the door for nine unearned runs by UC. Hayden Searcy’s triple and a double by Logan Vincent highlighted the Twister uprising.
Union City pounded out a season-high 14 hits, with Searcy, Vincent, Barrett Cox and Will Ragsdale all collecting two safeties apiece. Kyler Southerland drove in three runs, as did Vincent, with Searcy and Skylar Hall accounting for two RBIs each.
Cox went the distance to pick up the pitching win. He fanned five, scattered 10 hits, and gave up four runs.
UC will next play Ballard Memorial Thursday at 6:45 p.m. in the L.H. Ladd Invitational at Elam Stadium.
HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL
UC 8, Dresden 6
Addison Carr, Bayleigh Long, Whitley Jenkins, Mattie Smith and Clare Atwill all had two hits, and the Lady Tornadoes built a big lead and then held on at the end.
Carr and Atwill both had doubles in UC’s 13-hit attack, with Carr knocking in three runs and Atwill plating two. Smith also had two ribbies.
A five-run sixth inning provided the winning margin for the Twister girls, who improved to 3-6 with the victory.
Carr surrendered just one earned run in four innings and struck out five to gain the pitching win.
Union City will host Ripley Thursday night at 6.
HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS
UC 7, Greenfield 0 (Girls)
Union City’s girls bounced back from a tough Monday loss against Obion Central to shut out Greenfield in District 13A play.
Shelby Bondurant claimed an 8-3 win at the No. 1 singles seed, then joined Molly Kizer for an 8-1 victory atop the doubles ladder. Dani Frankum was also a two-time winner, teaming with Bertie Jenkins for a doubles triumph.
Union City will host Huntingdon Thursday afternoon.
Singles
Shelby Bondurant vs. Courtney Mathews 8-3
Molly Kizer vs. Ginny Archie 8-5
Dani Frankum vs. Meghan West 8-5
Lexi Petty vs. Caroline Bodkins 8-5
Bertie Jenkins vs. Avery West 8-5
Allie Tucker vs. Audrey Arnold 6-2
Doubles
Bondurant/Kizer vs. Mathews/Archie 8-1
Frankum/Jenkins vs. West/Bodkins 8-3
Josie Ross/Petty vs. Avery High/Arnold 6-2
Emily Hammond/Tucker vs. Annaliya Shepherd/Addisen Cooper 6-0
Leah Beth Edmaiston/Natalie Long vs. Maya Eckert/Claire Williams 4-0
HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER
McKenzie 3, UC 2
The Tornadoes gave another quality effort but dropped a close decision to homestanding McKenzie.
Miguel Sanchez drew high praise from head coach Travis VanHooser for a stellar all-around game after scoring one of UC’s two goals off an assist from Ka’Jaylon Bell. Marcos Landeros fed Silverio Acevedo for the Twisters’ other score.
Jayce Rogers had a big game in goal for Union City with a dozen saves.
The Tornadoes trailed 2-1 at the intermission.
UC (3-2) travels to Gibson County Thursday night.
MIDDLE SCHOOL TRACK
UC girls, boys 1st at D’burg
Union City’s two squads bested the host school, Ripley and Northview in their first meet of the season Monday at Dyersburg.
The Tornado boys ended up with 55 points, while the girls totaled 51.
Jayden Evans set a program record in winning the hurdles with a time of 17:46. Kobe Kirk won the high jump, Andrew Beard claimed top honors in the mile run and the 800-meter run, and Rodney Jenkins led the field in the 200-meter run.
The 4×400 relay team of Evans, Beard, Zak Summers and Paul Martin Tohn also won first place.
Jenkins placed second in the 100 meters, Tohn was fourth in the mile run, Grant Sinclair came in fourth in the 400 meters, and Marvon Burns posted a runner-up finish in the 800 meters. Kirk was second in the 200 meters, and the 4×100 quartet of Summers, Kirk, Jenkins and Evans combined for a third-place showing.
For the UC girls, Chloe Hubbard posted a new school mark in the 100 meters – winning the event with a time of 12.82. Hubbard was also a member of the 4×100 meter relay team that placed first, joining Mogan Speed, Sh’Nyla Moss and Uriah Davis.
Ainsley Beard won the mile run and was second in the 400-meter run. Amberly Morgan took first place in the 800-meter run, and Keirsten Treadwell did the same in the shot put. The team of Beard, Morgan, Adenna Alexander and Brylee Robinson claimed top honors in the 4×400.
Hubbard was second in the high jump, Morgan was second in the mile run, Robinson was runner-up in the 800-meter run, and Uriah Davis was second in the 200 meters. Moss came in third in the 200 meters and Mitchell was third in the 400 meters. Robinson was second in the 800-meter run.
The relay team of Moss, Davis, Speed and Marciyah Mayes was second in the 4×200.
Union City will host a meet on Thursday.
MIDDLE SCHOOL BASEBALL
Martin 11, UC 2
Jack Theobald and Ben Howell scored first-inning runs for the Tornadoes, but Union City failed to get a hit in a game for the second time this season in falling to 3-7.
Preston Creswell gave up five earned runs in four frames on the hill for UC.
The two teams will play again Thursday at Martin.
MIDDLE SCHOOL TENNIS
McCracken Co. 7, UC 0 (G)
McCracken Co. 7, UC 0 (B)
Facing likely their toughest competition of the season, the Tornado teams were blanked despite extending several games to deuce.
UC did prevail in a pair of jayvee matches, with Rylan Bondurant prevailing in singles play and then teaming with Briley McKinney for a doubles triumph.
Union City’s next match is April 11 at Dyersburg.
Girls
Singles
Emma Mobbs vs. Cassidy Parker 1-8
Emma Jane Rice vs. Alex Poole 0-8
Blythe Ogden vs. Kennedy O’Neil 0-8
Allie Vincent vs. Madison McKinney 1-8
Maddie Bailey vs. Chloe Dalton 1-8
Marley Waddell vs. Anniston Neilson 2-8
Briley McKinney vs. Lilli Pace 3-8
Rylan Bondurant vs. Parker Barks 8-2
Doubles
Mobbs /Rice vs. Parker/Poole lost 0-8
Ogden /Vincent vs. O’Neil/McKinney 2-8
Bailey/Waddell vs. Dalton/Nelson 0-8
McKinney/Bondurant vs. Pace/Barks 8-2
Boys
Singles
Kobe Kirk vs. Luke Braboy 0-8
Grant Sinclair vs. Holden Hagan 1-8
Foster Rodgers vs. Ansh Shah 0-8
Camden Dawkins vs. Benny dos Benedios 3-8
Kipton Powers vs. Logan Alexander 0-8
Jaedyn Sims vs. Rex Johnston 2-8
Doubles
Kirk/Sinclair vs. Braboy/Hagan 0-8
Rodgers/Dawkins vs. Shah/Benedios 4-8
Powers/Sims vs. Alexander/Johnston 2-8
MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCCER
Paris Inman 5, UC 0
The Tornadoes fell behind 4-0 in the first half and could never scratch out a goal in a road setback.
Union City had just one shot on goal in the match.
Braydon Chism and Adrian McKinnie had three saves apiece in goal for the Twisters.
UC’s next match is set for April 13 at Henry County.