By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City’s track teams weren’t about to let the top hardware from their own meet leave town.
Both Tornado squads claimed the championship of the 45th annual Rotary Relays Friday at Dave Shatz Track Friday, continuing their respective stellar campaigns that has seen them win or finish no lower than third in a half-dozen meets.
The boys’ team won the 4×400 relay at the end to edge Haywood 99-96, while the Twister girls totaled 122 points to ease past runner-up Madison Academic (106.5).
There were 15 boys’ teams in the field and a dozen girls’ squads.
“We’re in a good place, I believe, with the postseason just around the corner,” UC head coach Wade Maddox said. “Our runners and relay teams continue improving their times, and our jumpers are on the road to where we need them to be.
“This was a really good meet to measure where we are, and the kids were excited to win such a storied meet at our place. The Rotarians do such a great job running it, and it always draws good competition from all around West Tennessee.”
The 4×400 relay unit of Kameron Shade, Andrew Smalls, Adrian Crawford, and Malaki Brooks sealed the Union City boys’ first-place finish with their win.
The speedy Shade was also the fastest runner in the 100 and 200, while Keaten Brown gave the Tornadoes valuable points in the field events with a second place showing in the shot put and a third-place finish in the discus.
The Lady Tornadoes were again strong in the relay events, winning the 4×100 with Nakyah Yarbrough, Indeya Hogsett, Aujuni Moss, and Katana Bonds. The quartet of Yarbrough, Hogsett, Jayla Turner, and Alexis Smith came in first in the 4×200, while Yarbrough, Adaline Rice, Turner, and Daisy Sanchez combined to come in second in the 4×400.
The 4×800 team of Turner, Ada Rogers, Rice, and Bailey Wagoner set a school mark (11:19.66) to place third.
Bonds was strong again in the long jump, winning first, while Smith did the same in the 400. Smith was second in the 100 and 200, with Rogers taking runner-up honors in the 100-meter hurdles.
Debrionna Jones came in second in the discus and third in the shot, while Rice set a school record in the 800 meters with a time of 2:48.65.
Next up for the Purple and Gold are the subsectionals Thursday at UCHS.
HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS
UC 7, Westview 0 (G)
Westview 4, UC 3 (B)
The Union City girls tuned up for the postseason with their third consecutive shutout to end the regular season.
The Lady Tornadoes (10-7) will now begin play in the individual district tournament on Monday and Tuesday at UT Martin before hosting Obion Central for the district team title on Thursday.
UC surrendered just five games in seven matches in breezing past Martin Friday. Shelby Bondurant, Molly Kizer, and Davey Frankum all won 8-0 in singles play, while Bondurant and Kizer posted a shutout in doubles action as well.
Union City’s boys saw their team season end with a narrow 4-3 loss to the Chargers.
Gavin Pledge and Landon McAdams were individual winners, with Pledge and Charleton Wisener teaming to win a tiebreaker in doubles over Jacob Foltz and Nicholas Sterrett.
The Tornadoes ended their year with a 3-10 mark.
The boys’ team will also compete in both singles and doubles on the district tournament level next week.
Girls
Singles
Shelby Bondurant vs. Deborah Shaw 8-0
Molly Kizer vs. Kendall Thomas 8-0
Davey Frankum vs. Camila Mercado 8-0
Dani Frankum v.s Becca Segnorini 8-3
Bertie Jenkins vs. Kate Stroh 8-1
Lexi Petty vs. Kaitlyn Boyd 6-0
Josie Ross vs. Sadie Bell 8-0
Allie Tucker vs. Ella Hamlin 6-0
Madeline Underwood vs. Samantha Bates 6-2
Doubles
Bondurant/Kizer vs. Shaw/Signorini 8-0
Frankum/Frankum vs. Mercado/Stroh 8-1
Allie Tucker/Emily Hammond vs. Zoe Reed/Mia Cathy 6-0
Boys
Singles
Charleton Wisener vs. Jacob Foltz 3-8
Gavin Pledge vs. Nicholas Sterrett 8-6
Lyndon Brown vs. Benjamin Braddock 4-8
Jack Tully vs. Gordan Sawyers 5-8
Landon McAdams vs. Curtis May 8-6
Jeremy Rice vs. Knox Black 6-6 (7-5) Tiebreak
Carter Pruitt vs. Nathan Reese 4-6
Doubles
Wisener/Pledge vs Foltz/Sterrett 8-8 (7-2) Tiebreak
McAdams/Tully vs. May/Sawyers 4-8
HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL
Crockett Co. 9, UC 5
The Lady Tornadoes outhit CC (10-8) but fell behind big after four innings and could never quite catch up.
Emmaline Qualls doubled, singled twice, and scored two runs for UC. Addison Carr went 2-for-4 and drove in a run, and Kennedi Robinson and Madie Theobald singled and had RBIs.
Carr, the first of three pitchers, was tagged with the loss.
Union City (4-15) will close its regular season next week with games at Westview (Monday) and Halls on Tuesday.
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
Bradford 4, UC 0
The Twisters could manage but two singles and will head into next week’s District 12AA Tournament at Milan with a 9-13 record.
Union City will face Huntingdon in a Round 1 game Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the double-elimination event.
Kyler Southerland and Skyler Hall had the Tornadoes’ hits against Bradford.
Will Ragsdale allowed but two unearned runs and seven hits yet was charged with the pitching loss.
HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER
Jackson South Side 7, UC 1
In an unusual twist, injured Tornado standout Miguel Sanchez scored Union City’s lone goal.
Head coach Travis VanHooser explained that JSS likewise had an injured star who was recognized for Senior Night. He asked the UC skipper if the Hawk player could score a ceremonial goal as an honor. VanHooser agreed, but only if the same courtesy was awarded to Sanchez, who suffered a season-ending broken leg three weeks ago.
Joseph Lattus was credited with the assist.
Jayce Rogers had 15 saves in goal for the Tornadoes.
Union City will celebrate Senior Night Tuesday against Trenton.