By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City erupted for seven runs in the seventh inning to break open a tight game and hand league-leading Dresden its first District 14A loss with a 9-3 baseball victory Wednesday afternoon.
The Golden Tornadoes (15-8, 8-2), who’ll finish second in the regular season to the Lions (16-6, 9-1), led 2-1 on Troy Joslin’s two-run triple in the fifth before eliminating any suspense in their final at-bat.
Kyler Southerland drove in two runs with a triple in UC’s big frame, while Copeland Chism and Tucker Davis had RBI doubles. Will Ragsdale chased home another run with a single.
Barrett Cox recorded his sixth win in seven decisions with a solid six-inning mound effort. He fanned four, scattered six hits, and allowed just two earned runs. Joslin got the final three outs – two via strikeout.
Southerland went 3-for-4 to pace the Twisters’ 12-hit attack. Ragsdale recorded a pair of hits, as did Joslin. Ben Kail went 2-for-4 with a run scored, and Chism finished 2-for-3 and reached base three times.
Union City will play at Huntingdon tonight at 6:30 before celebrating Senior Night on Friday against Hickman County.
HIGH SCHOOL TRACK
UC 3rd at McCracken Co.
While several of their teammates competed in another event in Jackson on Tuesday, Union City took two other squads to McCracken County, where they each placed third in an eight-school meet.
Bailey Wagoner won the 3200-meter run for the Tornado girls. Sh’Nyla Moss placed second in the 400, and Lily Surr did the same in the 800.
Aaliyah Abbott came in second in the discus.
Owen Wagoner won the 800-meter race for the Union City boys, while teammate Andrew Beard was second.
“It was a good opportunity for several of our younger kids against quality competition,” Tornado head coach Wade Maddox said.
UC will host the 46th annual Rotary Relays on Friday.
HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS
UC 4, Trinity Christian Academy 3 (B)
The Union City boys avenged an earlier loss in Jackson against TCA, winning on consecutive days to better their seasonal mark 5-10.
UC got singles wins from top seed Bryce White (8-3), No. 4 Grant Sinclair (8-3), and fifth seed Foster Rodgers (8-2). A victory in the No. 1 doubles spot by White and Lyndon Brown (6-2) locked up the match.
Union City also claimed a 5-2 triumph in the girls’ jayvee match.
The Tornado boys and girls play host to Obion Central this afternoon.
Singles
Bryce White vs. William Allen 8-3
Lyndon Brown vs. Luke Mauldin 2-8
Kobe Kirk vs. Sawyer Lee 2-8
Grant Sinclair vs. Stone McAlexander 8-3
Foster Rodgers vs. Jack Dearth 8-2
Doubles
White/Brown vs. Mauldin/Allen 6-2
Kirk/Sinclair vs. McAlexander/Lee 0-6