By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Both Union City High School track teams appear primed and ready for another strong postseason run.
The Tornado girls and boys won the team championships of the 46th annual Rotary Relays Friday – besting 20 other schools in the process.
UC – which finished in the Top 10 in the state last season – posted a combined 15 first-place showings and set six modern-era school records in outclassing the large field and winning the competition for the second consecutive year.
Both Union City teams totaled 151 points. Haywood (92) was second in the boys’ standings, and Dyersburg (86) was No. 2 in the girls’ pecking order.
Relay teams – a point of emphasis for head coach Wade Maddox heading into the meet – shined for the Tornadoes. The UC girls had four units claim first place, while the boys had a pair of record-setting quartets.
The girls’ 4X100 team of Nakayah Yarbrough, Aujani Moss, Indeya Hogsett, and Katana Bonds ran a 51.12 to win and establish a new program mark.
The 4X800 squad (Blair McKinnis, Bailey Wagoner, Ada Rogers, and Jayla Turner), the 4X200 team (Aujani Moss, Sh’Nyla Moss, Yarbrough, and Chloe Hubbard), and the 4X400 group (Yarbrough, Ca’Lae Ervin, Sh’Nyla Moss, and Turner) each won first place.
Wagoner led the field in both the 3200-meter run and the 1600-meter run, and Bonds captured first in the triple jump.
The Union City boys got another strong effort from sprinter Kameron Shade and multi-talented Adrian Crawford.
Shade broke his own school records in winning the 100 (10.83) and 200 meters (22.21) and was part of the 4X400 relay team that established a new mark (3:35.72). Malaki Brooks, Andre Small, and Crawford joined Shade in the first-place group.
Crawford (21’8”) also established a new mark in triumphing in the long jump.
Steady Keaten Brown added to his seasonal first-place efforts by winning the shot put. Tayshun Gentry claimed honors in the triple jump, and Woodrow McKinnis won the 1600-meter run.
The relay foursome of Brooks, McKinnis, Owen Wagoner, and Andrew Beard combined to beat everyone in the 4X800.
Shade, Rodney Jenkins, Tayehari Jones, and Shon Fuller finished second in the 4X200 but set a school mark with a time of 1:32.78.
“I really wanted to see the relay teams perform well, and they did,” Maddox said. “It was a tremendous experience for our kids against a good field, and I feel we’re starting peak at just the right time heading into the postseason.”
Union City will host the subsectionals on Thursday. The field events will begin at noon, and the running competition will start at 4 p.m.
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
UC 6, Fulton Co. 2
The Tornadoes celebrated Senior Night by honoring eight players before beating Fulton County, which was a late replacement for Hickman County, who backed out of the game.
Barrett Cox, Will Ragsdale, Reese Paschall, Hayes Riley, Kyler Southerland, Luke Joslin, Skyler Hall, and Maddox Dunn were recognized along with their parents in pre-game ceremonies.
Afterward, the Tornadoes improved to 16-9 – scoring in five of their six at-bats.
Logan Dawkins (3-3) struck out 12 Pilot batters and allowed just one hit and no earned runs in a dominating pitching performance for the Tornadoes. Copeland Chism closed out the victory with an inning of shutout relief.
Riley tripled and Tucker Davis doubled for UC’s extra-base hits. Troy Joslin singled and scored two runs, and Dunn had a hit and scored.
The Tornadoes are scheduled to play at Trenton on Monday in their regular season finale before then hosting the District 14A Tournament at Elam Stadium.
HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL
Dresden 2, UC 0
Union City’s five-game winning streak ended when the Lady Tornadoes fell at Dresden.
UC (10-12, 8-2) will now enter the District 14A Tournament at South Fulton as the No. 2 seed behind the Lady Lions, who were undefeated in league play during the regular season.
The Twister girls could not break through Friday against Dresden’s Eva Stafford. Stafford fanned 10 and scattered six singles in keeping Union City off the scoreboard.
Addison Carr went 2-for-3 for the Lady Tornadoes. Kylie Mayes had a hit and reached base a second time via a walk.
Maddie Smith came on in relief for Carr and sparkled with four shutout innings, during which she allowed just one hit.
Union City will play at Hickman County on Monday and at Huntingdon on Tuesday to wind up its regular season.
MIDDLE SCHOOL TENNIS
UC 7, Crockett County 0 (G)
UC 7, Crockett County 0 (B)
Union City’s middle school squads continued their respective impressive seasons with shutout wins over Crockett County.
The Tornadoes have won all but one of their matches this season.
Stella Turner, Kipton Powers, and Jake Lattus each posted 6-0 singles triumphs Friday against CC.
Emma Jane Rice, Blythe Ogden, and Miloh Turner all won by 6-1 scores.
UC will close its season on Monday with matches against Obion County.
Girls Singles
Emma Jane Rice won 6-1
Stella Turner won 6-0
Blythe Ogden won 6-1
Rylan Ali Bondurant won 6-4
Phoebe Coleman won 6-2
Averi Riley lost 6-7
Maddie Bailey won 6-0
Marley Waddell won 6-1
Andi Walker won 6-3
Kenslie Taylor won 6-3
Emmalynn McClanahan won 6-4
Girls Doubles
Rice/Ogden won 6-1
Turner/Bondurant won 6-1
Coleman/Riley won 6-4
Boys Singles
Camden Dawkins won 6-4
Kipton Powers won 6-0
Miloh Turner won 6-1
Madix Turner won 6-2
Jake Lattus won 6-0
Austin Powell lost 4-6
Wes Worrell won 6-1
Boys Doubles
Dawkins / Powers won 6-2
Turner/Turner won 6-1
Lattus/Tohn won 6-2