By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Union City is still alive and kicking in the District 14A Softball Tournament.
The Lady Tornadoes booted Lake County and top-seed Dresden from the event with elimination game wins Thursday night, earning not only a spot in the district finals but also a berth in the Region 7 Tournament.
After thumping LC 11-1 in five innings, UC avenged a pair of earlier losses with a thrilling 1-0 victory over regular season champion Dresden to keep its season alive.
The second-seeded Twister girls (12-14) first play No. 3 South Fulton (15-5) tonight at 6 p.m. at Curt Lee Field and would need to beat the Lady Red Devils a second time to win the 14A championship.
Both Union City and SF will advance to regional play Monday, regardless of tonight’s outcome. The title winner will host a semifinal game against Bradford, with the loser travelling to District 13A champion Halls.
A spectacular pitching performance by Mattie Smith, who was backed by strong defense, made an unearned first-inning run stand up in UC’s nail-biting Game 2 triumph Thursday.
Marlee Theobald reached on an error, stole second, and advanced to third via another error. The alert Lady Tornado senior then raced home on a passed ball to give Smith the only run she’d need and account for the contest’s lone tally.
Smith was terrific in the circle, allowing just two hits and a pair of walks in the complete-game effort to win for the fourth time in six decisions. Twice, she turned away major Dresden threats, retiring batters with two runners aboard.
Theobald had one of UC’s key defensive plays when she gunned down the would-be tying run at second base on a steal attempt with one out in the seventh.
Marlee and sister Madie Theobald had the Lady Twisters’ only hits – both singles.
GAME 1
UC 11, Lake Co. 1
A six-run burst in the fifth broke open a relatively tight game and helped end the Lady Tornadoes’ opening-game win via the mercy rule.
Union City had four of its six extra-base hits in that frame and scored the final 10 runs of the contest after it was tied at 1 entering the third frame.
Marlee Theobald and Addison Carr doubled twice in the game, both knocking in three runs. Emmaline Qualls went 3-for-3 with three runs scored, and Caty Jo Hoffman had three RBIs.
Carr notched her seventh pitching win, giving up just three singles while striking out seven.
HIGH SCHOOL TRACK
UC girls 4X100 relay team headed to state
Having already earned seven berths to the Class A state meet in Tuesday’s sectional field events, Union City added an eighth Thursday when the 4X100 girls’ relay team qualified for Spring Fling.
The foursome of Nakyah Yarbrough, Aujani Moss, Katana Bonds, and Indeya Hogsett set a school record (50.80) to finish second and punch their ticket to Murfreesboro.
The UC boys (111 points) ended the two-day sectional as runners-up, with the Lady Tornadoes placing third (97 points). Memphis East won both sides.
Several Tornado athletes remain in contention for wildcard berths, according to head coach Wade Maddox, with their status to be determined this weekend when the remainder of the state completes their respective sectional competition.
Leading that group is the boys’ 4X400 relay team – made up of Malaki Brooks, Kameron Shade, Adrian Crawford, and Andre Small – which finished third Thursday. Shade could also be in the mix in the 100 and 200-meters, after third-place finishes.
UCHS athletes and teams set six program records in all Thursday with Yarbrough (100 meters), the girls’ 4X400 relay team, and two boys’ relay units (4X400, 4X200) among those.
“I asked them to go out and give me all they had, and they did,” Maddox said of his troops. “Now we play the waiting game with the wildcards. And I believe we have a legitimate chance to qualify for the state in several events.”
The Class 1A state meet is scheduled for May 21 at Hayes Stadium on the MTSU campus.