By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
As it turned out, Union City’s baseball team beat Dresden in the only game that mattered between the two this season.
Stunned by a pair of heartbreaking extra-inning losses to the Lions in the district tourney, UC rebounded to top Dresden 9-5 Saturday to claim runner-up honors in the Region 7A Tournament and secure a spot in next week’s sectional round.
The Golden Tornadoes (20-12) now advance to a best 2-of-3 sectional series against Memphis Middle College – the Region 8 champion. A doubleheader will be played on Day 1 of the series, with a third game – if necessary – on tap for Day 2.
The location and dates for the contests have not yet been determined.
Saturday’s victory against Dresden was the second of two for the Twisters, as they won a first elimination game over Bradford 6-1 to set up a fifth matchup this spring with the Lions.
And while Dresden had won three of the previous four, Union City – which will advance to the sectional for the first time since 2018 – came up big when it mattered most.
“Our kids could’ve folded today – especially after how we played last night (11-1 first-round loss to eventual tourney champion Halls),” Twister head coach Cole McAdams said. “But they didn’t. They showed up early this morning and went through our usual routine with a great attitude. They were very focused and played at a high level in all phases.
“They competed. And I’m just really proud of them.”
A six-run fourth inning helped UC build an 8-0 lead against Dresden, and the Purple and Gold then survived a couple of anxious moments before Troy Joslin came on to finally slam the door shut against the Lions.
Joslin, who twirled a complete-game gem in the opener against Bradford, had 17 pitches available under the state-mandated limit (120) in Game 2. He needed just 13 to retire the side in the final frame.
Logan Dawkins delivered another clutch start for the Twisters to begin the game. He did not allow an earned run in five innings and fanned seven while giving up just three hits to record his fourth win of the season.
“Troy (Joslin) was fantastic in both games and (Logan) Dawkins gave us another great effort in an elimination-type setting, just like he did earlier against Dresden,” McAdams continued. “They both gave us exactly what we needed.”
Union City pieced a couple of timely hits by Skyler Hall and Barrett Cox with three errors and a hit batsman in its big inning. Kyler Southerland finished 2-for-5 with a pair of runs scored, while Hall knocked in two runs.
Joslin scored twice and smacked a double.
“Cox made a huge defensive play early that I thought was critical when he threw a runner out at the plate,” McAdams added. “We sort of settled in after that.”
In Game 1 against Bradford, Ben Kail drove in three runs with a pair of doubles, and UC erased a 1-0 deficit with three runs in the fourth before tacking on three more in the fifth.
That was more than enough support for Joslin, who did not allow an earned run and threw 65 of 103 pitches for strikes to improve to 6-3 on the season.
Hall had two more RBIs in the opener with a pair of singles, while Southerland scored twice.
“We took advantage of nearly every opportunity we had in both games,” the UC coach concluded. “We executed. We did the little things.
“Hats off to our guys for refocusing after some adversity and playing like they’re capable of playing.”
Dresden ends its season with a 20-10 mark.