By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
The road to the Spring Fling went down Easy Street Thursday for the Union City tennis and baseball teams.
Both qualified for their respective state tournaments with resounding sectional wins against overmatched foes, sending them to Murfreesboro next week where they’ll join more than 20 Tornado track and field athletes.
The UC girls’ tennis team – Class 1A state runners-up the last two springs – earned that program’s 11th all-time berth in the Final 4 and fourth in the last six seasons by smashing Milan 4-0.
Now 17-3, the Lady Tornadoes will face Signal Mountain in a 9 a.m. state semifinal match Tuesday at the Adams Tennis Complex. A victory there would send the Twister girls into Wednesday morning’s state championship match.
The Union City baseball team will return to the state tournament for the first time in six years after thrashing Memphis Middle College 16-1 and 10-0 at Millington.
UC (22-12) will discover its first-round tourney foe this weekend in the double-elimination event, which will be played at either Eagleville or Rockvale. The Twisters will play Game 1 on Tuesday at 4 or 6:30 p.m.
TENNIS
UC 4, Milan 1
Region 8 champion Milan – which entered the match with a 14-1 record – was simply the latest Lady Tornado opponent to get steamrolled, as Union City needed less than an hour to win four singles matches.
The Twisters gave up just three games in those eight sets.
Davey Frankum (6-0, 6-1) was the first from UC to finish off her foe. Twin sister Dani and top seed Shelby Bondurant each posted 6-0, 6-0 shutout victories before freshman Emma Mobbs brought an official ending to the match by winning 6-2, 6-0.
Second seed Molly Kizer was also well on her way to winning easily, up 6-2, 5-1 when play was stopped due to the clinch rule.
UC head coach Tom Sisco was not surprised by the continued dominance of his squad.
“We’re playing with so much confidence right now,” he said. “I’m so impressed with Shelby and Molly – being seniors who’ve essentially graduated – staying locked in and being totally focused on the one goal we’re trying to accomplish.
“Two years ago, when we got to the state tournament, I think the girls were just excited to be there. Then they got a taste of that championship match, and it was good for them. They know now they have the ability and skills to not only get there but to win there. They know what’s in front of them.”
“And I don’t think it matters to them one bit who we play when we get there.”
Singles
Shelby Bondurant vs. Reagan Jones 6-0, 6-0
Molly Kizer vs. Anniston Allen 6-2, 5-1 (Match stopped by clinch rule)
Dani Frankum vs. Caroline Hurt 6-0, 6-0
Davey Frankum vs. Trinity Jones 6-0, 6-1
Emma Mobbs vs. Jaclyn Moore 6-2, 6-0
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
UC 16-10, Middle College 1-0
The Tornadoes were clearly superior to their Memphis opposition, recording a pair of mercy-rule wins to qualify for the state tournament for the 11th time in program history.
“The guys showed up ready to go today from the minute they got to school,” UC head coach Cole McAdams claimed. “They were eager to get on the field all week and were focused on what we needed to do.”
The Twisters used stellar pitching, widespread hitting up and down their line-up, and a plethora of mistakes by MC to roll.
Troy Joslin, Kyler Southerland, and Sam Jones combined on a three-hitter in Game 1, while Logan Dawkins sparkled again on the hill with a one-hitter in the nightcap. Joslin and Southerland teamed to strike out nine batters, while Dawkins fanned seven in his complete-game effort.
Joslin, Barrett Cox, Skyler Hall, Tucker Davis, and Copeland Chism each had two hits in the opener. Chism drove in three runs, while Joslin and Davis had a pair of RBIs apiece as UC put up a five-spot in the second and then ended the contest early with six runs in the sixth.
Will Ragsdale, Ben Kail, and Hall scored twice each.
A five-run first sent the Purple and Gold on its way in the second game.
Southerland, Dawkins, and Luke Joslin all doubled, with Southerland and Davis coming up with a pair of ribbies. Troy Joslin, Will Ragsdale, and Luke Joslin scored two times apiece.
“We hit the baseball really well today,” McAdams added. “We pitched great as a staff, and we played great defense. Those are the things we’ve focused on all year, and those are the things that win you baseball games when you get to the postseason level.
“I’m proud of their ability to focus and fight through some adversity we’ve had during the postseason. They’ve earned everything they’ve accomplished so far and are excited to get to Murfreesboro and compete for a state championship.”