By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City is now 3-for-3 in high school track meets this spring.
Both the girls’ and boys’ teams won first place for the third time in as many outings Thursday, topping a 10-school field at Dave Shatz Track.
The Lady Tornadoes racked up 149 points to easily cruise past their closest competitor (Dyer County 92), while the UC boys finished with 124 points to DC’s 99.
Ainsley Beard was among the brightest stars for the Twister girls, setting a program record in winning the 800-meter run (2:34.72) while also claiming first place in the 1600-meter run. Beard added a third first-place finish as part of the 4X400 relay team, joining Ca’Lae Ervin, Chloe Hubbard, and Indeya Hogsett on the winning squad.
Ever-steady Debrionna Jones was also a double champion, winning the shot put and the discus for the victors.
Katana Bonds (long jump) and Ervin (200-meter run) notched individual wins and were additionally part of the 4X100 relay team to cross the finish line first along with Hubbard and Hogsett.
Woodrow McKinnis shattered the school record for the UC boys in winning the 1600-meter run after being clocked at 4:335.08.
The Twisters claimed first place in three other individual events, with Adrian Crawford winning the long jump and triple jump and Kyle Price finishing at the top of the discus field.
The 4X100 relay team of Shontorius Fuller, Rodney Jenkins, D.J. Evans, and Tayshun Gentry provided another winning effort for UC.
The competition promises to get tougher next week for Union City as it competes at Arlington on Saturday after a meet at Dyersburg on Tuesday.
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
UC 7, Ballard Memorial 5
The Tornadoes overcame three errors to beat Ballard Memorial for the second time in eight nights in their first game in the L.H. Ladd Memorial Tournament.
UC (9-5) will face Carlisle County today at 4:30 in their second pool play game of the tourney.
The Twisters erased a slim deficit in the middle innings, scoring twice in the fifth and tacking on an insurance run in the sixth after seeing an early 4-0 lead disappear.
Copeland Chism won for the fourth time in as many decisions with four innings of shutout relief. Chism, who relieved starter Ben Kail, allowed just two hits and a pair of walks to get credit for the victory. Kail struck out four Bomber batters in his three-inning stint.
Logan Dawkins tripled and drove in three runs for Union City, which made the most of five hits. Kail had a pair of two-baggers, a single, scored twice, and had an RBI, while Troy Joslin doubled, crossed the plate twice, and chased home a run.
BM fell to 0-2 in the event after losing on Thursday and 18-9 to Dresden on Wednesday.
MIDDLE SCHOOL BASEBALL
UC 9, Dyersburg 0
Union City posted its seventh shutout of the year and improved to 12-1 by completing a two-game series sweep of the Trojans.
Grady Gurley improved to 2-0 with five strong innings on the hill. Gurley fanned four and walked just one while allowing but a lone single. Mason St. Germain tossed a scoreless sixth to close out the contest.
Preston Creswell carried the Tornadoes offensively with a pair of doubles, three runs scored, and two RBI. Creswell had three hits in all and reached base in all four of his plate appearances.
Jackson Huffstutter went 2-for-4, as did Japheth Caldwell. Huffstutter drove in two runs, and Brayden Marshall knocked on a pair.
UC will play Trenton at home on Monday.
MIDDLE SCHOOL TENNIS
UC 6, CCA 0 (G)
UC 4, CCA 0 (B)
Union City’s two teams continued to roll, blanking Christ Classical Academy of Dyersburg.
The Lady Tornadoes dropped just two games in six matches, while the UC boys posted four 6-0 victories.
UC is now 5-0 in both girls’ and boys’ play.
The Tornado squads will host Three Oaks on Monday at 5 p.m.
Girls Singles
Rylan Ali Bondurant (UC) defeated Mikinley Church (CCA) 6-1
Averi Riley (UC) defeated Annalee Camp (CCA) 6-1
Andi Walker (UC) defeated Farrah Rogers (CCA) 6-0
Austyn Dilday (UC) defeated Margaret Barron (CCA) 6-0
Girls Doubles
Bondurant/Riley (UC) defeated Church/Camp (CCA) 6-1
Walker/Dilday (UC) defeated Rogers/Barron (CCA) 6-0
Boys Singles
Maddix Turner (UC) defeated Jonas Medlin (CCA) 6-0
William Tohn (UC) defeated Robbie Nanney (CCA) 6-0
Miloh Turner (UC) defeated Hank Ferguson (CCA) 6-0
Austin Powell (UC) defeated Medlin (CCA) 6-3
Wes Worrell (UC) defeated Nanney (CCA) 6-0
Walton Harder (UC) defeated Ferguson (CCA) 6-4
Armee Jo Wilkins (UC) defeated Liam Little (CCA) 6-0
Boys Doubles
Wilkins/Brandon Allen (UC) defeated Ferguson/Little (CCA) 6-0