By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
For the second time in as many days, two runs was just enough for Union City against South Fulton.
The Golden Tornadoes got a second splendid pitching performance Tuesday – this time a three-hit gem by Logan Dawkins – to blank SF 2-0 and sweep the District 14A baseball series at Elam Stadium.
UC, which had edged the Red Devils 2-1 on Monday, padded its league-leading record to 7-1 and 11-6 overall with the shutout victory.
Dawkins was in complete control, allowing just four baserunners and striking out seven to win for the third time in five decisions. The senior righthander went to a full count on just one South Fulton hitter and mixed his fastball and curveball to throw 56 out of 83 pitches for strikes.
Union City played flawless defense behind Dawkins with no errors.
The Twisters gave Dawkins all the support he’d need in the third when Jack Theobald singled and later came home on a passed ball. Troy Joslin then raced home on Ben Howell’s fielder’s choice to give UC its second unearned run of the frame after the Redmen had committed a second error.
Union City’s Thursday game at Bruceton has been moved to today at 5 p.m. due to the threat of inclement weather.
HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS
UC 7, USJ 0 (G)
UC 5, USJ 2 (B)
Union City posted a pair of impressive victories in Jackson against the host Bruins, with the Tornado boys recording their third win of the season while the girls bettered their mark to 9-2.
Top seed Kobe Kirk blitzed Sam Thompson 6-0 in singles play, then teamed with Byron Abbott to outlast Thompson and Michael Najahi 7-5 in doubles for the Twisters.
Foster Rodgers, Paul Martin Tohn, and Camden Dawkins all recorded singles wins for UC.
The Lady Tornadoes, coming off a strong showing last weekend in the Jackson Invitational, continued to trend upward with a convincing triumph.
Union City players did not allow more than three games in any of its singles victories and won both doubles matches by 6-2 counts.
Next up for the UC girls is a tournament at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro April 11 and 12.
Girls Singles
Davey Frankum (UC) defeated Kenslee Vaughan (USJ) 6-1
Dani Frankum (UC) defeated Elena Ferguson (USJ) 6-2
Bertie Jenkins (UC) defeated Jane Claire Rogan (USJ) 6-0
Allie Vincent (UC) defeated Reyn Montgomery (USJ) 6-3
Lexi Petty (UC) defeated Bryleigh McCord (USJ) 6-0
Josie Ross (UC) defeated Maggie Wright (USJ) 6-2
Briley Kate McKinney (UC) defeated Darby Bush (USJ) 7-5
Emma Jane Rice (UC) defeated MC Faulkner (USJ) 6-2
Stella Turner (UC) defeated AK Ellis (USJ) 6-2
Clare Atwill (UC) defeated Ava Hayes (USJ) 6-4
Girls Doubles
Frankum/Frankum (UC) defeated Vaughn/Ferguson (USJ) 6-2
Jenkins/Ross (UC) defeated Newman/McCord (USJ) 6-2
Vincent/Petty (UC) defeated Diya Patel/Vinita Kumari (USJ) 6-1
McKinney/Rice (UC) defeated Kate Payne/Rowan Little (USJ) 6-0
Turner/Atwill (UC) defeated Josie Carney/Reese Scott (USJ) 6-4
Boys Singles
Kobe Kirk (UC) defeated Sam Thompson (USJ) 6-0
Byron Abbott (UC) lost to Michael Najahi (USJ) 2-6
Foster Rodgers (UC) defeated Noah Spencer (USJ) 7-5
Paul Martin Tohn (UC) defeated Harrison Shankle (USJ) 6-4
Camden Dawkins (UC) defeated Alan Lopez (USJ) 6-3
Boys Doubles
Kirk/Abbott (UC) defeated Thompson/Najahi (USJ) 7-5
Rodgers/Tohn (UC) lost to Spencer/Shankle (USJ) 6-7 (3-7 tiebreak)
HIGH SCHOOL TRACK
UC teams take 1st in D’burg
Freshman Ainsley Beard led the way for the Union City girls’ team to edge Dyer County for first place in the Trojan Fool’s Day in Dyersburg.
Beard won three individual events, setting a school record (5:45.22) in the 1600-meter run and claiming honors in the 400 and 800. Beard was also a member of the winning 4X400 relay team along with Ca’Lae Ervin, Hayden Marshall, and Jayla Turner.
The Lady Tornadoes also got a pair of first-place efforts from Debrionna Jones in the discus and shot put, respectively, while Allysia Davis claimed honors in the high jump. The 4X200 relay unit of Ervin, Indeya Hogsett, Marshall, and Turner also crossed the finish line first.
UC totaled 124 points to DC’s 117.
The margin was bigger for the Twister boys, who raced past second-place Dyer County 148.5 to 102.5.
Adrian Crawford also had a part in four winning entries, claiming the high jump, the 110 hurdles, and the 400, and as a part of a quartet that took first in the 4X200 relay along with Rodney Jenkins, Tayshun Gentry, and Shontorius Fuller. The group set a new program mark with a time of 1:32.36.
Gentry won the triple jump, Kyle Price had the longest throw in the discus, and Woodrow McKinnis was a two-time winner, beating the field in the 800 and 1600.
UC is next scheduled to compete in Arlington on Saturday, weather permitting.
MIDDLE SCHOOL BASEBALL
UC 3, South Gibson Co. 0
Union City made a half-dozen two-out walks in the second inning stand up and beat the Hornets without collecting a hit.
Jake Lattus, Grady Gurley, and Preston Creswell were credited with RBIs after drawing free passes with the bases loaded in the second for the Tornadoes.
That was more than enough for Creswell, who tossed UC’s ninth shutout and bettered his personal mark to 6-1. Creswell whiffed three, issued four walks, and gave up two hits while going the distance.
The Twisters are now 14-1 with a home game scheduled against Obion County on Thursday.
MIDDLE SCHOOL GOLF
UC 210, Martin 227
UC won for the second time in as many matches Tuesday, beating host Martin by 17 strokes at Persimmon Hills in Sharon.
The Twisters posted a 210 team total, led by Sam Kissell’s 47 which earned the sixth-grader medalist honors.
Kissell’s classmate, Hudson Reeves, shot a 55, while Stephen Harrell and Garrison Bunch each carded 57s.
Lili Petty (57) and Annie Beth Cruce (59) topped Abbie Judge (63) of Martin in girls’ individual play.
Union City’s next match is on April 14 against Obion County at Poplar Meadows Country Club.
HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER
Jackson Northside 2, UC 1
The Twisters (3-4) suffered a bitter loss when Northside scored a deciding goal on a free-kick with just 20 seconds remaining in regulation.
UC got a stellar effort from freshman Jose Argueta-Pastor, who drew praise from head coach Lazzarus Scribner for his defensive work against the Indians’ best player while holding him to just three shots.
Silverio Acevedo tallied the Tornadoes’ lone goal, finding the net after an assist from Rylan Robinson to even the count at 1-1 late in the first half.
Eric Lopez stopped six shots in goal for UC.
The Tornadoes are scheduled to host Clarksburg Friday night at 6.
MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCCER
Martin 8, UC 1
Jeremy Martinez accounted for Union City’s only point with a goal late in the contest.
Martin scored twice in the first five minutes and led 4-0 at halftime.
The Tornadoes now stand at 3-6 with their next match on April 14 at Martin.