By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City’s girls’ tennis team measured itself vs. top-flight competition in the Oakland Invitational in Murfreesboro over the weekend.
And the Lady Tornadoes more than held their own.
UC had a solid showing in the 12-team in the tourney, which was played under a unique format that essentially turned into an individual tournament with team points awarded for each individual win.
Dani Frankum, Bertie Jenkins, and Josie Ross each won three singles matches over two days to highlight the Union City effort.
The Lady Twisters beat players from 4 different schools, including Bradley Central, Lincoln County, Lebanon, and Silverdale Baptist Academy.
Final won/loss totals in individual play for Union City were as follows:
Singles
Davey Frankum 2-2
Dani Frankum 3-1
Bertie Jenkins 3-1
Allie Vincent 2-2
Lexi Petty 1-3
Josie Ross 3-1
Doubles
Frankum/Frankum 1-3
Jenkins/Ross 2-2
Vincent/Petty 2-2
Union City will host Trinity Christian Academy on Monday and Obion Central on Tuesday.
HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL
UC 6, Powell 2
Anderson Co. 9, UC 1
Gibbs 16, UC 1
The Lady Tornadoes salvaged their last of three games in the Gibbs Invitational in Knoxville, beating Class 4A Powell on Saturday after dropping games to Anderson County and the reigning Triple-A state champion host school.
Kennedi Robinson’s two-run single highlighted a five-run fourth inning as UC rallied from a 2-1 deficit to beat Powell.
Addison Carr and Kylee McClure also had run-scoring hits for the Twisters in that deciding frame. Robinson and McClure each finished with a pair of singles, while Mattie Smith and Annalece Morton had RBIs.
Smith struck out five to improve her pitching record to 5-2 on the season.
Union City managed just one hit in a 9-1 loss to Anderson County.
Ari Gear’s single played McClure in the second inning for the Lady Tornadoes.
Against Gibbs, Robinson went 2-for-2 and Hadley Smith’s double chased home Carr to account for the Twisters’ lone run in the first frame.
Now 8-5, UC will host Gleason, Trenton, and Dresden this week before playing at South Fulton on Thursday.
HIGH SCHOOL TRACK
UC makes noise at Dyersburg
With Union City Schools enjoying Spring Break last week, six boys and four girls represented the Tornado teams in the Trojan Invitational in Dyersburg on Saturday.
Despite a less-than-full squad, the UC boys placed third among nine teams, while the girls were sixth in an eight-school field.
The trio of Kyle Price, Aiden Reid, and Jaxson Jones swept the Top 3 places in the discus for the Twisters.
Reid set a program record (49’4.5) in winning the shot put, while Adrian Crawford came in first in the 200 meters. Shontorius Fuller was runner-up in the 100 meters, while Jones came in third in the shot.
The Union City girls posted three first-place showings with Ca’Lae Ervin (shot put), Ainsley Beard (800-meter run), and Katana Bonds (long jump) all claiming honors in their respective events.
Ervin was second in the long jump, and Beard was runner-up in the 400 meters.
The Tornado teams will compete twice this week, at Mayfield on Tuesday and Thursday as the host school in the UC Open.