By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Runner-up finishes in a pair of district individual tennis events and the 14A softball tournament ensured that Union City will play on in the postseason.
The Lady Tornadoes dropped a heartbreaking 9-8 extra-inning decision to Dresden Tuesday night after earlier beating Gleason 8-1 to secure a spot in the next week’s regional tourney and a spot in the district finals.
UC (16-9) will now play at 13A champion Halls Monday in the Region 7 semifinals with a spot in the tournament finals and a place in the West Sectionals at stake.
In tennis, the doubles tandem of Dani and Davey Frankum and singles player Birtie Jenkins won semifinal matches in the district individual tournament at Bethel University to qualify for the regionals before falling in their respective championship matches.
The Lady Tornado trio will play on Monday and perhaps Tuesday in the Region 7A event – at a site and time yet to be determined.
The following is a recap of Tuesday’s play:
HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL
UC 8, Gleason 1
Dresden 9, UC 8 (9 innings)
The top-seeded Twister girls dispatched Gleason in an elimination game before falling to No. 2 Dresden in a wild championship title that saw the Lady Lions win on a walk-off two-run single in the ninth.
Junior workhorse Mattie Smith, who threw an amazing 273 pitches in the two games combined, tossed a two-hitter in the win against Gleason for her 10th win of the season.
Smith fanned 11, with the Lady Bulldogs’ lone run being unearned.
District regular-season Most Valuable Player Addison Carr tripled, singled, and scored three runs as UC broke open a close contest with five runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Kennedi Robinson went 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI, while Carr, Mattie Smith, Hadley Smith, Whitley Jenkins, and Ari Gear also knocked in runs.
The nightcap was a back-and-forth affair that was tied at the end of regulation before UC took a brief 8-7 lead in the top of the ninth when Hadley Smith’s bunt brought home Carr from third.
Dresden answered, though, with back-to-back singles with two out after a lead-off walk to cap its deciding rally.
Mattie Smith’s solo home run that clanged off the Eddlemon-Hawks scoreboard in right field highlighted Union City’s offense and her 3-for-4 night at the plate that included a triple, three runs scored, and two ribbies.
Carr had two hits and scored three times, Kylie Mayes went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, and Hadley Smith drove in two runs. Whitley Jenkins scored twice.
“We came into today with the one-game-at-a-time approach, and we gave it our all for 16 innings,” Lady Tornado head coach Stevie Gossett said afterward. “We gave ourselves a chance, and that’s all you can ask for.
“Even though we’re disappointed in the outcome of the second game, the goals we had at the beginning of the season are still attainable and in front of us. We’ll be ready to go on Monday in the regional tournament.”
UC was well-represented in the post-game awards ceremony as Mattie Smith, Robinson, Jenkins, Hadley Smith, and Kylee McClure were named to the All-District team – based on seasonal play. Robinson, a Dyersburg State signee, earned a spot on the All-Academic team, an honor reserved for seniors with at least a 3.0 grade point average.
Carr, Mattie Smith, and Kylee Mayes were picked from the Lady Tornadoes for the All-Tournament team.
HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS
Union City’s three entries in the Region 7A Tournament will face champions from District 13 in the regional semifinals next week after Tuesday’s second-place 14A finishes.
The top-seeded Frankum sisters and No. 3 Jenkins cruised to straight-set semifinal victories before falling in the championship round to opponents from Obion County Central.
It marked the third straight district runner-up finish for Dani and Davey, who won the event as freshmen.
The UC duo rolled over Lindsey Webb and Libby Carman of OC 6-1, 6-3, in the semis and took the first set (6-3) against Central’s Hannah Taylor and Hannah Strauser in the finals.
Taylor and Strauser claimed the second set 6-4; however, then won a hotly contested tiebreaker 11-9 to claim the match and the title.
The OC team had ousted Union City’s Allie Vincent and Lexi Petty 6-4, 6-2 in a competitive semifinal match.
Jenkins, who won the singles crown two years ago as a freshman, stormed past Huntingdon’s M.K. Stevens 6-2, 6-0 with excellent all-around play in the semis.
No. 1 Elizabeth Woody of Obion Central was too much for the Lady Tornado junior in the championship, though, winning 6-2, 6-0 to claim the top prize.
On the boys’ side, the Union City team of Kobe Kirk and Byron Abbott put up a great fight against the top-seeded team from Westview before coming up just short in a third-set tiebreaker.
Kirk and Abbott, with several impressive rallies and clutch shot-making, claimed the opening set 6-3, before the Martin duo of Braddock and Parker evened the match.
Kirk/Abbott – who’ll both return next season – then staved off three match points before finally coming up short in a 14-12 tiebreaker.
First-year UC head coach Maddie Britt had positive words for each of her players who made it to the Final 4 and beyond.
“Kobe and Byron really synced up as a doubles team today, and I was proud of them,” she said. “I thought Bertie produced clean and consistent shots in her first match, and the score in the finals really didn’t reflect her play.
“The twins’ chemistry is unmatched, and I always appreciate their aggressive nature from start to finish. It was a long day, and the tiebreaker in the championship match could’ve gone either way. And I thought Lexi and Allie were competitive and played with high energy.
“Our girls know this isn’t the end of the road for them, with the regional team coming up and next week’s individual regionals. We have plenty more tennis ahead of us, and I know we’ll be ready for it.”
Union City will play at Scotts Hill on Thursday at 1 p.m. for the regional team title prior to next week’s Region 7A individual tourney.
Girls Doubles Semifinals
Davey/Dani Frankum (UC) defeated Lindsey Webb/Libby Carman (OC) 6-1, 6-3
Allie Vincent/Lexi Petty (UC) lost to Hannah Taylor/Hannah Strauser (OC) 2-6, 4-6
Girls Doubles Finals
Dave/Dani Frankum (UC) lost to Hannah Taylor/Hannah Strauser (OC) 6-3, 4-6, (9-11 tiebreaker)
Boys Doubles Semifinals
Kobe Kirk/Byron Abbott (UC) lost to Braddock/Parker (Westview) 6-3, 4-6 (12-14 tiebreaker)
Girls Singles Semifinals
Bertie Jenkins (UC) defeated MK Stevens (Huntingdon) 6-2, 6-0
Girls Singles Finals
Bertie Jenkins (UC) lost to Elizabeth Woody (OC) 2-6, 0-6