By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Woodrow McKinnis, Rushdon Howell, and brothers Madix and Miloh Turner all medaled individually to help the Union City boys claim first place in the Tornado Cross Country Invitational on Tuesday afternoon.
McKinnis was second overall with a time of 17:12 on the 3.1-mile course at Graham Park that drew 13 teams. Howell (18:02) came in sixth, Madix Turner (19:02) was 12th, and Miloh Turner (19:16) placed 14th for the Purple and Gold.
Owen Waggoner was on the fringe of earning a medal for the Tornadoes, placing 22nd. Motvii Kostanian was 35th, Camden Watts ended up 42nd, and Wrigley Harder was slotted at 53rd in a field of 105 boys.
Two Union City girls earned medals with solid individual efforts.
Ainsley Sadler (23:16) came in seventh among 59 competitors, while Ainsley Beard (23:58) was 11th. Hadlee Duncan recorded a 29th-place finish.
UC will compete next at Crockett County on Sept. 2.
MIDDLE SCHOOL SOFTBALL
UC 14, Hillcrest 2
Union City continued its offensive fireworks with another mercy-rule victory.
The Lady Tornadoes have scored 75 runs in five consecutive victories since opening the year with a loss to Dresden.
Half of UC’s 10 hits vs. the Lady Cougars went for extra bases on Tuesday, with Aryannah Huff smacking a solo home run to highlight the winners’ attack. Keatyn Hall had two hits, including a triple, and scored three runs. Sadie Gregg stroked a three-base hit, and Ella Grace Howell went 2-for-3 with a trio of runs scored and two RBIs.
Amanda McPhearson contributed to the hit parade with a pair of knocks and crossed the plate twice.
Austyn Dilday did not give up a hit for the second day in a row and pitched three innings to get credit for the victory. She helped her own cause by scoring two runs.
Union City will be back in action on Thursday, playing at Lake Road at 5 p.m.
MIDDLE SCHOOL FOOTBALL
UC 30, Trenton 28 (2OT)
Ray Ray Wesley denied a game-tying two-point conversion attempt by Trenton in the second overtime to give the Tornadoes a thrilling victory over the Bears.
Both teams scored a touchdown and were successful on their PAT in the first OT before Union City repeated that feat in their second extra possession. Wesley’s heroics after Trenton had drawn within the final score then gave the Twisters their second win in three outings and set off a huge celebration.
Brayson Smith and Isaiah Pucket each scored two TDs and tacked on two-point plays for UC. Smith finished with 98 yards rushing on nine carries, while Puckett totaled 58 yards on 22 attempts. Thomas Harrell racked up 77 yards on 13 runs and accounted for a conversion.
Defensively, Clayton Opilka and Ricky Pocernich led the way for the victors with six tackles each – including one for lost yardage. Sam Kissell was in on four stops.
Union City will be back in action again on Thursday, playing at Milan.
HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL
UC 3, Lake Co. 0
The Lady Tornadoes improved to 9-1 overall and 3-0 in District 13A with a sweep of LC in Tiptonville.
UC, which has yet to drop a set in league play, won 25-17, 25-6, and 25-13.
Clare Atwill accounted for nine of the Twisters’ 22 aces, and Addison Carr had nine kills to headline the victory. Ever-steady Madie Theobald recorded 17 assists and was charged with just two errors, while Gracie Sims knocked down seven kills.
Crickett Washburn contributed to the victory in a variety of ways with five saves, four kills, four digs, and four service aces.
Union City travels to Gibson County on Thursday for an early-season 13A showdown.
HIGH SCHOOL GOLF
Both Union City teams came up short against Dyer County at The Farms in Dyersburg on Tuesday afternoon.
The Choctaw boys topped UC for the third time this season, edging the Twisters by nine strokes (156-165). The Tornadoes did beat Gibson County, which carded a 186 team total.
Brody Riley led the Union City foursome with a 39. Gavin McGuire and Coop Frankum both shot 40, and Paul Martin Tohn registered a 46. Stephen Herrell finished with a 52.
The Lady Twisters finished 15 shots (107-122) behind DC.
Stella Turner came in with a 60, and freshman teammate Annie Beth Cruce totaled a 62.
UC’s next match is scheduled for Sept. 2 at Paris Landing State Park as both the girls’ and boys’ teams will compete in the annual Patriot Classic, hosted by Henry County High School.