By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City cross country runners brought home more than their share of hardware from the Bulldog Invitational at Milan.
Six Tornado boys earned individual medals on the way to a first-place team finish, and all three UC girls who competed posted Top 20 showings on Thursday afternoon.
The Twister boys have now won three straight meets after besting 14 other teams at Milan.
Rushdon Howell (18:08) led the Union City contingent, placing fourth. Madix Turner (18:24) was fifth, Woodrow McKinnis (18:30) sixth, and Miloh Turner (18:38) came in seventh in a field of 83 competitors.
Owen Waggoner (19:41) placed 12th, and Bryce Daniels crossed the finish line 19th with a time of 20:56.
Camden Watts (24th), Matvii Kostanian (33rd), and Wrigley Harder (45th) also competed for UC.
The Lady Tornado girls’ trio of Ainsley Sadler, Ainsley Beard, and Hadlee Duncan also earned medals among a group of 52 runners.
Sadler (23:07) was fourth overall. Beard (23:29) was right behind her teammate in fifth, and Duncan (27:15) placed 15th.
Union City will compete at Lexington on Tuesday.
MIDDLE SCHOOL SOFTBALL
UC 18, Hickman Co. 11
The Lady Tornadoes erupted for 11 runs in the fifth inning to erase an 11-7 deficit and got back into the win column at the expense of HC.
Union City took advantage of seven errors and nine walks to score 15 unearned runs and improve to 7-4.
Amanda McPhearson had a big day, going 3-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBIs.
Winning pitcher Austyn Dilday aided her own case with a pair of hits and two ribbies, while Keatyn Hall scored three times and knocked in two runs.
Sadie Gregg contributed two RBIs, while Ella Grace Howell, Aryannah Huff, Tenley Durham, and Addy McKinnis each scored twice. Kennedi Shields went 2-for-4, scoring a run and driving in another for the victors, who tallied 16 times in their final two at-bats.
Dilday had a half-dozen strikeouts in the pitching circle.
Union City returns to action Monday, hosting Ridgemont for 8th Grade Night.
MIDDLE SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Paris Inman 32, UC 6
Sam Kissell accounted for Union City’s lone touchdown with a fourth-quarter run and also had nine tackles to pace the Tornado defense.
The Tornadoes fell to 3-3 with the loss.
UC managed just 101 yards of total offense against the Bulldogs. Isaiah Puckett totaled 36 rushing yards on 12 carries for the Twisters.
Brayson Smith and Dexter Graham had five tackles each.
Union City’s next varsity action will be on Sept. 25 at Huntingdon.