By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
A long road trip to and from Camden on Monday was made somewhat more pleasant following a pair of wins by the Union City High School tennis teams.
The Tornado boys overpowered the Lions in a 7-0 shutout, while the Twister girls claimed a close 4-3 victory as both UC teams improved to 2-0 on the young season.
Kobe Kirk, Byron Abbott, Paul Martin Tohn, and Kipton Powers each won in singles and doubles play to pace the Union City boys.
Kirk and Abbott outlasted Shiv Patel and Olten King 7-5 in a doubles tie-breaker after the Tornado tandem also won in individual matches. Powers was especially impressive in his singles competition, cruising to a 6-0 triumph.
The UC girls showed their quality depth with wins at the third, fourth, and fifth seeds in singles play.
Josie Ross (6-1), Emma Jane Rice (6-0), and Briley Kate McKinney (won via forfeit) helped carry the Lady Twisters. Ross and Bertie Jenkins were also on the winning side (6-3) in a doubles match.
Union City will face Obion County on Thursday at the Fairgrounds Courts.
Boys Singles
Kobe Kirk (UC) defeated Shiv Patel (C) 6-4
Byron Abbott (UC) defeated Olten King (C) 6-3
Paul Martin Tohn (UC) defeated Bryson Roberson (C) 6-3
Kipton Powers (UC) defeated Andin Mansfield (C) 6-0
Camden Dawkins (UC) defeated Everett Jones (C) 6-2
Boys Doubles
Kirk/Abbott (UC) defeated Patel/ King C) 7-6 (7-5 tie-breaker)
Tohn/Powers (UC) defeated Mansfield/Jones (C) 6-2
Girls Singles
Bertie Jenkins (UC) lost 1-6
Allie Vincent (UC) lost 1-6
Josie Ross (UC) won 6-1
Emma Jane Rice (UC) won 6-0
Briley Kate McKinney (UC) won via forfeit
Stella Turner (UC) won 6-1
Girls Doubles
Jenkins/Ross (UC) won 6-3
Vincent/McKinney (UC) won 4-6
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
TCA 12, UC 1
The Tornadoes were guilty of seven errors that led to eight unearned runs and fell to 1-3 with a loss in the opening round of the Carl Perkins Tournament.
UC scored its only run in the fourth inning via a bases-loaded balk.
Sam Jones had two of the Twisters’ five hits – both singles. Ben Howell, Japheth Caldwell, and Grissom Hutchison had Union City’s other base knocks.
Howell, the starter and the first of three hurlers, was touched for a dozen hits in six innings and was saddled with the pitching loss.
The Tornadoes will host Chester County today at 7 p.m.
HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL
Dyersburg 11, UC 3
A shaky start put the Lady Tornadoes in an immediate hole and eventually led to Union City’s second loss in three games.
UC, which hit three batters and committed three errors in the first two innings, trailed 5-0 after the Trojans’ first two at-bats. The Twisters did get within 6-3 before D’burg scored five times in the seventh to secure the triumph.
Hadley Smith drove in a pair of runs in the third for the Tornado girls. Averi Riley had an RBI sacrifice fly and tripled, while Kylie Mayes scored two of the Twisters’ three runs after recording a single and a walk.
Addison Carr singled and scored, as did teammate Heaven Marshall.
Hadley Smith was tagged with the pitching loss. She was relieved in the third by Mattie Smith.
Union City will play at Obion County Central today at 5 p.m.
MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCCER
Martin 9, UC 0
Alan Martinez had the Tornadoes’ lone shot on goal as UC fell to 0-2 following a mercy-rule loss.
Goalie Michael Vallee was peppered with 20 shots and made 11 saves for the Twisters.
Martin led 5-0 at the intermission.
Union City will visit Huntingdon next Monday.