By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City’s tennis teams won for the third straight day, while the Tornado soccer squad put together back-to-back victories this week by beating Gibson County on Thursday.
The results capped a busy day that also saw UCHS fall in baseball and softball, while teams from Union City Middle School came up short in baseball, soccer, and volleyball.
The following is a recap of those contests:
HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER
UC 4, Gibson Co. 1
KhaZarion Scates recorded a hat trick to help the Tornadoes square their overall record at 2-2.
Scates scored two of his three goals in the second half after giving UC a 1-0 lead at 7:19 in the first period. Sebastian Arriaga provided the assist on the first of Scates’ scores.
Cole Gurley took a feed from Silveria Acevedo and put the Twisters up 2-0 before the intermission.
Alex Landeros was credited with assists on both of Scates’ second-half goals.
Rylan Robinson turned away seven of eight GC shots in goal for Union City.
Head coach Travis VanHooser lauded his team’s effort and intensity for the entire contest in his assessment of the Tornadoes’ play afterward.
UC plays Peabody in Trenton on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS
UC 6, Huntingdon 1 (G)
UC 6, Huntingdon 1 (B)
Union City’s hot streak continued on Thursday, as it followed convincing wins against Milan and Greenfield with identical 6-1 triumphs against visiting Huntingdon.
The Lady Tornadoes (8-0, 5-0 in District 14-A) won four of five singles matches, with Bertie Jenkins, Josie Ross, Emma Jane Rice, and Briley Kate McKinney winning by no less than 8-3 counts.
Jenkins and Ross then accounted for a second win in doubles, beating Jazmine Seiber and M.K. Stevens 8-5.
On the boys’ side, UC (7-1, 5-0) surrendered just three games in its six match victories.
Like their girl counterparts, the Twisters won four of five singles competitions. The doubles tandems of Kobe Kirk and Byron Abbott, and Paul Martin Tohn and Grant Sinclair were each untested in 8-0 triumphs.
Union City plays host to Milan on Tuesday, then welcomes Camden on Thursday next week.
Girls Singles
Bertie Jenkins (UC) defeated Jazmine Seiber (H) 8-3
Allie Vincent (UC) lost to MK Stevens (H) 6-8
Josie Ross (UC) defeated Celeste Perez (H) 8-2
Emma Jane Rice (UC) defeated Madisyn Barton (H) 8-3
Briley Kate McKinney (UC) defeated Kensley Rich (H) 8-0
Stella Turner (UC) defeated Mande Hodge (H) 8-0
Rylan Ali Bondurant (UC) defeated Maria Vicente (H) 8-0
Girls Doubles
Jenkins/Ross (UC) defeated Seiber/Stevens (H) 8-5
Vincent/McKinney (G) defeated Perez/Rich (H) 8-0
Rice/Turner (UC) defeated Barton/Hodge (H) 8-0
Extra JV Doubles
Maddie Bailey/Kenslie Taylor (UC) defeated Barton/Vicente (H) 6-3
Boys Singles
Kobe Kirk (UC) lost to Shawn Simpson (H) 6-8
Byron Abbott (UC) defeated Alijah Hastings (H) 8-0
Paul Martin Tohn (UC) defeated Caden Cargile (H) 8-2
Grant Sinclair (UC) defeated Kyle Byrd (H) 8-0
Kipton Powers (UC) defeated Eli Hayes (H) 8-1
Boys Doubles
Kirk/Abbott (UC) defeated Hastings/Cargile (H) 8-0
Tohn/Sinclair (UC) defeated Byrd/Hayes (H) 8-0
HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL
Ripley 10 UC 5
A two-run single by Hadley Smith drew the Lady Tornadoes into a 3-all deadlock after three innings, but Ripley immediately responded with a three-run fourth and tacked on three insurance runs in its final at-bat.
Four errors – some early and one late – made five of the Lady Tigers’ runs unearned off Maddie Smith, who struck out eight.
Hadley Smith went 2-for-3 with the aforementioned RBIs, with sister Maddie Smith also driving home a pair of runs. Kylee McClure and Kylie Mayes each reached base three times, with Mayes scoring a pair of runs and collecting Union City’s only extra-base hit – a double.
Maddie Steward singled and scored, and Sophie Palmer crossed the plate as a courtesy runner.
Now 1-6 overall and 0-2 in district play, UC will travel to Halls on Tuesday.
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
Carlisle Co. 16, UC 6
The Comets erupted for 11 first-inning runs and went on to mercy-rule UC in their season opener.
Half of CC’s final run total was unearned due to six Tornado errors.
Ben Howell went 3-for-3 and reached base four times for Union City, which outhit Carlisle County 10-8. Christian Vaughn singled twice and scored two runs, while Jack Theobald accounted for a pair of RBIs.
Will Kail singled, walked, and crossed the plate twice.
Five players took turns on the hill for the Twisters, with starter Preston Creswell suffering the loss. Jackson Vowell, Sam Jones, Japheth Caldwell, and Grady Gurley also pitched for UC.
The Tornadoes (2-6) play host to Bruceton tonight at 6:30.
MIDDLE SCHOOL BASEBALL
Dresden 1, UC 0
Union City got a spectacular pitching performance from Kason Medley, who tossed a no-hitter but couldn’t break through against the Lions.
Medley threw 40 of 70 pitches for strikes and fanned six while walking just three in his complete-game, five-inning gem.
Dresden scored the game’s only run in the third inning via a walk, a stolen base, a passed ball, and a sacrifice pop-up.
Bo Bondurant had the contest’s lone hit for UC, while Trey Kail reached base twice via walks. The Twisters hurt themselves with 11 strikeouts.
Union City (3-5) is set to play host to USJ tonight at 6 at Graham Park.
MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCCER
Martin 7, UC 1
The Tornadoes showed marked improvement, according to head coach Jason Deem, despite falling for the fourth time in as many matches.
UC got its only goal from Alan Martinez in the first half after he took a feed from teammate Adrian Henderson and found the net to draw his team to within 3-1. Martinez attempted a pair of shots on goal from the Twisters, while Henderson had another.
Michael Vallee turned away 11 Martin shots in goal for Union City – six in the first half and five after the intermission.
The Tornadoes will play at Fulton County on Monday at 5:30 p.m.
MIDDLE SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL
Gibson Co. 2, UC 0
Union City closed out its inaugural season – one that saw the team make significant strides – with a straight-set loss at GC.
The Pioneers won 25-21 and 25-13 in varsity play, and 25-15 and 25-9 in the jayvee contest.
UC finished the year with a 3-9 record.
TODAY’S SCHEDULE
Middle School Baseball
USJ @ Union City, 6 p.m.
High School Baseball
Bruceton @ Union City, 6:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, MARCH 21
High School Track
Union City @ Murfreesboro Riverdale Invitational, 10 a.m.