By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Stevie Gossett was a winner in his Union City High School softball coaching debut.
Bayleigh Long’s one-out single in the bottom of the 10th chased home Bailey Decker with the game’s only run to lift the Lady Tornadoes to a thrilling 1-0 victory over Halls Monday at Eddlemon-Hawks Field.
Long’s heroics and a stellar pitching performance by Sophie Theobald made UC’s season-opener one to remember for Gossett, who was all smiles following his first game as the Twister softball skipper.
Theobald – a returning All-Stater from last year’s Class 1A state tournament team — struck out 14 and scattered just four singles to keep Halls off the scoreboard until Union City pushed across the only tally of the afternoon.
Scoreless entering the 10th inning when the International Rule was put into play, Theobald got out of her only jam with her final strikeout and a ground out with a Halls runner at third to end the top of the frame.
Decker then took her place at second to begin the bottom of the inning and moved to third on Brianna McBride’s ground ball. Long laced a sharp grounder to rightfield to chase home her teammate and end the extra-inning contest.
Marlee Theobald, Alli Kate Frilling, Anna Cheatham, Emmaline Qualls, and Kennedi Robinson all joined Long with singles in UC’s six-hit attack.
The Lady Tornadoes are back in action today with a home game against Crockett County, set to begin at 5:30 p.m.
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
UC 6, Dresden 5
Silas Petty’s walk-off single with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh lifted the Tornadoes to a come-from-behind win in their first game of the 2022 season.
There were four lead changes in the contest, with UC rallying for two runs in the bottom of the seventh after the Lions had taken the lead with a pair or tallies in the top of the frame.
Chase Norton, who went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, singled to open the seventh and came around to tie things up on an error. Kase Ross singled and scored the game-winner when Petty ripped a 3-1 pitch up the middle to set off a Purple and Gold celebration.
Ross ended up 2-for-3 and scored three times while Landon Hauhe had three RBI as Union City collected 10 hits in the contest.
Hauhe pitched into the seventh and fanned 11 before giving way to Barrett Cox, who was credited with the victory.
The two teams will meet again today in Dresden at 5 o’clock.
MIDDLE SCHOOL TENNIS
UC teams roll over CC
Union City’s Middle School tennis squads blanked Crockett County in a pair of 7-0 victories to start their 2022 spring campaign.
The Tornado teams won the Top 5 singles matches and the Top 2 doubles slots to account for the official final score.
Josie Ross, Emma Mobbs, and Blythe Ogden were shutout singles winners in girls’ play, while Kobe Kirk was a 6-0 victor on the boys’ side.
Union City will play again next Monday at Dyersburg at 4 p.m.
Girls Singles
Bertie Jenkins won 6-1
Josie Ross won 6-0
Emma Mobbs won 6-0
Emma Jane Rice won 6-1
Blythe Ogden won 6-0
Marley Waddell lost 4-6
Girls Doubles
Bertie Jenkins/ Emma Mobbs won 6-0
Josie Ross/ Emma Jane Rice won 6-0
Marley Waddell/Blythe Ogden won 6-3
Maddie Bailey/Briley McKinney won 6-5
Boys Singles
Landon McAdams won 6-3
Kobe Kirk won 6-0
Jeremy Rice won 6-4
Camden Dawkins won 6-1
Tolar Armstrong won 6-2
Boys Doubles
Landon McAdams/Grant Sinclair won 6-0
Kobe Kirk/Jeremy Rice won 6-4
Tolar Armstrong/Foster Rodgers lost 6-7
MIDDLE SCHOOL BASEBALL
Crockett Co. 16, UC 0
The Tornadoes could manage but one hit (Ben Howell) and were guilty of multiple errors in Monday’s loss.
CC scored five times in the first and eight more in the second to put away the contest.
Hayden Toon, Sam Jones, and Rexx Dugger all reached base via walk for UC.
Now 1-5 on the season, the Tornadoes play at Crockett County today at 5:30 p.m.