By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
The Union City Middle School softball team celebrated 8th Grade Night with a 12-2 mercy-rule victory over Ridgemont on Monday.
Eleven 8th graders and their parents were recognized in post-game ceremonies after the Lady Tornadoes improved to 8-4 with a season sweep of the Mustangs.
Ella Grace Howell went 3-for-3 with a triple, two RBIs, and a pair of runs scored for UC, which erased an early 2-0 deficit with a nine-run second inning.
Keatyn Hall had a pair of hits, drove in three runs, and scored twice for the victors. Aryannah Huff singled, scored, and had a ribbie to contribute to the winning cause.
Austyn Dilday allowed just one hit and no earned runs while striking out four to earn the pitching triumph.
Union City has a make-up game today at Gibson County.
MIDDLE SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY
Union City’s boys posted three Top 5 finishes, while the Lady Tornadoes had a pair of medalists at Brownsville before a pop-up storm hit the area.
Brody Fields won individual honors, running the two-mile course in 12:17 to pace the Twisters and the 112-competitor field. Cooper Waggoner (12:49) finished third, and Will D. McKinnis (13:44) was fifth overall.
Owen Shannon (44th), Walker Gray (69th), and Walton Harder (82nd) also finished the race for UC, which placed fifth in the team standings.
Stella Graham (20:11) placed 15th, and Chloe Baumgardner (20:16) was 16th for the Tornado girls in a field of 81 runners.
There were 21 teams in all to run.
Union City will compete at Huntingdon next Monday.
HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL
Dyersburg 3, UC 2
Union City battled Dyersburg to the wire before dropping a deciding fifth game 15-9 in a hard-fought match.
The Lady Tornadoes (13-3) battled back from a 2-0 deficit to take Games 3 and 4, 25-19 and 25-22, and force the match to the limit.
UC got solid contributions from several players, despite the loss.
Always-consistent Madie Theobald piled up 30 assists and had seven saves, four digs, and four service aces. Clare Atwill had 14 digs and three aces, while Crickett Washburn finished with 10 kills, five saves, and three digs.
Gracie Sims had team-highs of 14 kills and five aces, and Addison Carr totaled 10 digs, seven kills, and five saves.
Union City will be back in action today, traveling to Trenton for a District 13A match.
HIGH SCHOOL GOLF
UC’s girls finished ahead of host Westview (103-110), but behind match winner McKenzie (86) at Persimmon Hills Golf Course in Sharon.
Stella Turner shot 51, one stroke better than Lady Tornado teammate Annie Beth Cruce.
The Union City boys (158) placed third, trailing McKenzie (151) and Westview (157) in a closely-contested match. Dresden (208) was a distant fourth.
Gavin McGuire led the Twisters with a 37. Brody Riley and Coop Frankum each carded a 38, while Paul Martin Tohn and Stephen Herrell came in with 45s.
Jake Lattus shot 48 for UC.
Union City will square off with Gibson County at Dyer today.