Union City opened District 14A baseball play with a doubleheader sweep of Gleason Tuesday, winning 15-0 and 12-7 at Elam Stadium.
School Communications Director Mike Hutchens said the (4-2) Tornadoes erupted for 10 runs in the third to claim a mercy-rule triumph in the opener. Union City then built a commanding 10-1 early lead in the nightcap before holding off the visitors.
In Game 1, Barrett Cox (2-0) did not allow a hit, struck out eight, and drove in four runs with a pair of singles to headline the Twisters’ 13-hit attack.
Skylar Hall had two doubles, three RBIs, and three runs scored, and Will Ragsdale went 2-for-3. Brothers Luke and Troy Joslin both tripled, and Tucker Davis singled, doubled, and drove in a run for Union City.
In Game 2, Luke Joslin had two hits and three ribbies, Copeland Chism went 2-for-4 with a triple, and Cox had two hits and scored three runs as the Tornadoes led big after their third at-bat.
Kyler Southerland singled twice and had two RBIs, and UC capitalized on 11 walks and a pair of Gleason errors.
The Tornadoes will host Crockett County tonight at 6:30.
In soccer, Union City scored three goals within a five-minute span in the first half and went on to improve to (3-0-2) with a 4-1 win over Gibson County.
Marcos Landeros found the net twice, and Joseph Lattus also scored for Union City.
Union City will play at Huntingdon on Friday at 6:00.
In softball, two big innings doomed Union City against the reigning Class 2A state champions, as Westview scored six unearned runs in the third and tacked on five more tallies in the sixth.
The (1-4) Lady Tornadoes collected just three singles against a trio of Westview pitchers, with Marlee Theobald, Addison Carr, and Mattie Smith responsible for those hits.
Union City will be back on the field today when they host Dyersburg 5:00.
(photos: Mike Hutchens – School Communications Director)