The Union softball team advanced in the Class 2A state tournament while the Yellowjacket baseball team split its first two games against Hamilton.
The Lady Yellowjackets took two wins over Walnut with a 9-2 win on Thursday and a 10-6 win on Saturday to sweep the series.
The Union baseball team lost 15-4 to Hamilton on Friday and the bounced back to beat the Lions5-1 on Saturday to split the series. Game 3 was rained out on Monday night and ended in a loss on Tuesday.
Union softball
The Union Lady Yellowjackets picked up three more wins last week, including a two-game sweep of Walnut in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs.
Union finished out the regular season with a 16-1 win over Scott Central on Monday. Union scored five in the first, 10 in the second and one in the third. Union had 13 hits in the contest as Destiny Moulds was 3-for-3 with a double and two runs scored. Tiara Campbell was 2-for-2 with two doubles and three RBIs while Maggie Davis was 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs. Abigail Cleveland was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBIs while Carson Capps singled and driven two runs. Landry Bishop scored three runs while Maggie Atkinson singled and scored two runs. Capps pitched one inning and gave up one run on two hits while Cleveland and Alanee Wheeler each pitched one inning.
On Thursday, Union banged out 15 hits and took a 9-2 win over Walnut on Thursday. Union score one in the first and second, two in the fourth and five in the fifth. Abigail Cleveland was 3-for-4 with a double while Raleigh Dickerson was 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Landry Bishop was 2-for-4 and scored two runs while Tiara Campbell was 2-for-3 with a double. Destiny Moulds was 2-for-3 while Aspen Lovern and Maggie Davis each doubled. Alanee Wheeler started in the circle and pitched 6 1/3 innings and gave up two runs on five hits while striking out 13 to get the win. Aubrey Coleman came in and got the last two outs for Union.
Union completed the two-game sweep on Saturday as they took a 10-6 win over Walnut on Saturday. Union fell behind 5-1 after two innings before they scored five in the third, one in the fifth and three in the sixth. Union had eight hits, led by Tiara Campbell who was 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs. Landry Bishop tripled and drove in two runs while Abigail Cleveland also doubled. Alanee Wheeler pitched 5 2/3 innings and gave up six unearned runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out 11. Raleigh Dickerson pitched 1 1/3 innings in relief for the Lady Jackets.
Union baseball
The Yellowjackets split their first-round series with Hamilton last week and will need an extra day after game 3 was rained out on Monday.
On Tuesday, Union finished out the regular season with an 11-1 no-hit win over Leake Central. Union scored six in the third, two in the fourth and three in the sixth. Union had nine hits and took advantage of seven walks and five errors. Austin Lee was 2-for-3 with a double and three runs scored while Rafe Manning singled and had four RBIs. Kooper Fultz scored three runs while Mason Tucker, Sawyer Robinson and Tanner Watkins each doubled. Jackson Flake pitched four innings and gave p one unearned run on three walks while striking out six. Manning itched the last two innings and struck out six.
Union opened up the Class 2A playoffs with a 15-4 loss to Hamilton. Humility scored four in the first and seventh, two in the second and sixth, and three in the third. Union had just four hits as Rafe Manning was 2-for-3 while Kooper Fultz doubled and had two RBIs. Fultz started and pitched 1 2/3 innings while Jacob Freeman, Manning, Jackson Flake and Ryder Furr also pitched in relief.
The Yellowjackets evened the series on Saturday, beating Hamilton 5-1. Union scored three in the first and sixth to take the win. Each team had seven hits as Austin Lee was 2-for-3 with two runs scored while Sawyer Robinson doubled and had two RBIs. Tanner Watkins pitched all seven innings and scattered seven hits and three walks while striking out four to get the win.
The Union Yellowjackets saw their season come to an end on Tuesday.
Hamilton scored nine runs in the top of the eighth to take a 14-7 win in a game played at East Mississippi Community College.
Union finished the season with a 15-10 record.
The game was back and forth for the first seven innings. Union scored one in the first and fourth and two in the third and led 4-2 after five innings. Hamilton scored three in the sixth and Union answered with one in the bottom of the frame to tie the game at 5-5. Union loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh but lined into a double play to send the game to extra innings. Hamilton then strung together seven hits and scored nine runs in the top of the eighth. Union scored two in the bottom of the seventh for the final margin.
Union had nine hits in the contest, led by Jacob Freeman who was 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. Jackson Flake was 2-for-5 with two doubles while Austin Lee singled, walked three times and scored three runs. Kooper Fultz walked three times and scored twice while Sawyer Robinson also scored three runs.
Flake started on the mound and pitched the first inning and gave up four run-on three hits. Fultz pitched the next 6 1/3 innings and gave up six runs on seven hits while striking out three. Freeman came in and four batters and all four had hits while Rafe Manning came in and got the last two outs.
Tennis
The Union tennis team had two positions make it to the semifinals in the Class 1 tournament last week in Oxford.
In boys singles, Ethan Brasher made it to the Class 1 semifinals.
“Ethan is a phenomenal tennis player and always impresses his spectators,” coach Jodie Wiliams said. “In the semifinals, Ethan battled the reigning state champion who, again, went on to win the championship this year.”
In girls doubled, Julia Harrison and Rylee Pullin also made it to the semifinals.
“These girls have worked together as girls’ doubles line 1 for two years,” Williams said. “Their hard work led them one step further this year after defeating the same duo that put them out in the quarter finals last year. In the semifinals, Julia and Rylee battled the reigning state champions who, again, went on to win the championship this year. I am extremely proud of their work ethic and ability to communicate well on the courts.”
In mixed doubles Cory Smith and Denver McCoy made it to the quarterfinals before falling.
In girls singles, Annley Howell lost in the first round while Cooper Capps and Jude Feasel lost in the first round of boys doubles.
