What an exciting game with some great defensive plays and aggressive base running!
The Tigers made the drive out to Antioch HS on a Monday afternoon. After battling traffic the Tigers found themselves getting thrown into warm ups and trying to get mentally prepared for this highly anticipated rematch. The previous game against Antioch was also on a Monday and the Bears ended up beating the Tigers 25-14 due to their aggressive base running. However the Tigers showed great focus and toughness in the first inning, earning them 8 runs! They were either patient at the plate or they stood their ground and got hit by a pitch. From there everyone was very aggressive on the base paths, stealing home despite the short back stop. When it came around to the Tigers defense it was dynamic, it was fun, and it was fundamentally sound.
Ash Weinman at 3B showed tremendous versatility – charging the ball and getting the out at first, catching pop flies even if they are in foul territory, making tags when the Bears tried to steal 3rd, and just showing up when the team needed an out. To keep the Bears from advancing around the bases, catcher Caroline Keiper had to consistently throw the ball down, and with her teammates help she was able to catch players stealing, earning a few outs! Caroline also demonstrated her discipline behind the plate by keeping the ball in front and popping up with a sense of urgency.
The Bears' biggest inning was the bottom of the second with 6 runs, but the Tigers came back aggressively in the top of the third inning and earned 4 runs of their own! In the fourth inning the Tigers then exploded for another 10 runs! It was a great game collectively and the team decided to dedicate their first win of the season to their teammate Corn Zaimah, who couldn’t be at the game.
The Tigers keep reinforcing their culture of toughness by hanging in the batter box and taking hard hits. Almost all of them got hit multiple times. They earned a total 15 HBP (hit by pitches) with Amelie Soslow getting a whooping 4, which despite the guaranteed pain only bolsters her high on base percentage. Alena Ellis was determined to pitch the entire game and got through four innings pitching 98 balls with a 40% strike percentage and 1 strikeout.
This game encompassed the vision of USN softball. The high defensive IQ plays, the hustle, the toughness, and it will only get better from here. It’s been beyond exciting to see the growth of this team and to see them explore new offensive and defensive concepts that helped them earn this win. This softball team continues to carve out space for their growth and they’ve already surpassed many expectations. Hopefully you hop on the softball bandwagon and support this team as it moves forward! Go Tigers! 1-3-1 all love!
The girls lacrosse team ended its season in overtime to become state runner-up. Tennis players Carter Kojetin '29 finished as a state quarterfinalist, Sophie Oliver '26 and Mary Kate Adler '28 finished as state semifinalists, and Veer Kodali '29 and Max Parker '29 finished as state champions. Meanwhile, eight runners competed at the state track and field meet in Knoxville, where Griffin Davidson '27, Caleb Freifeld '28, Drew Zwerner '28, and Jack Fruin '27, sprinted to first in the 4x800m relay and Jack also placed first in the 800m dash.
For the entire USN community: an invitation to give in gratitude, in celebration, and in honor of the woman who has given so much to our school. Make a gift at usn.org/giving to support students with needs beyond tuition and honor Interim Director Juliet Douglas.
The Middle School Quiz Bowl finished off another successful season with a trip to the Middle School National Championship Tournament in Chicago. The team fought hard and ended the season as a top-100 program in the country, finishing 75th overall. Congratulations to the team on a great performance and to Lucas Lupu ’31, named an All Star for being the fifth-highest scorer nationwide.
USN Mission: University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.