Nashus South's Karina O'Donnell, left, looks for an opening against the defense of North's Summer St. Pierre during the teams' first meeting just over a week ago at Stellos Stadium. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – It’s early May, and that means one thing when it comes to high school sports in the city: Battle of the Bridge time.

The spring version of the Nashua High School North-South rivalry gets underway in full force today with boys and girls varsity lacrosse the big events.

Things actually start with a boys junior varsity 7 on 7 lacrosse game at Stellos Stadium at 3 p.m. That’s followed by the North-South girls varsity at 5 and the boys varsity at 7.

South is the clear-cut favorite, as the teams met once before, a week ago this past Monday in games that counted in the NHIAA standings but not for the BOB. The Panther girls, who come in at 8-1, throttled the Titans 18-2 as they feature a very potent offense and one of their best teams in several years this season. The Titans have been competitive against some teams this season, beating both Manchester Central and Memorial-West, but are 2-8 riding a six game losing streak.

It’s the same story in the boys game as South is 7-1, looking to be a Final Four team in Division I, while the Titans are plugging away with a wholesale rebuild at 0-10. South won 16-6 over a week ago , part of its five game winning streak.

Friday the fun continues at Holman Stadium at 7 p.m. with North-South baseball, North being the home team. This could be one of the best matchups of the rivalry, as the Titans, who are at Londonderry today, are 6-3 while the Panthers, who travel to Spaulding today, are 6-2. South will likely go with ace righty Nolan Mederos on the mound. North’s starter is uncertain, but one of the Titans top pitchers this season has been righty Andy Barry. Today’s games will likely dictate both teams’ pitching plans.

Before the varsity game, the JVs tangle, also at Holman, at 4 p.m.

Saturday will be a unique day, as both the North and South boys and girls tennis teams will clash – at the same place, same time. The two will likely split the Titans’ six courts as the matches are slated to start at 9 a.m.

Right now, the better seasons belong to the South boys (5-2) and North girls (3-3)

The Titan boys started out 3-0 but are now 3-3 at last look, while the rebuilding South girls started out 0-6 but won their first match before the week break. North is also 3-3 on the girls side.

Also on Saturday, the freshman baseball game is set for 10 a.m.at North.

Next up comes another fun event, as the North-South softball teams will clash next Tuesday night at Rivier University at 7 p.m., both teams’ first opportunity this season to play under the lights. Of the two, South has the better numbers and has been more competitive, although South is 1-6 while North is 0-8. The Panthers just dropped a 15-11 heartbreaker to Manchester Central-Memorial after rallying to tie it in the seventh, down seven runs. Unfortunately for the Titans, their closest game was their opener, a five-run loss to Portsmouth. But these two teams always play tough, competitive games.

Track and field will wrap up the Battle of the Bridge next week as well. The North-South Unified track teams clash on Thursday, May 12 at 3:30 p.m. while the boys and girls varsity track teams will use the scoring from the North Invitational a week from Saturday on May 14, at the North track beginning at 9 a.m.

And remember, no matter the records, the fight for that bridge brings out the best in both schools.

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