Holman Stadium on Friday looked like it took a big hit from Thursday's storm, just days after it was used earlier than ever when Rivier played a doubleheader there on Tuesday. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – Remember about three weeks ago, in mid-March, when Nashua Park-Recreation’s Stellos Stadium caretaker James Mulvey located the one last piece of snow in the far corner of the facility, about the size of a shoe?

A picture of it was even posted on social media.

Mother Nature has gotten even. It was a lot easier Friday to spot the snow at Stellos, as well as the small plow that had been taken out of the facility back then. The plow was parked yesterday in the middle of the concourse but the good news was it had done its job, the snow piled high on the far sideline as the Nashua High School North boys and later the South girls practiced.

That’s the good news, as the high school lacrosse schedule won’t be impacted too, too much by Thursday’s Nor’easter thanks to turf fields. The North boys will certainly open as scheduled at Stellos vs. Timberlane, but all the girls games (five), including Nashua South at Merrimack, are on grass fields, so fingers have to be crossed.

Meanwhile, at Holman Stadium, it certainly didn’t look good on Friday. Snow covered the infield grass and the entire outfield, and the infield dirt was a mudbowl thanks to the storm. The pitcher’s mound and home plate areas, however, were covered with mini tarps.

The irony? The city’s Park-Recreation department had the facility looking better than ever before the storm – so good in fact Rivier University was able to play a doubleheader there on Tuesday, perhaps the earliest it’s been open for use in several springs.

While the snow will likely be melting, there isn’t any extended sunshine in the forecast until Monday to help dry things out, and one would have to think the Nashua South-Goffstown game scheduled for 5 p.m. that day is in peril. At least of being played at Holman.

“You never know, it depends on how long it takes to melt,” Nashua South baseball coach James Gaj said.

At South, fields were still snow covered, and Gaj doesn’t feel the varsity field would be set to go. “That thing does not drain,” he said. “If anything, the JV field (lower field) might be ready first. … But your guess is as good as mine.”

South gets a break in that it isn’t scheduled after Monday to play on Saturday, as that game is also set to be at Holman at 11 a.m. vs. Exeter. It was originally set for Wednesday but had to be moved due to Exeter bussing issues, Gaj said.

Other baseball on the docket is Merrimack at Dover, Alvirne at Pinkerton, and Wilton-Lyndeborough at Derryfield.

And all the softball, of course, are on grass fields. North-Goffstown, Pinkerton-Alvirne, Dover at Merrimack, and Nashua North at Portsmouth are on the slate. So far, all school athletic websites have the games on, as there’s still time for the Big Melt. But clearly if you plan on attending a game in any sport this week – unless it’s on a field turf field – check with the school to make sure it’s going to be played. You can be sure those decisions/options have already been discussed.

Frustrating.

“It’s annoying is what it is,” Gaj said. “It’s been such a tease, and I should have known better, I’ve been doing this long enough. … The first week we were outside, tryout week was the best week. And we got three scrimmages in, I haven’t had three scrimmages at home in a long time. We had five on the schedule, two were cancelled.”

The last one was vs. Milford at South on the varsity field.

There was plenty of snow to be seen in the background of Nashua North’s boys lacrosse practice at Stellos Stadium on Friday. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

Of course adding to this for Monday is the solar eclipse, and some times have been moved to later – for example, the South-Goffstown baseball game was set for 5, originally 4:30 – to have it in the rear view mirror. But perhaps it may not matter for many.

So while many teams were forced back indoors on Friday, Stellos was a busy place as North was going through the latter part of its practice while the South girls were showing up for theirs.

One local team that had a great end to the week, getting in plenty of innings on a diamond was the Souhegan High School baseball team. The Sabers flew down just before the storm arrived to Vero Beach, Fla., and the Jackie Robinson Training Complex that includes, believe it or not, a facility called…Holman Stadium. Call it a parallel universe. The Sabers got two scrimmage wins on Friday, 10-9 and 6-4. No wonder head coach Chris Metz said on X “It’s a great day to be a Saber.”

Meanwhile back at the North Pole Gaj said he’s been that snow for many fields is better than rain, more of an even distribution of the water.

But the visual is certainly worse. Moral of the story from back in March: It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature.

The Souhegan baseball team has been in Vero Beach, Fla, playing scrimmages at a facility ironically called Holman Stadium. (Courtesy photo)

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