NASHUA – Opening Day.

Local teams are going through those this week, but so is a prized facility.

Today will be the re-opening of Stellos Stadium, with the Nashua South girls lacrosse team hosting Salem at 4 p.m.

It’s South’s season opener, but it’s also the first time Stellos has been open for student athletes at North, South or Bishop Guertin to compete since it was shut down just over six months ago.

That was done back on Oct. 2, with the field having been inspected days earlier and found that the turf was too worn, torn and dangerous to play on. The last game to have been played was a boys soccer game between Pinkerton and Bishop Guertin.

Now, new field turf – basically, the city was hoping the Motta Field turf could survive the entire fall before being replaced – has settled in, the rubber fill in between the fibers has been added, rolled, etc. It was hoped to be ready for Monday’s North and South boys lacrosse openers but the wet weather delayed things a bit.

But now, it’s ready. Nashua Athletic Director Lisa Gingras sent an email out Tuesday afternoon, with a joyous tone.

“I am happy to tell you that Stellos Stadium will be open for games TOMORROW … Thank you all for your patience.”

The stadium will have subtle different look. Gone are the bushes that surrounded the field except for the side in front of the large stands. Instead, there is a fence all around the field. Also, the football end zones that used to have the logos for North, South and BG simply has the letters “Nashua” written across it.

In any event, there’s a great vibe that is the total opposite of the way it was in October. A post on social media with a picture of the stadum simply said, “Open for business tomorrow!”

And for days, weeks, months, and years to come.

BOYS LACROSSE

ST. JOHN’S PREP 13, BISHOP GUERTIN 5

The Cards lost their season opener, and the head coaching debut of Brian Cameron, in a contest played at Merrimack College in NorthAndover, Mass. Beau Dubois, Camden Hayden Sean McGarry and Mike Ponto all were in the BG scoring column. Guertin is off until it visits Exeter next Wednesday, April 23 – the second of four road games to start the season.

“This game uncovered a lot of what we need to work on and change,” Cameron said. “We will come out better because of it.”

SOFTBALL

TIMBERLANE 5, MERRIMACK 3

The Tomahawks still outhit the Owls and were led by Katie Coolidge’s two doubles and three RBIs while Marisa Nelson added two hits.

Also contributing to the offense were Lily Dionne, Bayleigh Robichaud, Olivia Burke and Cam Bellen. Nelson took the loss in the circle despite striking out eight. Merrimack is at Goffstown today.