We live for The Battle.

It’s a different era in Nashua high school sports, one we have all grown accustomed to over the last two decades-plus.

But if there’s anything The Split has given us, it’s the Battle of the Bridge.

It’s been a great creation during the current tenure of Nashua Athletic Director Lisa Gingras, because what it can do is take a game between two so-so teams and produce a game that’s played like it’s a state championship game.

But in the spring, we can’t remember a week of special North-South moments like we did in the last week.

Spring can be ho-hum. Seniors counting down the days to what they think will be another word for freedom, as in graduation. For the rest, summer isn’t far away.

Oh, but that all changed the last 10 days.

It started with the North-South boys lacrosse game about 10 days ago, one in which North goalie Josh Parsons makes a game-deciding save in the final seconds of a 14-13 win over South, giving us the immortal quote, “I finally listened to a coach for once and it all worked out.”

Classic. He said it while holding the Monsen Cup, a fitting tribute to late North alum and South boys lacrosse coach Bill Monsen,

“Anytime these two teams kind of come together, they always bring a different intensity, players, coaches, everything,” Panthers coach Will Delanoy said.

And that was echoed some 48 hours later when a baseball game for the ages was played at Holman Stadium between two teams that may not make the postseason.

Nashua South’s 2-1 win over rival North in front of most likely the largest crowd either will play in front of this year was one not to be missed. Go on line and watch the replay on Nashua ETV’s site if you can. That brough us another great quote and story when South summoned right fielder Jacoby Caissie in to pitch with the bases loaded and two out after starter Brendon Doughty had reached his very wise NHIAA-mandated pitch count limit. Caissie got a called third strike after our favorite umpire (sorry Jeff Kleiner heh-heh) Sy Tebbetts didn’t raise the right hand when he possibly could have on the previous pitch. But this was clearly a Bridge Bit: Caissie hadn’t pitched in a year after hurting his shoulder in hockey, and he was the team’s closer a year ago and dying for a chance. He got it, and, as he told us after,

“I’m made for moments like this, I was ready.”

Another great quote. Another great game.

“We were just talking about it at the plate after game, me and Coach (James) Gaj,” Titans coach Zach Harris said. “It’s always crazy, this one. Regardless of records, the way teams are playing coming in, this one always finds a way to be an absolute battle.”

Gaj said after the game the nerves and intensity in this game is so big that “it’s a disadvantage for the home team. They have to be out there and pitch first….You’re here, you’re on the mound, everybody’s looking at you, you, you’ve got to throw a strike, it’s high stress.” And that’s why South was able to score their only two runs in the first – as the visiting team.

Nashua South pitcher Cate Marvin (7) celebrates her 200th career strikeout with Panthers catcher Nicki Gates after the final out of the Battle of the Bridge win over Nashua North at Rivier’s Raider Diamond Tuesday night. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

Sometimes the games aren’t that close but the accomplishments are memorable. That came on the final pitch of South’s 15-0 win over North at Raider Diamond at River University when Panther pitcher Cate Marvin recorded her 200th career strikeout. It was her final Battle of the Bridge.

“This is like the best game of the year,” she said of the contest played at a venue the two teams don’t normally get to play at. “It’s what I look forward to most in the season.”

So do we, Cate. So do we.

Tom King can be reached at tking@nashuatelegraph.com, or on X @Telegraph _TomK.