This is going by waaaaay too fast.

We’re already about to start the month of July. It’s the only month when the high schools don’t come into play, so perhaps you think it’s going to be a slow month.

Guess again.

It may not be quite as busy as the other months, but we still have some local, regional and national dates of extreme interest. So, let’s take a look:

THURSDAY, JULY 4

Sure, it’s a holiday, but that also means its a big sports day, especially in Nashua and at Holman Stadium. The Nashua Silver Knights will take on the Westfield Starfires at 11 a.m.at Holman, a game when if you put your name in to be one of the first 500 adults you get into the park on the city’s dime, check with the Silver Knights for info. Either way kids under 12 will get in free, and there’s just been a great atmosphere surrounding the game with special activities like a dunk tank in the Kids Area. It’s been a hit the last two seasons and odds are it will again.

Then, in the evening, before the fireworks, the Nashua Lions Club will induct the late Nashua baseball coach Charlie Mellen, plus former Bishop Guertin coaches/ADs Bill Dod and Tony Johnson into the Legends of Holman Hall of Fame. See, we told you it’d be a big day.

MONDAY, JULY 8 THROUTH SATURDAY, JULY 13

Yes, this is New Hampshire State Am week, with the biggest golf tourney of the year taking place at Concord Country Club. Of course Nashua’s James Pleat and Brandon Gillis will be contenders, and the defending champ is Jack Pepin of Atkinson, who beat New London’s Rob Henley on the 37th hole in the Finals at Manchester Country Club.

TUESDAY, JULY 16

Ah, time for the Mid-Summer Classic (yikes, mid-summer already). This year’s MLB All-Star Game will be held at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Should be nice and cool by then, right? Ugh. Anyway, as much of a meaningless exhibition as it is, it’s still the best of the four All-Star events for the major sports. But old timers like yours truly long for the days when it was really, other than the World Series, the only time you could test the AL vs. the NL, and the game mattered to a lot.

FRIDAY, JULY 19 THROUGH TUESDAY, JULY 23

Welcome to the 2024 American Legion Senior State Tournament at Holman Stadium, and who will win it this year is anybody’s guess as Senior Legion has taken some hits. Four of the five teams in District B will qualify, and four of the six are in in District A. Nashua’s Coffey Post of course was loaded last year and basically rolled to the state title, but this year it is 3-3 after six games, which means there’s a lot of parity. As usual, whoever has the deepest pitching staff able to survive the double elimination gauntlet will win the prize. The regionals this year are not in Worcester, but rather Manchester’s Gill Stadium. But that’s another month’s dates, not starting until Aug. 7.

SATURDAY-SUNDAY, JULY 20-21

Ready for some more golf? Then head over to catch some of the Nashua City Golf Championship. Round 1 will be at Nashua Country Club on Saturday, and Round 2 is set for Sky Meadow on Sunday. Kevin Gaynor is the defending champ, while Eric Emeneau won the Senior Division.

WEEK OF MONDAY, JULY 22

It’s anticipated that sometime this week the New England Patriots will open training camp on the fields behind Gillette Stadium. Oh it should be an interesting time with a new head coach in Jerod Mayo and a heralded rookie quarterback in Drake Maye whom everyone will push to have start right away – likely a mistake if he’s really not ready. There will be a lot more between now and then to be discussed, you can believe it. See why we don’t want to rush the summer?

TUESDAY, JULY 23

It’s the Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL) All-Star Game at Thomas J. Dodd Memorial Stadium in Norwich, Conn., home of the defending FCBL champion Norwich Sea Unicorns. The Silver Knights will have some players in this you can be sure – perhaps leadoff hitter Tommy Ahlers, starting pitchers Andrew Chenevert and Derek Woods, relievers Andrew Koshy and Kyan Bagshaw, to name a few. There will likely be more. It’s a big event, as the league wants to showcase its best players, especially for pro scouts, etc.

THURSDAY, JULY 25

The Silver Knights have a morning game against the Bravehearts in Worcester, but in the evening at Holman Stadium will be a special exhibition game vs. the military-sponsored War Dogs. Now don’t worry, this isn’t the same outfit that was a sham at Holman back in 2009 (the American Defenders of NH, remember?) but the concept of military ballplayers is the same.

And right now, that’s a quick look at the month of July. There may be an event or two we missed, but these are the biggies.

Enjoy some relaxation this month especially because once August hits, schools will begin sports practices and then games in the blink of an eye.

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