It’s hard to believe April is finally here.

Winter is loosening its grasp, it seems, as we never got much of a March warmup until early this week. That’s better news for spring high school practices, etc.

Thursday the chill will return, but eventually it has to warm up; it’s a month with all four major sports taking center stage. Let’s give you the timelines with our key April dates:

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1

Don’t download any attachments on this day, right? Anyway, relax and enjoy the Red Sox at Houston, a 2:10 p.m. start. In fact, get used to Wednesday matinees for the Sox this month as four of their five Wednesday games are in the afternoon, only one at home. The only one that’s not is April 22 vs. the Yankees at Fenway.

FRIDAY, APRIL 3

Speaking of Fenway, this is a day many have been waiting for: The Fenway season opener – on Good Friday, no less. The San Diego Padres and old friend Xander Boegarts provide the opposition but we have a good hunch it won’t be feeling too much like San Diego that weekend. But baseball’s back, and that’s a good thing. It’s also the Final Four for NCAA Women’s Hoop

SATURDAY, APRIL 4

It’s Final Four, Men’s Hoop. Some may say while Illinois tangles with the Miracle of UConn, Arizona vs. Michigan is the one that’s for all the marbles.

SUNDAY, APRIL 5

Happy Easter to one and all; what NCAA women’s hoop team will take home the title? Yeah, pun intended, we’re putting all our eggs in the UConn basket.

MONDAY, APRIL 6

Tennis anyone? The NHIAA spring sports season officially gets underway the day after Easter with tennis and track starting up this week. Most of the area Division I teams start on Wednsday, but Division II teams start on Monday. Of note on this day: the Hollis Brookline boys at Alvirne as the Cavs begin their quest to get back to the Division II finals. Yes, the Broncos boys and girls are in their second season in Division II, as is Merrimack.

And, of course, the survivors of Saturday will meet this night in Indianapolis for the NCAA Men’s Basketball National Title Game. We think it should be in Indy every year. We say Ariona wins it all.

TUESDAY, APRIL 7

The starting gun will be fired as the local high school outdoor track season begins. Merrimack and Windham will head over to Nashua North for the first official meet of the season. Stop by to get your track and field fix.

THURSDAY APRIL 9-SUNDAY APRIL 12

A tradition like no other: The Masters. This to us is the surest sign of spring, it’s almost a letdown when it’s over because it’s something we look forward to starting with the promos in February, to the champions’ dinner menu being talked about on sports radio in March. Who’s your tourney pick? Unlike the print version of this column, we have decided: Bryson DeChambeau.

Also on Sunday, the Bruins have a key road game vs. the Columbus Blue Jackets, all in the Stanley Cup playoff race.

MONDAY APRIL 13

And so it begins. The gates open and the softball, baseball and lacrosse teams run out and take the field for games that count. At Holman Stadium, Nashua North will take on Manchester Central-West at 4:30 p.m. Defending Division II champ Souhegan opens up at the same time at home vs. Oyster River. In lacrosse, the defending champion Bishop Guertin boys host Londonderry at 6 p.m.;Nashua North is at Merrimack for an all local matchup while the Nashua South girls host Manchester Central-West. A full day.

TUESDAY APRIL 14

The NBA Play-In tournament begins and goes through Friday. Many at the start of the season thought the Celtics would be one of the teams taking part in it. Nope. They get to rest a few more days after ending the season with Orlando the previous Sunday.

SATURDAY, APRIL 18

Welcome to the start of the NBA Playoffs, something Celtics fans hope, whether they start on this day or on Sunday, begins a two-month oddessey to an NBA title. Or at least a berth in the Finals.

Also, welcome to the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Will the Bruins be in them? It certainly appears that way, likely a Wild Card, unless they go into a bad slump over the next two weeks. Marco Sturm has done a good job with this team, reading them the riot act after a slow start and getting an almost immediate response. Not bad after a year sitting on the sidelines for the this team this time last year.

MONDAY, APRIL 20

Get your running shoes on and enjoy the Boston Marathon, which will have its usual share of local runners participating, most notably Nashua North principal Nate Burns. Let’s shave that time down just a little, Mr. Burns.

The Red Sox annual 11 a.m.game at Fenway, in case you’re wondering will be against the Detroit Tigers.

And, in local high school baseball, Nashua South and BG tangle at Holman at 7 p.m. Busty day.

TUESDAY, APRIL 21

They’ll be here. Close the windows. Lock the doors. The Evil Yankees will be at Fenway, much earlier than last season, with the start of a three-game set.

THURSDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 23-25

Give you a hint: the NFL. It’s the annual NFL Draft, to be held in Pittsburgh, and that city feels it’s such a big deal it won’t have any schools open, just remote learning during the event. How about that? Of couse on the first night, with just Round 1, the Patriots as it stands now will pick at No. 31 unless there’s a trade on or before. If they keep the pick, maybe an edge rusher or an offensive lineman. Or simply best available as it’s a pseudo -second round pick. Rounds 2 and 3 are Friday night with Rounds 4 through 7 on Saturday during the day.

Also on Friday night North takes on BG at Holman at 7.

SATURDAY APRIL 25

We give this its own day because it’s a busy one locally. First, it will be the day o the annual Nashua North Invitational track meet, plus the annual Day of Baseball at Holman that has South facing Pinkerton at 10 a.m., North vs. Salem at 1 p.m., and BG vs. Dover at 7.

Also, over at Rivier, it will be the start of the Raider men’s lacrosse postseason GNAC title defense with the conference quarterfinals. It should

MONDAY APRIL 27

Start school vacation week off with a 10 a.m. Alvirne at North game at Holman as we inch our way to the end of the month.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29

It’s the GNAC Men’s Lacrosse semis – we expect the Raiders to be hosting, but you never know. It’s also the start of the postseason for softball and baseball.

And that is your month of April in a nutshell. Never dull, is it? No foolin.

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