SpringfieldNewsSun.com

SPRINGFIELD — It has all come down to this.

Weather permitting, the final team sporting events pitting North vs. South will take place today, May 7. The Panthers and Wildcats are scheduled to meet at 5 p.m. on North's softball diamond, while the two rivals are slated to meet in baseball at 6 p.m. at Carleton Davidson Stadium.

The historic events will mark an end to a memorable 48-year rivalry.

"It's the end of an era," said North Athletic Director Mark Stoll, also his school's baseball coach. "There's a lot of great memories, a lot of great teams on both sides. As a coach, you always remember your North-South games.

"It's a great community event, and after tomorrow, we'll move on and get ready for new challenges together."

But this season of "lasts" has taken its toll.

"This year has kind of been a long year, in the fact that as we close things down, it takes a little more out of you each time — as a fan and as an administrator," South AD Greg Newland said. "The tank's kind of empty now. We've all tried our best to send it off right."

Newland said that Springfield's athletes are becoming more like teammates competing than rivals.

"Even though they are competing, the schools have merged in many ways," he said. "I'm kind of glad it is over in some ways, and in other ways, I'm a little sad.

"You can make it what you want. If you want to dwell on it and make it a sad day, you can do it. If you want to smile and think of all the great history, it can be an uplifting day."

Either way, the Springfielders are ready for the merger, says Stoll.

"The kids are ready for this," he said. "The community is anxiously waiting for this.

"We've been building and building for this for five years," Stoll continued. "I just sense a lot of finality for this. We're finally going to do this. And we'll be one community. One community going to Fairmont, one community going to Centerville."

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0364

or krowe@coxohio.com.

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