Kelsey Isham really is a good sport. But after driving in the game-winning run and earning her team a victory over a favorite rival, the Auburn native couldn’t resist going over to remind her opponents of the play.

It’s not something you’d usually see Isham do, but this opposing lineup was different.

“Well, I know most of them. We’re all friends,” said Isham after leading the Crusaders’ 2-1 win over Queen City foe Central.

“It’s different when we’re playing against each other, but once the game’s over, we’re all friends again. If it were the other way around, a Central player would come here, and we’d be happy for her, too.”

With two outs and pinch runner Heather Ryan of Auburn on second base, Isham stroked a single to score Ryan in the bottom of the seventh inning, sending the Crusaders into celebration and Central head coach Trish Ellis to face a frustrated lineup.

“We’re still making the mental mistakes that are costing us games,” said Ellis. “This was a great game. Both pitchers were on par, and it looked good until the end where we made a mistake on a play we shouldn’t have. I know if (we) just play the way (we) can, those mistakes won’t happen.”

Hosting the Little Green on Friday, May 4, Memorial, last year’s Class L runner up, posted nine hits in Central starter Ashley Kitchell’s complete-game performance.

Trailing, 1-0, entering the bottom of the fifth, Memorial tied things when catcher Sam Hebert singled and later scored on third baseman Rachel Hedge’s groundout.

Crusaders head coach Dave Hedge said intra-city match-ups aren’t played often enough. “This is like a playoff atmosphere,” said Hedge after the game. “I wish they’d let us play each Manchester team more than once. I’m not sure about the other Manchester coaches, but I certainly would love to do that. The rivalry is special, one pride vs. another. This time it was red, white and blue over green and white pride.”

Familiarity amongst players on Manchester teams, said Hedge, enhances long-standing rivalries. “Throw out the records,” said Hedge. “They don’t matter when it’s an intra-city rival. The idea they Isham said the idea of seeing her summer-league teammates in different uniforms “makes things more exciting.”

know each other adds to the game. It doesn’t make one team have an advantage or disadvantage over another. It just adds to the game.” On Friday, May 11, Central hosts Alvirne. Memorial visits Nashua North.