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Baseball coach creates Battle of North Lake event, creating community through competition

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NORTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – A north Lake Tahoe high school coach is sparking community through competition with a new tradition known as the “2A Battle of North Lake” between the Incline and North Tahoe High School baseball teams.

“Having a league opponent 25 minutes away will always create a rivalry,” Incline coach, Jackson Overlund said. “Especially being the only 2A schools from around the lake adds a little bit more to it.”

In just the two years he’s lived in Incline Village, Overlund has heard about the history between both schools. “It hasn’t always been the best relationship.”

The rivalry brought back memories of his college baseball team’s relationship with a school just 10 minutes away. The match between the two teams became known as the annual Crosstown Clash.

“My team looked forward to it every year and we always drew a big crowd.”

Overlund raised the idea of doing a similar annual event with North Tahoe High School. This set into motion a new tradition with the goal of bringing both towns together, growing the baseball community, and creating an event that players as well as future players can look forward to every year.

The teams met for their inaugural Battle of the North on Thursday night, March 20. The momentous occasion called for a grand stage. That was something local businesses from both communities stepped up to accomplish, resulting in the game’s location at the Reno Aces’ Greater Nevada Field.

North Tahoe High School won this battle, coming out on top of seven innings with a game score of 9-2. The evening offered activities, games and prizes between innings for an eventful night.

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“It’s an experience the players will never forget and something future players will get to look forward to,” Overlund said.

Both teams are midway through their season. North Tahoe stands fourth in the 2A Northern League with a 7-3 league record. Incline High School ranks eighth in the league with a 2-7 record.

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