Apr. 29— It wasn't a particularly nice day for baseball in Marcusen Park on Tuesday, but you wouldn't have guessed it by the crowd that showed up.

Even though the temperatures were dipping in the 40s and the wind was blowing in, the Lyle-Pacelli and Southland baseball teams each drew a playoff-sized crowd to pack stands. While both teams were unbeaten entering the game, which saw the Rebels snag a win, the crowd was still big for a regular season game.

But it wasn't unusually large for a Southland vs. LP game. Ever since the days of the Lyle Lions, Southland has always been rivals with its nearby opponents.

Any time these teams meet in any sport, it's usually a large crowd, and it's also a respectable crowd. You see grandparents, teachers, alumni and local business owners show up when the Athletics and Rebels square off.

It's also a friendly rivalry, and while each team wants to win, the players are always respectful of each other and the fans are usually on their best behavior.

Tuesday won't be the last time LP and Southland meet this season, and the two squads are also likely to face each other in the Section 1A Tournament.

That means more big crowds and more fun times for fans of prep sports are right around the corner.

Hopefully the weather is a little bit nicer next time.