After a 4-16 season with a young team in 2019, Catasauqua had some high expectations for the 2020 campaign.

Unfortunately, those ended in mid-March last year when the PIAA shut down spring sports due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

A year later, veteran head coach Steve Bradley has another maturing team that can possibly ripen down the stretch.

“We’ll be OK,” he offered. “We have a lot of guys who just need the varsity and game experience.

“We have looked good when we have scrimmaged against ourselves. So we just have to see how we’ll look when we open up.”

Seniors Derek Troxell and Cole Schiffer are the lone returnees for the Roughies. Troxell will be in center field and also will see time at first base. Schiffer will be behind the plate. Juniors Brandon Jenny and Wes Fotta, both lefthanders, will anchor the pitching staff.

“Both of them are doing a good job for us so far,” added Bradley. “Jenny wants to play in college, so this will be a big year for him.”

Sophomore Christian Fye also figures to be in the mound mix, and he also will handle shortstop. Fellow sophomores Anthonie Hunsicker is penciled in at third, and Brian Rivera has been a pleasant surprise and will see time in the outfield and middle infield.

Sophomore Hunter Reitz will be the Roughies’ utility player, playing all middle infield positions and the outfield. McKay Lewis, who made an impact as a freshman last year in practice, will provide the team with another arm and play the infield.

Junior Dominic Gorr should be at first and DH.

Bradley also will look to exchange student and junior Manny Jiminez to provide infield depth and as another possible pitcher.

Zack Bradley, the coach’s son and a 2013 grad, and Luke Dauberman, a former Parkland standout, have joined the staff this spring.

The Roughies had a scrimmage against Dieruff scheduled Tuesday before they open the season with Saucon Valley Friday.

“We’ll see what happens,” said Bradley. “We have to see how they respond in game situations.”