In the current baseball age of selected positions, Catasauqua’s John Pushkar is a throwback.

On any given gameday, Pushkar could be in the Rough Riders’ lineup as a pitcher, catcher, third baseman, or any other infield position. He is the Roughies’ utility man, a usual lost art on all levels of baseball today.

“John can literally play anywhere,” said Roughies’ head coach Steve Bradley. “We like him behind the plate, but we also need him on the mound. There are some weeks when his arm is tired from pitching, catching, and playing third.

“He also is one of our most consistent hitters.”

Last season, Pushkar primarily played in the middle infield, and he also took some turns on the mound. This season with a void at catcher, Pushkar began to log some time there.

The battery moves haven’t been a major step.

“There has been some difficulty moving from pitcher to catcher and vice versa,” said Pushkar. “However, I caught a lot during my career, so it wasn’t really a big shift for me. It has been more about my arm.

“I can go from throwing 100 pitches one day and then the next day throw double the amount catching. It has been a little hard on my arm, but I have pushed through it and battled each game the best I could.”

Still, pitching has been a primary assignment. Through 15 games, Pushkar had two of the team’s three wins with a 2-4 record, 4.41 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 27 innings.

“We just came off a loss to Palmerton, but that was the game that I’ve thrown all season,” said Pushkar. “I started working on a two-seam fastball to get some more on right-handed hitters. It’s been effective, but not as effective as my curveball. That pitch has gotten me out of some tough jams, and I just always need to stay true with it and trust the break.

“Also, it’s about just not thinking about throwing it, and just let it flow. When I do that, I see the best results.”

Offensively, Pushkar is among the team leaders in several categories. He is first in runs (11), tied for first in hits (17), tied for first in RBIs (7), and second in batting average (.370). Pushkar also has the team’s highest fielding percentage (.982).

He has been happy with his production.

“I don’t think I really stopped seeing the ball,” he said. “I had a bad game at the plate recently against Salisbury, but I bounced back the next game. I have been seeing the ball really well, early on working counts and getting walked, and two-strike hits.”

Pushkar was named a captain along with fellow junior Hunter Reitz, and he has relished the role. He also ]has tried to remain optimistic despite the team’s troubles during their 3-13 campaign.

“Being named captain came with some responsibility,” he said. “It’s been extremely frustrating this season, especially because I want the seniors to have a good year they can remember.

“The younger kids just need to grow and develop more in the weight room and on the field. They have a lot of potential, but they need to work extra hard to turn not only this season around, but next season as well.”

Whatever the case, Pushkar is sure to be on the field somewhere.