Two years ago, Catasauqua’s McKay Lewis recalled when he had his best varsity season on the mound. His team made a district playoff run, but they just fell short with an 8-11 record.

Since then, Lewis and his teammates have struggled.

Lewis couldn’t find his last season, as he slugged his way through with a 0-3 record and a 6.46 ERA. The Roughies finished with a 6-14 record.

This season, Catty has endured its share of potholes with a team in transition and four wins in their first 18 games, and finished their season with Notre Dame of East Stroudsburg Tuesday night. One of three seniors on the roster, Lewis saw himself in a leadership role.

However, it hasn’t been easy. On the mound, Lewis has a 1-5 record with a 5.85 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 32 innings. Offensively, he was hitting .158 and tied for the team, lead in RBIs with seven through 17 games.

Yet, Lewis had some initial high hopes. Since then, it has been frustrating.

“We had a good start, and we thought we could have a good year,” said Lewis, referring to the Roughies’ 2-5 start. “But let our heads get to us.

“There started to be a lack of effort, and it was catching up to a lot of people. We seniors wanted to have a leadership role on the team, but it wasn’t working because no one was listening.”

Lewis also has seen the lack of an overall selfless attitude.

“We have some players like Hunter Reitz, who always would do anything he could for the team. But we have too many guys who just wanted to help themselves. I worked for the betterment of the team.”

Lewis also experienced his share of frustrations on the mound.

“It was very demoralizing at times,” he stated. “I could pitch a good game, and then there were too many errors behind me. I know it was very frustrating for the coaches, too, because their pep talks didn’t work. There weren’t enough players listening to them.

“It really affected the morale of the team.”

Through it all, Lewis continued to work on his pitches. He had thrown a fastball and slider, but he later added a curve ball and two-seam fastball. He believed running cross-country his sophomore season helped his overall focus and work ethic for the season.

It also was the year when he had his most memorable game against Palmerton when he was able to close out a game with runners on first and second with one out.

“I knew it was a meaningful game because coach Bradley and the rest of the players rushed out to the mound,” he said. “That game will always stay with me.

“I added a curve ball, and it worked well. I started to mix my pitches, and began to see more success.”

He began his playing career with T-ball, and credited his coaches and parents, Jason and Pamela, for his success.

“I had some good coaches when I was younger,” recalled Lewis. “It’s hard to say that one person had a big influence, but all of them saw me as a player who could develop.- They all helped me along the way.”

With his high school career behind him, Lewis is looking ahead to attending Eastern University, outside Philadelphia, to play baseball and to pursue a career in sports medicine and athletic training.

He is anxious to begin a new chapter.

“I want to keep pitching,” said Lewis. “I have worked on my game, and believe I can make a difference.”