It hasn’t been the best of starts for the Catasauqua baseball team this spring, but head coach Steve Bradley has maintained an optimistic outlook.

The Rough Riders have began the year with an 0-5 record, and they have scored a total of 10 runs. In turn, the Roughies have allowed 52. Catty has opened the season with Southern Lehigh twice, Palmerton, Saucon Valley, and Pen Argyl. They also have struck out 55 times as a team, 31 combined in their last two games.

Saucon Valley’s Cole Hubert tossed a no-hitter against the Roughies, striking out 16.

“We have played some really good teams,” offer Bradley. “The kid from Saucon Valley is a really good pitcher. The last two teams we faced had really good pitchers. We have been struggling at the plate, and it didn’t help.

“We gave up too many runs to Palmerton (an 11-5 loss). We just have to clean everything up, and I believe we’ll be all right.”

Bradley noted that the team has had trouble putting together a complete game. Through five games, the Roughies are hitting .143 as a team and have a 10.14 team ERA.

“We seem to have one piece missing each game,” he said. “If we do have good hitting, we don’t have good pitching. It’s one thing or the other. We have to put all of the pieces together. We also don’t have two lights-out pitchers.”

Bradley did credit pitchers Reece Lopez and John Pushkar, both of whom have absorbed two losses apiece. Hunter Reitz has been consistent at the plate, but he can’t play the field because of a shoulder injury from football.

“Reece has been having a really good year on the mound, and he has been getting better at the plate,” said Bradley. “Pushkar also have pitched well, but he has struggled at the plate.

“Hunter has been hitting the ball, but we can’t get him in the field.”

If the weather cooperates, the Roughies have a busy week with a game at Northwestern Wednesday, home against Northern Lehigh Friday, and a game at Lehighton Saturday.

“We just have to be able to settle things down,” added Bradley. “We have to keep playing the best we can, and I think things will come around for us.”