The Roughs are in.

Youthful exuberance was felt at Catasauqua's Bill Kennedy Complex last Thursday. It had been four years since Catasauqua has made the Colonial League playoffs, but a 5-4 win over Northwestern had the Roughs back to the show.

Catasauqua got all of its runs in the first and second innings, clinching the Colonial League North crown on the last day of the regular season.

Senior Zach Stopay roped a double with two RBIs. Zach and junior brother Jacob Stopay both went 2-for-3 as Jacob pounded out a triple. Senior Zac Edwards added an RBI hit.

The 11th grade battery of Zack Bradley and Randal Pacchioli each drove in a run. Bradley registered four K's but walked five.

Catty won the division with a 10-6 record and finished 12-8 overall. Coach Steve Bradley summed up last Thursday's game.

"Pretty exciting," he said. "That was probably our biggest game yet since becoming head coach. We told the kids that it was like our first playoff game. We had to win to get in, and so did Northwestern."

Zack Bradley struggled in the top of the first giving up two runs on a couple of walks and hits, but the Rippin' Roughs responded quickly putting up a run in the bottom of the first. The Tigers scored another in the second for a 3-1 lead, but Catty's bats came alive in the bottom of the second to post four more runs and go up 5-3.

Zack Bradley settled in and kept the score at 5-3 until the 7th, when Northwestern scored on two base hits and an error to cut it to 5-4. But a ground out to Tyler Correll at second ended the game.

"We had to scratch and claw to get to where we are mainly due to our kids willingness to fight through some tough times and play as a team," coach Bradley said. "Our defense has been outstanding, probably the biggest difference between this years team and last year's. Pitching has been solid and our hitting has been consistent."

Bradley pointed to seven players heading into the Colonial League playoffs that were hitting well over .300: Jacob Stopay, Zach Stopay, Carlos Perez, Brandon Purrone, Zac Edwards, Randal Pacchioli and Alex Torres.

Northwestern's Rick Perry was 2-for-4 with two RBIs took the mound loss after striking out two Rough Riders and walking one. Collin Breidinger had an RBI and Jacob Augustus had an RBI.

Northwestern's mark in league play was 9-7 and 13-7 overall.