Practicing indoors has never been at the top of the list for Catasauqua head softball coach Bobby Thomas. This winter, due to rash of winter weather, that premise has revolved into a mainstay, one that may linger for a few more weeks.

"After a while, it gets boring," said Thomas, whose team has begun defense of its defending Colonial League title. "We have been going over some things as well as defining some coverages and going over some techniques.

"We also have been getting in our hitting which will help. But our fielding hasn't been the same because you can't get the kind of hops you'll see by playing indoors. We're going to take our outfielders to the school parking lot to have them get some work. Still, we're ready to get outside and get back to basics."

When they finally do get outside, Thomas and his troops will begin their initial steps to defend their first league title since 1981 and second overall in school history with a 6-0 win over Pen Argyl. The Roughies knocked off North Schuylkill in the opening round of the district playoffs before they fell to Pen Argyl, 2-1, during a rematch in the Class 2A title game.

However, Thomas doesn't want to begin his upcoming season with the recent past hanging over his team.

"No," said the veteran coach if his team would ride last year's wave. "We're approaching it differently. That's what happened in 2013. This is a new season for us and we have to focus on this year.

"It will again be a tough year in the (Colonial) league. We don't want to rely on what happened last year."

Either way, the Roughies will have plenty of returnees back to find their way back to the postseason. They will lose starters Paige Kogelman, Jordan Dardis, and Erica Lebron three solid contributors over the past four years and will return with a veteran core led by infielder/catcher Janae Matos and ace Lexi Ayache. Sophomore infielder Hannah Edwards and freshman pitcher Shannon Gallagher should also be in the spotlight this spring.

In addition, Thomas is optimistic with a growing middle school program that had 19 candidates in their program as of last week. Thomas, who won't have a JV team, expects to field 17 varsity players.

"We have a number of girls coming back," said Thomas. "We lost three big players and they will certainly be missed. We're looking forward to getting going and we'll be ready to go."