Catasauqua head baseball coach Steve Bradley is one person who is grateful for the size of the Roughies' gymnasium.

The veteran coach has been fully utilizing the Roughies' voluminous gym since practice opened March 3 that began indoors due to large piles of snow that has have engulfed the area. He believes it will be a close call to have any enduring outdoor activities before the team's season opener against Saucon Valley March 22.

"I thank God we have a big gym," said Bradley. "We have been able to get everything going. It's not the ideal situation, but it gives us the opportunity to get started. We also have portable mounds, so our pitchers can get some work.

"We have been doing a lot of hitting. The only drawback is doing some work around the bases and having long throws from the outfield."

If a recent rash of warm weather continues for an extended period, Bradley knows it will still be some time before his team takes the field.

"Even if this melts soon, the ground will still be hard and frozen," stated Bradley. "Once it is all melted, we tend to get that muddy soup that tends to lie over the top. But so far, our work ethic has been good and the kids are excited to get started."

Bradley will have eight returnees back in the fold this spring. He will have to fill the void left by infielder Zac Edwards, who also was among the team's leading hitters last season.

On the mound, seniors Zack Bradley and Tyler Correll will be the anchors of the staff. Junior Dakota Schiffer, a transfer from Dieruff, also figures to get plenty of action. The head coach also likes his underclassmen

"We'll miss Zac Edwards and we'll have to fill his glove and bat," said Bradley. "Zack (Bradley) is back after a solid year and Tyler (Correll) will get more innings than he did last year. Dakota Schiffer is pretty solid and he throws a lot of off-speed stuff. He (Schiffer) will also likely help us in the infield."

"We have a good junior class and some sophomores who should be able to help us this year."

With 32 players in camp, Bradley figures to carry either 13 or 14 at the varsity level. He also expects his club to again to be the thick of things in the Colonial League. The Roughies finished 12-10 last season and lost to Southern Lehigh in the league before they dropped a district game to Pine Grove.

"Our goal right now is to get back to the league playoffs and then move on from there," he said. "We expect to have a good season."