In their run to the Colonial League crown last season, defense was a key to the Roughies' success.

This season, Catty roared out of the gates early and they again supported themselves on the field with some slick glove work and timely hitting and pitching.

It appeared they were on the right track to defend their crown.

Tuesday afternoon against archrival Bangor, the Roughies were suddenly derailed in the opening round of the Colonial League playoffs. The Roughies committed four errors and couldn't muster enough offense in a 13-6 loss at Allentown's Patriots' Park.

"We didn't play good defense, and they hit the ball well," said Roughies' head coach Bobby Thomas. "They really didn't hit (starting pitcher Alexa Ayache) Alexi well, but when you don't field well, you give them extra opportunities.

"We didn't execute as well as we could have."

Thomas also reiterated how he believes his club hasn't been playing up to its ability. Catty has dropped three of its last four games and their record went to 13-5 overall. They began the season with a 9-1 mark.

Ayache went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and Janae Matos also knocked in two runs to help lead the way on offense.

Bangor jumped out to a 5-3 lead after one inning and later increased its lead to 8-4. The Slaters added four runs in the top of the seventh to seal the win. The Slaters also beat the Roughies 7-3 on May 6.

"We really haven't played well over the past two weeks," said Thomas. "Our defense has fallen off the second half of the season. We were better defensively in the first half of the season.

"We have gotten to the point where we are facing the best teams and these were the four best teams left in the league. We hit the ball well, but it was hard to play catch up all day."

Catty will now wait until the District 11 Class 2A playoffs which won't begin until May 27.

Thomas noted they will likely scrimmage Southern Lehigh late next week to avoid being inactive in a two-week layoff.

"We just may need some time off to get back our game," said Thomas. "We'll want to get a game close to our district game. We just have to get back to playing like we can."

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Catty's baseball team would fall to Notre Dame just a few hours later in Limeport, 3-1.

Roughie starter Dakota Schiffer allowed just two hits in the game, but Notre Dame took full advantage. Only one of their hits led to a run, that coming in the third. Catty committed five errors in the loss and the Crusaders had three.

Notre Dame scored once in the third and two more times in the fourth and that would be all starter Paul Roth needed. He gave up eight hits.

Catty's only run came in the fourth thanks to an RBI single from Mike Shutta.

Schiffer struck out three batters and didn't allow a walk but did hit three. Roth, meanwhile, pitched to contact and didn't fan or walk a Catty batter.