Caught up in the moment with his team, Rod Berger believes he can pitch for quite some time.

After he enjoyed a successful season with the varsity team, Berger was also one of the main reasons the Catasauqua entry in the Lehigh Valley Connie Mack League (LVCM) made to the state tournament. The Roughies dropped a 4-2 decision to Hellertown in the LVCM playoffs, but they qualified for the state tournament with a third-place regular season finish.

Berger, along with fellow hurlers Zach Bilder, Logan Davidson and Collin Hawk, were a big reason the Roughies headed to the state playoffs as well as completed a successful regular season. With his seven starts during the regular season, Berger had accumulated 109 innings this season and has recorded a staff-high four wins this summer.

He doesn’t see himself slowing down.

“I feel great,” exclaimed Berger. “I have been on a good program with my days off and that’s why I have been able to pitch without any fatigue. I finished every game during the regular season and I have pitched nearly every one during the summer. I have been taking care of my arm and working out.”

Berger has relied on a two-and four seam fastball along with a circle curve and a changeup this season.

“I really feel confident with my fastball,” he said. “But I have had success with all my pitches. I have gained confidence throughout the season and I haven’t really been thinking too much about my pitches out on the mound. I feel confident with my pitches.”

Catty entered the state tournament with an overall 16-6 record and the Roughies continue to ride a wave of emotion off a two-win season last year.

“We now know what it is like to win,” said Berger. “We want to keep it going. We have played well together all season long and we really have a good chemistry here. We started the season with a great attitude and it has carried us through.

“I know that everyone can rely on our staff. The other pitchers have done a great job.”

Head coach Jim Kober believes Berger and the remainder of his staff can carry the load.

“We have set our pitching well all season,” he said. “Those guys have been steady all season and they know what it takes to get us to the next level.”