After an early season of optimism and a relatively strong start, Catasauqua’s Connie Mack team is struggling to hold on to a playoff spot in the Lehigh Valley Connie Mack League (LVCM).

Catasauqua will need a win in its final game of the season against Palmerton Tuesday night – a game that was suspended after in the top of the second with Catasauqua leading 3-0 – to have a chance to grab the 12th and final spot for the postseason.

After a forfeit over Wilson Monday, Catty raised its record to 9-8 overall. They began Monday’s play a half-game behind Stroudsburg (9-8) for the 12th spot.

Catty had an overall 5-3 record going into the Palmerton game June 18. From there, they have lost five of their last nine games.

It has been a battle of consistency involving a number of factors throughout the season. Catasauqua did participate in the LVCM playoffs last season.

“We still have an outside chance at the 12th seed,” said head coach Jim Kober. “We need Stroudsburg to lose its last game and we need to beat Palmerton.

“We’re missing key players due to injury, vacations, and basketball. We don’t have a deep roster. We got hurt by rain and the district playoffs with regards to our schedule. I think we played 14 games in 21 days.

“With such a small roster, it’s tough.”

Jason Schneck is the team’s leading hitter with an overall .429 clip followed by Adam Reinhart (. 391), Derek Troxell (. 391) and Cole Schiffer (. 333).

Andrew Torres leads the team in RBIs with 20, and Reinhart has a team-high 18 hits.

On the mound, Torres leads the team in wins (3-3, 3.03 ERA) and strikeouts (28). Schneck (2-2, 3.43, 20 strikeouts) and Jacob Drummer (2-3, 3.50, 20 strikeouts) have two wins apiece.

Now it is just a matter of winning Tuesday night.

“We have had our ups and downs,” said Kober. “We’ll just play hard and see what happens.”