As she begins her second year as Catasauqua’s head softball coach, Erika Proctor will continue to trust the process.

The Rough Riders are coming off an 0-18 season, but Proctor is confident her returnees benefited for their futures.

“We are in another rebuilding year,” said Proctor, a 2010 Roughies graduate and standout as well as a former assistant coach. “After last season, the players realized what they need to do to step up and do what they need to do to succeed. We will have enough players again to field a team so the players will be put to the test again this season, knowing we do not have many backups.”

Proctor noted that the Roughies will have to deal with the losses of infielders Katrina Mullin and MJ Price.

“We lost two key senior starters that held down the right side of our infield,” said Proctor. “MJ and Katrina were a key part with a lot of varsity experience between the two that we will have to replace with our incoming freshmen.”

Proctor will look to senior pitcher and senior catcher Brianna Deschaine to anchor and lead her young squad.

“Our key returners are Makayla Bird as our lone pitcher who took on the role knowing we are lacking quality pitching, and Briana Deschaine is the other part of our battery behind the plate,” stressed Proctor. “They are the most experienced with varsity time on the team and our key leaders in driving their teammates to prepare them for varsity play.”

Aside from the batterymate, Proctor will also look to junior Ava Wetzel, and sophomore Madi Beierle. Freshman Ciannah Gonzalez has already made an impression.

“Junior Ava Wetzel will hold down the hot corner at third base,” said Proctor. “She brings in the second most experience and brings the energy with her play. Madi Beierle will come in from the outfield and take her place at first base, replacing Katrina, who graduated last year. She will be the key asset holding down the right side of the field and at the plate on offense.

“Ciannah Gonzalez, a freshman, who will split time in the middle infield positions. She has the knowledge to lead the middle infield and teach the other players where to go for each play.”

Proctor sees plenty of promise for the present as well as the future.

“We will have a great upcoming class the next two years,” beamed Proctor. “We are preparing our underclassmen on varsity now on what they need to work on to secure their spot in the lineup. The current varsity players need to put in the dedication and time and if they do, we will have a successful season overall.”