Welcome to the inaugural column of Catty Corner? Yes, it is the name of a popular pub in town as well as in Nazareth, but a column about sports - present, past, and future - in the Rough Rider world. (Although, I would always welcome a legendary cheesesteak from the spot).

DOUBLE TROUBLE: For starters, the Roughies’ track team is in the final chapters of the historic career of Hailey and Hamaad Jenkins. The brother-and sister tandem have just the district and possible state meet ahead before they will close out their athletic careers.

Hailey recently completed a seemingly impossible task of winning the Colonial League 100 in four consecutive years, and she had her share of high finishes in the 200. Hailey also has played a key role in the 400 relay, and the foursome could be a force at districts and states.

Aside from her track prowess, Hailey was regarded as one of the area’s premier guards over the last four years, as she became a 1,000-point-plus career scorer.

She will go down in the annals of Catty athletics as one of the school’s greatest female athletes. Head coach Kyle Rusnock had one of the highest compliments when he described Hailey as, “having the spectators in awe when she is competing.”

Her brother’s career often was overshadowed by her performances as well as being part of a veteran core on the basketball court.

Yet, Hamaad had a successful track and basketball career, and he is extremely focused and determined to excel at districts to punch his ticket to states. Like his sister, Hamaad was a mainstay on the basketball court since his freshman year.

They both will continue their careers next year with Hailey on the basketball court at William Paterson, and Hamaad on the track at St. Bonaventure University.

However, they both should be remembered as blue-collar working athletes who always had it in fifth gear on the court and in the field.

WILL THEY HAVE A DATE?: Upon this writing, Catty’s baseball team was waiting to hear if they would be invited to the district playoffs. Wednesday marked the ending of all games in the district, and the Roughies (8-12) were the sixth seed in the Class 4A bracket, a game and percentage points ahead of Pine Grove (7-13).

It will be their first appearance since 2021 when they lost to Palmerton in the opening round.

Whatever the outcome, skipper Steve Bradley did a great job in further cultivating a young team that lost some key games due to their inexperience. Bradley now will have an experienced group coming back next year.

THEY HAVE A DATE: Contrary to rumors about it ending, the Catasauqua-Northampton annual Thanksgiving Day tilt will happen on Nov. 26. It will be the 101st meeting, and Northampton has won 11 straight games, last year’s being 45-0.

The game still matters to some of the old-timers in town, but it has lost most of its luster with the younger crowds. It also hasn’t helped that the recent games have been uncompetitive.

If the Roughies have an over .500 season, it can change the complexion of the game.

The Roughies open the season against Wilson Aug. 28.

REMEMBER THE DATE: It was 25 years ago that Catasauqua’s baseball team last won a Colonial League title in 2001.

The most notable player from that team was future pro catcher Anthony Recker, who hit .379 with four homers and 20 RBIs.

Manager Tim Hurd had a deep cast of players who hit above .300. Others included shortstop Josh Dirany (.427, 2 HR, 17 RBIs), centerfielder Jody Geiger (.425, 1 HR, 14 RBIs), left fielder Mark Moser (.477, 4 HR, 31 RBIs), first baseman Paul Bilous (.383, 5 HR, 21 RBIs), second baseman Kyle Reifinger (.345, 1 HR, 19 RBIs), third baseman Jon Laudenslager (.304, 1 HR, 12 RBIs), and right fielder Jason Moll (.354, 0 HR, 12 RBIs).

Josh Knecht (5-1, 1.87 ERA, 37 strikeouts in 41 innings) headed the staff, and Dirany (4-0, 2.60 ERA, 39 K in 30 IP), Geiger, and Moser stabilized the bullpen.

PHILLY FRONT: What a difference a week (0r a few more days) makes. The Phillies were off to an 8-1 start under new manager Don Mattingly, and the Flyers and Sixers advanced to the second round of the playoffs.

All signs pointed to a busy late spring in Philly. Well, it didn’t last as long as expected.

Mattingly still seems to be pushing all the right buttons, and the Flyers looked overmatched against the Hurricanes. But the Flyers appear to be back on the postseason track.

The big disappointment is the Sixers, primarily Joel Embiid. Yes, he had an appendectomy, but Embiid again proved to be soft and out of shape. Sixers’ fans were euphoric when Embiid looked like he finally hit his peak, but he once again fizzled. Fittingly, Embiid has played in 490 games and missed 499. Still, Embiid is likely to return next season, as he has three years left on his $193 million contract and the takers will likely be none. GM Darryl Morey already is projected to get the ax.

FOLLOW THE BOUNCING BALL: North Catty began its summer basketball season Monday night and the Catty League will begin May 21 under legendary basketball guru Eric Snyder, who has run it since 1985.