In the first half, the position was a good headache, with the likes of Boston Smith, Christian Reyes, Hayden Christiansen, and Joey Spence providing a solid rotation of catchers.

No one stood out though more than Smith, with the back stopper’s elusive defense, coupled with an .825 OPS and three home runs drawing the attention of the Washington Nationals, who drafted Smith in the sixth round of the MLB Draft.

But now in the second half, the biggest cause for concern has gone from who to play, to who can play.

Opening up the second half season, recent high school graduate Christian Reyes would remain with the Cutters. Coming into the second half, back stops TJ Rauchbaumer and Matt Flaherty also came in to contest for the spot behind the plate.

Christian Reyes of the Williamsport Crosscutters gets on his gear and as he gets ready to play during a recent game at Journey Bank Ballpark. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

But quickly, the position of catcher began to unravel.

On his debut during the last week of the first half season, Flaherty would slap a single and, while attempting to run to second, suffer a leg injury that had kept him out of the rest of the first half as well as the first week of the second half season.

With Flaherty out and Reyes seen as a budding talent defensively, the buck stopped at TJ Rauchbaumer to carry Williamsport behind the plate.

Rauchbaumer would prove to be as advertised, starting in three of the first four games of the second half season. During that span, the Missouri native would concede 1.7 stolen bases per outing. The mark was a far cry from Reyes’ behind the plate, with the Las Vegas native allowing 10 stolen bases on 11 attempts in his only start.

Fast forward to game five of the second half season last Sunday, in a crucial contest against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

TJ Racherbaumer of the Williamsport Crosscutters tries to make a tag at home during a recent game at Journey Bank Ballpark. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

There, the injury bug would hit the catching unit once again.

Early in Sunday’s game, starting catcher Christian Reyes was struck by a bat on a backswing, with it being reported that Reyes was not able to hear out of his left ear and was dizzy immediately after the contact. Reyes has not appeared in a game since as of Wednesday.

The result forced Rauchbaumer’s hand again. Despite the catching change and a rotation of five pitchers, Williamsport allowed three stolen bases, picking off one, and throwing out two on route to a crucial 8-6 win that saw Billtown above .500 for the first time in the second half.

Now entering this week, after becoming the shakiest part of the lineup, the reemergence of Matt Flaherty could mean that the position can be a focal point for the Cutters once again.

Flaherty made his second half debut on Monday against the Trenton Thunder, and quickly proved he was worth the wait. Defensively, the Lake Zurich, Illinois native would not allow a single stolen base. At the plate, he would only go three for four with two runs batted in, including an RBI double in the eighth inning that solidified a road Billtown win.

Going into Wednesday Flaherty is now four for five at the plate, with the back stop not allowing a single stolen base.

The Illinois native looks to have paired well with Rauchbaumer, who is set to complete the depth at catcher behind the plate.

Williamsport’s depth will continue to be tested this week, with the Cutters in the middle of a 12-game stand. It continues to host the West Virginia Black Bears going into Friday, with the stretch concluding Sunday at the conclusion of a two game series in State College against the Spikes.