The Lady Bulldogs had their BCSL American division title streak end at four in 2007 and they want to start up another streak in 2008.

"I’m not happy with it," said Rutherford head coach Helen Antzoulides about losing the division. "I know that the returning players are not happy with it either. We want to bring back the old Rutherford back."

Coming into this season Rutherford head coach Helen Antzoulides is very confident that her team will return to the top of the American after finishing second in the league and having a 19-8 overall record.

"I’m very excited about the season," said Antzoulides whose team has played four scrimmages as of last week. "We have a lot of potential and a ton of leadership. I think so far it has mixed in well."

While the Lady Bulldogs lost to graduation the likes of Susan Fox, Sarah Rylick, Caitlin Murphy and Jackie Corcoran, she is confident especially with the return of their battery of senior pitcher Veronica McGorry and senior catcher Tricia Connelly. Both positions are the two of the most important on the softball field.

In McGorry she was an All American first team recipient and Antzoulides believes she will be first team All Bergen County when it is all said and done at the end of this season.

"She’s a special athlete as a three-sport athlete," said Antzoulides about McGorry who had a 14-7 record and a 0.93 ERA. "She could play anywhere on the field."

In addition to pitching, McGorry is the team’s best hitter coming back with a .453 batting average. Connelly is the best slugger coming back as she led the team with 29 RBI last season.

Antzoulides and the rest of the returning Lady Bulldogs can’t forget the 1-0 loss to Caldwell in the Group 2 North 2 state semi-finals. "Veronica out-pitched a Penn State-bound pitcher and we had more opportunities," said Antzoulides.

Backing up McGorry in the circle is junior Briellyn Brancato. She finished with a 5-1 record last season with the only loss coming in the county tournament to Indian Hills.

Leading the infield for the returnees is senior second baseman Jackie Kressaty. In the outfield there is senior Lindsay Fitzpatrck. The other outfielders are junior Kara Feccanin who missed all last season after breaking her collarbone, junior Priscilla Moposta along with junior Brittany O’Keefe and sophomore Nicole Leonard. Both O’Keefe and Leonard, who are also on the basketball team, did not come out for the softball team last year, but are on the field this year.

Two other seniors expected to see playing time are Patty Arias and Carina Trinidad.

Also looking to make a big impact this season is a pair of freshmen in twins, Paige and Jenna Goldsack and first and third base. Another player expected to see time at first and third base is junior Alexia Silver.

With several new parts this season, Antzoulides said that she is working on the lineup with a couple of weeks before the start of the season.

In terms of the American, Antzoulides believes that the main team that Rutherford will have to beat out for the division is Tenafly.