Becton’s success in the state tournament has just given the team a yearning for wanting more.

The Lady Wildcats finished one game from the Group 1 North 2 state sectional final. Becton fell to Hoboken in the sectional semi-finals, 4-1 and head coach Dwight Hall along with his team will want to move up at least notch next season.

While the Lady Wildcats have most of its starters back for 2008, there will be some big holes to fill especially up the middle in the graduation of catcher Courtney Fonzetti, shortstop Amanda Giancaspro and centerfielder Katie Ondrof.

Giancaspro was first team All BCSL National while Fonzetti was second team and Ondrof garnered honorable mention honors.

"Those will be big shoes to fill," said Hall. "Replacing Amanda and Courtney will be especially tough, but we got some kids who will be moving up that we will look at."

Overall the team finished 17-7 and 15-3 in the BCSL National with only Secaucus ahead of them in the division.

"We were happy with the season although we wish that we would have gone a couple more games in the state tournament," said Hall. "We’re hoping next season to get a little more hitting and go further in the state tournament."

Leading the honors for Becton was junior first baseman Jessica Knapp who was pegged for second team All Bergen County along with first team All National. In Knapp she hit .587 with five home runs and 23 RBI.

"I felt that she deserved it and was definitely the best player in our league," said Hall. "She’s worked hard with her hitting. She has very fast hands and great eye coordination."

Joining Giancaspro and Knapp on the first team were sophomore pitcher Andi Nunziate and junior right fielder Lauren Cosentino. Freshman left fielder Alyssa Banca was picked for the second All BCSL National team.

In 2008 Hall and Becton will have its top three batters in the lineup returning in leadoff hitter Cosentino, Banca at the second spot and Knapp in the third hole. Both Cosentino and Banca are lefty hitters and give the Lady Wildcats a quality top of the lineup. Cosentino hit .520 and registered 15 stolen bases. Nunziate continued to improve in her sophomore season with a 17-7 record while compiling a 1.25 ERA and striking out 168 batters.

While making the state sectional semi-finals was something to be proud of, Hall points to the Lady Wildcats 2-0 victory over St. Mary’s in Rutherford. It was the first win over their rival in more than a decade.

"It was the first time that we had beaten them in I don’t know how long," said Hall. "It might have been 13 years since we had beaten them."

If Becton can fill in those crucial up the middle slots with some quality players, Becton will certainly knock on the door of first place in the league and also the state sectional finals.