Few teams may be as excited for the 2012 regular season as the Guilford softball squad. Winners of 13 games a year ago and returning seven of nine starters, expectations are through the roof and the Indians are ready for the challenge.

Guilford returns nearly its entire core from its 2011 team that went 13-10 and qualified for the Class L State Tournament. Last season, the Indians' run was ended by Foran, the Class L state champion, in the second round of the tournament, but with so many pieces back there is reason to believe they can advance much further.

"I think we will be very competitive in our division. Foran, as a defending state champion, has to be considered the team to beat in our division," said Coach Steve Zajac.

One of the keys for Zajac's club will be consistency game in and game out. The Indians' longest win streak last year was three in the final week of the regular season, yet they were in nearly every game in which they lost, losing by a combined 18 runs in their 10 defeats. If Guilford can turn some of those close losses into wins and mount some serious winning streaks, they should be in a good position to contend for a conference or state crown.

The Indians return their starting pitcher, catcher, first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, and two outfielders, prompting Zajac to say at the end of last season that he thought his team could win the Southern Connecticut Conference Hammonasset Division in 2012. The two biggest returning players are the Guilford co-captains Leah Torre and Becky Mahoney. Torre was the team's starting pitcher and best hitter last season by striking out 188 batters in 146 innings to the tune of a 1.15 ERA while hitting .313 with four home runs and 12 RBI. As a junior, Torre was an All-State and New Haven Register All-Area selection for the second time while earning All-SCC Hammonasset Division honors for the third consecutive year. Mahoney will help the Indians' defense up the middle playing second base while also looking to build on her numbers from 2011 (.318 average, 14 RBI).

But the Indians have more than their two captains returning. Senior Brittney Maio will again work with Torre from behind the plate, where she was named an All-SCC team member a year ago. Maio proved to be more than just a defensive catcher as a junior, batting .409 with 15 RBI. Also returning is senior center fielder Jordyn Panicali, who last season hit .302 with a home run and 10 RBI. Senior third baseman Brittney Distante (10 RBI) and junior left fielder Gabie Lanouette (.419 average, 14 runs scored) also return, while senior Katie Sperry will be new to the mix in 2012, playing shortstop and teaming with Mahoney as Guilford's double-play tandem. Sperry will have big shoes to fill as short was previously occupied by four-year starter Tory Brinkley, who complied a 58-35 record in her Guilford tenure.

"The league will be competitive as always, and with multiple state champs from last year in our league, all of our games will be difficult," said Zajac.

Guilford hosts its first home game of the season on Thursday, April 5 against Shelton before hitting the road on Monday, April 9 for a date with Cheshire, then returns home on April 11 to take on Cross. The Indians then travel to Foran to take on the defending state champions on April 16 and will play rival Hand twice, at home on April 20 and on the road on May 7.