Step one is complete.

Now the Raiders want to go further.

The Cornell High School varsity baseball team made the WPIAL playoffs for the first time in the school's 39-year history of playing baseball last season.

The post-season trip was a huge boost for Cornell, but after losing in the first round last season, the program is gunning for more in 2008.

"Our goal is to make the playoffs again, but it's also more than that," said head coach Nate Torboli.

"We're trying to win a section championship for the first time in school history."

Torboli said Section 2-A is wide open, with his club and Avella the front-runners. Chartiers-Houston, Clairton, Monessen and local rival Our Lady of the Sacred Heart are also in the mix.

"Right know it's anybody's section," said Torboli.

With eight starters back from last year's team -- which finished 8-12 overall and 7-5 in section play -- the optimism is certainly backed up by evidence.

Senior Matt Korzen, who was among the team leaders with a .450 batting average last year, is a returning starter in center field and one of the team's top offensive weapons.

Senior Roman Belmonte is a returning starter in right field while juniors Christian Jackson and Brett Gibson both saw a lot of time at the corner spots last year, giving the team a very deep, experience outfield.

Sophomore Dan Bosetti is a returning starter at first base. The team will get a big boost with the return of junior Billy Mackey at second base; Mackey was the starter there at the outset of last year but missed the bulk of the season with a broken hand.

Junior Ryan McCutcheon is one of the team's top athletes and returns to start at shortstop.

At third will be sophomore Zack Schivner who started and hit cleanup as a freshman in 2007.

Sophomore Andrew Werya is expected to take over catching duties this season -- one of the few new starters on the team -- and Torboli is impressed with what he's seen from the youngster.

Korzen, Belmonte, McCutcheon and Bosetti give the team a deep pitching staff. Hard-throwing Bryan Korzen, a 6-foot-4 freshman, should also see time on the mound.

"Overall I think this year our pitching is definitely going to be stronger than it was last year," said Torboli.

"I'm a little concerned with our infield play, but our strong points will be our hitting and our pitching."

One other thing the Raiders bring back this year that they've lacked at times in the past is enthusiasm.

"The kids are definitely excited to get back," said the coach.

"We're ready to get out there."