CHICORA — It's one thing to field a team with talent, but Mike Simpson's squad has the record to go with it.

The Karns City softball coach watched his team absorb its first conference loss of the season against Rocky Grove Thursday.

But the Gremlins rebounded with a 14-1, five-inning victory over East Forest on Monday, moving the team's Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference mark to 9-1, 10-3 overall.

"I don't know if this is the most talented group we've had here," said Simpson, who is in his fifth season as the team's head coach. "But it's definitely the best as far as coming together and playing as a team."

KC's last playoff appearance came in 2005, when the team was knocked out by Cranberry.

The Gremlins are hoping for bigger and better things in 2007, though they will have to get there without starting pitcher Ashton Pakutz.

The junior broke a bone in her pitching hand in the loss to Rocky Grove and is out for the season.

"We still have Brandi Dunkle," said Simpson. "She and Ashton went back and forth between starts for the first part of the season.

"At the beginning of the year, we figured we had two good pitchers, so why not give them both some starts?" he added.

That philosophy will pay dividends, now that Dunkle will carry the load for the duration of the season.

With Monday's win, Dunkle moved her record against KSAC competition to 4-1. The sophomore has recorded nine earned runs in 41Z\c innings, 34 strikeouts and 11 walks.

While the Gremlins' pitching has frustrated opponents, KC's offense is tormenting them.

Entering this week, the team's lineup featured six regular players batting at least .333, not including Pakutz and her .370 average.

Setting the table is junior leadoff hitter Allyson Kepple, who leads the team with a .638 on-base percentage.

"She's only struck out three times this year," Simpson said. "She's got a real eye for the ball and that's why she's our leadoff hitter."

The second, third and fourth spots in the lineup are occupied by Samantha Pyle (.486 batting average), Samantha Bly (.444) and Haley Callihan (.419).

And then there's the team speed the Gremlins bring into every game.

Kepple and Pyle had 10 stolen bases each entering this week, while Callihan (7) and Bly (5) also are threats on the basepaths.

"We watch Mike for the signs, and when he tells us to go, we go," said Pyle, the team's catcher. "It has really helped out in scoring runs."

"Most of the time I give them the sign to steal, but sometimes it's hard for them to resist and they just take off," said Simpson.

An improved defense has also contributed to the team's success.

"We're a lot better on defense," said center fielder Jessica Spafford. "We're always talking to each other out there.

"Plus, I think the biggest thing is confidence," she added. "Last year, we doubted ourselves in the field. Now, we have confidence."

"We came in feeling positive about this year," said Simpson. "We knew we had experience with our three four-year starters (Callihan, Pyle and Spafford) and we thought we'd be able to fill in around them."

Karns City will look for its 10th conference victory at Clarion-Limestone on Wednesday.

East Forest 000 10x x—1 2 1Karns City 246 2xx x—14 9 2Jen Davis, Becky Hoover (3), Stace Kandray (3), Jenna Cotterman (4) and Ashley Oliver; Brandi Dunkle, Lisa Kaylor (4) and Samantha Pyle.

W: Dunkle (3 K, 1 BB.

L: Davis (1 K, 5 BB).

East Forest: Kala Paulsen 1B, Danielle Kirkwood 1B, Nicole Geyer R

Karns City (10-3, 9-1): Allyson Kepple 2R RBI, Samantha Pyle 4R, Samantha Bly 2-1B 2R 4 RBI, Haley Callihan 1B 2R 2 RBI, Jessica Spafford 1B R RBI, Brandi Dunkle 1B 2B 3 RBI, Alyssa Williams 2-1B 2R 2 RBI, Erica Fallecker R, Lisa Kaylor 1B RBI

Wednesday: Karns City at Clarion-Limestone