EMLENTON — When Karly Kaufman hits a softball, people take notice.

And, in some cases, cover.

A career .413 hitter, the A-C Valley senior has turned mashing a softball into an art form this season.

"I don't remember seeing anyone hit a softball harder than she can," said A-C Valley coach Lane Larimore, who has been around the game for 13 years.

How good has Kaufman's season been at the plate? A 2-for-4 game sends her average plummeting.

Kaufman is batting .512 with five home runs and 20 RBI in 41 at-bats. Her slugging percentage is 1.024 and she has struck out only three times.

Teams try to pitch around her, but it rarely works because of Kaufman's approach to hitting.

"See the ball, hit the ball," Kaufman said, "no matter where it is.

"On a 3-0 count, I'll usually swing just in case it is a strike."

And when Kaufman swings, she rarely is cheated.

"I always swing as hard as I can," Kaufman said.

Kaufman hit in the cleanup spot for much of the season, but Larimore recently installed his most feared hitter at the top of the order. The move was designed to get Kaufman more at-bats and better pitches to hit.

"And there's nothing wrong with starting off a game 1-0," Larimore said.

No matter where she hits in the order, the first baseman-pitcher has additional motivation.

A-C Valley started its softball program when Kaufman was in the eighth grade. During her freshman season, she and her teammates had their eyes set on this year as the "dream season," Kaufman said.

"I really just went into this season with the mindset that I'm a senior and I want to prove myself to everyone," Kaufman said, "This is the year that has been in all of our minds."

A-C Valley is 7-4, but could be 10-1 if not for games against Moniteau, Clarion and Redbank Valley that got away from the Falcons.

Kaufman is 6-3 as a pitcher with a 2.49 ERA. Her walks are way down — only eight in 56Z\c innings this season — but it was her wild streak that made her virtually unhittable at times last year.

"Teams have caught on that she's going to be around the plate," Larimore said. "It has hurt her a little bit, but she is still pretty effective."

And whatever runs she surrenders, she usually can make up with her bat.

Even Kaufman is amazed sometimes by how hard she drives the ball.

"I've always hit the ball really hard," Kaufman said. "I kind of know it when I hit a home run. It just feels different. But, I don't watch. I put my head down and run and the first base coach tells me if it is over the fence or not."

Kaufman, who will play next season at George Mason University, has bloodlines going for her, too.

Her great-grandfather was Claude Ritchey, who played 13 seasons in the major leagues with several teams, including the Pittsburgh Pirates, from 1900-1906.

Ritchey hit 18 career home runs. Kaufman has 10.

"My grandpa tells me stories about him all the time," Kaufman said. "It's pretty neat."

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Record breaker. Karns City track and field athlete Amber Saunders set a school record in the high jump at 5 feet, 5 inches Tuesday.To put that jump in perspective, the state champion in Class AA last year, Danae Dunchak of Northern Cambria, cleared 5-5.n

Dominating Dunkle. Karns City softball pitcher Brandi Dunkle is mowing down opposing hitters at a prodigious rate this week.The Gremlins have played three games in the last three days and Dunkle has won all three while allowing one run on six hits with 28 strikeouts and one walk in 17 innings.Dunkle tossed a four-inning perfect game Wednesday.