ADAMS TWP — The conversation at the Berkopec dinner table rarely strays very far from softball.

"We only talk about the game on the ride home, when we get home and then pretty much the rest of the night," said freshman leftfielder Brittany Berkopec with sarcasm. "We pretty much talk about softball all the time. It's part of life."

And it's been a good life for the Mars High School sister act of Brie Berkopec, the senior catcher, and younger sis Brittany.

Both are pounding the softball this season for the undefeated section champion Planets.

Following a 2-for-3 performance Thursday against Knoch, Brie is hitting .462 with one home run, 13 RBI and 10 doubles this season.

Brittany, the leadoff hitter for Mars, isn't lagging far behind her older sibling. After a 1-for-3 day against the Knights, she is hitting .404 with two home runs, 11 RBI and eight doubles.

Brie said she had little doubt her younger sister would make such a big impact in her first season of high school softball.

"I train with her all year long, so I know exactly what she is capable of," Brie said. "For her to come out and hit like that — I knew she could do it. It was just a matter of her knowing that she could do it."

Brie said she is amazed at how well her sister has handled the pressure of varsity softball as a freshman.

She should know. Brie handled the same pressure when she was a freshman designated hitter for the Planets four years ago.

Brie moved to third base her sophomore season before settling in at catcher last year as a junior.

"I've been a catcher all my life with different tournament teams," Brie said. "I love it. You can see everything from back there. You're basically in charge and when something goes wrong, I blame myself."

Brie has the temperament to be a catcher. Bubbly and engaging, she has developed into the unquestioned leader of the team and has cultivated a strong bond with her teammates, particularly pitcher Monica Glomb.

"Ithink Monica feels comfortable with Brie," said Mars coach Michele Goodworth, who always envisioned Brie moving into the catcher's role. "They've worked together for a long time."

And, of course, Brie has worked a lot with Brittany.

Once dinner is over and homework is finished, the two can be found on most late afternoons and early evenings playing catch in the backyard.

Darkness doesn't even put a kibosh on their softball. They turn on the electricity to the family barn, crank up the music and toss the softball around for hours.

Through it all, they encourage each other and kid with one another about But at the end of the day, Brie isn't shy about being the older sister and keeping Brittany humble.

"I think I keep her grounded pretty well," Brie said. "I keep her in her place most of the time if she gets a big head. But I give praise where praise is due. She's worked her butt off to be as good as she is."

Brittany hit a two-run home run against Valley to lead Mars to a 2-1 win onWednesday.

After the game, Brie complimented her sister, but also told her not to get carried away with it.

"She said, 'Yeah, it was a nice hit, just don't get cocky on me.'" Brittany said. "I was kind of mad at her for awhile, but then I said, 'Hey, wait,' and I understood what she was trying to do.

"It was thrilling to hit it because once I hit it, I knew it was gone," Brittany added. "But once you hit it, you have to get your head back into the game."

Next year will be a different experience for Brittany.

Brie will take her softball talents to Denison University, where she has already been anointed the starting catcher there next season.

That will leave Brittany as the torch bearer for the Berkopec clan.

And she's fine with it.

"I'm kind of excited she's going away because I get to catch next year, and I get her room at home," Brittany said, smiling.

But she paused, thinking about what life will be like without those nights of playing catch withBrie in the barn, or those days of comparing statistics and talking softball with her older sister and best friend.

"I'm going to miss her," Brittany said. "I'm going to call her really late at night and hope she picks up so I can talk to her, get answers for homework and get help with my swing. She knows what I'm like. She 'reads me.' I'll call her. We won't be too far apart."