For Sara Hamil, it's all softball, all of the time — at least for now.

The Butler High School senior plays fast-pitch softball year-round for the Thunder Elite, an 18-under traveling team based at the Thunderplex, an indoor facility in Vienna, Ohio.

After playing approximately 65 games from May through August for Thunder Elite outdoors, Hamil is playing on the team's winter squad indoors. That season started a week ago and runs through February.

"It makes us better as a team because we're playing and practicing together all the time," Hamil said. "Come summer, we all know each other pretty well."

Hamil and Jodi Womer of West Middlesex are the only Pennsylvania girls on the Thunder Elite squad. Hamil formerly played for the Rampage, a summer fastpitch team in New Castle.

"That's where Coach (Dave) Anderson first saw me play and he asked me to play for him," Hasmil said. "I liked their travel schedule and their facilities."

The Thunderplex complex features outdoor fields and an indoor field that includes a regulation-size infield, small outfield and target areas to hit for extra bases.

A big girl physically, Hamil plays first base and hit .418 with approximately six homers and 40 RBI last summer. St. Louis, Raleigh, Montreal, New York and Cincinnati were among the team's tournament stops.

Thunder Elite won 70 percent of its games and qualified for nationals in Florida last summer, but was unable to participate because of a scheduling conflict.

Hamil struck out only 11 times all season, only seven times swinging.

"Sara makes contact, so we call on her to sacrifice bunt quite a bit," Anderson said. "Infielders play back in respect for her power, so if there's a runner at third, Sara drops a bunt down to get her home.

"With a runner at third, less than two out and Sara at the plate, that run is scoring 100 percent of the time."

Hamil committed only two errors all season at first base.

"She's very agile for someone her size," Anderson said. "Sara provides a big target to throw to and she scoops balls out of the dirt as well as anybody.

"She's saved us a ton of throwing errors."

Hamil did not play for the Butler High School softball team last spring, but plans to return this spring under first-year coach Lindsay Partridge.

She has received college interest from West Liberty and Wheeling Jesuit in West Virginia, Seton Hill and Slippery Rock.

"More than likely, she'll be a designated hitter or role player in college, but she can play at that level, absolutely," Anderson said.

A baseball player since age 5, Hamil switched to softball in sixth grade.

"My Dad figured that was my best bet to play in college," she said.

Her ultimate goal is to play softball and bowling in college. Hamil carries a 175 bowling average and averaged 204 during a recent Butler County Tournament of Stars youth event.

Hamil's career high game is 267. Her career-best series is 640.

"If I can find a school where I can do both, I'll be interested," Hamil said. "Robert Morris University is a possibility."

But that's a year away. Hamil has more immediate goals in mind.

"I want to hit 20 home runs next season," she said. "(Anderson) straightened out my batting stance and I'm extending my arms a lot more. I should be able to hit a home run every three games or so.

"I'm not the fastest runner in the world, so I have to hit the ball far to get around the bases. That's what I'm working on."