Sara Vinca is a threat in the batter’s box — and to all opponents who stand in it after her.

The Moniteau junior batted .560 last season and is on an equally torrid pace in 2005. Against Karns City Friday in a 10-8 win, she sped around the bases for an inside-the-park home run.

She’s equally as dangerous as a pitcher. Throwing in the mid-50 mph range, which equates to an 85-mph fastball in baseball, Vinca hasn’t fully gained command of her pitches.

That equals walks and, sometimes, hit batters.

Call her Wild Thing.

She did better in relief against the Gremlins, striking out eight and walking just four in 5Ï innings, and she turned in one of her best efforts of the season Saturday against Oil City, striking out 14 and walking just three in 10 innings of work.

This season, she has struck out 41 and has walked 26 in just 28Ï innings.

The strikeout numbers are good. The walk totals are getting better.

Vinca has been a pitcher for only two years, so she’s a mere rookie in the art of fast-pitch softball, a skill that takes many years to develop.

“It’s really coming along,” said Vinca, who is a left-hander — another wrinkle that makes her even harder to hit. “I walked two more than I struck out in my first game and I struck out (three) more than I walked in my second game.”

Vinca is working hard at the craft. Last summer, Mercyhurst College pitching guru Jim Moats tinkered with her delivery and mechanics to get her more in tune with just where her pitches are going.

“He’s taught me pretty much everything,” Vinca said.

She is also developing a changeup.

Moniteau coach Danny Hindman said that once Vinca puts everything together, she will be hard to beat.

“Those (walk) numbers so far have been better,” Hindman said. “I’ve been riding her pretty hard on that. I tell her she has a good defense behind her. I think by the end of the season, look out.”

There is nothing amiss when it comes to Vinca’s hitting.

“She’s always been a very, very aggressive hitter,” Hindman said. “Her biggest asset is her speed. She can hit for power and bunt at will.”

Vinca and DeMatteis were in quite a batting race last season and several times during the campaign the duo had the same number of hits in the same number of at-bats.

DeMatteis ended up edging Vinca out for the team batting crown.

“It was a blast,” Vinca said. “We were neck and neck the whole year. We looked at the stats every once in awhile, but we tried not to look because we felt it would take away from the team.”

This season, the Warriors lineup is producing runs at a prodigious rate, much like it did last season.

Vinca, who shares time in the circle with sophomore Martina Burk, usually doesn’t have to worry about run support.

Vinca hits third in the potent lineup ahead of DeMatteis and behind leadoff hitter Jenna Beatty and No. 2 batter Kelly McMillen to form a potent top of the order.

“It all looks good on paper,” Hindman said. “Hopefully we can keep it going.”