August means downtime for Monica Glomb.

It's the only month every year when Glomb, who will be a sophomore pitcher for the Mars High School softball team this spring, gets to use her right arm for something other than throwing fastballs by opposing hitters.

It's the only time when the mall is the destination on a sunny afternoon instead of the circle.

"Relax," Glomb said of her plans. "Hang out with my friends."

And reintroduce herself to them.

Glomb has been a busy pitcher this summer - and a successful one.

July 28 in Columbus, Ohio, she tossed a no-hitter against a team from Missouri in the National Softball Association Easter Region softball nationals as a member of the Beaver County Hornets.

The Hornets, a 16-and-under team, finished ninth out of 119 teams in the tournament. Glomb's pitching had a lot to do with that.

She won four of the six games the team played, including that no-hitter.

"It was exciting," Glomb said. "I was one batter away from a perfect game, but I didn't even realize it."

When she came off the field at the end of the game, her father John told her of her feat.

"He said, 'You know, you just pitched a no-hitter,'" Glomb said. "At first I didn't believe it."

Rain washed away a chunk of the tournament, but it didn't wash away the stiff competition there.

"There were so many people there," Glomb said. "And they were all good. The competition was so hard, but it was fun."

Glomb has been playing for the Hornets for five years. The team is made up mostly of players from the Ambridge area.

Glomb, who helped Mars to a WPIAL playoff berth as a freshman last season, has never had to face her Hornet teammates before.

That will change in the spring when Mars and Ambridge will compete in the same class.

"It's going to be weird," Glomb said. "It's going to be hard."

Glomb has been a tireless worker to improve her pitching skills. If it is a softball league, Glomb is eager to play in it.

She will begin to pitch in a fall league early next month and has worked with Mars trainer Dale Boring for the last two years to get stronger.

"I do a lot of speed work with him," Glomb said. "I run and lift weights with him to help my endurance."

Endurance is something that Glomb usually needs with the Hornets.

The team sometimes plays as many as four games a day.

So pitching four times in seven days was a breeze for Glomb in Columbus.

"I get sore every once in a while," Glomb said. "But I'm used to it."

Glomb has noticed the difference since she began working on her speed and strength.

So has Mars softball coach Michele Goodworth.

"I just think all the hard work she puts in it is going to help her gain more confidence," Goodworth said. "We're looking forward to the next three years with her."

For now, though, Glomb is simply enjoying her lone island of tranquility in a sea of fastballs and drop pitches.

"Fall ball is right around the corner," Glomb said. "But I'll be ready."