Throwing no-hitters is becoming a routine for Benicia High pitcher Danielle Kranz.
Kranz pitched a five-inning no-hitter on Wednesday as the Lady Panther varsity softball team beat visiting Vallejo, 12-0. It was the third no-hitter in the past four starts for Kranz, who has allowed only one hit in her past 21 innings pitched.
“I’ve been hitting my spots lately,” Kranz said. “I think my stamina has gotten better but I don’t feel any different.”
Kranz walked one and struck out 13 while improving to 8-3 on the year.
“I don’t expect anything less from her,” Benicia manager Jeana Gevas said after Kranz’s third consecutive no-hitter in conference play. “She’s definitely found a comfortable spot and sticking with her mechanics. Things are working for her and she’s dialed in.”
Fellow senior Chanler Powell has been getting dialed in at the plate. Powell, who will sign a commitment to Texas Southern University on Saturday, hit a grand slam in a eight-run second inning. It was the third straight game Powell has gone deep, tying her with Kranz for the team lead in home runs (3).
“I think I’m more relaxed,” Powell said. “I was too worried about doing well early in the season and now I’m just trusting my hands and trusting my body and just playing.”
Powell went 2-for-2 with two runs and four RBI. Alana Combes went 2-for-2 with a run and two RBI, and Brianna Schlattman went 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. Taylor Bloch and Annika Johnson each had two hits, with Johnson scoring twice.
Benicia improved to 10-4 overall and 8-0 in the Solano County Athletic Conference, one game ahead of Vanden (7-1 SCAC) for first place. The Lady Panthers host Vanden on Friday.
Benicia hasn’t been tested in SCAC play, winning 7-of-8 games by 10 runs or more while outscoring their conference opponents 120-3.
“We definitely wish we had more competition going into the playoffs,” Powell said. “It’s hard when you can’t practice against good, live competition.”
“The league isn’t as challenging as we’d hoped and it’s not really getting us ready for the postseason,” Gevas added. “But we’re trying to make the best of the situation.”
Kamille Bleich
Kranz throws third no-hitter of season