Best Says She’s Just Like the Rest

Michele Granger, 17, is junior-class president and spends two hours a day organizing for the junior/senior prom at Valencia High School.

She is also said to be the best women’s softball pitcher in the world.

Last February, Granger pitched a perfect game, a no-hitter and recorded a save for the United States in the World Softball Championships in Auckland, New Zealand.

Last week, Granger pitched a no-hitter Tuesday in a 5-0 victory over Savanna. On Thursday, she pitched a perfect game for her 22nd career no-hitter--a Southern Section record--in a 5-0 victory over Western. She pitched another perfect game Friday, a 1-0 victory over Fullerton, in the first round of the Woodbridge tournament.

For most, the on- and off-field high school accomplishments would appear incomparable. For Granger, they are lumped together.

“I like the games--all of them,” she said. “You’ve got to take them as they come. But it’s not like softball is my whole life. I do other things too.”

Granger, The Times’ Player of the Week, enjoys talking about her extra-athletic activities. She is proud of being class president, and organizing an unforgettable prom is important to her.

But when it comes to her softball skills, Granger has little to say.

“My pitching has improved a lot since I started, I guess,” she said. “After next year, I want to get a scholarship for college and hopefully play softball in the Olympics if it makes it (as an exhibition sport) for ’88.”

This season, Granger has pitched three perfect games and nine no-hitters, and has 318 strikeouts in 137 innings.

According to Don Sarno, her personal pitching coach, Granger (11-7) has just begun to tap her potential.

“Right now, I think Michele is the best women’s softball pitcher in the world,” Sarno said. “I’ve worked with lots of pitchers both nationally (including Cal Poly Pomona’s Rhonda Wheatley, the winningest softball pitcher in the NCAA) and internationally, but her ability and desire are tremendous.”

At 14 and again at 15, Granger pitched the Santa Monica Raiders--an 18-and-older team--to the U.S. Women’s Softball Nationals championship. And at 16, she helped the U.S. team win the gold medal at the World Championships in Auckland.

Granger is planning another pitching vacation this summer. She expects to play in a number of tournaments, including the Olympic Festival in North Carolina and the Pan-American Games in Indianapolis.

Just the life of an everyday 17-year-old, Michele?

“Sure it is,” she said. “My life is not any different than anyone else’s, and I’m not that different, either. Some people are real smart or real tan, I just play softball well. I’m a regular, normal teen-ager.”

Michele Granger

Valencia High School

Position: Pitcher.

Height, Class: 5-10, Junior.

Last Week: Granger pitched a no-hitter and struck out 31 of 42 batters in 14 innings in a 5-0 victory Tuesday over Savanna. Granger pitched a perfect game for her 22nd career no-hitter--a Southern Section record--in a 5-0 victory Thursday over Western. She struck out 18. Friday, Granger pitched another perfect game, a 1-0 victory over Fullerton, in the first round of the Woodbridge tournament.

Season: Granger (11-7) has pitched three perfect games and nine no-hitters, and has struck out 318 of 487 batters in 137 innings.

Orange County Prep Player of the Week