Briana Perez: No. 1 in the 2017 Class
Briana Perez: No. 1 in the 2017 Class
Briana Perez, a softball player at Alhambra High who is headed to UCLA next year, is named FloSoftball's No. 1 senior in the 2017 class.
Briana Perez, a senior at Alhambra High School and player for OC Batbusters-Stith, came in at No.1 in our final 2017 Hot 100 Rankings. She moved up from the third spot in our last 2017 rankings because of recent developments on and off the field as a strong leader. This FloSoftball All-American is headed to the 2017 Junior Women's National Team tryouts in December. "I was super surprised. I am just so thankful for the opportunity and am excited to see how tryouts go. Getting the opportunity to wear red, white, and blue is pretty motivational. So I definitely don't want to lose focus."
This Bruin-bound shortstop has a lot ahead of her. She chose UCLA because she wanted the chance to play for a national championship on a team with a great coaching staff, while also earning a degree from one of the top schools. Luckily, she will see a very familiar face when she arrives at Westwood.
"I am most looking forward to getting to play with my sister, Kylee, again and just to play with new people and have new experiences," Briana says. "Kylee told me about all the struggles she had having to manage her time and stuff. It's nice to have a mentor and that will make it easier for me when I get there."Briana started playing softball when she was 8 and grew up in a very supportive family. Her parents are no doubt excited to watch their daughters play on the same field again.
"We still smile when we chat about their journey starting from Martinez Little League Softball to now representing such a prestigious University and Softball program," Briana's father, Jeff, says. "Thinking about next year, getting the opportunity to watch them both on the UCLA field at the same time is a dream come true."
Briana has watched her sister accomplish so much and it's no surprise that Kylee is her biggest inspiration.
"Watching her go through the D1 softball with Type 1 diabetes is definitely inspiring. She has been really good with it and always keeps up with it. It's been rough a couple times on the road but she definitely handles it really well and is always on top of it."
The sisters have a very close relationship. Briana was very quiet growing up, allowing Kylee to do most of the talking.
Briana is a very humble, happy person who plans on becoming a nurse one day. Her dad is very proud of the person and player Briana has become."Watching and coaching Bri at a young age was full of laughs," Jeff says. "She really had no idea how fast she was. When friends or family would comment on her speed, I would shake my head and say 'she runs like a dogs chasing her.'"
Briana may be heading off to UCLA soon, but she is going to enjoy her senior year by making new memories with her close friends and family and enjoying her last games on the field for Alhambra High.
"I am just going to keep pushing myself and finish with a strong senior year," Briana says. "I will set some new goals for myself, just focus on the fundamental stuff. Each day, I definitely have to understand that softball is a game of failure and keep learning. It's going to be rough sometimes, but it's worth it."
Q&A with Briana Perez
Do you have a favorite select tournament?
The recent trip to Florida last weekend with my team to the D9 Sun Classic Fall Showcase. We stayed in a hotel and got to room with our teammates. We bonded as a team a lot. And it was just a fun tournament.
What do you like to do outside of softball?
I am usually hanging out with friends and family. I like to go boating and camping. I try to do things that are kind of laid back because I'm pretty busy during season.
What is your favorite family vacation spot?
Favorite house boating spot is at Lake Powell , on the border of Utah and Arizona. We rent a houseboat when we go there for about a week. It's beautiful there.
What is your greatest strength on the field?
My greatest strength is adapting and adjusting to what I'm told about what I need to work on.
Do you have any softball superstitions?
I always put my elbow pad on before I put my helmet on. I always have to have a wristband on my left wrist.
When did you know that you would play in college?
I was still pretty shocked when I got a couple offers. It was still really surprising to me. But it was probably around my freshman year when it started to hit me that I was being offered and recruited. That's when I knew.
How do you prepare before games?
I like to listen to music and keep things light and laid-back with my teammates.
Favorite post-game meal?
I'm not too picky with food. I like a lot of stuff, so anything is good. Especially when I'm really hungry.
How would your friends describe you?
My friends would describe me as sarcastic because I'm never really serious. They would say I'm weird and always smiling. They bring out the weirdness in me.
Any funny softball stories?One experience I'll never forgot was when I was about 10 years old and playing catch with my sister. She threw the ball, I missed it, and it knocked out a couple of my teeth. Luckily they were just baby teeth!
The funniest softball story I have was when one time I was driving myself to a high school game with just my sliders and socks on. I thought I had put my pants in the back of my car so once I got to the field I panicked when I realized I didn't have them. I called my mom who was at home and after looking nearly everywhere, she found them at the end of my driveway. So they must have fell out of my car door as I was leaving.
Country or Pop? Pop.
Cats or Dogs? Cats.
Beach or Mountains? Beach.
Introvert or Extrovert? A mix of both.