The 2016 Hot 100 list was finalized earlier today with the release of the players ranked in the top 10 and the No. 1 rated player in the class was revealed as Mariah Lopez, the outstanding pitcher who’s won two PGF Nationals in a row now.

Mariah plays on the OC Batbusters – Haning/Stith team that is also the one that features the No. 1 player in the 2015 class, Amanda Lorenz.

I spoke to Mariah yesterday to let her know about the honor of being the top dog in the Hot 100… here are her thoughts and observations after getting the good news.

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FullCountSoftball.com: So you’re No. 1… what are your thoughts?
Mariah Lopez: I definitely wasn’t expecting this at all! It’s a great honor to just be anywhere in the top 100 and to just be mentioned in the whole thing. I’m really grateful and blessed to be No. 1, wow.

FCS.com: Were you aware that your Batbuster teammate, Amanda Lorenz, received the top spot in the 2015 class?
ML: Yes, I knew that and I definitely think she is No. 1 in her class although it could be a tie with all the other really good players and I’m sure she feels that way too. Amanda deserves it, she has worked so hard and a is great person all around. I think it was a really cool thing for her and now, for me to be like her, it’s great because she’s someone I look up to and a role model on the team. I love how Amanda is always pushing us to do better.

FCS.com: Being considered No. 1 in your class, is that added pressure or an honor in that you’re considered that highly?
ML: I feel like it’s a mixture of both, but it makes me want to work harder and do the best I can. It’s great to be recognized for my all the hard work I put in. Yes, the pressure now will be greater and the target on my back may be bigger, but this will make me work harder to show that, hey, I’m No. 1!

FCS.com: Does this process of being honored by club and college scouts and coaches validate your abilities and successes?
ML: Wow, it’s all mindboggling, really, that all those amazing college coaches and club coaches are aware of me and like my game. It feels really good that they’ve been watching and appreciate what I do… I don’t know what to say!

FCS.com: What do you think has been the key to your success?
ML: I definitely wouldn’t be here without the help and support of my coaches and teammates, they are the best there is. The coaches have been incredible—Gary Haning, Mike Stith, Mark Campbell, Toni Mascarenas and Nick Digeralamo, who has been working with me since I was about 13. He’s been a big mentor and was calling pitches when I was in the 14’s and is probably the coach I’m closet to. He’s is always looking out for me, he gets me and I get him. Without him I wouldn’t physically and mentally be who I am and I owe Nick and all my coaches, really, for what I’ve been able to do.

FCS.com: Has your development been aided by being with the Batbuster organization?
ML: Definitely. My teammates and coaches push me to lift weights, work hard and to stay focused. Looking back over the last year or two, it’s been a process of learning and even I forget sometimes that this year was my first throwing 18U so it’s been a really big thing to learn from Taylor (McQuillin) and Kaylee (Carlson) and to have the great competition we face… it’s the best of the best. Playing with the Batbusters, it’s the level right before college and playing at this level pushed me and made me want to be successful.

FCS.com: What drives you to be the best?
ML: My passion and my fire comes from playing with these girls and playing against the best competition there is. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else other than with these girls. Every practice and every game, I want to build myself into a better person. Being with these girls and coaches has shaped me into being a better player and woman. My fire is to play and to be with my coaches. Being in this position and these people, I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

FCS.com: Let’s go off the field for a second… what’s something people generally don’t know about you?
ML: (Laughs) It’s probably that I’m really kind of goofy, I’m kind of a dork! When I throw I’m straight-faced and people tell me I look mean and don’t look nice at all. Off the field, though, I love to be with my friends and make jokes and be dumb in a fun way. I have these two sides, serious when playing and goofy when I’m not. Ask Taylor or Amanda–they’ll say that’s who I am, but people who don’t know me wouldn’t realize that.

FCS.com: What’s been the highlight of softball career so far?
ML:Probably winning two PGF National championships in a row and I want to do it two more times in a row! And in college, I want to win championships too. There’s a lot of softball ahead and I plan on winning more.

FCS.com: Compare those two National Championships… the one in 2013 you pitched your 14U team to a title; this summer you watched from the dugout.
ML: I’m the type of person who wants ball in my hand and to finish the game. At the 14Us last year, of the 65 total innings my team played I probably pitched maybe 60 of those innings. I had pitched three games the day before and the coaches asked me if I wanted to go and I said definitely. I woke up the day of the championship and my arm was stiff, but I’m the type of person who, when you get this far, you want to finish it. I always want to be the person, but this year in 18’s with Taylor and Kaylee I knew coming onto the team that my role was to help win games, but Taylor would be throwing the big games. I knew my role was to learn and even though I was sitting out the championship game I was so proud of Taylor. She’s one of my best friends and is a role model to me. That was a great experience and I learned from it and know that I worked just as hard as all the other players and wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

FCS.com: It’s it hard to look ahead and know that, even though you’re No. 1 in your class, you’re going to not get the ball as much since Taylor has another year?
ML: Again, I’m learning from Taylor and she’s a great person and I enjoy hanging out and learning from her. I know that this is her senior year and she wants to go out with a bang and I want her to go out with a bang. We can win it again and we will do it again. That’s our plan, we’re going to do it again! The target is bigger than ever and we’re ready to fight for it.

FCS.com: Let’s go back to that 14U championship last year. You were sore and tired and gave up two first inning runs but tightened the screws and allowed Team Mizuno-Campbell to come back and win 3-2. Your memories of that game?
ML: I remember it like it was yesterday. I had thrown so many games and it was kind of tough for me to get locked in again at the start of the game. My velocity was really down, my arm was exhausted, but I mentally was ready to go and in that first inning my thinking was “I’m going to win this game.” All of us had played so many games and it was a slow start—in that inning I gave up a couple of hits off me and my teammates weren’t really hitting that much, but I wanted to pull through and give every single drop of what I had in me. After that first inning I knew I wasn’t going to let in any more runs and locked it down to do my part of winning this game. I let my teammates know, “Hey, were’ going to win this.”

FCS.com: What advice would you give to younger players who look up to you?
ML: My advice to younger players is to work hard, obviously, and to never sell yourself short. When I was younger, about 10 or 11, I wasn’t given much of a chance to throw. Nobody really believed I could be good at all. When I came on Mark (Campbell)’s team I didn’t know how to throw to a batter or anything, but it came in time. I learned to just believe in yourself and try and get better. If you have people behind you who are helping you, you can be the best. Don’t let anyone ever tell you can’t do it, because you can.

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What’s your GPA?
It’s a 3.5.

What do you want to study in college?
It goes back and forth. I like kinesiology or nursing but sometimes I think I’d like to be in sports journalism or broadcasting.

Tell us about your siblings…
My oldest sister, Makayla, is 13 and plays for the So Cal Choppers – Fausett 14U team which is new. My younger sister, Alexis, is eight and is a pretty good player, she always says, “I’m going to be the best of them all.” My brother, Gavin, is five and he’s the little crazy kid you see running around the fields at our games.

Favorite color?
Purple.

Favorite food?
Cuban.

Why Cuban food?
My grandmother is from Cuba and my dad’s family is from Mexico.

Do you speak Spanish?
No, I don’t, but both my parents do.

Most embarrassing moment on the field:
I have a lot because I throw myself out there! One time when I used to hit and I was running the bases I went to steal second but fell, rolled onto the base and landed on the base with my belly. It hurt like crazy. Obviously, I don’t hit or run much now and haven’t since I was about 10!

If you were sent to the moon for six months and could only take one thing, what would it be?
My family… I don’t want to be by myself.

It’s a full count and the bases are loaded and winning run is on base… what’s your out pitch you’ll throw?
I’ll be a screwball tight and in. That’s my favorite pitch to throw and that’s where it’s coming: hard and tight and in!