Since the 10U age level, Hannah Boos has been one of the top pitchers at her age level and since that time she’s won an ASA National Championship and finished 2^nd at PGF Nationals.

Playing for Pacifica High in Garden Grove, Calif.—traditionally one of the most successful programs in Southern Calif. and a CIF-SS champion again last year—Hannah was in the unusual position last season as a freshman sitting behind two big-time DI talents in Kaylee Carlson (now at North Carolina) and Kaley Winegarner (a 2015 signee with Northwestern, but who is out with a knee injury).

This year, Boos is the ace—so much so that she’s the only varsity pitcher for Mark Campbell’s Mariners squad after the No. 2 pitcher went down with an injury—so it’s all on her and so far the results have been stellar as Pacifica is ranked No. 24 in the nation.

We wanted to see what the latest is with the 2017 Hot 100 pitcher so here is our latest version of “10 Questions with…”

***

FullCountSoftball.com: You’ve had great success pitching at every club level, yet as a freshman had to sit behind two outstanding college-level players… was that frustrating to a competitor like yourself or was it a good chance to learn from talented pitchers?
Hannah Boos: As a freshman at Pacifica it was a great learning experience to be with such a great pitching team. Coach Mark had me play JV and varsity last season so it was a lot of hard work but worth it. Getting lots of innings and time in the circle between the JV and Varsity team was a great challenge.

FCS.com: How has this year gone for you, what has been working and where do you think you are personally and team-wise as to where you’d like to be?
HB: This season has been really a lot of the mental game. The fact of it is the bullpen is just me. It’s really a great chance to work hard on my pitches and is very team building for me to be the one my coaches and team depend on. I think this past year I have really worked hard on my change-up and drop curve and they have been very effective. Our team is rebuilding from losing such strong athletes and I think we are growing every week and have been growing in our game.

FCS.com: You’re the ace now and it sounds like there’s really no one else but you to pitch! Does that put pressure on you or make it fun knowing it’s only you and everything rides on your shoulders?
HB: As a pitcher I have never felt pressure in the circle. I love the game so much and take every game one pitch at a time. It’s fun, yes… softball is always fun and being the only pitcher this year has been and will be an experience I will always take with me in my pitching career! The fact of being the only pitcher has made me even stronger then I ever could have imagined.

FCS.com: Your head coach, Mark Campbell, is renowned as a great teacher of catchers… has his knowledge been able to help you as a pitcher?
HB: Mark has really helped me in me growing thick skin in my game. He is a great coach that really knows all parts of the game. Working so close with (catcher) Dejah Mulipola has been a great experience. Our trust in each other and our love of the power line has been really awesome.

FCS.com: Over the last year, what pitches have you added or refined in your repertoire?
HB: In the last year between travel ball and high school games I have really worked hard on my change-up and drop curve. These pitches, as well as the rise, are becoming my go-to pitches.

FCS.com: You’re one of the top uncommitted sophomores in the country… where are you in the recruiting process, getting closer to finalizing a choice?
HB: It was a really cool recruiting experience this last year as I went on some amazing college visits. I am looking forward to finding the right college fit this summer. To be told by amazing coaches last summer I was a Pac-12 quality pitcher made me feel all my hard work had paid off. I’m ready now to verbal and I am looking forward to my dream coming true.

FCS.com: You’ve been with Coach Shawn Quarles since you were eight years old and now he and you are on a newly created Ohana Tigers team… what’s that been like so far?
HB: My Ohana Tigers team to me is just what “Ohana” means: “Family.” The Quarles family is my second family and I know Shawn Quarles will help me with my recruiting dream. Being with my travel team has been awesome and working out at Stars Athletic facility has been great for my mind and body.

FCS.com: Let’s go off the field… rumor has it you just got your driving permit; should those in Southern California be afraid?
HB: I may pitch fast but I drive slow (laughs)! Getting my driving permit has been so much fun.

FCS.com: You recently did an activity with the Ohana team at Angels Stadium where you worked with inner-city L.A. kids, boys and girls, to teach them about softball. Talk about what that experience was like…
HB: This experience was so much fun and so rewarding to see the kids play so well. Being a pitcher and playing softball has been great for me and I can’t help but love to see the young girls look up to me. I look forward to doing so much more community service, it’s so important.

FCS.com: Last question: if you could wave a magic wand and change anything about softball to improve it, what would you do?
HB: A magic wand would be so cool! If I could change one thing about the sport of softball it would be to bring it back to the Olympics in 2020 and be on the team!