As we prepare next week to launch our countdown of the Hot 100 players in the 2016 class, we get to hear today from the No. 1 player in the 2015 class talking about starting her senior year and how “growing up sucks!”

Amanda Lorenz, a senior from Moorpark (Calif.), was a 1^st Team All-American in high school this spring when she hit .642 this year with eight home runs and 22 doubles.

She also added “National Champion” to her resume as she hit lead-off for the OC Batbusters-Haning/Stith team that won the PGF 18U Premier Nationals in August, hitting .478 for the week in bracket play and had at least one hit in all seven games (with two hits in four of the seven).

In the championship game, a 3-0 win over the Corona Angels, Amanda went 2-for-3 with a key RBI double.

As a sophomore, the Florida commit won several national, state and local honors at the high school level in 2013 including MaxPreps Underclass All-American, CalHiSports.com All-State and Ventura County Star Player of the Year after batting .626 with 17 home runs and compiling a spectacular 1.377 slugging percentage.

In 2013, Amanda also helped lead Team Mizuno-Stith to the PGF 18U National Championship game and in 2012 she was part of the 16U team that won the PGF national title.

Finally, her prolific hitting stroke has some coaches and scouts saying she’s one of the best hitters to ever come out of Southern California.

Click here to read Amanda’s earlier blogs and those from our other outstanding bloggers!

Also, check out the video of Amanda after she learns of being named No. 1 in the 2015 class

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 Senior year!

Wow, it is crazy that it’s finally my senior year. It doesn’t feel real that I will be going on my official visit next month and signing my National Letter of Intent the month after that. Our whole softball careers have led up to this year in which we will finally put our dreams into a reality.

I don’t feel like a senior yet. Nothing is different other than recruiting rules such as they can call/text us now. I don’t know if things will become real for me when I sign my NLI or when I step onto campus in Gainesville next fall, but it is all so crazy!

It was very weird going to practice with the Batbusters this past weekend and not seeing our seniors that are now freshmen at their schools. I have been playing with Janell Wheaton (Florida), Kaylee Carlson (North Carolina), and Vanessa Hernandez (Fresno State) for four years and practice just did not feel the same without them there.

I’ve never felt like there was really an age difference from me and other girls on my team so I really don’t feel like a “top dog.” I just want this year to be the most memorable and fun year it can possibly be.

I really enjoy travel ball and I’m going to miss it a lot. I really want to end this year with another national championship. I’m going to try to make every weekend count. I don’t want to have any regrets that I took any time with my teammates for granted.

Growing up sucks and it’s happening so quickly. But I’m so excited for the future I have worked so hard to make possible and I can’t wait to see my other teammates and so many of my friends make their dreams official in two months!

Til next time!!

Amanda