Could it be the shot heard ‘round the world? In the environs of the Alabama high school softball world, it could be characterized as such. In 2021, a seventh-grade catcher stepped up to the plate trailing by a run in the bottom of the ninth of the Class 2A state championship. She promptly launched a state title home run into the night and Orange Beach into a softball dynasty with a 3-2 win over Pisgah.

Orange Beach, fresh off of winning five straight state championships – three in Class 4A and two in Class 2A—will open the season and a quest for a record sixth straight title on Feb 27, playing at Northview, Florida. The Lady Makos play games on the road against Fairhope, Spanish Fort, in Montgomery at the St. James tournament, Satsuma, and a tournament in Dothan before playing their first home game against St. Michael’s at 5 p.m. on March 17. See a complete Makos spring athletic schedule here

The seventh-grader, Ava Hodo, is back and is now a senior, regarded as one of the nation’s best players at her position. Another seventh grader from the 2021 team, Teagan Revette, is also back for her senior year.

“Ava has been so consistent over the last five years, and she’s so humble,” Coach Shane Alexander said. “That’s the big thing. All this national recognition and all this, to be honest, she doesn’t really care about any of that. She just wants six state championships. As a seventh grader, after the state championship game, she said I’m going to leave here with six.

“To see ‘em going from having to carpool them to practice at the Sportsplex and now they are driving and about to go off to college,” Alexander said. “It’s kind of unbelievable. They’re all growing up.”

Alexander believes in his players and says the Lady Makos have the talent to win.

“Defensively, I think we’re really good,” he said. “I think we’re going to hit. We’ve got MK (McMullan) pitching, she’s really good. We have a new girl Kinlie Williams who is a senior and we’ve got a freshman, Lily Justice. Those are the two that we’re going to throw ‘em out there and see what they can do, see if they can prove themselves.”

Veterans, besides catcher Hodo and infielder Revette include infielders Katie King, Jayde Palmer, Addy Oldham and outfielders Taylor Poland, Kinsley Blackwell and LC Robbins.

Alexander is searching for those little things to strengthen the bond between players to meld that talent into a team.