Just like Baldwin County baseball, all of the county's softball programs will open their seasons over the next several days, as one of the deepest talent pools in Alabama — and one of the premier softball regions in the country — takes the field for the 2026 campaign.

Gulf Coast Media gathered information from coaches around the county, including details on key returning players and 2025 recaps, providing a quick look into each team before play begins.

BALDWIN COUNTY HIGH

Baldwin County went 23-17 last season and reached the South 6A semifinals before being eliminated. The Tigers enter 2026 having graduated one of the most decorated pitchers in the state in Madilyn Byrd, now pitching at Florida Atlantic. Byrd threw 124 innings with 200 strikeouts in 2025.

The Tigers open the 2026 season at Satsuma on Feb. 19. 

Coach Anthony Cox was not able to be reached.

DAPHNE

Daphne finished 38-8 in 2025 but was eliminated in the opening rounds of the Class 7A state tournament. The Trojans open the season Feb. 23 against South Jones.

Daphne returns a veteran core led by five seniors, including multi-sport standouts Abby Johnson, Dasia Matt and Aubrey Gregg. Johnson led the Trojans in every offensive category last season, hitting .512 with 10 home runs, 43 RBIs and 14 doubles. Gregg hit .333 in 2025, while Matt posted a .326 average. Johnson and Matt also combined for 45 stolen bases, with Johnson accounting for 30.

The Trojans hit .347 as a team last year and lost only three seniors, one of them being Alabama's Softball Gatorade Player of the Year and freshman starting pitcher at Alabama, Vic Moten.

Coach Jenny Laird was not able to be reached.

ELBERTA

Elberta went 21-25-1 last season and was eliminated in the Class 5A South Regionals. The Warriors open the 2026 season at home against Foley on Feb. 23.

Head coach McKenna Gehr enters her first season leading the program.

"A successful season this year will be defined by continuous growth on and off the field, learning as a young team, and improving every day," Gehr said. "Not only as players, but as individuals."

Key players to watch for the Warriors in 2026 include freshman shortstop Macy Smith, eighth-grade catcher Ava Sanks and junior third baseman Lynleigh May.

FAIRHOPE

The Pirates return several high-level contributors from the 2025 roster, including junior shortstop/catcher and UAB commit Mallory Earp, junior outfielder and Southern Miss commit Briley Bolden, and junior Mississippi Gulf Coast commit Addison Russell.

Russell was the ace in the circle for Fairhope in 2025, tossing 135 innings and posting a 1.45 ERA with 101 strikeouts to just 18 walks. At the plate, Bolden returns as one of the county's most dangerous power hitters. The Golden Eagles commit hit .399 last year with nine home runs, 55 RBIs and 25 extra-base hits. 

"As a program and a school, our goal is to always play with sportsmanship, class and promote the growth of strong, successful young women," head coach Trevor Powell said. "The team goal every season is to make it to Oxford with smaller goals along the way like hosting area, winning area and being the regional Q1 (top-seed)."

Fairhope finished 33-15 in 2025 and was eliminated in the second round of the Class 7A state tournament — the second best finish amongst county teams. The Pirates open the season Feb. 20 at Foley.

FOLEY

Foley went 8-18 last season and missed the playoffs in 2025. The Lions will open the 2026 season on Feb. 19 at home against Escambia County.

Senior pitcher/catcher Christiana Holmes returns after hitting for power in 2025 with a .487 average at the plate, 38 hits, 26 RBIs and 13 doubles. Senior shortstop/center fielder Jamaya Bronson hit .425 with three home runs, 31 hits, eight doubles, and two triples — junior designated hitter Nyla Harrison also returns after hitting .508 with 31 hits and seven doubles last year.

"Our players and coaches have worked extremely hard this past offseason to be competitive in our area this season," head coach Mike Ebert said.

GULF SHORES

Dolphins head coach Haley Steege told GCM this group has been together for years and is hungry to return to the state tournament stage for the first time since the program's 2023 appearance. Key returners for Gulf Shores are senior pitcher Anna Leigh Price, junior catcher/utility Anayia McCutchen and senior catcher/third baseman Nevaeh James.

Price pitched 172 innings for the Dolphins in 2025, posting a 12-4 record with a 2.11 ERA, 170 strikeouts and 53 walks. The Mobile signee also hit .328 at the plate with six home runs. Nelson led the program last year with a .391 batting average and James drove in a team-high 45 runs. 

"As a team, we talk a lot about holding high standards and getting comfortable being uncomfortable," Steege said. "This year, our program's success will come from pushing beyond our comfort zone and consistently holding one another to the high standard these girls have set over their time here. That means putting teams away quickly, refusing to drop to anyone else's level, and playing only on our own."

Gulf Shores finished 27-19-1 last season and did not make it out of the 6A Area 2 tournament. The Dolphins open the 2026 season Feb. 20 vs. Spain Park.

ORANGE BEACH

Orange Beach enters 2026 as the standard in Baldwin County and across Alabama after finishing 46-2 last season. The Makos have now claimed five-straight titles (three in Class 4A), tying the AHSAA record for most consecutive softball championships.

"Sending our Seniors out with another Blue Map," head coach Shane Alexander said when asked to define a successful season. "No. 6 would be an AHSAA Record."

Since 2021, Alexander and Orange Beach softball are 204-30. The Makos return one of the most loaded rosters in the country, led by the top catcher in the nation and Arkansas signee, Ava Hodo. The senior hit .564 with 79 hits, 15 home runs and 75 RBIs in 2025, striking out only twice. She has 66 career home runs and 322 career RBIs.

Senior infielder and fellow Arkansas signee Katie King hit .579 with 84 hits and was named the 2025 MaxPreps Alabama Player of the Year and 4A state tournament MVP. Mississippi State signee Teagan Revette hit .540 with 14 home runs and 81 RBIs, and sophomore Jayde Palmer adds another dangerous bat after hitting .437 last season.

In the circle, sophomore MK McMullan went 16-1 with a 0.77 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 91.1 innings in 2025. The Makos also added transfer and Faulkner University signee Kenlie Williams.

The inevitable No. 1 team in Alabama and 2025 MaxPreps National Champions will open the season Feb. 27 at Northview (Florida).

ROBERTSDALE

Head coach Jack Byerley is entering his first season as head coach for the Golden Bears and returns 10 or more players from last year's roster with playing time or starting experience.

Robertsdale went 17-20 in 2025 and did not make the regional or state playoffs. The Golden Bears open the season Feb. 24 at Faith Academy.

Coach Jack Byerley was not able to be reached.

SNOOK CHRISTIAN

Snook Christian finished 6-17 last season and was eliminated in the Class A Region 2 tournament. There is no public record of their full 2026 schedule.

"We want to continue to build a successful softball program at Snook Christian Academy," head coach Eric Gray said. "Our goals this season include making the playoffs, continuing to develop the young talent on this team, and building a Christ-centered team-first culture. I am excited about the potential of this team, the hard work these young ladies are putting in, and I am thankful for an amazing coaching staff."

Gray expects pitcher and York signee Savannah Clayton to lead the charge for the Eagles along with catcher Maddie Tompkins and third baseman Alyssa Hayes.

SPANISH FORT

The Toros have some big-time returners from the 2025 roster starting with senior pitcher and Mississippi College signee Mallarie Beagle. As a junior, Beagle posted a 1.46 ERA, a 13-3 record, and a 79-12 strikeout to walk ratio in 110 innings in the circle. 

Other expected impact players are freshman catcher/third baseman Maddie Grace Nelson, eighth-grade infielder Alexa Nance, and sophomore outfielder Alex Shoemaker. Nelson and Nance both hit over .300 in 2025 as middle schoolers and Shoemaker stole 15 bags as a freshman. 

"A successful season for us would be defined as a group who continuously grows together and competes at a high level for each other each time they step on the field to represent Spanish Fort High School," head coach Jonathan Rasberry said.

Spanish Fort finished 40-12 last season and was eliminated in the Class 6A South Regional. The Toros open the season Feb. 20 at the Foley tournament against Tate.

ST. MICHAEL

St. Michael went 12-20 last season and did not make the 4A regional or state playoffs. The Cardinals open the 2026 season Feb. 20 at the Greenville tournament.

"Going into the 2026 season, our goals are to have a winning record and be competitive at the end of the year to earn a regional berth," head coach Scott Phelps said.

Sophomore pitcher Addison Pratt returns after winning 12 games last season. Fellow sophomore shortstop Amelia Johnson hit .525 with 29 RBIs in 2025. Eighth-grade third baseman Ariya Blackmon also returns for the Cardinals after driving in 37 runs with one home run last year.