As the Orange Beach Mako softball team goes to defend four-straight AHSAA state titles and a MaxPreps national championship in the spring, they’ll do so behind six starting infielders who are all committed to play at the next level.

Katie King, Teagan Revette and Ava Hodo were the most recent to make their decisions and all landed on SEC programs where King and Hodo will remain teammates at Arkansas and square off against Revette at Mississippi State. They joined seniors KG Favors (South Carolina), first baseman Kaitlynn Robertson (Louisiana Christian) and shortstop Daigle Wilson (Auburn) in returning to defend the Makos’ crowns as college commits.

King picks Razorbacks in Fayetteville

King, the top-ranked utility prospect according to Line Drive Softball, was the first domino to fall when she committed to Arkansas on Sept. 16. She registered a .482 batting average with 55 hits, including 12 doubles and 3 home runs, 67 runs scored and 46 RBIs last spring for Orange Beach. King also held a .971 fielding percentage with 61 putouts and 7 assists.

“I can’t thank my family, coaches, and teammates enough for all their support over the years,” King wrote. “I’m so grateful that I have found my home in Fayetteville! Let’s go Razorbacks!”

Revette joining the Bulldogs in Starkville

A MaxPreps Underclass All-American as the Makos’ second baseman, Revette announced her commitment to Mississippi State on Sept. 24. Her .480 batting average and 61 hits included 11 doubles and 12 home runs on top of a 1.476 on base plus slugging percentage and 54 RBIs, 20 of which came with two outs. In the field, she carried a .942 fielding percentage with 115 putouts and 13 assists.

“Thank you coaches, teammates, as well as my parents and family for supporting me every step of the way. I can’t thank y’all enough for continuing to push and shape me into the player and person I am today,” Revette wrote. “Huge thanks to the Mississippi State coaching staff for giving me this opportunity to play at the next level. Hail State!”

Hodo finds her home in Fayetteville

Fittingly, Hodo brought it home with her commitment to join King at Arkansas on Oct. 7. The top-ranked overall prospect according to Perfect Game and Extra Inning Softball was also a first-team All-American by MaxPreps. Locally, the Orange Beach catcher was named the Class 4A Player of the Year by the Alabama Sports Writers Association.

Offensively, Hodo racked up a .486 batting average with 53 hits, including 11 doubles and 12 home runs, on top of 63 RBIs and 22 runs scored. Behind the plate, she provided consistency with a .990 fielding percentage that included 283 putouts and 3 assists.

“Thank you God for you many blessings! My dreams have truly come true! Thank you to my amazing parents, sister, teammates, friends and family for supporting me through this process,” Hodo wrote. Thank you Coach Rocky (Thompson) and all of my Birmingham Thunderbolts coaches over the years for always pushing me to be my best! Thank you Coach (Shane) Alexander and Coach (Katelyn) Boyd for your daily love and support. Thank you Dad for the countless hours spent at the field. Thank you Coach (Courtney) Diefel, Coach (DJ) Gasso, Coach (Danielle) Gibson, Coach (Matt) Meuchel and Dan Bartosik for this incredible opportunity. I am so grateful to be able to continue my journey as a Razorback and to call Fayetteville my future home. WPS!”

King, Revette and Hodo will join Class of 2024 graduates Falyn Beebe and Rylie Erwin in representing the Makos at the next level. Beebe is playing for the Northwest Florida Raiders and Rylie Erwin is play with the Bevill State Bears.