No team from Alabama had been named a MaxPreps softball national champion before the Orange Beach Makos.
Still, when head coach and athletic director Shane Alexander went to make rings …
This item is available in full to subscribers.
Please log in to continue |
No team from Alabama had been named a MaxPreps softball national champion before the Orange Beach Makos.
Still, when head coach and athletic director Shane Alexander went to make rings commemorating the squad’s fourth state title in a row, one last revision was to add “National Champions,” even before the winner was announced.
With the resume that Orange Beach built in the 2024 season, it might not have been too bold of a guess. Here are some of the stats that helped define the Makos’ season, as shared by Alexander Tuesday evening at the softball stadium where championship signage was unveiled to the community.
With a 46-1 overall record in 2024, Orange Beach improved its four-year win total to 158 as a varsity program.
The Makos started hot out of the gates with a 34-game win streak just to start the season.
“That’s unbelievable, you win 34-straight in football and they start talking ‘Dynasty,’” Alexander said. “This is a dynasty.”
As a team, the Orange Beach lineup registered a batting average of .401 while the Mako pitchers limited their opponents’ batting average to .151.
Orange Beach hitters recorded more extra-base hits (180) than Mako pitchers allowed total hits to opponents all season (139).
While only eight games were decided by two runs or less, Orange Beach outscored opponents 475-62 on the year.
On the basepaths, the Makos stole 154 bases and allowed only 7 to opponents.
Defensively, Orange Beach finished with a .950 fielding percentage and a team earned-run average of 1.27 in the pitcher’s circle.
“Football coaches talk about offense, defense, special teams and all of that, but that’s offense, defense and special teams all wrapped up in one right there,” Alexander said.
The Makos’ pièce de résistance may have been their three wins over other top-10 teams in MaxPreps’ national rankings, including a pair over No. 5 Pace from Florida and No. 8 Hewitt-Trussville.
If that wasn’t enough, it might have been their three wins over teams who also went on to win state titles, including Pace (Florida Class 6A), Hewitt-Trussville (Class 7A) and Wicksburg (Class 2A).
Alexander, who has been part of state championship coaching staffs in other sports, knows this run from the Orange Beach Makos is nothing short of impressive.
“These girls are special, they’re a special group. Those of who that have been here to watch them, you know this is something rare that you don’t see very often,” Alexander said. “Every now and then, you might catch some lightning in a bottle and win a state championship but to do it consistently like they have, and to not take a game off when they very easily could, is incredible. I couldn’t be more proud to stand up here and be a small part of it.”
However, all of the winning over the last four years has made scheduling a little difficult for next season.
“If they don’t want to come here, we’ll go find them,” Alexander said. “We’re going to take these girls next year to a national tournament down in Orlando and play some teams that were nationally ranked and see how we do.”
Until then, follow @GCMSportsAL on social media for more sights from Tuesday’s celebration.
