After they were named MaxPreps national champions as the top-ranked team in the country following a fourth-consecutive state championship, the Orange Beach Makos retained their No. 1 national ranking as they began their pursuit of a fifth Blue Map trophy in a row.

Alabama’s first MaxPreps national champions checked in at the No. 1 slot of the preseason national rankings released on Feb. 4 ahead of the Melissa Cardinals from Texas and the Montverde Academy Eagles from Florida.

The Makos also boasted the best softball player in the state according to MaxPreps Director of Programming Steve Montoya in junior catcher Ava Hodo, an Arkansas commit. As a sophomore, Hodo launched 12 home runs and owned a .488 batting average with 63 RBIs.

Hodo penned her name in the Alabama High School Athletic Association record books last season and tied for the fourth-fewest strikeouts (3 in 109 at-bats) and the 18th-most home runs (12) in a single season. As a freshman, she was tied for the ninth-most home runs (21) and 28th-most RBIs (75) in a single season.

Entering this season, Hodo was also the second-ranked Class of 2026 prospect in the country according to Montoya. She’s not the only SEC pledge on the Orange Beach roster which also helped the Makos be MaxPreps’ best team in Alabama coming into 2025.

Seniors KG Favors (South Carolina) and Daigle Wilson (Auburn) signed their college commitments as juniors Katie King (Arkansas) and Teagan Revette (Mississippi State) have formally announced their pledges to play in the same conference. They are joined by seniors Kaitlynn Robertson (Louisiana Christian), Justine Henderson (Mobile) and Kadence Rye (Lagrange) as well as junior Adelynn Oldham (Northwest Florida) in already locking in their college decisions.

Orange Beach is set to open the regular season on Thursday, Feb. 20, with a road trip to face the Baldwin County Tigers before the home opener was scheduled for March 10 against the St. Michael Cardinals within Class 4A Area 1. The Makos are also set to host two tournaments from March 13 to 15 and March 20 to 22.

With a fifth state title in a row, Orange Beach would tie the Pisgah Eagles for the most consecutive state championships in AHSAA history. The Makos would also move into a tie for fourth place for most overall titles where Pisgah holds the lead with 10.