Class 4A softball: Orange Beach downs Plainview for AHSAA-record sixth straight title

Orange Beach has officially etched its name into the history books. By defeating Plainview 6-0 on Tuesday at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, the Class 4A No. 1 Makos secured their sixth consecutive AHSAA softball championship, setting a new state record for most consecutive titles.

Entering the tournament, the stakes were high, but the result remained unchanged from the previous five seasons. With this victory, the Makos (46-1) officially broke their tie with Pisgah for the most consecutive state championships in the association’s history. Perhaps most impressively, the win maintains the program's unblemished 24-0 record in state tournament play since its inception in 2021.

A Sentimental Send-off

For head coach Shane Alexander, the triumph brought a complex mix of emotions. The final out signaled the end of a tenure for a core group of seniors, including Teagan Revette and Ava Hodo, who have been mainstays on all six championship-winning rosters.

"They’re like my daughters. I’m very happy for the seniors," Alexander said following the cooler-dunking celebration. "They work so hard, and this is what we talked about all year. I don’t know, there’s relief, sadness, but there’s happiness in there too."

McMullan Dominates the Circle

Sophomore pitcher MK McMullan proved why she was named tournament MVP, putting on a clinic throughout the week. In Tuesday's shutout, she surrendered only four hits and one walk while fanning four. Across 22 innings in the state tournament, McMullan allowed just one earned run and struck out 16 batters, building on her spectacular opening-round 7-inning no-hitter against No. 2 West Limestone.

"It feels really good," McMullan said. "We worked really hard all season for this, and it just makes us really happy to see it finally pay off."

Stat Sheet and Historical Context

The offensive firepower was equally impressive. Liberty University commit LC Robbins delivered a 2-for-3 performance with a double and an RBI, while Addy Oldham contributed a triple, eventually scoring on a sacrifice fly from Katie King. Ava Hodo added an RBI, and Jayde Palmer crossed the plate twice.

For Plainview, Abby Williams turned in a 2-for-3 effort and provided a highlight-reel diving catch to close out the first inning, with teammates Lily Currie and AnnaLee Shrader also recording hits.

With this sixth ring, Alexander joins an elite circle of coaches in AHSAA history, including Sparkman legend Dale Palmer, who also claimed six titles. The all-time record remains held by former Pisgah coach Billy Duncan with 10 championships.