Orange Beach, Ala. – (OBA) – Orange Beach welcomed home the high school softball state champions on Sunday, May 21 with a rousing celebration at the Performing Arts Center with coaches, fans, parents and city and school officials.

Only one player took a turn at the mike which is apt considering this amazing talented group of players only has one senior on the squad, Georgia McDonald.

“These last three years have been the best of my life and I want to thank my teammates for sharing it with me,” McDonald said. “Y’all are all my sisters and I’m still going to be here to support you.”

Orange Beach defeated Houston Academy 5-0 the afternoon of May 20 to finish the tournament undefeated and win the Class 4A state title.

The number three is significant for two reasons as well. This marks the third straight season the fledging softball program has won a state championship. But there’s a greater significance with the number three.

“A three-peat is a big deal,” Mayor Tony Kennon told the team. “But three in your first three seasons is a really big deal. Nobody’s ever done that.”

Superintendent Randy Wilkes pointed out that Orange Beach is the ninth softball team to win three state championships in a row in Alabama high school play. One team has won four in a row and another won five, Pisgah.

There was a lot of talk during the celebration of the Lady Makos adding that fourth straight championship. With every player but McDonald returning Orange Beach has the pieces in place for another state run. And, the stars are young.

Sophomore pitcher K.G. Favors was the state tournament MVP after a one-hit performance to beat Houston Academy 5-0 in the title game. Also, making the all-tournament team were freshman Teagan Revette and eighth-grader L.C. Robbins. Shortstop Daigle Wilson was a sophomore this year and catcher Ava Hodo a freshman. Hodo is a candidate for freshman softball national player of the year honors.

Head Coach Shane Alexander praised his team’s work ethic and how they strive to constantly improve.

“This team is a coach’s dream,” Alexander said. “I’m just enjoying riding along.”

Some stats are in order. Orange Beach scored 49 runs in four state tournament games and gave up just 9 including two shutout wins. This season the team won a record 46 games scoring 499 runs and giving up only 130.

“We’ve got a lot of kids on this team that are going to break state records,” Alexander said.

Alexander said he heard players talking on the way home from the tournament about getting together to work on hitting. This week. Kennon said this is one of the key elements to the great success of the three previous seasons.

“Heart and grit,” Kennon said. “You are the truest form of Mako grit. Thanks for being a great representative of our city.”