Coach Alexander praises his players' elite defense and hard work

Coach Alexander received exactly 354 text messages congratulating him after the victory. He proudly called the Makos the best high school softball team in America. The powerful team averaged eleven runs per game this year, and will give up less than one per game.

The statistics from this season are truly remarkable. The team finished with a nearly perfect 46-1 record. Despite losing four outstanding seniors last year, the new lineup easily filled the voids left by those seniors, keeping the winning tradition alive.

The team was a scoring machine all season long. They scored a massive 493 runs while allowing opponents only 53. Their pitching staff also posted an elite 0.962 earned run average against very tough competition.

Defense was also a major factor in their success. Coach Alexander noted that they turned six double plays during the state tournament. He specifically credited Coach Boyd-Carson and the four other assistant coaches for their behind-the-scenes work.

This achievement is incredibly rare for high school athletes. Coach Alexander reminded the crowd that only one percent of students ever win a single state championship in any sport, and two of his players - Ava Hodo and Teagan Revette - have won six in the same sport. 

“The team that sets the standard is the standard,” Alexander said. “This is known as the Mako way.”

Alexander has coached Revette for one-third of her life.

A loyal fan, Andy Andrews, researched this incredible and unprecedented milestone and found that two players winning six state titles in the same team sport is unprecedented in Alabama history. It might even be an unmatched national record. 

Hodo saw this incredible run coming. Back in seventh grade, after the state-championship winning home run, she made a bold promise. 

"Before I leave here, I'm going to have six," she told her coach. She fulfilled that exact promise. Alexander said the leadership of Hodo and her seven fellow seniors played a big factor in the Lady Makos’ success.

"They show up in practice, they show up and play," the coach said. The team will celebrate graduation tomorrow before taking some much-needed rest. 

Alexander also praised the Orange Beach softball “village” to keep the unstoppable softball machine running. On the first day of the tournament, the team woke up at six in the morning and played until that night without taking breaks, with dedicated parents making sure the players had meals.

The historic ceremony concluded with an emotional highlight reel on the big screen, followed by pictures with the trophies and family and friends. They’ll relive it again at the upcoming season-ending banquet.