A few years ago,
Orange Beach (Ala.) didn't exist. Now its softball team is not
only the MaxPreps National Champion, but the Makos also finished No. 1 in the Small Town Top 25 rankings.
Orange Beach finished No. 1 in the MaxPreps Top 25 after going 46-1 and capturing the Alabama class 4A state championship. Orange Beach also
qualifies for the Small Town Top 25 since its enrollment is
under 1,000 students and it is from a town with a population under
10,000.
That might not last for long, though. The Gulf Shores
area of Alabama is the fastest growing area of the state and Orange
Beach's population has almost tripled in size since the 2000 census. The
Orange Beach school was built in 2020 when the district separated from
Gulf Shores. Now, the area is growing so quickly that another school in
Gulf Shores is expected to open in 2026-27.
While Orange Beach
might not qualify for the small town rankings next year, its reign as
one of the top softball programs in the nation will likely continue. The
Makos have won four straight state championships and return nine of
their top 10 offensive players from this year, along with every pitching
win.
Orange Beach finished ahead of
Rising Sun (North East, Md.),
which won the Maryland Class 2A state championship. The Tigers have won
a pair of state titles and have a 42-game win streak, according to
scores posted to MaxPreps.
Coahoma (Texas) comes in at No. 3 with
a 32-0 mark. The Bulldogs have won back-to-back state titles and finished the season on a 58-game win streak.
The Small Town Top 25 is compiled using the MaxPreps computer ratings.
Orange Beach has won four straight state championships and was crowned the MaxPreps National Champion after finishing 46-1. (Photo: Holly Mapel)
1. Orange Beach (Ala.)
Record/Rating: 46-1, 40.63
Class 4A state champion.
2. Rising Sun (North East, Md.)
Record/Rating: 22-0, 36.23
Class 2A state champion.
3. Coahoma (Texas)
Record/Rating: 32-0, 35.70
Class 3A state champion.
4. Trenton (Fla.)
Record/Rating: 23-2, 34.51
Class 1A state champion.
5. Sterlington (La.)
Record/Rating: 33-1, 34.03
Non-Select Division 3 state champion.
6. Carterville (Ill.)
Record/Rating: 38-1, 33.92
Class 2A state champion.
7. Grandview (Texas)
Record/Rating: 32-4, 33.74
Class 3A state runner-up.
8. Wellsville (N.Y.)
Record/Rating: 23-1, 31.53
Class B state champion.
9. Sutter (Calif.)
Record/Rating: 30-0 ,31.51
Northern California Division 3 champion.
10. Cascade (Clayton, Ind.)
Record/Rating: 30-2, 30.72
Class 2A state champion.
11. Western (Russiaville, Ind.)
Record/Rating: 29-2, 30.69
Class 3A state champion.
12. Ichabod Crane (Valatie, N.Y.)
Record/Rating: 24-1, 30.46
Class A semifinalist.
13. Marlboro Central (Marlboro, N.Y.)
Record/Rating: 21-3, 30.37
Class A state champion.
14. Quitman (La.)
Record/Rating: 30-4, 30.21
Non-Select Division 5 state champion.
15. Mansfield (Ark.)
Record/Rating: 24-1, 30.13
Class 2A state champion.
16. Hallettsville (Texas)
Record/Rating: 40-3, 29.71
Class 3A semifinalist.
17. East Union (Blue Springs, Miss.)
Record/Rating: 32-4, 29.01
Class 2A state champion.
18. Wheelersburg (Ohio)
Record/Rating: 22-3, 28.97
19. Hackett (Ark.)
Record/Rating: 30-3, 28.77
Class 3A state champion.
20. Shiner (Texas)
Record/Rating: 33-3, 28.67
Class 2A state champion.
21. Diamond (Mo.)
Record/Rating: 38-1, 28.61
Class 2 state champion.
22. Opp (Ala.)
Record/Rating: 43-6, 28.35
Class 3A state champion.
23. Aynor (S.C.)
Record/Rating: 23-6, 28.32
Class 3A state runner-up.
24. South Williamsport (Pa.)
Record/Rating: 24-3, 27.88
Class 2A state runner-up.
25. Mantachie (Miss.)
Record/Rating: 34-5, 27.80
Class 3A state champion.
