Ava Hodo Makes Early And Lasting Impressions In Softball

Ava Hodo Ava Hodo C Orange Beach | 2026 #3 Nation AL 's legacy in the athletics history of Orange Beach High School was already firmly secured by the end of the school's first year of existence. 

As seventh grader on the varsity softball team in 2021, the 2026 recruit hit a walk-off, two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift Orange Beach to a 3-2 win over perennial power Pisgah in the Alabama Class 2A championship game.

It was the first of five straight titles for Hodo and the Makos, with her senior season still to come this spring. Hodo has been Orange Beach's starting catcher the entire time.

“When I look at seventh graders now, I can't believe I was like that. I just can't see it that way,” said Hodo, an Arkansas signee. “I didn't feel that young at the time. It feels like it was just yesterday that I was in middle school and now I am a senior in high school, which makes me a little sad.”

Hodo, who started playing softball in the first grade, has never backed down from competing with older players. She joined the Birmingham Thunderbolts organization at the 10U level and was moved up to the 18U Premiere team when she was 15.

“I've gotten to play with a ton of older girls, which has been a really good privilege,” she said. “I think that's been a really big part of my recruiting and softball journey. It's definitely had its challenges, but I'm very, very grateful for it.”

Hodo's first connection to Arkansas came the year before her recruiting process officially began when she attended a camp in Fayetteville. 

“All these camps can be tiring, but I remember when that camp was over, I didn't want to leave Arkansas,” she said. “I just really fell in love with everything that they stood for as a program, and from then on, they were probably my No. 1 during the process. I talked to a lot of great schools, but during every visit, I still thought about Arkansas the whole time.”

Hodo's first position in softball was third base until one of her travel ball coaches suggested she try out catcher. Once she got behind the plate, she never wanted to leave. 

“The real reason that it really caught my attention is that you're in every single play. When I was younger, I wanted all the playing time that I could possibly get, so I thought that was a really good way to get into it,” she said. “After a while, I fell in love with the pitcher-catcher connection and just really everything about it.”

Hodo also played volleyball through high school as a libero. She just finished her last season, with the Makos reaching the Final Four of the state championships.

“I tell people all the time, I don't think that I would love softball as much if I didn't play volleyball,” she said. “Just because it gives me a break. It makes me miss softball. I still have to balance it with fall ball and everything, but being able to have breaks and make new friends doing other sports is a really great experience for me.”

As she displayed as a seventh grader, Hodo loves coming through at the plate in big moments with one swing of the bat. Making it even more enjoyable is having her dad, Jody, as the school's hitting coach to share in every moment.

“That has been really amazing,” Hodo said. “A lot of people can't say they love working with their parents in sports, but I've had a really great experience. We're super close, and it's really easy to tell him how I'm feeling.”

Hodo isn't sure what major she will pursue in college yet. She is deciding between becoming a high school athletic director or a softball coach. 

“I don't know if I'll ever really be ready to give up softball,” she said. “I just think that I'd be able to relate to girls my age or older because I'm going to live through all that experience.”