#11 Ava Hodo

HIGH SCHOOL: Four-star recruit … Ranked as the No. 38 prospect and No. 5 catcher in the nation while being ranked as the No. 1 overall player in her state according to Softball America … Prepped at Orange Beach High School in Orange Beach, Ala., where she led the Makos to six-straight state championships and a MaxPreps National Championship in 2024 … Became just the second softball student-athlete in Alabama history to earn all-state honors in all six varsity seasons alongside Hilary Phillips (2004-2009) … Earned five-straight first-team all-state honors from 2022-2026 after being named a second-team all-state selection as a seventh grader … Finished her high school career tied for the third-most home runs in Alabama state history with 78 …  Teammate of fellow Arkansas signee Katie King … Batted .483 with 56 hits, 10 doubles, a triple, 12 home runs, 68 RBI and 14 runs scored as a senior in 2026 … Posted a 1.000 fielding percentage with 254 putouts and 20 assists while being a part of three double plays as a senior … Finished the 2025 season with a .571 batting average, 80 hits, 15 doubles, 15 home runs, 77 RBI and a stolen base … Helped lead Orange Beach to a 46-2 record and their fifth straight state title while earning Max Preps First-Team All-American and Prep Softball First-Team All-America honors in 2025… Named the Class 4A Player of the Year by the Alabama Sports Writers Association in 2025 … As a sophomore in 2024, Hodo hit .486 with 53 hits, 11 doubles, four triples and 12 round trippers while driving in 63 runs and scoring 22 … Led Orange Beach to a 46-1 record while capturing its fourth consecutive Class 4A state title and a MaxPreps National Championship … Earned MaxPreps First-Team Underclass All-America honors as a freshman in 2023 after batting .461 with 70 hits including 15 doubles, five triples, 21 home runs, 77 RBI and 37 runs scored … Started on varsity as a seventh and eighth grader at Orange Beach … Registered a .517 batting average with 60 hits, 16 doubles, a triple, nine home runs, 51 RBI and 30 runs scored as an eighth grader … Hit .521 with 63 hits, two doubles, four triples and nine round trippers as a seventh grader in 2020 … Played travel ball with the Birmingham Thunderbolts 18 Premier, leading them to three PGF National Championships … Also played varsity volleyball … Daughter of Jody and Alycia Hodo … Father Jody served as an assistant softball coach at Orange Beach.