Katie King will be the first to tell you: it’s pretty tough to steal home plate from first.

But, she made the play look pretty easy.

“I was like, ‘I’m just going to go as hard as I can.’ I get to second, I see the ball is in the outfield, I’m like, ‘Oh, I’m going for third.’ Then I see coach, and he’s still waving me on. I’m like, ‘My goodness, he’s sending me again,’ so I just keep on running and I get to home plate.

“It’s just a great feeling. It really hyped our team up for a really amazing inning.”

It was the dazzling go-ahead play from King — an Arkansas commit — that spurred on a key 4-run fifth inning to lead Class 4A No. 1 Orange Beach to a 9-2 victory over No. 2 Curry for the Class 4A state softball championship.

The victory marks Orange Beach’s fifth straight state championship, which ties the AHSAA state record for most consecutive softball championships; Pisgah won five in a row from 2001-2005.

The score from King, who also claimed tournament MVP, gave the Makos (46-2) a lead they never lost.

“I was going as hard as I could to third base, and coach was giving me the signal early,” she said. “He knew he was going to send me no matter what, and he was like, ‘Just keep on going.’ I just kept on going. No hesitation.”

Orange Beach coach Shane Alexander described King — who went 9-for-14 (.642) with 3 RBIs and 5 runs scored, also hitting a home run and two doubles — as the best player in the state of Alabama.

“She was going to have to throw a bullet to get her out,” he said of the play.

With the incredible feat of five straight wins behind his team, Alexander said this year’s journey was different because of the added pressure from across the nation.

The Makos entered the game ranked No. 3 in the nation according to MaxPreps, while Curry was ranked No. 15.

“You realize you’re going to get everybody’s best pitcher, you’re going to get everybody’s best game,” Alexander said. “They thrive on that. I think the bigger the game, the better they play. It’s just that competitive Mako grit we say they have.”

Thursday’s victory for the Makos was also special because of the group’s core seniors — Daigle Wilson, Kaitlynn Robertson, Justine Henderson and KG Favors.

Favors threw a complete game for the Makos, Robertson and Wilson both logged hits and Henderson scored a run for Orange Beach in the championship victory.

Curry’s Ambrey Taylor went 2-for-3 with a double and a solo home run on the second pitch of the game for the Yellow Jackets, while Kaydence Hutchison also drove in a run and had a hit alongside Lanie West and Madie Gross.

“It’s absolutely amazing,” said Wilson, an Auburn softball signee. “We have the best people here, the best coaches, and they’re just so amazing. They make it fun and that’s what’s just so enjoyable about this program and this team.”

Alexander said this year’s senior group has left an impressive precedent for the other returners next season along with plenty of talented underclassmen.

“Our younger kids, we have to tell them to get out of the hitting facility, go home,” Alexander said. “I want to go see my wife, I want to go eat dinner, but they’re up there and the young kids see it, they want to do it.

“They’ve set a phenomenal standard and example for the young kids. Hopefully, we keep doing this.”