For the second year in a row, the best softball player in the state played for a Baldwin County high school as Daphne junior Vic Moten was named Miss Softball.

The Alabama Sports Writers Association banquet was held Sunday night in Jacksonville where the Crimson Tide commit became the first Trojan to win the award. Last year, Fairhope standout and South Alabama signee Ryley Harrison was bestowed the honor.

Moten, who helped Daphne to its first state finals appearance since 2017 and returned with a Red Map trophy, garnered more statewide recognition earlier in the week. In consecutive days, the ASWA announced her as the Class 7A Player of the Year before she became the state winner of the Gatorade Softball Player of the Year award.

Over 212.1 innings pitched this season for the Trojans, Moten allowed only 61 hits and struck out 463 batters to help produce a 0.46 ERA with a 35-4 record in the pitcher’s circle. Not only that, but she also supplied 29 stolen bases and 15 home runs as part of 43 RBIs offensively with a .407 batting average.

Johnson lands on Class 7A first team again

For the second straight season, Abby J. Johnson was a first-team all-state representative of the Daphne Trojans. Now a sophomore, the outfielder was also recognized as a first-team all-stater as a freshman. Johnson is also a standout on the basketball court and flag football field.

Also a member of the ASWA Super All-State team regardless of classification, Moten was joined by Orange Beach sophomore Ava Hodo in finishing as one of the top 10 players in the state.

Mako leaders take home Class 4A superlative awards

Hodo and batterymate junior KG Favors took home Class 4A Player and Pitcher of the Year honors after the Makos earned their fourth straight state championship. Orange Beach finished its season as the top-ranked team in MaxPreps’ national rankings where both athletes checked in among statewide leaders.

With a 21-1 record in the pitcher’s circle, Favors recorded a 0.77 ERA, which ranked third in MaxPreps’ standings, and used 197 strikeouts to sit 20th in the state. Hodo led many of the team’s offensive categories from the catcher position where her 63 RBIs were good enough for 15th in Alabama and a .991 slugging percentage ranked No. 27.

The pair served as two of six Makos who earned Class 4A all-state distinction. Nearly Orange Beach’s entire infield was recognized with sophomore Teagan Revette on the first team, sophomore Katie King and junior Daigle Wilson on the second team and junior Kaitlynn Robertson as an all-state honorable mention at utility.

Revette held a tie for the team lead in home runs (12) and triples (6) and registered the most hits (61). Wilson led the squad in stolen bases (57) and runs (76) with King right behind her (24 stolen bases, 67 runs). Robertson contributed on both sides of the ball with a team-second-best ERA (1.69) and the third-most RBIs (51).

Four Dolphins earn Class 5A all-state nods

Four Gulf Shores Dolphins were recognized on the Class 5A stage with one first-teamer, two second-team selections and an honorable mention following the team’s first state tournament berth since 2007.

Senior infielder Tia Titi helped lead the way with a .450 batting average between 63 hits (including 18 doubles, 2 triples and 11 home runs), 67 RBIs and a 1.321 On-Base Plug Slugging percentage over 47 games.

The sophomore-freshman battery of pitcher Anna-Leigh Price and catcher Anayia McCutchen represented Gulf Shores on the all-state second team. The lefty hurler racked up 266 strikeouts against 44 walks over 195.2 innings pitched to go along with a .389 batting average and 46 RBIs. Another freshman in Kayleigh “KK” Jacks, who registered a .478 batting average with 55 hits and 37 RBIs, earned all-state honorable mentions.

One Tiger, two Toros land on Class 6A teams

On the Class 6A stage, a lone Baldwin County Tiger and two Spanish Fort Toros garnered all-state honors.

Baldwin County junior pitcher Madilyn Byrd racked up 274 strikeouts against 18 walks over 162 innings pitched to help the Tigers win the Class 6A South Regional Championship over Saraland. It marked Baldwin County’s third regional title in four years.

Byrd and Spanish Fort junior Haley Hart were both first-team all-state selections. Hart was chosen as the designated hitter after she averaged .507 with 72 hits (including 18 doubles, 5 triples and 11 home runs), 62 RBIs and an On-Base Plug Slugging percentage of 1.495.

Senior infielder Kennedy Sevcik, an all-state honorable mention, was right behind Hart in team categories including batting average (.469), RBIs (51) and doubles (17) with 53 total hits for third-most on the team.

Below are the full all-state representatives from Baldwin County teams as awarded by the Alabama Sports Writers Association.

All-state superlatives (also first-team all-state honorees)

Miss Softball

P Vic Moten – Daphne, junior

Class 7A Player of the Year

P Vic Moten – Daphne, junior

Class 4A Player of the Year

C Ava Hodo – Orange Beach, sophomore

Class 4A Pitcher of the Year

P KG Favors – Orange Beach, junior

All-state teams

Class 4A

First team

IF Teagan Revette – Orange Beach, sophomore

Second team

IF Katie King – Orange Beach, sophomore

IF Daigle Wilson – Orange Beach, junior

Honorable mention

UTL Kaitlynn Robertson – Orange Beach, junior

Class 5A

First team

IF Tia Titi – Gulf Shores, senior

Second team

P Anna-Leigh Price – Gulf Shores, sophomore

C Anayia McCutchen – Gulf Shores, freshman

Honorable mention

OF KK Jacks – Gulf Shores, freshman

Class 6A

First team

P Madilyn Byrd – Baldwin County, junior

DH Haley Hart – Spanish Fort, junior

Honorable mention

IF Kennedy Sevcik – Spanish Fort, senior

Class 7A

First team

OF Abby J. Johnson – Daphne, sophomore