It wasn’t the way Daphne expected to start the AHSAA Class 7A softball state championship tournament.

The Trojans lost to Hoover 5-4 in the first round of double-elimination play, falling into the elimination bracket.

Ace Vic Moten allowed five hits, including a three-run homer during the loss, but Daphne battled to earn two wins the first day and two more the following day to reach the championship against Hewitt-Trussville. Daphne fell 1-0 to the Huskies in nine innings.

After the loss to Hoover, Moten allowed only four runs and 22 hits during the next five games. Moten struck out 64 in 43 2/3 innings during the tournament.

The performance typified Moten, who was named Miss Softball during Sunday’s Alabama Sports Writers Association banquet in Jacksonville. She’s the first Daphne player to earn the honor.

“I think losing our first game at the state tournament and then what she was able to do, kind of putting us on her back and just letting us ride her because she wanted the ball,” said Daphne coach Jenny Laird. “There was no way we were going to be out on the field with the season on the line without her in the circle. The tenacity that she showed after we dropped that first game at the state tournament, that’s who she is.”

Bob Jones’ Braden Booth was named Mr. Baseball and ASWA also honored Sumiton Christian’s Yancey Young with the Jimmy Smothers Courage Award during the banquet.

Moten was also named the Class 7A Player of the Year after an impressive junior season for the Trojans.

“I wanted to stay mentally strong throughout the whole season and my team really helped me and built me up for this moment,” Moten said. “I’m just so glad that I got recognized and to be in this position, but it’s really a team honor.”

RELATED: See the ASWA All-State softball team

Alabama commit Moten compiled state bests in the circle with 35 wins, 463 strikeouts (15.3 per seven innings), 22 shutouts, 17 no-hitters and tied for the state lead with three perfect games. Moten’s 0.46 ERA was the best in Class 7A and second-best in the state. Opponents hit .079 against the hard-throwing right-hander.

At the plate, Moten slugged 15 home runs with 43 RBIs, 63 runs scored and 30 walks while batting .407 with a .524 on-base percentage, .800 slugging percentage and 1.324 OPS.

“This year especially was incredible and she was a big part of what we were doing,” Laird said. “Obviously she was strong in the circle and then also you have the 15 home runs.

“And she’s just a great kid, a great teammate and I think her desire and will to win and really try to be the best she can be is what’s going to continue to make her great years from now.”

Moten is the 21st Miss Softball with only Grissom’s Anna Thompson earning the honor twice, 2004 and 2006. Pisgah, Hueytown and Baker are the lone schools with multiple winners in the history of the award.

Moten leads the Super All-State softball team along with Class 7A Hewitt-Trussville’s Sara Phillips and Central-Phenix City’s Ally Supan, Class 6A Athens’ Morgan Stiles and Wetumpka’s Mya Holt, Class 5A Jasper’s Missy Odom, Class 4A Orange Beach’s Ava Hodo and Houston Academy’s Braya Hodges, Class 3A Opp’s Reese Cauley and Class 2A Wicksburg’s Natalie Cole.

Stiles and Holt are the only repeat winners, earning Super All-State last season.

The Jimmy Smothers Courage Award, named for the former long-time Gadsden Times sports editor, honors an athlete who overcomes adversity to excel in sports.

2024 ASWA Super All-State Softball

Miss Softball: Vic Moten, Daphne

Sara Phillips, Hewitt Trussville

Morgan Stiles, Athens

Ava Hodo, Orange Beach

Missy Odom, Jasper

Reese Cauley, Opp

Mya Holt, Wetumpka

Braya Hodges, Houston Academy

Natalie Cole, Wicksburg

Ally Supan, Central-Phenix City

ASWA Miss Softball Winners

2024: Vic Moten, Daphne

2023: Ryley Harrison, Fairhope

2022: Kenleigh Cahalan, Hewitt-Trussville

2021: Annabelle Widra, Spain Park

2020: No award because of COVID-19 Pandemic

2019: Libby Baker, G.W. Long

2018: Leanna Johnson, Brantley

2017: Annie Willis, Westminster Christian

2016: Ashlee Swindle, Curry

2015: Lacey Sumerlin, Baker

2014: Madi Moore, Winfield

2013: Kasey Cooper, Dothan

2012: Haylie McCleney, Mortimer Jordan

2011: Shelby Holley, Pisgah

2010: Leigh Streetman, Hueytown

2009: Hilary Phillips, Ider

2008: Lindsey Dunlap, Hueytown

2007: Whitney Larsen, Vestavia Hills

2006: Anna Thompson, Grissom

2005: Tara Donaldson, Baker

2004: Anna Thompson, Grissom

2003: Holly Currie, Pisgah