Miles, Cosby secure fourth all-state awards; West County has 4 selected

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By MATT KING

mking@dailyjournalonline.com

The presence of shortstop Sydney Miles and catcher Kaydence Cosby appearing back-to-back in the Central lineup left opposing pitchers and coaches mulling an unenviable conundrum.

The debate centered around intentionally walking one, both or neither star hitter with bases open. And in countless instances, the chosen option yielded costly consequences.

The recent graduates have stamped their respective record-setting varsity careers by becoming the first Lady Rebels to secure all-state softball recognition in four consecutive years.

The Missouri High School Fastpitch Coaches Association announced its selections on Thursday, and also rewarded four standouts from Class 2, District 3 champion West County.

Catcher Maylee Merrill and center fielder Lacey LaMarr landed on the Class 2 First Team. Shortstop Grace Lynch and pitcher Grace Barton were placed on the Second Team.

Miles uplifted her teammates with a remarkably fast return to action after a meniscus injury in January abruptly ended her basketball season and put any softball plans in jeopardy.

Five weeks after undergoing surgery, she went 3-for-3 with a double in the opener, and soon regained full mobility to once again anchor the infield defense.

Cosby was the most feared slugger in the MAAA this year, as evidenced by the 30 total free passes she received. A majority of those occurred without a pitch being thrown.

The duo helped Central reach the final four as freshmen. First Team all-state status remained justified for both, even though the Lady Rebels could not repeat their district crown from last spring.

Miles posted a .603 batting average with five home runs, 31 RBI and 33 runs scored. Among her 35 hits were 22 for extra bases, including 15 doubles.

She was a flawless 9-of-9 on stolen base attempts, and balanced out just three errors by directly turning three double plays for Central.

Cosby, named four times to the First Team, delivered a perfect fielding percentage over 20 games from behind the plate, and inflicted plenty of damage when given a chance to swing away.

She batted .606 with five homers and three triples among 20 hits, and totaled 24 RBI, 37 runs scored and 14 stolen bases while striking out only three times.

Previous Central stars were on pace to achieve four all-state awards before encountering unforeseen, off-the-field circumstances beyond their control.

Former teammate and current Missouri S&T outfielder Allie Kelly settled for three all-state honors after the COVID pandemic wiped out her sophomore season in 2020.

Kimmy Wallen made the cut three consecutive years before suffering a serious knee injury during a basketball practice that sidelined her throughout the spring of 2019.

Miles leaves the Lady Rebels as their standard bearer in career hits (147), runs scored (155), doubles (49) and defensive assists (184), plus single-season runs (45) and assists (63).

She will play next season in the OVC at Southeast Missouri State, where original Central program architect Bryan Wallen – the father of Kimmy – now serves as an assistant coach.

Cosby has signed with St. Louis Community College, the chief region rival of Mineral Area, with numerous records now attached to her resume.

Her single-season program highs include home runs (9), triples (8), extra-base hits (27), RBI (50), total bases (100), batting average (.627), OBP (.814) and slugging percentage (1.394)

Team career marks for Cosby are home runs (24), triples (16), RBI (135), total bases (275), batting average (.577) and defensive putouts (433).

Merrill upgraded from the Second Team as a repeat choice following a stellar sophomore year at West County, capped by a sparkling .995 fielding percentage. She compiled two home runs among 41 hits – 19 for extra bases – plus 24 RBI and 33 runs scored while batting .539 overall.

LaMarr, who wears a specially designed batting helmet in honor of her late father Brian, delivered a breakout year with her speed between the gaps and prolific bat from the leadoff spot.

She posted a .506 average with 12 doubles and two triples among 39 hits, notching a home run and 17 RBI as well. Her 15 stolen bases helped enhance 39 runs scored.

Barton was the reliable worker in the circle who propelled the Lady Bulldogs to an MAAA tournament title and share of the regular-season championship.

The senior and MAC signee amassed 169 strikeouts, compared to only 21 walks, and a 2.27 ERA over 114 innings pitched. She tallied a 13-6 record in 19 starts, and also batted .493 with 26 RBI.

Lynch shined with a .538 average plus 29 RBI and 26 runs scored. Her second home run came during the district final, and she netted 14 doubles and three triples out of 42 season hits.

Ste. Genevieve bumped Central from the district semifinals before falling to champion Clearwater, and was powered by Second Team all-state catcher Chloe Staffen.

Staffen has been a key contributor since crashing the varsity lineup as a freshman, and pieced together a tremendous senior season as the third all-state catcher recognized from the MAAA.

She batted .532 with five home runs, 42 hits and 35 RBI while leading off for the Dragons, and posted a .980 fielding percentage.

West County picked up six all-region selections as left fielder Kaytlen Hartley and second baseman Sadie Patterson join Barton, LaMarr, Lynch and Merrill.

Central features outfielders Alex Neff and Lauren Hulsey plus pitcher Mallory Blankenship alongside Miles and Cosby.

Staffen appears with pitcher Ava Green, outfielder Briana Pfaff and first baseman Alysa Beckermann for Ste. Genevieve.

Other all-region picks include pitcher Lani Elder, shortstop Ava Wright and outfielder Sabra Brown of Potosi, and shortstop Hayden Vaeth of Valle Catholic.

2025 Spring Softball

Class 2 – Districts 1 and 2

All-Region First Team

Pitchers

Abbie Gingrey – Clearwater

Alyssa Broom – Malden

Ava Greer – Ste. Genevieve

Jenna Alcorn – Clearwater

Catchers

Kaydence Cosby – Central

Carsyn Cohen – Malden

Chloe Staffen – Ste. Genevieve

Ragan Shearrer – Clearwater

Infielders

Sydney Miles – Central

Kylie Walker – Senath-Hornersville

Jorja Eaton – Clearwater

Laura Kate Johnson – New Madrid

Chloe Jackson – East Prairie

Hayden Vaeth – Valle Catholic

Outfielders

Mariah Loya – Malden

Baylee Wilcul – Kennett

Addi Donze – Valle Catholic

Briana Pfaff – Ste. Genevieve

Utility

Handley McAtee – Kennett

All-Region Second Team

Pitchers

Emma Claire Bodkin – Kennett

Aubrey Aycock – New Madrid

Jonna Rice – East Prairie

Catchers

Emma Tinnin – Kennett

Lola Atchley – New Madrid

Infielders

Avery Payne – Kennett

Lynnley Patterson – Kennett

Jaylee Brown – Malden

Alysa Beckermann – Ste. Genevieve

Grace Allen – Clearwater

Mallory Blankenship – Central

Outfielders

Hallie Walker – Caruthersville

Madilynn Colbert – New Madrid

Alex Neff – Central

Lauren Hulsey – Central

Utility

Mallary Barks – Woodland

Class 2 – Districts 3 and 4

All-Region First Team:

MaKinley Aaron – Houston

Grace Barton – West County

Lacey Cavaness – Houston

McKenna Coonts – Ava

Raegan DuBois – Salem

Katy Evans – Houston

Hannah Forrest – Ava

Landry Golden – Mountain Grove

Paris Henry – Ava

Shelby Hutchings – Willow Springs

Sophie Jackson – Willow Springs

Lacey LaMarr – West County

Grace Lynch – West County

Maylee Merrill – West County

McKenzie Morris – Thayer

Aleisha Shanks – Willow Springs

Khila Smith – Willow Springs

Hunter Strunk – Ava

Ava Wright – Potosi

All-Region Second Team:

Kimree Brazier – Licking

Sabra Brown – Potosi

Halee Clayton – Licking

Zoey Dawson – Licking

Hannah Dowden – Mountain Grove

Lani Elder – Potosi

Haydon Gage – Seymour

Annalise Gobin – Bourbon

Aubrey Gorman – Licking

Kaytlen Hartley – West County

Hattie Haynes – Thayer

Lauren Hercules – Bourbon

Kadyn Hilles – Thayer

Alaine Norris – Salem

Sadie Patterson – West County

Mya Rinne – Licking

Brette Tharp – Thayer