Miles, Cosby secure fourth all-state awards; West County has 4 selected
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Sydney Miles — Central
By MATT KING
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.

Kaydence Cosby — Central
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.

Maylee Merrill — West County
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.

Lacey LaMarr — West County
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.

Grace Barton — West County
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.

Grace Lynch — West County
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

Chloe Staffen — Ste. Genevieve
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
