Centralia hadn’t won a conference title since 2017 and had many girls to thank for the championship this season.

The Lady Panthers had seven players receive postseason honors, including five all-Clarence Cannon Conference players and seven all-district players in Class 3 District 4, as they went a perfect 7-0 in conference play and finished with an 18-10 record after a narrow 3-2 loss to conference foe Macon in districts. Senior Kaelyn Walters, sophomore Cora King and sophomore Madi Johnson were each first team all-conference and all-district, sophomore Kassena Ridgel and senior Ellie Page were each second team all-conference and all-district, junior Tilly Fox was second team all-district, and senior Olivia Adams was an all-district honorable mention.

Walters was described by head coach Liz Bostick as a “driving force” of Centralia’s undefeated conference title team that pitched in every inning of conference play and covered 13 of 15 innings while allowing 10 hits against Marshall, Macon and Kirksville in the Centralia Invitational, which the Lady Panthers won for the first time since 2016. The unanimous first-team all-conference pitcher was the one pitching when Centralia defeated conference foe and Class 2 No. 1 Highland 14-13, she held Class 3 No. 1 Fatima scoreless through four innings, and Class 2 No. 3 Bowling Green to five hits.

The stats for Walters includes a 2.45 ERA, and had a 1.00 ERA in CCC play for the best mark in the conference; 24 stolen bases, including a school-record five in a game against Blair Oaks; and a .291 batting average.

“Kaelyn has been our workhorse for the past four years,” Bostick said. “She was a tough and focused competitor, who stood strong in the circle for us.”

Centralia’s unanimous first-team all-conference infielder was Madi Johnson, someone who thrived this season mostly from the No. 2 hole. Bostick said Johnson was another “driving force” in winning a conference title and a home tournament championship, hitting a key three-RBI home run to beat Kirksville 15-7 for the title. 

Johnson finished with a .494 batting average, 24 RBI, 19 stolen bases and a team-high four home runs. In the field, she had only 10 errors in 93 total chances at shortstop and two errors in 20 chances in Clarence Cannon Conference play.

“Despite being just a sophomore, Madi was our team leader both in the field at shortstop and at the plate,” Bostick said. 

Cora King posted several impressive numbers this season, but Bostick said her one home run shouldn’t be overlooked. Centralia fell behind 11-4 to Highland so King’s grand slam in that game shifted the momentum the Lady Panthers’ way and ultimately helped secure a conference title. As the team’s catcher, King committed one error — none in conference play — for a .995 fielding percentage, tied a school single-season record with eight baserunners caught for a 34.78 caught stealing percentage and had only three passed balls.

At the plate, King had a .422 average, a team-high 35 RBI and struck out only four times.

“Cora caught 158 innings this season (42 innings in conference), was a rock behind the dish and a threat at the plate,” Bostick said. 

Ellie Page finished with a strong slash line of a .338 average, .474 on-base percentage and a .405 slugging percentage; scored 29 runs and had 13 RBI. Bostick has continually been impressed by how Page plays at third base.

“Ellie is the rock at the third-base corner for our team,” Bostick said. “She is always calm and collected no matter the shots that are hit at her. She possesses strong leadership and character. You won’t find a kinder person who leads by example and has a heart of gold. She is the glue that holds the team together and our success is much attributed to her.”

Ridgel came though frequently in the lower half of the lineup, finishing with an average of .362 and .500 average in conference play. She also had a .457 on-base, .420 slugging and 20 RBI, and only three errors and two assists in the outfield.

“Kassena played left field, making plays that were needed in the outfield and coming up as a line drive hitter at the plate,” Bostick said. 

Fox was Centralia’s utility player, playing primarily second base but also first base and the outfield. The leadoff slap hitter finished with a .352 average that included a .375 mark in conference and a 2-for-3 performance against Fatima’s all-state pitcher Taylor Baumhoer. Other stats included her .408 on-base, .429 slugging, 27 runs scored, 11 stolen bases and a .865 fielding percentage — 1.000 in conference play — in 74 total chances.

“She was a versatile player that I could put anywhere on the field and have an impact,” Bostick said. “She was primarily a power slapper at the plate but was a triple threat.”

Olivia Adams finished with a .429 to give Centralia another viable option lower in the lineup, picking up the game-winning RBI on a sacrifice bunt in a 2-1 victory against conference foe Monroe City. Adams also had .424 on-base, .452 slugging, 16 RBI and two triples.

“Olivia was our center field this year and was the leader of the outfield,” Bostick said. “She made incredible catches for us in the outfield throughout the season and was our outfield force in our undefeated Clarence Cannon Conference championship season.”