Johnny Coy earned his second straight first-team all-state distinction as an infielder in Class 3, while two other city players made the cut for the first time on the Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association all-state baseball teams, released today.

Benton junior Austin Garton joins Coy on the Class 3 squad, making the second team as a designated hitter/utility selection. Bishop LeBlond senior Ethan Lueckenhoff made first team infield on the Class 2 squad.

But Coy was the only no-brainer.

Recently selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the seventh round of Major League Baseball’s first-year player draft, Coy hit .640 with 12 home runs and 52 RBIs in 22 games. He added 12 doubles and one triple to give him extra bases on 25 of his 51 hits. He also stole 16 bases, scored 39 runs and struck out only nine times compared to 12 walks.

Coy also made first team last year after Benton won its first state championship. The Cardinals were 94-10 in Coy’s four years, all of which Coy spent on the varsity roster.

Garton, meanwhile, emerged as a pleasant surprise during his junior year for coach Mike Musser. The lanky lefty established himself as Benton’s top pitcher this year, going 5-1 with a 1.71 ERA.

At the plate, Garton hit .444 with three home runs and 21 RBIs, while hitting mostly behind Coy and last year’s all-state utility selection from Benton, junior Jake Kretzer.

Lueckenhoff earned the area’s lone selection in Class 2, despite LeBlond’s loss in the district championship game. The senior third baseman led a potent Golden Eagles offense with a .526 average.

Lueckenhoff recorded 41 hits — 20 for extra bases — and drove in 35 while scoring 33 times.

Also all-state

A large contingent of Platte County and Smithville players made the Class 1 all-state soccer teams, recently released by the Missouri State High School Soccer Coaches Assocition.

State quarterfinalist Platte County finished ranked No. 5 in the final poll after losing to eventual state champion Notre Dame de Sion. The Pirates (25-5) garnered one selection to each of the three teams with News-Press soccer player of the year Kaylee Smith making the first team.

Freshman defender Cacy Williams went second team, while forward Whitney Smith cracked the third team. Platte County coach Jamie Waddell earned public school coach of the year honors in Class 1 as well.

Smithville also lost to the state champions, bowing out in sectionals. The Warriors earned the No. 8 ranking for their 20-5 campaign and also scored three all-state selections.

Sophomore midfielder Jessie Johnson joined Kaylee Smith on the first team, while forward Mallory Craig and midfielder Alex Olson both made the second team.

Setting sail

Lafayette senior Jake Davis recently signed to play basketball at Missouri Valley College, an NAIA institution in the Heart of America Athletic Conference.

A versatile left-hander, Davis started at quarterback in football and at guard in basketball. He ultimately chose to play hoops where he was a strong defender for coach Chris Neff in his first year with the Fighting Irish.

Davis also ended up fourth in scoring for the balanced Irish, averaging 7.6 points per game on 46 percent shooting (37 percent on 3-pointers). He was third on the team in rebounding (4.2), second in assists (1.8) and first in steals (1.5).