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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE "Bryce brings tremendous credibility to this position," Beard said. "We think this is a natural step for Bryce. We think he will help make Missouri Southern Baseball the tradition that it has to be and the tradition that it has been in the past. "He (Darnell) brings with him an overwhelming community support. This community is going to welcome his family with open arms." Darnell succeeds coach Warren Turner who retired after 31 years at Southern, including 852 wins and two NCAA Division II College World Series appearances. "I'm extremely honored to be here with you today," Darnell said. "I told Sallie (Beard) when she called me last week that this is a phone call I've been waiting for for the past ten years. I had a great experience as a student-athlete at Southern. "I want to thank Warren Turner. He is a man that I have tremendous respect for and a man that I've been proud to refer to as 'my coach.'" A 1997 graduate of Missouri Southern,
Darnell has been the head baseball coach at Webb City High School the
past eight years, while also teaching social studies at the school. His
baseball teams at Webb City have won the last two Missouri Class 3 State
Championships. Darnell hit .436 in 30 games as a sophomore for the Lions in 1994, which is the sixth highest batting average in a season at Southern. He was named honorable mention All-MIAA that year. He had his best season in 1995, helping the Lions to a 43-13 record, including a 17-3 mark in MIAA play. He hit .364 that year with 13 doubles, three homers and 47 RBIs en route to being named first-team all-region and all-MIAA. The Lions were second in the MIAA Postseason Tournament and made an appearance in the NCAA Division II Central Region Tournament. Darnell's senior season saw the catcher hit .339 with 20 doubles, four homers and 48 RBIs in 55 games. The 20 doubles is fifth all-time in a season at Southern. He was named honorable mention all-MIAA that year. Darnell was drafted after his junior season in the 40th round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. He was later drafted after his senior season in the 58th round by the Arizona Diamondbacks. He played professionally for one season with the Visalia Oaks, a single A affiliate of the Diamondbacks. Darnell's .577 on base percentage as a
sophomore ranks third in a season, while his .996 fielding percentage (1
error) in 1995 is second all-time. He ranks seventh in career doubles
with 40, while ranking sixth in batting average (.366) and seventh in
fielding percentage Darnell has amassed a 160-43 career record at Webb City, including two state championships. He was the Joplin Globe Coach of the Year in 2002 and 2005, while being named the Missouri Class 3 Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2006. He holds a degree in Secondary Education from Missouri Southern (1997), as well as a Masters in Educational Administration from Missouri State University (2000). "I had a great ten years at Webb City," Darnell said. "Eight years ago, the superintendent at Webb City asked me if I was happy with my job, and I said I'm extremely happy. But there's only one other job that i'd rather have and that's the head baseball coach at Missouri Southern." Darnell and his wife, Pamela have two children, Darcy (5), and Cy (2).
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