Missouri Southern State University Athletics

Bryce Darnell begins his 17th season as head coach at Missouri Southern in 2024. He was named the third head baseball coach in Southern baseball history on May 22, 2007. Darnell succeeded coach Warren Turner who retired after 31 years at Southern, including 852 wins and two NCAA Division II College World Series appearances. In 16 seasons leading the Lions, Darnell has a career record of 479-334. His 479 wins rank 7th-best in MIAA history and second-most at MSSU. 

In all, Darnell has coached 115 All-MIAA performances, 27 All-Region honorees, 12 All-America selections and one National Pitcher of the Year. He has led the Lions to the MIAA Tournament in 12 of the 16 seasons at the helm. 

2023
The Lions had their most wins in a season under Darnell in 2023, finishing 45-17, 25-8 in conference play. Their 45 wins in a single season ranks second-most in MSSU history to the 1991 season, when the team went 48-13. During the year, 11 team records were broken: at-bats (2,149), runs (568), hits (691), doubles (145), home runs (114), RBIs (529), HBPs (97), putouts (1,558), total bases (1,212), extra base hits (276) and innings pitched (519.1). They made it to the MIAA Tournament championship game for the first time since 2013, made their first NCAA Regional Tournament appearance since 2019 for the ninth appearance overall, with it also being the first time hosting a regional since 1992, and the third time ever in program history. 

A total of seven single season, six career, and two single game individual records were set. Nate Mieszkowski, Matt Miller, and Cole Woods each earned All-American honors. Woods was named Central Region Pitcher of the Year, and six total were named All-Region. Ethan Clark was named the MIAA Freshman of the Year, and 11 in total earned All-MIAA honors. Henry Kusiak was again a Scholar-Athlete with a 3.93 in biology after earning first-team All-MIAA at shortstop. In total, 21 members of the 2023 squad were named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll. 

2022
In 2022 the Lions finished 29-23, 17-16 in MIAA play and set a team record for home runs hit in a season (97) to blast the previous high of 81 out of the water. Logan VanWey made the switch from being the primary closer to Friday starter and was an unanimous 1st team All-MIAA selection while also being named All-Region by three publications. Tommy Stevenson was one of the better players in the MIAA and region once again while hitting 16 home runs in 40 games on way to MIAA and All-Region honors as a cathcer. Stevenson would become the sixth player under Darnell picked in the MLB Amateur Draft and the 16th in program history while VanWey would sign a free agent contract with the Houston Astros. 

The Lions saw nine in total named All-MIAA and had seven named onto the Academic Honor Roll along with as a team earning the ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award. Henry Kusiak was named an MIAA Academic Scholar Athlete after being an All-MIAA selection and sporting a 3.96 GPA in Biology, on the field he finished with a team-high 70 hits, five triples, 13 hit-by-pitches and registered 87 assists mostly at third base.

2021
2021 saw the Lions have to battle with stringent safety protocols due to the lingering effects of Covid-19, but the Lions managed to stay strong and win 30 games for the seventh time in Darnell's tenure. The team set numerous records during the season including total bases in a game (53), home runs in a game (8), single-season slugging percentage (.556), fewest errors in a season, fewest runs allowed in a season and most strikeouts per nine innings in a single-season. Will Bausinger finished his career as the all-time leader in strikeouts in MSSU history. Tommy Davidson was the MIAA Freshman of the Year while Zach Parish repeated as MIAA Pitcher of the Year. Davidson also set the MSSU record for hits in a game with six. 

Parish went on to establish himself as one of the best pitcher ever in Division II. The lefty was the consensus Division II National Pitcher of the Year after sweeping the Regional Pitcher of the Year awards. Parish set the MIAA record for career strikeouts and near the end of the year, set the NCAA Division II record for career strikeouts. He finished the season with the second-best ERA for a starter in MSSU history (1.21), while finishing his career with the second-best ERA for a starter in MSSU history (2.16). 

2020
The 2020 season started out promising with the Lions winning 16 of their first 20 games, but the Covid-19 Pandemic cut the season short after 21 games and the Lions posting a 16-5 record. In those 21 games, however, senior lefty Zach Parish became the MIAA All-Time Strikeout King with 350 career punchouts (between Northeastern State and MSSU), while also posting a no-hitter as the Lions blanked the University of Mary 13-0 on February. 8. Parish will get another year to add to the stats as all players were granted another year of eligibility due to the cancellation of the season. 

2019
The Lions in 2019 were a special team. Southern saw Darnell win the MIAA Coach of the Year honor, while Zach Parish was the MIAA Pitcher of the Year and Dexter Swims was the MIAA Freshman of the Year. The Lions finished the season 35-21 and advanced to another NCAA Tournament. The team advanced to Championship Sunday in the MIAA Tournament. The team had 12 players earn All-MIAA status, including three (Swims, Parish and Freddie Landers) pick up first-team honors. 

The team set the school record for strikeouts by its pitching staff as the team fanned 558 batters in the season, finishing just five away from tying the MIAA single-season mark. Parish broke the individual single-season mark for strikeouts with 136 and the team was just shy of setting the record for fielding percentage as they finished with a .971 mark. 

2018
The 2018 Lions started the season 17-3, including wins over a nationally-ranked Central Oklahoma team to open the season and a win at home over Illinois-Springfield who went on to win 47 games and host an NCAA Regional. 

The Lions finished the season with a school-record 422 strikeouts, breaking the previous record of 410 set in 2015. Nine Lions were named to the All-MIAA Team with Johnny Balsamo earning a Gold Glove Award. Cory Canterbury was a third-team selection, while eight others earned HM honors. 

2017
The 2017 Lions battled their way to Championship Sunday in the MIAA Tournament and just missed out on a spot in the title game for the second time in three years. 

Southern produced eight All-MIAA selections and Max Hogan was the MIAA Player of the Year. Hogan went on to be named an All-Region and All-American selection by three different publications. Hogan was then drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 32nd round of the Major League Baseball Draft. 

Along with Hogan, Tyler Sutherland was also an All-Region and All-American selection in 2017. The Lions also saw 14 players named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll. 

2016
The 2016 Lions once again won 30 plus games and saw multiple records broken. The team set the school record for home runs in a season, while Jesse Rall broke the single-season record for home runs with 18 and ended the regular season with a streak of 78-straight games reaching base. Payton Walker ended his four-year career as one of the best starting pitchers to ever wear the Green and Gold as he finished his career as the Lions' all-time leader in strikeouts (269), starts (49), and innings pitched (323.1).In 2016, Walker led the entire region in innings pitched with 106.2, which set the Missouri Southern single-season record of 105.1 set in 2013.  

2015
The 2015 Lions were the most successful group Darnell has had in his tenure. The Lions went 40-14 and won both the MIAA regular season and tournament titles. The Lions advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years, and Darnell was named the MIAA Coach of the Year. 

The Lions also had the MIAA Pitcher of the Year in Cody Hutchinson, while eight Lions were named All-MIAA in total, including first-teamers Hutchinson, Payton Walker, Jesse Rall, and Chris Hoffman. All four players were named All-Region, while Rall, Hutchinson and Hoffman were All-America selections. The Lions also did it well in the classroom as eight were named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll.

2014
The 2014 season saw the highest-ever draft pick to come out of Missouri Southern when Logan Moon was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the sixth round of the Major League Baseball draft in June. Moon was assigned to the Burlington (NC) Royals rookie league team and proceeded to set the Appalachian League on fire upon his arrival. He went on to set a team record for hits and won the league batting title. He finished the season by being named the Royals Rookie League Player of the Year. 

Moon was one of four Lions to earn All-MIAA honors in 2014. A third-team pick, Moon joined a trio of seniors (Moon, David Reese and Stephen Vaughn), as well as sophomore Payton Walker who earned league honors. Four other Lions were named to the MIAA
Academic Honor Roll, as well. 

2013
The 2013 season proved to be extremely successful for Darnell as the Lions went 34-22 and won the MIAA Tournament Title with a dramatic walk-off home run from Sam Ryan, giving the Lions a 6-3 win over fifth-ranked Missouri Western. The Lions defeated Western twice during that tournament and had three complete game wins from the pitching staff on the way to the win.

Southern finished the 2012 season 32-19 and the Lions were 23-17 in the MIAA, good enough for a third place finish in the league. Although the season ended with a defeat in the first round of the MIAA Tournament, the year was full of plenty of highs. The Lions started the year 11-0 and jumped into the National Poll at No. 24. After moving their record to 15-1, the Lions moved all the way up to No. 11 in Division II. The Lions finished the year batting .310 as a team and had a 3.74 team ERA. Southern also broke a school record for fielding percentage finishing the year with a .962 average.

The Lions had six players named All-MIAA in 2011 as Dallas Burke was a first-team selection at utility after splitting time at catcher, outfield and designated hitter. Both Jesse Kinzey and Dane Kolkmeyer were second-team selections, while newcomers Brett Abell and Cody Griebling picked up HM status after anchoring the Lions' pitching staff. Senior Patrick Deao was also named an HM pick after he led the Lions with eight outfield assists this year and was tied for the team lead with five home runs and 60 hits. Southern finished just a half game out of the hunt for an MIAA Tournament bid at 24-26 overall. 

2010
The 2010 Missouri Southern baseball team continued its resurgence under coach Bryce Darnell and made the MIAA post season tournament for the second-straight year. The Lions had their second-straight winning record with a 28-26 mark and finished third in the MIAA Tournament, losing out to eventual Division II World Series participant Central Missouri. Southern also set a school record for home runs in a season (64) beating the previous mark of 51. 

The Lions had, at one time, the toughest schedule in Division II, but fought through a rough 3-14 start to go 14-5 over its next 19 games and finished the regular season as the fifth seed in the MIAA Tournament. Southern had four players named All-MIAA and two were named All-Region with senior shortstop Jacob Taylor picking up All-American honors. Junior catcher Joe Lincoln was drafted in the 34^th round of the Major League Baseball draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers and both Taylor and fellow senior CJ Maffei signed professional contracts, as well. 

2009
Darnell's second season saw a dramatic turnaround (the best in the NCAA in 2009) that led to the Lions finishing 35-20 overall, third place in the MIAA and the program's first trip to the MIAA Tournament since 2002. The Lions, throughout the course of the year, saw such highs including taking three out of four games from eventual national runner up Emporia State and shutting out Central Missouri twice in the same season, a feat that has rarely, if ever, been accomplished. 

The Lions had eight players named All-MIAA and both CJ Maffei and Skyler Rawlins were named All-Region. The team won its first game at the MIAA Tournament and was in contention for an NCAA Regional berth all season. Coming into this year, both Maffei and Rawlins have been tabbed pre-season All-Americans.

2008
Darnell's first season as the head coach at his alma mater saw the team improve in wins, both overall and in conference play, and saw the young Lions squad play one of the most difficult schedules in NCAA Division II. The team won 16 games in MIAA play, including an exciting 3-2 win over MIAA Champ and Division II World Series Participant Central Missouri.

Prior to Southern
A 1997 graduate of Missouri Southern, Darnell had been the head baseball coach at Webb City High School for eight years, while also teaching social studies at the school. His baseball teams at Webb City won two Missouri Class 3 State Championships. Darnell amassed a 160-43 career record at Webb City and 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.

As a Player
A three-year player for the Lions from 1994-1996, Darnell transferred to Southern after a year at the University of Minnesota. A Brooklyn Center, Minn. native, Darnell was a three-sport athlete at BCHS being named all-state in baseball and football, as well as all-conference in basketball. Darnell played for his father, Doug, at BCHS. Doug Darnell was also the Athletic Director at BCHS.

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 HM 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 HM 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 in 1996 for 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
(.976).

Education
He holds a degree in Secondary Education from Missouri Southern (1997), as well as a Masters in Educational Administration from Missouri State University (2000).

Personal Life
Darnell has a wife, Pamela and two children, Darcy, and Cy.

All-MIAA selections through the years
2023
Nate Mieszkowski - 1st-team 2B (2nd-team ABCA, D2CCA and NCBWA All-American, 1st-team ABCA, D2CCA, NCBWA All-Region)
Matt Miller - 2nd-team 1B (3rd-team ABCA INF All-American, 1st-team ABCA INF, 2nd-team D2CCA All-Region)
Cole Woods - 1st-team SP, Gold Glove (HM D2CCA All-American, NCBWA Central Region Pitcher of the Year, 1st-team ABCA & D2CCA All-Region)
Henry Kusiak - 1st-team SS, Gold Glove (1st-team D2CCA All-Region, 2nd-team ABCA & NCBWA All-Region)
Treghan Parker - 2nd-team OF (2nd-team NCBWA All-Region)
Garrett Rice - 2nd-team DH (HM NCBWA All-Region)
Ethan Clark - 3rd-team OF, Freshman of the Year
Cole Gayman - 3rd-team SP
Chayton Beck - 3rd-team C, Gold Glove
Laif Hultine - HM RP
Kyle Moore - HM RP

2022
Logan VanWey - 1st-team SP (2nd-team ABCA, D2CCA & NCBWA All-Region)
Tommy Stevenson - 2nd-team C (2nd-team ABCA All-Region)
Matt Miller - 2nd-team UT
Ryan Doran - 3rd-team DH
Treghan Parker - HM 2B
Nate Mieszkowski - HM SS
Jordan Fitzpatrick - HM OF
Henry Kusiak - HM 3B
Cole Woods - HM SP

2021
Zach Parish - 1st-team, Pitcher of the Year, Gold Glove (ABCA, D2CCA & NCBWA National Pitcher of the Year & ABCA, D2CCA, NCBWA Regional Pitcher of the Year)
Troy Gagan - 1st-team OF (2nd-team NCBWA All-Region)
Jordan Fitzpatrick - 2nd-team OF (2nd-team ABCA All-Region)
Tommy Stevenson - 2nd-team C, Freshman of the Year
Will Bausinger - 3rd-team SP
Joe Kinder - 3rd-team SS
Henry Kusiak - 3rd-team 3B
Scott Duensing - HM RP
Dexter Swims - HM 2B
Matt Miller - Gold Glove 1B

2019
Zach Parish - 1st-team SP, Pitcher of the Year (3rd-team ABCA All-American, HM D2CCA & NCBWA All-American, ABCA Regional Pitcher of the Year & 1st-team ABCA, D2CCA & NCBWA All-Region)
Freddie Landers - 1st-team 3B (HM NCBWA All-American, 1st-team ABCA & NCBWA All-Region & 2nd-team D2CCA All-Region)
Dexter Swims - 1st-team 2B, Freshman of the Year
Zac Shoemaker - 2nd-team SP
Troy Gagan - 2nd-team OF
Denver Coffee - 3rd-team SS
Mike Million - 3rd-team OF
Will Bausinger - HM SP
Logan VanWey - HM RP
River Wright - HM RP
Jon Leighton - HM C
Matt Miller - HM 1B

2018
Cory Canterbury - 3rd-team OF
Johnny Balsamo - HM OF, Gold Glove
Zac Shoemaker - HM SP
Corbin Osburn - HM SP
Logan VanWey - HM RP
Alex Phillips - HM 1B
Denver Coffee - HM SS
Mike Million - HM OF
Alec Alvarez - HM 2B

2017
Max Hogan - 1st-team 3B & Player of the Year (1st-team NCBWA All-American, 2nd-team ABCA & D2CCA All-American, 1st-team ABCA, NCBWA & D2CCA All-Region)
Tyler Sutherland - 1st-team OF, Gold Glove (2nd-team ABCA & NCBWA All-Region)
Dave Prost - 3rd-team C
Joe Paulino - 3rd-team 1B
Alec Alvarez - HM 2B
Richie Gorski - HM SS
Danny Biggs - HM OF
Brett Graham - HM DH

2016
Payton Walker - 1st-team SP (2nd-team D2CCA All-Region & HM NCBWA All-Region)
Jesse Rall - 1st-team DH (3rd-team Academic All-American, 2nd-team D2CCA All-American, 3rd-team NCBWA All-American, 1st-team D2CCA & NCBWA All-Region)
Chris Hoffman - 2nd-team OF
Richie Gorski - 2nd-team UT
Matt Smith - 3rd-team C
Tyler Sutherland - 3rd-team OF
Cody Hutchinson - HM SP
Jacob Bryant - HM 2B

2015
Cody Hutchinson - 1st-team SP (3rd-team NCBWA All-American, HM Daktronics All-American, 1st-team ABCA, NCBWA & Daktronics All-Region)
Payton Walker - 1st-team SP (2nd-team ABCA, NCBWA & Daktronics All-Region)
Jesse Rall - 1st-team DH (1st-team ABCA All-American, HM NCBWA All-American, 1st-team ABCA All-Region, 2nd-team NCBWA & Daktronics All-Region)
Chris Hoffman - 1st-team UT (3rd-team Daktronics All-American UT/P, HM NCBWA All-American, 1st-team Daktronics All-Region UT/P & 2nd-team NCBWA All-Region)
Richie Gorski - 2nd-team 3B
Tyler Burgess - 3rd-team SP
Jacob Bryant - HM 2B
Nick Pettus - HM RP

2014
David Reese - 2nd-team SP
Logan Moon - 3rd-team OF
Stephen Vaughn - HM RP
Payton Walker - HM SP

2013
Brett Abell - 2nd-team SP
Sam Ryan - 2nd-team C
Michael McCoy - 2nd-team 2B
Ryan Bates - HM SP
Payton Walker - HM SP
Dallas Burke - HM UT
Will Wagner - HM OF
Shaun Hoover - ABCA All-Region Gold Glove, 1B
Thomas Wilson - 3rd-team Academic All-American

2012
Cody Griebling - 1st-team SP (2nd-team Daktronics All-Region)
Luke Acosta - 2nd-team 2B
Jesse Kinzey - HM UT
Cullen Baxter - HM UT
Michael McCoy - HM OF
Sam Ryan - HM C
David Reese - HM SP

2011
Dallas Burke - 1st-team UT
Jesse Kinzey -  2nd-team 1B
Dane Kolkmeyer - 2nd-team 2B
Brett Abell - HM SP
Cody Griebling - HM SP
Patrick Deo - HM OF

2010
Jacob Taylor - 1st-team SS (2nd-team ABCA All-American, 1st-team ABCA All-Region & 2nd-team Daktronics All-Region)
Michael Zurmehly - 1st-team DH
Joe Lincoln - 2nd-team C (2nd-team ABCA All-Region)
Garrett Groom - HM SP

2009
CJ Maggei - 1st-team SP (1st-team Daktronics All-Region)
Skyler Rawlins - 1st-team 3B (1st-team Daktronics All-Region)
Derek Ezell - 2nd-team 1B
Jacob Taylor - 2nd-team 2B
Zach Caldwell - 2nd-team OF
Carter Lance - HM SP
Juan Hernandez - HM OF
Justin Beal - HM UT

2008
Derek Ezell - 2nd-team 1B (2nd-team ABCA All-Region)
Juan Hernandez - HM OF