WEBB CITY, Mo. — Kaylor Darnell dazzled on the mound, Shaun Hunt came up big at the plate and Webb City improved to 2-0 in Central Ozark Conference play by beating Branson 4-0 on Tuesday at Chuck Barnes Field.
A senior right-hander, Darnell earned the complete-game shutout victory.
A Missouri Southern signee, Darnell allowed just three hits and struck out nine. He did not walk a batter and needed just 78 pitches to go the distance.
A junior catcher, Hunt drove in three runs on two hits.
With the game scoreless, Hunt delivered a two-run single to center field in the bottom of the third inning, with William Hayes and Gage Chapman scoring on the play.
The Cardinals added a run in the fifth, as Cy Darnell singled and went to second on Sam Weller’s sacrifice before Hunt slapped an RBI single into left-center to give the hosts a 3-0 lead.
Webb City added an insurance run in the sixth. Brett Korth singled, Hayes doubled and Korth charged home on Luke Beverlin’s run-scoring ground out.
Hunt and Hayes both had two hits for the Cardinals, who did not commit an error in the field. Drew Vonder Haar, Cy Darnell and Korth had one hit apiece.
The Cardinals are now 8-6 overall.
Branson’s Elijah Seitz took the loss after allowing four earned runs on seven hits. He struck out seven and walked three.
Sam Adkisson had two of Branson’s three hits. The Pirates fell to 6-11 overall and 0-2 in the COC.
Webb City hosts Republic at 4:30 on Thursday for another COC clash.
FULL STATS: Webb City HS (webbcitycardinals.com)
