ESSEX -- Richland freshman pitcher Jack Bell made a strong first impression.
Making his first varsity start, the right-hander pitched a one-hit shutout in the Rebels' 1-0 SCAA victory over the Puxico Indians on Friday at Richland High School.
Bell struck out eight and walked three in seven innings.
"He's a ballplayer," Richland coach Kyle Carter said. "I mean that's what he does. He's learned how to not only throw his fastball."
Puxico coach Jay Pierce was impressed with Bell's performance.
"He was locating well, fooled us on some curveballs," Pierce said. "Just kept us off balance."
Bell faced the minimum through four innings. He struck Thomas Elsworth with a pitch with one out in the first, but Elsworth was caught stealing at third after advancing to second on a wild pitch.
Bell retired nine straight before the Indians threatened in the fifth.
Mason Miller drew a leadoff walk, but Tommy Parsley grounded into a 4-6-3 double play.
The double play was critical because Chase Sung singled -- the Indians' first hit -- and Ethan Helm reached on an error with two outs. Bell induced a grounder to second to end the inning.
Puxico (0-3) threatened in the both the sixth and seventh innings.
Elsworth drew a two-out walk in the sixth, but Roland Wolfe struck out to end the threat.
In the seventh, Miller drew a leadoff walk. Pierce replaced Miller with the speedier Andrew Fuwell after Miller was part of a double play in the fifth.
The strategy paid off because Parsley grounded to second. Second baseman Jason Pinkley didn't have time to turn the double play, resulting in only one out at first base.
However, Bell picked off Fuwell at second base for the second out, and third baseman Hunter Walker ended the game by making a difficult catch of a flyball by Sung in a 20-mph wind in foul territory.
"Hunter's a senior for us. He's got really good eyes. He's got good hands," Carter said. "One reason he's playing third base for us is because he's quick and knows what he's doing."
Carter said Sung was Bell's last batter because he had reached his pitch limit.
The Rebels (2-3) scored their only run in the third inning. Tanner Freeman drew a one-out walk, stole second, dashed to third on a wild pitch and scored on Josh Shidler's ground out to second.
"We have to manufacture a lot of runs," Carter said. "We'll run. We'll bunt. We'll do whatever we have to. If we have to play small ball, we'll play small ball."
The Rebels threatened again in the fourth and sixth innings.
Luke Rhodes singled with out in the fourth and advanced to second on a wild pitch. However, he was caught stealing at third.
In the sixth, Shidler singled with one out and stole second and third. The Indians appeared to record the second out when Bell struck out, but the catcher couldn't handle the pitch and Bell reached base safely.
Bell stole second, but Walker lined out to center field and Rhodes struck out to end the threat.
Puxico pitcher Kasen Barnfield was almost as impressive as Bell. The right-hander allowed one run on three hits with nine strikeouts and two walks in six innings.
"He always locates really well," Pierce said. "That was the case again today."`