Well, Stepnoski did better than that, surprising others, and even himself, by not only earning a spot on the varsity team, but becoming the team's starting center fielder. The Southold resident in his first school year at McGann-Mercy is making an impression, having started every one of the team's first 15 games in center field.

"He's something else," Monarchs senior shortstop Matt Izzo said. "I wish I was that good in eighth grade, that's all I can say."

Monarchs coach Ed Meier Jr. couldn't recall the last time the team started an eighth-grader, but he didn't have to say the obvious: It is quite rare. Then again, Stepnoski is not a typical eighth-grader.

"He's a serious kid," Meier said. "He doesn't look like an eighth-grader; he doesn't play like an eighth-grader."

Asked to assess his own performance, Stepnoski said: "I think I'm playing pretty good. I really didn't think I would do this good."

Because the Monarchs lost their starting center fielder from last year, Rob Scarpati, to graduation, the position was up for grabs. Stepnoski was ready, willing and able to snatch it.

"It was a good opportunity for him," Meier said. "A lot of baseball is opportunity and executing when you get that opportunity, and he's done a great job with it."

Defensively, Meier said, Stepnoski reads the ball well coming off the bat, covers a lot of ground, and has a good arm for a center fielder. He bats ninth in the order, and gets to see a lot of good pitches from pitchers who may underestimate him.

"He's really not the traditional [No.] 9 guy where he goes out there and he's not going to produce," Meier said. "We really turn the order over quicker with him down there in the 9 spot."

Stepnoski saw his share of action last Thursday, when the Monarchs snapped the first-place Port Jefferson Royals' nine-game win streak with a 6-5 victory. The result not only clinched a third straight playoff berth for the second-place Monarchs, but pulled them to within one game of Port Jefferson in the Suffolk County League VIII standings.

Four fly balls were caught by Stepnoski, including a tricky line drive hit by Tyler Burt in the sixth inning. In addition, Stepnoski contributed a sharp single to right field and a walk to McGann-Mercy's offense.

The Monarchs overcame a horrendous start in which they made three errors and gave up three runs in the first inning. It was Stepnoski's hit after a walk by Tom Tenaglia that set up Mike Torres' single, tying the score at 3-3 in the second. Shortly after, Stepnoski put the Monarchs ahead by racing home on a wild pitch.

Two runs were added to McGann-Mercy's tally in the sixth thanks to a run-scoring double by Chris Sachalk and a run-scoring bunt single by John Lauro that made it 6-3. It was the third run batted in for Sachalk, who had knocked in two when he laced a triple past diving right fielder P. J. Esposito in the first.

As it turned out, the Monarchs needed those runs. McGann-Mercy's fifth error of the game and a double by Cody Beckel put Port Jefferson's first two batters in the seventh on base. They both scored courtesy of a single by Joe Guerra and a sacrifice fly by Justin Battelli, making it a one-run game. But Sachalk, the winning pitcher, fielded a grounder back to the mound for the final out in his complete-game performance and third win in as many decisions. The right-hander did not allow an earned run, scattering seven hits.

Royals Coach Ken Manfre suspected his team's winning streak may have lulled it into a false sense of security. "Basically, we came off the bus unprepared to play," he said. "That's what it comes down to."

Although Stepnoski has not played for a school baseball team before, he has played for a travel team for about six years. Baseball is in his family. His older brother, Connor, is a sophomore shortstop for the league rival Southold/Greenport Clippers.

"I didn't know what to expect, but he's a great kid, and even better player," Izzo, who played his second game since recovering from a dislocated shoulder, said of Stepnoski. "When we first started, I knew he was good. I could tell. He's an athletic kid. Then, as the season went on, his improvement was tremendous. Now he's one of our best players, and he helps us win."

Perhaps the best thing for the Monarchs is the thought that they could have Stepnoski for another four years.

Stepnoski said, "Coach Meier said I'm going to be a rookie for like three more years."

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