It’s been six years since Ben Stephens lived out his favorite sports memory in the epicenter of his first love.Now a senior at Warrenton, he recalls hitting his first home run in Cooperstown. While its a moment he will always cherish, Stephens is eager to create few more lasting memories in the coming weeks as the pitching ace for the Warriors.A varsity starter since his freshman year, Stephens has become a reliable figure on the mound for Warrenton.Beginning with five starts that season, he is now the Warriors’ go-to-guy, having gone 4-1 as a starter this season. He is carrying an .85 ERA through 41 innings, having struck out 54 batters and walked just nine.“I try to put a lot of time into my craft,” said Stephens, who also plays shortstop.He is currently second on the team with a .383 batting average, having collected 18 hits and 13 runs.During the offseason he is a member of the Rawlings Prospects select team, gaining college exposure and high-level experience Stephens says can’t be matched at the high school level.Stephens began playing T-ball as a child and quickly gained a liking for the game, which was a means of spending quality time with his father.Along the way he also tried his hand at basketball, playing freshman through junior year, before deciding to devote time to the diamond.He will continue that commitment to baseball at Meramec Community College, with which he recently signed a letter of intent. Stephens is planning to pursue a degree in marine biology.Q: How did you develop your passion for baseball?“I would say it started early on playing with my dad. It was a father-son thing I enjoyed with my dad when I was little. I played for my recreation league team and coach john bradshaw made me realize my talent.”Q: What is your signature pitch?“I would say my fastball, and that’s just because if you can’t throw a good fastball, you’re not really a good pitcher.”Q: Who is the most difficult batter to pitch against?“Cody Reller from Orchard Farm was really tough to face. He was a lefty and he pretty much hit everything I threw at him.”Q: What is your favorite sports memory?“My favorite baseball memory was when I was 12, and we were playing Cooperstown, and I hit my first home run. I played for three years before I hit one, so that was an awesome feeling ... My favorite team memory was my first year when we were able to turn the program and have a winning record.”Q: What areas of your game have improved the most?“I would say batting. I was always really solid in the field pitching. I went from struggling to get hits around .200 to being a top of the order productive batter. That’s my most improved area for sure.”Q: What major league player do you pattern your game after?“The Cardinals haven’t had any really good shortstops for a long time. I would pick someone like Derek Jeter, who isn’t absurdly talented but gives 100 percent work ethic every game. That’s the kind of player I want to be.”Q: What are your goals for the remainder of the season?“Our first goal right now is to finish out our conference games above .500 and put ourselves in a position to finish in the Top 3. We want to make a solid run at districts and be playing our best ball at the end of the year.”Q: How do you feel about how the team has performed so far?“We have a talented team, but sometimes I don’t think our effort is all there. We’re still trying to get things together a little more before districts.”Q: Why do you decide to stop playing basketball?“Whenever I realized baskeball was just a hobby and not much of a passion. I decided rather than spending time that I wasn’t on baseball, I decided to stick to my real passion.”Q: What was your role as a basketball player?“I wanted stay involved to stay in shape, but also provide a decent contribution to the team.”Q: Who has had the greatest influence on your life?“My parents. They have given me all the opportunities in athletics and in school that I could ask for. John Bradshaw had a big influence on baseball, because he pushed me to use my talent and didn’t let it go to waste.”Q: What is the most important lesson you have learned?“I would say the value of working hard. Whenever I was in fifth grade a teacher asked the class to write about if life is fair or not. I was the only one in class who said life is fair, because I believe you have to make the best of the hand your dealt.”Q: If you could change one thing about school, what would it be?“Better parking and maybe that’s because I get there late. Our parking is way out there and in the winter that’s not fun.”Q: If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?“Out of the county to see something I haven’t seen. Not the city though.”Favorite Food: “Cheesecake.”Favorite Restaurant: “El Jimador.”Favorite Movie: “Good Will Hunting.”Favorite TV Show:“30 fo 30 and E:60”Favorite Song: “Simple Man.”Favorite Musician: “J. Cole.”ATHLETE OF THE MONTHDerrick Forsythe photo.