By Patrick MacCoonRecord Sports EditorWhen first-year Head Coach Scott Butler took over the reins of a struggling program, he did not know what to expect.Even after receiving word from standout Warrenton High School pitcher Ben Stephens that he would play for the Post 122 Senior Legion program this summer, he was still not sure what to take from it all.While Stephens had just finished a dominant prep career for the Warriors, which concluded with a 7-2 record to go with a minuscule 0.93 earned run average, he still had never been a part of Legion baseball before.“At the beginning of the year, whenever he said he was coming out to play for us, I thought he was just going to come out here and get his at-bats and pitching in to be ready for college,” Butler said.However, one little text changed Butler’s mind pretty quickly as he realized the dedication Stephens had for the game of baseball and to help a program strive to become better.“One of the best texts I got from him was saying, ‘I’m all in coach.’ ``, Butler said. “That proved to me right there that he is the type of kid that loves the game way too much to not play it the right way.”Wasting no time, Stephens helped provide instant leadership along with fellow ace and long-time Legion player Brandon Moeller.In Stephens’ debut as a starting pitcher for Post 122, he accomplished a feat nearly thought unthinkable. He tossed eight shutout innings and struck out 10 in a 5-0 road victory against Washington, which hadn’t lost to Warrenton in over a decade.He and Moeller threw in every game during an eight-game win streak that spanned over a month (June 3-July 5), in which the duo combined for five wins and two saves.Simply put, their opposition could not find much success against the well-equipped and poised pitchers.Moeller’s running fastball and curve kept hitters guessing, while Stephens wide pitch arsenal, which featured a four-seam fastball, slider, splitter, curve and changeup, made him tough to put a bat on.Leadership was shown in many instances, such as when Stephens completed the season sweep of Washington with a strikeout on his 159th pitch of the game or when Moeller threw three straight complete games, which included a win in the Ninth District Tournament over Union.“Brandon and Ben were the leaders of this team,” Butler said. “Their intensity and fire on the field directly correlated to the rest of the team.”In a combined 21 appearances during a 14-7 season, the hurlers combined for nine wins, 111 2/3 innings, 157 strikeouts, and a 2.35 ERA.The duo not only made for perhaps the best one-two punch on the mound in the district, but struck fear in opposing pitchers while hitting second and third in the lineup.Finishing the season as the only two hitters on the roster to post above-.400 averages, Stephens and Moeller combined for 68 hits while hitting .419 and .405, respectively, while ranking first and third in RBIs.“They were the Batman and Robin of this team,” Butler said. “Brandon had been a foundation to this program and Ben came in and made a great impact. They complemented each other amazingly this year.”While they played a pivotal role in a historic summer and a turnaround campaign for Warrenton, their performances didn’t overshadow what was accomplished together as a team.“This season was not individualized at all,” Butler said. “They were all in it for one another. It was bigger than one person and everybody out here.”The goal for returning players for next season will be to carry on the #Tradition that was established this summer.“We can’t be satisfied with what happened this season and then go back to where we were,” Butler said. “We want to keep building up with strong players and work ethics to be another perennial powerhouse in our district.”

Patrick MacCoon will now serve as the Warren County Record's sports editor. He is originally from Chattanooga, Tennessee.