Monarchs Win First Long Island Championship

Pat Stepnoski, despite not having his best stuff, according to head coach Ed Meier, kept Friends Academy's offense at bay, pitching a complete game five-hitter as the Monarchs clinched their first Long Island Class C championship with a 5-2 victory Sunday at Farmingdale State University.

Meier, after losing in last year's Long Island title game, was elated to finally bring the championship home.

"We’ve been there before, the coaches and I, three times," he said. "We were there last year and lost. So to get there and win one it certainly felt good. It’s a lot better than losing."

Stepnoski, who pitched all three playoff games for McGann-Mercy, shut down the Quakers offense through five innings, but labored through the final two.

"Pat’s been phenomenal," said Meier. "Every playoff game we’ve had he’s been the guy. Yesterday he battled through five innings, started to tire a bit but he kept throwing strikes and he competed. He was great."

The Monarchs (17-5) staked Stepnoski to a 4-0 lead through two innings, which allowed their ace to concentrate on throwing strikes. The Mercy bats also provided Stepnoski with early run support in their , knocking home seven runs in the first two frames en route to an 8-3 victory.

"Getting a lead early is pivotal to us," Meier said. "When you get a four-run lead early it allows your pitcher to relax and throw strikes and your defense to make plays."

McGann-Mercy advances to the Southeast Regional Final, where they will await the winner of Tuckahoe and S.S. Seward on Tuesday at 4 p.m.

"We’ve just got to keep doing what we’re doing," said Meier. "We’ve got to play loose, but be tight in the field and make the plays."

Unlike the previous three games on just 24 hours rest, Stepnoski will not get the ball. Instead, Meier will turn to lefty J.T. DeScala tomorrow.

"He’s been great this year," Meier said of DeScala. "He throws strikes and we feel good about having him out there. He’s a good lefty who throws a lot of pitches and keeps hitters off balance."

Stay tuned to Riverhead Patch for updates on McGann-Mercy's playoff run.