BETHEL — Since an early age, Olivia York had a passion for softball and a desire to play at Telstar.

She’d hardly miss a game, and she still recalls watching the Rebels win back-to-back state championships.

“When I was little, my dad and I would come watch the games,” York said. “That’s what I wanted to do. I wanted to be out here. I wanted to be playing for Mr. Lunney for years.”

That hard work has continued this season, but the junior pitcher has been rewarded for her efforts. York has established herself as Telstar’s ace pitcher and has been crucial in the Rebels being ranked among the top teams in Western C.

“I can’t say enough about the job that she’s done,” Telstar coach Jim Lunney said. “She hangs in there and hangs in there. She battles. I’m pleased as punch. She’s done a marvelous job for us.”

Being a pitcher for the Telstar Rebels can be a daunting task. There’s a long lineage of great aces in the program who preceded York. It’s tough to live up to the success of past standouts Stacie Kangas, Jillian Kimball, Jessie Farrington, Kayla Merrill, Candace Hall or Jessie Dirago.

“We’ve been fortunate to have some good pitchers, and she’s stepping right into their shoes,” Lunney said. “(Dirago) would be in there with a runner on third and say, ‘I’m going to strike out the next three.’ She did that against Madison after a lead-off triple. Olivia battles. She throws well. She doesn’t get rattled. She goes behind the (circle) and calms down. She comes in and battles. I’m very pleased.”

It has been a challenge for York,  especially considering she evolved into the role early in the season. Still, she’s earned the job and has been a steady presence in the circle for the Rebels.

“It’s been different,” York said. “I played a lot of winter ball. So that definitely prepared me a lot more. It was definitely a lot more competition. It’s been hard to step in to that role, but it felt right. It felt natural.”

It just so happens that the travel team that York played for this past winter had Kayla Merrill and sister Lyndsay, among the coaches. York watched the Merrill sisters play as a kid and saw them win back-to-back state titles.

“I love working with Kayla,” York said. “I couldn’t have asked for someone better. She teaches me so much.”

The Merrills aren’t the only former Telstar greats that York has worked with. She got a few tips from Kimball when she was first getting into the game.

“I used to work with Jillian when I was really young,” York said. “That was like me just trying to throw the ball.”

York entered the spring expecting to share duties with Tehya Johnson. They worked together during the winter.

“They both played winter ball — two sessions,” Lunney said. “They were alternating there, and we alternated them in preseason. I just said, ‘You go three (innings) and you go three.’ I said we might do that during the season.”

One variable that changed that plan was Johnson’s play in the field. Lunney liked the stability she brought on defense, whether she was in the outfield or on defense.

The Rebels were a strong defensive club, with Johnson playing another position, especially when added to veteran players such as Sadie Ellsworth (catcher), Becca Howard (shortstop) and Katie Merrill (outfield).

“I don’t know if Olivia did a little bit better than Tehya, but Tehya is a very good fielder at defensive positions,” Lunney said. “So we said we’ll see how she does. In the first game at Mountain Valley, it was freezing. She threw well the whole game. Then she threw well the next game and threw well the next game. Even against Hall-Dale, she threw well, but we just collapsed. She hasn’t had a bad game.”

York has started every game. Johnson has seen some spot pitching duty, but York has shouldered most of the work.

“We’re like best friends,” York said of Johnson. “It’s almost like a competition. We push each other.”

York has continued to improve as the season has progressed. She’s developed a confidence in the circle and is moving her pitches effectively. She’s helped put the Rebels right back into playoff contention, especially with a veteran team around her.

“I do feel like I’ve gotten better,” York said. “I have a lot of motivators and a lot of people pushing me to do well. I wouldn’t be able to do that without them.”

Telstar (13-2) finishes the regular season Monday at Monmouth. The third-seeded Rebels lost in the Western C semifinals to Madison, the eventual state champions. Telstar should be in the race again with Hall-Dale and Madison, the only clubs the Rebels have lost to this year.

The Rebels have continued to evolve as a team and should be poised to challenge in the tourney. York is a perfect example of how far this club has come this spring.

“She doesn’t walk many and she doesn’t strike out a ton, but she strikes out people every so often,” Lunney said. “She works hard at going inside and outside. I’m more than pleased with her progress.”

kmills@sunjournal.com