STANDISH — When Sadie Ellsworth arrived in high school, she wasn’t sure when or if she might do some catching for the Telstar softball program.

She had played outfield in middle school. There were other catching candidates, and Ellsworth didn’t even own a catcher’s mitt.

By spring, circumstances evolved and the softball rookie found herself behind the plate for the defending Class C state champions.

“It was terrifying,” Ellsworth recalls. “I had never caught at the speed we were pitching. It was much more competitive. I hadn’t even caught in middle school. Becca (Howard) actually did it. I was pretty much just thrown into it.”

It proved to be a good move for the Rebels. Ellsworth has been a four-year starter and evolved into one of the leaders on a team that is now vying for a fifth state championship.

“She’s worked hard,” Telstar coach Jim Lunney said. “She’s probably caught more games than anybody in the history of our school. She caught as a freshman and sophomore and caught every JV game with the exception of a couple. She’s also been a four-year starter for us.”

The Rebels had two other catching candidates when Ellsworth was a freshman. Lyndsay Merrill was a senior but moved to shortstop before an injury ended her season. Another possible catcher also got hurt. That left the role to Ellsworth who has been behind the plate ever since. She has also been she’s been a veteran presence in the lineup.

“Looking back to freshman year to now, it’s insane,” Ellsworth said. “The improvement is like day and night.”

This season Ellsworth was crucial to the Rebels in a variety of ways. She’s one of just four seniors and the most seasoned player on the team. Outfielder Katie Merrill had started three years, while fellow seniors Vanessa Godwin and Annie Cushman were returning starters. With a team made up of nine juniors, Ellsworth became one of the leaders.

“Mr. Lunney, at the beginning of the season, said that I was going to be one of the biggest leaders because I could see everything in the field,” Ellsworth said. “I knew coming into the season, that was going to be it, and that a lot of things were going to rest on my shoulders.”

That wasn’t anything new for Ellsworth. She was a veteran on the Rebels field hockey team last fall and came into the spring well-groomed.

“I was captain of the field hockey team this year,” Ellsworth said. “So I knew that this year, I was going to step up a lot, and I was going to do it.”

Another one of her responsibilities was to work with the new pitchers. Ellsworth had caught for starter Jessica Dirago the last three seasons. The pitching rotation was a question mark coming into the spring. Tehya Johnson and Olivia York were slated to share the role. York evolved into the team’s ace while Johnson became one of the team’s top players in the field.

“I was a lot more confident in myself and in my catching abilities,” Ellsworth said. “I knew Olivia would do a good job. The rest of the team, we were solid from last year. We didn’t have many changes. So I was confident.”

Lunney says she’s done a wonderful job working with the pitching. She’s also been a stalwart on defense, with a solid arm when needed. In the regional final win over Madison, Telstar not only built a 3-0 lead in the first inning but also had Ellsworth throw out the Bulldogs first base runner trying to steal.

“She’s a bulldog back there,” Lunney said. “That throw, getting that fast runner, that just took the wind out of their sails. That says, ‘You’re not going to run on me today.’ She did the same thing in the Carrabec (quarterfinal) game.”

Her defensive play was just part of her superb performance in Wednesday’s win. She also led the team with three hits, two runs scored and an RBI. Her push bunt in the first inning kept the momentum going after Ashley Savage reached base on an error. Howard followed with a single, and Johnson delivered a two-run hit for the 3-0 lead.

“As much as we say that we can replace seniors, Sadie is a four-year starter,” Lunney said. “When she throws down, her presence out there, she’s a good hitter and a great bunter and she’s the leader of this team. She’ll be the toughest to replace. We’ll miss her.”

Though she arrived in a year following a state title, the Rebels had a bit of a down season — if Telstar can ever have such a thing. Merrill was injured and the Rebels lost in the quarterfinals that spring. They’ve been steadily working toward getting back within reach of a title. Even after the win over top-seeded Madison, the Rebels were still trying to take it all in.

“I don’t think it’s quite sunk in yet,” Ellsworth said following the win. “It’s like just another game, but it will sink in, what we just did.”

kmills@sunjournal.com