May 22, 2015 5 min read

Dallas Escobedo found a new and interesting way to prepare for her second season as a pitcher with the Pennsylvania Rebellion.

To strengthen her arm, she concentrated on her legs with kickboxing.

The 6-1 right-hander from Glendale, Ariz., is looking to make a comeback from a disappointing and frustrating rookie season after the Rebellion made her the top pick in last year’s National Pro Fastpitch softball league draft. And she hopes her trips to Sonny’s Boxing Gym in Avondale, Ariz., help.

“I went to school with a couple girls and their stepdad and mom had a gym, and I kind of showed up one day to work out,” said Escobedo after a Friday practice. “They offered some classes and I fell in love with the atmosphere. We work out like we’re training to box. We hit the bags and do a lot of speed work, similar things that I would do at Arizona State but a little different. Each day was different and that’s what kept me going. I never got in the ring.”

It was a tough inaugural season for the Rebellion. They finished the regular season with a 9-39 record and were swept in their best-of-three series with eventual champion USSSA Pride. The Rebellion went through two managers in Rick Bertagnolli, who lasted 12 games before resigning, and Stacey Rice.

Craig Montvidas, who coaches the Dutch National Team was hired this year to reverse the team’s fortunes. He needs to get an improved season from Escobedo. She compiled a 1-11 record, 5.82 ERA, walked 24 and allowed 91 hits in 69 innings. It was not the kind of start she had in mind, so she trained hard in the offseason.

“I worked with my dad a lot,” Escobedo said. “He knows me and how I should be. I didn’t get a chance to throw to a lot of hitters. I threw to high school hitters and that boosted my confidence. I know it’s not going to be like that (in the NPF). I’m excited to go to Chicago and that will get me into it again.”

Escobedo believes she has learned a lot from those rough times.

“Last season was an eye-opener,” she said. “Going from the college to the pros is a quick change. It was very hard because I was playing for years and years and then you have to jump right in it. You never want to lose. I had great leaders in Jenn Salling and Sarah Pauly, and I talked to them.

Escobedo should be in the circle Sunday, when the Rebellion travel to Chicago for an pair of exhibition games against the Bandits at Rosemont Stadium. Because only a dozen Rebellion players have made it into camp so far, some of the local talent in Chicago will be invited to participate, making these exhibition games a tryout opportunity.

The Rebellion open the season in unusual fashion next weekend, with Chicago and Akron coming to Consol Energy Park. The Rebellion play the Bandits Friday with the first pitch at 7:05 p.m.

The Rebellion will then play two home games Saturday and Sunday. The Rebellion play the Racers at 5 p.m., then the Bandits at 7. The same three teams play Sunday, with the Rebellion playing the Bandits at 2:30 p.m. then the Racers at 5 p.m.

Escobedo is sure to get the call in one of these games.

“Going through last season, I learned that every single team has not just nine or 10 good players, the have 18 or 20 good hitters,” said Escobedo. “It’s a battle each time. I learned that through the season. I did better at the end of the season spotting my pitches and learning the batters. There are no breaks. I want to build on that experience.”

The Rebellion lost Pauly, their best pitcher last season, to Akron and drafted three in this year’s draft, including left-hander Miranda Kramer of Western Kentucky in the second round. They also took Kent State right-hander Emma Johnson and right-hander Emily Weiman of North Carolina State with their two fifth-round picks.

“I just know that if I work my hardest and do my best, I should be in the game,” she said. “Maybe they are bringing them in for the future, to build the program or are setting a tone of what they expect with great pitching. There are a lot of things it might mean. I’m not worried. I’m going to prepare myself in my own way and support the others who are out there.”

The league added a fifth team this year, the Dallas Charge. … The Rebellion will play a three-game series with the USSSA Pride in Central Pennsylvania. The June 25 game is at Santander Stadium in York and the June 26 and 27 games will be played at Clipper Magazine Stadium in Lancaster.