Escobedo looking to end legendary ASU career with another title
TEMPE, Ariz. -- As the first game of Dallas Escobedo's career at Arizona State approached, a big question lingered: Who's pitching?
Escobedo had arrived as one of the most highly touted softball players in the nation, but ASU also had veteran Hillary Bach returning for her junior season. Then-coach Clint Myers had a decision to make.
"I came to his office and was like, 'So who's pitching, coach, because Hillary and I kind of want to know?'" Escobedo recalled. "He said, 'You are,' so he threw me in there right away. That kind of set my confidence."
That decision has paid nothing but dividends the past three-plus years, as Escobedo has established herself as perhaps the most accomplished player in ASU softball history, if not the best to ever come through the program.
Escobedo's career as a Sun Devil now approaches its end as ASU hosts Darmouth on Friday in regional postseason play. As she did during her freshman season, Escobedo hopes to lead ASU to a Women's College World Series championship.
"All I have is the next couple weeks," Escobedo said. "Riding it out as long as I can is what I'm hoping for."
Escobedo's dominance as a freshman set the tone for the rest of her ASU career. She won 37 games and became the first freshman to win a championship-clinching game in more than 20 years. Since then, she's been chasing another chance to win it all for ASU.
In 2012 and '13, Escobedo won 54 games and helped ASU get to the WCWS two more times. She's now a four-time first-team All-Pac-12 selection. She's tallied three no-hitters and more than 1,000 strikeouts. She needs six more wins to become ASU's all-time leader.
But none of that has meant as much to Escobedo as winning the last game of the 2011 season.
"She's had a ton of individual success in this program, but the best thing about her is it's not about that," ASU coach Craig Nicholson said. "I don't think it's ever been about that -- it's still not about that -- and I think that's a big piece of what makes her who she is."
Nicholson inherited Escobedo's services from Myers, who left ASU to coach Auburn after last season. Nicholson couldn't have been more impressed with what he's gotten from the senior, who is likely the key to his first WCWS appearance in eight seasons as a Division I coach.
In Escobedo, Nicholson has seen a player determined to finish her career where it started: on top of the softball world.
"I really feel like she's kind of been in that mode all year long, which is great for her because she doesn't have to change anything now going into the postseason," Nicholson said. "I almost think she's pitched every game like it's her last all year long."
With her career coming to a close and ASU on the brink of battling for a fourth straight WCWS berth, Escobedo sat down with FOXSportsArizona.com to discuss her career and the legacy she'll leave behind.
FSAZ: With your ASU career nearing its end, what stands out to you most when you look back at your freshman season?
Escobedo: Definitely coming in with a national championship was the highlight I could not have even imagined thinking about as a freshman.
FSAZ: How do you think that early success shaped the rest of your career here?
Escobedo: Coming in and winning right away, I definitely put more pressure on myself for my sophomore year, but also just knowing that we could get back there each year. Our whole motto here -- you know we're going to the World Series. That's what we plan to do. That's why we work so hard. Just being able to stay confident and stay together on that shaped my career here.
FSAZ: I know you don't like the idea or at least think about, your 'legacy,' but how do you want yourself and your accomplishments to be remembered here?
Escobedo: I've been getting asked that question a lot lately. When I'm playing, I just have so much passion. That's why I get so upset after a game, because I usually put it on myself if we lose by a home run or one or two runs, because I'm the pitcher. My teammates assure me, 'No, it's a team sport,' but the pitching mound and that circle can be the loneliest place in the world sometimes. So I just feel like I could be remembered as a passionate player and hopefully the best player, or at least the best pitcher, that's been here and kind of opened the door for other pitchers and players to want to come to ASU.
FSAZ: You mentioned an interesting point: Many people view you as the best player to ever play here. How do you react to that?
Escobedo: It's a blessing. I'm thankful that they think that. People saying 'You're the best pitcher' when we sign autographs after the game or a fan crying over me, I'm like, 'What?' This little girl started tearing up and I said, 'Why are you crying?' and she says, 'I'm just so excited to meet you.' Things like that I'm not used to, and I probably won't ever get used to. It's really amazing to see how people react to me and the support I get.
FSAZ: You also leave here with a legacy on paper, having put your mark all over the record book. Does that mean much to you?
Escobedo: I think the coolest one was 1,000 strikeouts. I was aware of that. It was like, 'Wow, in four years I struck out 1,000 people. How is that even possible?' That's cool because only a certain amount of people can do that.
FSAZ: And the career wins mark?
Escobedo: My dad said at the beginning of the season if you get, I think, 29 or something, you'll tie or beat it or something like that. I don't really know where I'm at on that. He looks into it more than I do.
FSAZ: Through all your individual achievements, do you feel you've helped elevate this program in four years?
Escobedo: I think so. A lot of interviews I've done, I look back and see they've talked about me coming into a program that wasn't necessarily on the map because UA was so strong with their national championships, but I had always thought ASU was on the map. That's why I wanted to come here, because I knew we could elevate it.
FSAZ: How confident are you right now you can help ASU win another national championship, like you did as a freshman?
Escobedo: I'm very confident. The seniors, we got a text message from one of our good friends who used to be the director of (operations) here, and it said, 'All it takes is 10 games to win the national championship.' We talked about it at our banquet the other night too: It takes 10 games, but one at a time. That's all we have left is 10 games, the last being everyone's goal."
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