May 14, 2014 4 min read

Playing for the Pennsylvania Rebellion pro fastpitch softball team has been a costly adventure for Ashley Carter.

But the speedy 5-4 outfielder with the quick smile and quicker feet doesn’t care. To her, it’s worth every cent.

Carter has made two cross-country trips from her hometown of Fontana, Calif., to Western Pennsylvania in the past three months, once to attend a Rebellion tryout in February, the other to join the team after earning a spot on the roster.

The latter trip dropped her in Western Pennsylvania at 4 a.m. Tuesday after a trip that was supposed to begin at 11 a.m. Monday.

“It got delayed,” said Carter, a graduate of Cal State Fullerton. “I put the flights on my credit card. I had to ask to extend my line of credit, but that’s OK.”

The trips cost approximately $300 apiece, which can take a significant bite of a player’s salary that averages $6,000 per season.

Carter was one of the early arrivals for the Rebellion, who are in their first season of the National Pro Fastpitch league. Carter’s friend, B.B. Bates, was the first to arrive and the bulk of the team is expected to trickle in during the next week as college seasons end.

The pro softball career that is unfolding now might not have been possible had Carter not learned about the tryout on Facebook.

“I saw the flyer for it and gave them a call, but no one answered,” she said. “They called me back five minutes later.”

She came with a dozen other women who had similar dreams and worked out for manager Rick Bertagnolli at C-Side Sports Academy in North Strabane. The coaches fell in love with her speed.

When the Rebellion open the season Friday, May 30 against the USSSA Pride in Salisbury, Md., Carter would like nothing better than to be in the leadoff spot, getting on base and stealing bases. Carter’s speed is her strength, but not everyone realized it at first. Local fans will get a look when the Rebellion open the home season Thursday, June 5 against the Pride.

Carter began her career as a catcher and was still at that position by the time she reached Bloomington High School.

“I played 10 years as a catcher,” she said. “I trained at EMSpeed & Power Training Center there. People began to realize that I was too fast to be a catcher, so they put me in the outfield.”

At Cal State Fullerton, Carter led the team with 13 stolen bases in her senior season. She hit .259 with team highs in hits (44) and runs (26).

“The good thing about playing catcher was that it developed my legs,” Carter said. “It made me stronger.”

Carter had dreams of owning a sports facility and thought a business marketing major would be the best way to get to that point. She entered Cal State Fullerton with that goal. The team struggled but Carter did not.

“We had some pretty bad years, no winning seasons,” Carter said.

Interestingly, her high school coach, Pam Newton, took over the Cal State Fullerton job in Carter’s senior season and that was a plus.

In the offseason, Carter played outfield for the team that won the Women’s Elite Fastpitch Canadian Cup defeating national teams from Japan, Australia and Venezuela. She also had a short career in Mexico for Team Ruthless, which was coached by former USA Olympian Crystl Bustos.

Now, her sights are set on a strong career with the Rebellion.

“I know the game,” Carter said. “I want to have no regrets with my career. I can’t believe I got this far.”