dot began her softball young career in 1972 playing for the union park jets in orlando. in early 1975, at the age of 13, dot was a member of the orlando rebels in the asa (amateur softball association of america), she became the youngest player ever to play in the asa women's major fast-pitch national championships. after graduating from colonial high school in orlando, richardson played for western illinois, before transferring to ucla, where she played for the ucla bruins from 1980 to 1984. while there she helped the bruins win their first ncaa championship in 1982.