Arendsen pitched for Holland Christian High School, where she won the state championship, before embarking on a successful collegiate and professional career.

[1] As a child, she idolized Joan Joyce, a softball player and pitcher for the Raybestos Brakettes, after witnessing her play at the age of 12.

[5] Arendsen completed her high school career earning all-state honors[6] and enrolling at Grand Valley State University for one year.

She had wished to attend Michigan State, whose women's softball team had just won the College World Series, but they lacked interest in recruiting her.

In 1979, Arendsen was recruited by the United States National team to compete with them at the 1979 Pan American Games in San Juan, where she helped them win a gold medal.

[2] She also competed at the national level during the 1981 World Games in Santa Clara, California, where she helped the United States win another first-place finish.

[14] He interviewed her for a close piece on athletes during a softball camp and she later faced him in an exhibition game following her championship win at the U.S. Olympic Festival.

[5] Due to rain, she pitched to Jackson inside the Carrier Dome with limited attendance, including national television press.

[15] That year, her often-used windmill fastball pitch was timed with a radar gun at 96 miles per hour (154 km/h),[16] though she and her coach were unsure of the figure's accuracy.

[21] After spending six years at Mississippi State, she joined the coaching staff at the University of Oregon following their worst season in history; having won two games out of 21.

[22] During her first year as a coach at Oregon, she led them to their best start in school history and was one of seven inductees to be added into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.