Vikings dominate PCSC awards

Two weeks ago, Portland State headed into its final weekend of the season with Loyola Marymount needing two wins to secure the school’s second conference championship in four years.

During that weekend, a combination of senior players Jana Rae Slayton and Jackie Heide and strong pitching from sophomore Nichole Latham earned the Vikings victories in three out of four games. Behind the scenes, first-year coach Tobin Echo-Hawk pulled all the stops.

And now, the Vikings have been honored for their terrific conference season that saw the squad compile a 15-5 record.

Echo-Hawk was honored as PCSC Coach of the Year while Heide was named Co-Player of the Year and Latham was recognized as the Pitcher of the Year.

Slayton joined Heide and Latham on the First Team All-Conference, as did senior Jamee Rauch and utility player Kristin Wilson. All were crucial pieces of a squad that rose to the top of the PCSC despite being picked to finish fourth in the six-team conference.

Junior pitcher Tori Rogers and senior outfielder Jenna Wilson were named to the Second Team.