Around town

Brown garners preseason nod Football season has yet to begin, but Vikings kicker Zach Brown is already anticipated to impress during his upcoming sophomore season. On Monday, Brown was named to The Sports Network’s second team preseason All-American list. The selection comes just a week after he was named to the Big Sky Conference’s preseason All-Conference team. A native of Keizer, Ore., Brown chalked a record-breaking freshman season in 2009 that earned him an All-Big Sky selection. Last year, he set a new school record of 18 field goals on 25 attempts, and went 21 of 21 on extra point attempts. Two of Brown’s field goals were from over 50 yards out, and three of his seven misses were from 52 yards or more. Portland State football begins fall practices Aug. 8 and the 2010 season starts Sept. 4 at Arizona State. Beavers set franchise record The Portland Beavers set new franchise records for runs and hits in Sunday’s 21-4 win over the Las Vegas 51s. Led by former major leaguer Wily Mo Pena and Kyle Phillips, the Beavers offense erupted with 32 hits-seven more than the previous franchise record set in 2003, and eight more than any other Triple-A team has knocked this season. Pena and Phillips each went 5 for 6 at the plate and combined for 10 hits and eight RBIs. The Beavers split the four-game series in Las Vegas, and began a four-game series at Salt Lake City last night. Portland (39-63) is currently in last place in the Pacific Coast League’s Pacific North Division and 19 games behind first-placed Tacoma. PSU Athletics to unveil new website Portland State’s athletics program announced Monday it will unveil a new GoViks.com website later this week. The redesigned site will go live Thursday and feature a mobile site, improved video and quick links to the program’s YouTube channel and social media feeds. Interactive media guides for each of the Vikings’ sports programs will also be available. “We have been proud to offer a comprehensive and informative GoViks.com website over the years, but I think our fans will really be pleased with the look and ease of use of our newly-designed website,” athletics spokesman Mike Lund said in a news statement. The new GoViks.com is the result of a new partnership between the athletics department and web service provider SIDEARM Sports -Robert Britt