Viking softball has one name who consistently makes headlines: Anna Bertrand. On March 7, the junior made Pacific Coast Softball Conference history by becoming just the second player ever to be named PCSC pitcher of the week for four consecutive weeks. Bertrand is a key defensive force for the Vikings, leading the PCSC in three categories including strikeouts.
Viking softball has one name who consistently makes headlines: Anna Bertrand. On March 7, the junior made Pacific Coast Softball Conference history by becoming just the second player ever to be named PCSC pitcher of the week for four consecutive weeks. Bertrand is a key defensive force for the Vikings, leading the PCSC in three categories including strikeouts.
“Anna has done a great job for us this preseason. She is a big reason we have the wins that we have had,” head coach Tobin Echo-Hawk said. “She is able to keep us in games against great opponents. You know that when Anna is on the mound you are always going to have a chance to win games.”
Bertrand hails from McMinnville, and has quickly made a name for herself as a Viking. The pitcher was named to the PCSC-Mountain Division First Team as a freshman and sophomore. She said that the game of softball, which she finds difficult, but rewarding, has always interested her.
“I think I stuck with softball because it was the most challenging, and it made me the most frustrated. It also gave me the biggest sense of accomplishment when I did something well,” Bertrand said. “It was the biggest struggle, but when I was able to achieve things it felt way more worth it than any other sport ever did.”
Bertrand has embraced this struggle. In this preseason alone, she has already recorded multiple memorable games. On Feb. 10, she nearly pitched a perfect game in a 9-0 win over San Diego State. Last weekend, in the Highlander classic, Bertrand added to her win column when she struck out 23 batters and kept her opponents to a low, .205 batting average.
“My motivation pretty much [is] wanting to win,” Bertrand said. “And just putting my team on top and proving that at that moment in time, when I’m pitching, that I’m the best pitcher out there and just really wanting to win and come out on top.”
Last season, the Vikings finished their season with a PCSC Division and Conference win. They made an appearance at the NCAA Regional Tournament. Bertrand said that the team needs to use the following weeks of preseason to learn and prepare themselves for another successful season.
The Vikings are slated to play No. 1-ranked Alabama Thursday at home. With almost the entire Viking preseason schedule played on the road, they will have the home field advantage against the current best team in the nation.
“We just need to make sure we are using preseason to keep getting better and get ready for conference; conference is the games we really need to win,” Bertrand said. “I think we need to capitalize on our strong preseason schedule and be competitive and carry that over to conference.”
Bertrand will lead her team into the regular season beginning on March 30. After losing a handful of seniors leaders this season, Bertrand has become a key leader on the field.
“Anna has really developed this year into the leader this team needed. She has always been a quiet, lead-by-example type of kid,” Echo-Hawk said. “This year she has really stepped out of her shell and started to become more of the vocal leader that we needed.”
Bertrand said that it has been a team effort to get where they are, and all the players, freshman to seniors, have stepped up to fill positions.
“I think that this is the best team chemistry we have ever had since I’ve been here,” Bertrand said. “We’re really coming together and really driven to go farther than we ever have in the past.”
Bertrand said her goals for herself and her team are to not just make it to the NCAA tournament but to make a name for Portland State at that level.
“I think that whatever expectation I have for Anna she would expect more,” Echo-Hawk said. “Anna is the type of kid that has the drive to be the best. She hates to lose and she will do anything in her power to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
With her must-win attitude and a team to support her, Bertrand and her Vikings prepare for what hopes to be another successful season.
