Holladay holds down senior season

Karmen Holladay transferred to Portland State from Oregon State last year—a decision the senior said has made for one of the best experiences of her life. Holladay has started every game this season. She leads the team with her batting average and dominates in home runs this season. Holladay is on the roster as a reserve pitcher, but injuries have limited her time in the circle. Instead, she has emerged as a strong offensive player with high expectations from head coach Tobin Echo-Hawk.

“She’s really driven and motivated and wants to be successful,” Echo-Hawk said. “And as she feels confidence in herself that will happen.”

Holladay found success early on in the season. She was named Pacific Coast Softball Conference Mountain Division Player of the Week on March 21 after an outstanding performance in Boise. The senior smashed a three-run homer in the game against Boise State, followed by a two-run homer, a RBI double and finally a single run in the second game against Utah State.

Holladay is ranked in four PCSC categories, including a third-place ranking in home runs. In 2011 the then- junior was named to the first team All-PCSC Mountain Division.

While she will only spend two years of her college career as a Viking, Holladay said she wants to do everything she can to make those years count.

“My first year at PSU was kind of getting my footing and going in and finding out where I fit in,” Holladay said. “It was kind of like being a freshman all over again. This year I found my place and I wanted to go out and be really successful and I worked really hard to do so, and I had a lot of fun in my two years here. I’ve always kept that drive of wanting to do something great and be successful.”

Holladay got into the sport of softball at a young age and said that her father gave her pitching lessons as a child, which ended up having a huge impact on her decision to pursue softball through high school and college.

“I just fell in love [with the sport] and I was good at it and I enjoyed playing,” Holladay said. “I just grew up around playing the game and never wanted to stop. At a really young age my goal was to play [college softball].”

Although Holladay has had games this season where she struggled to bring in the big plays she is known for, Echo-Hawk said that Holladay is a player that will continue to push to perform at the highest level she can.

“This week in practice we’ve seen her make progress, and even in last weekend’s games she did very well. That’s what we are expecting. It’s a matter of time before she gets to the success she knows she can be at.”

Holladay said that her success at Portland State is thanks in part to the amazing support from her family.

“My parents definitely have been always a huge motivators and inspiration inside of softball and outside,” Holladay said. “They always taught me never give and they were huge reason why I continue to play softball…they really push me to continue do the things I love.”

While Holladay is making the necessary adjustments to finish out her senior season on top, the player is also preparing for success off the field. The senior has already completed her undergraduate degree in community health and health education.

She is taking classes in Portland State’s education leadership graduate program, although the senior plans to apply for graduate school at Western Oregon in the fall. While Holladay focuses on school and softball, she also is making another life step and is engaged to be married in the upcoming year.

With just four weekends left on her home field, Holladay said her goals for the season are to help her team to yet another regional title—an amazing experience she said she wants to repeat.

Holladay and her Viking teammates are back at home this weekend against Seattle. The first double-header is scheduled for Friday at noon, and the next pair set for Saturday at noon. Both games will be held at the Viking’s Erv Lind stadium.