Following an offseason in which the team lost arguably their best player to graduation and their coach to another school, the Portland State softball team was eager to take the field and wipe out the taste of those losses and their disappointing 2008 regular season. In preparation for their regular season that begins in February, the Vikings play several games each fall. The four games this season were especially important as the team looked to replace star pitcher Mandy Hill and former head coach Amy Hayes, who resigned this summer to become the head coach at Bradley University.
October alternates
Following an offseason in which the team lost arguably their best player to graduation and their coach to another school, the Portland State softball team was eager to take the field and wipe out the taste of those losses and their disappointing 2008 regular season.
In preparation for their regular season that begins in February, the Vikings play several games each fall. The four games this season were especially important as the team looked to replace star pitcher Mandy Hill and former head coach Amy Hayes, who resigned this summer to become the head coach at Bradley University.
During those four games, the Vikings took on mostly local competition from nearby schools and went undefeated, outscoring their opponents 21-4.
The successful fall season has made Tobin Echo-Hawk’s transition to head coach of the team much easier. “I love it. It’s great coaching a team that is dedicated and hard working,” Echo-Hawk said.
The team opened up with a win against Blue Mountain College of Mississippi on Oct. 5, with a 5-0 shutout. Senior Jessi Even and junior Carri O’Neil combined for the shutout victory. Later that evening the Vikings pounded Western Oregon with a final score of 8-1.
The second and final weekend of their fall schedule saw the Vikings defeat Clackamas Community College and Concordia to conclude the abbreviated season.
As expected, the team went undefeated in these exhibition games, but despite the results felt that they have much to improve on before the start of their regular season in February.
“The end result was great, but the team felt, as a whole, they could have performed better. It’s like eating a ham sandwich every day, some days it tastes good, and some days it doesn’t,” Echo-Hawk said.
In order for them to accomplish their goals this season, the team will have to rely on a revamped pitching rotation that will be without the all-conference performance from Hill.
“Our pitching rotation is like a family. They are all really talented,” Echo-Hawk said.
One pitcher who is looking to have a big year is senior Jessi Even. “Jessi has a lot to prove, not just to everyone, but herself,” said Echo-Hawk.
Echo-Hawk also said that transfers Carri O’Neal and Victoria Rodgers would play critical roles in the success of the pitching staff.
The team will continue working out and preparing for the season to begin on Feb. 6, when the Vikings head to Tempe, Ariz., for a tournament. They will compete in four different tournaments before Pacific Coast Softball Conference play begins on April 4.
Coach Echo-Hawk is looking forward to matching up with Arizona State, the NCAA National Champion in 2008, and feels that this game will help the team for the tough conference play in April.
“These games will prepare us for the goals that we all, as a team, want to accomplish,” Echo-Hawk said. “We’re excited about what we can accomplish. Anything short of a super regional berth in the NCAA Tournament would be a disappointment.”
