The big bats behind the big hits

The Portland State women’s softball team is doing quite well this season, and the three seniors on the team have contributed a great deal to the success. Here’s a look into the lives of the senior members of the team.

Second baseman Erin Stokey is a 5′-9” native of Vancouver, Wash. Born in Napa, Calif., Stokey and her family later moved to Washington where she attended high school, and lettered four years in softball, three in basketball, and two in soccer. It was obvious that Stokey put her whole heart into the sport she played, Stokey spent three years at the University of Arkansas and ranked in the school’s all-time top-10 in 11 offensive categories. As a freshman Stokey was one of the LadyBack’s top producers with 4 HR and 30 RBI while starting 73 games.

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Last season at Portland State, Stokey was second team All-PCSC selection. Hitting .364 in league games with two home runs and 10 RBIs, Stokey was a Viking leader in batting average (.336), RBI (26), slugging (.486) and extra-base hits (11). Stokey had two home runs last season and a PSU record seven RBI in a 12-3 win at Nevada. Batting .386 with runners in scoring position, Stokey struck out only 11 times in 146 plate appearances.

Last season Stokey appeared in 46 games and started 43 of them. Stokey is finishing up her last year at PSU and plans to major in speech communication and pre-nursing, with plans to be an intensive care nurse.

Outside of softball, Stokey enjoys rock climbing, camping and spending time with her family. Stokey has also been first team ASA All American in 2000, and second team in 2002.

Twenty-two year old senior Rachel Manibusan from Lakeview, Ore. is finishing up her fourth year at Portland State, and her final season on the ladies softball team. In high school, 5′-1” Manibusan lettered four years in softball and volleyball and one year in basketball at Lakeview High School. In high school Manibusan was a three-year all-conference selection in softball, team MVP and second team all-state.

Coming to PSU her freshman year, Manibusan was used primarily on defense as a utility player, and Portland State’s main option at third base. Manibusan had a .949 fielding percentage, and in 79 chances committed only four errors.

In her second year at PSU, she appeared in 34 games, starting 16 at third base and two at shortstop, and saw lots of action as a pinch hitter. In a one game she had career bests of three hits and four runs. In her final game of the season, Manibusan had a career-high nine assists vs. Loyola Marymount while playing shortstop.

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Last season Manibusan had her best season at the plate with a .243 AVG. Batting .500 vs. left-handers (2-for-4), .500 on-base average (4-for-8) when leading off an inning. In their game against No. 3 California, Manibusan hit her first rip of the season to break up a no-hitter with one out in the seventh inning at the UNLV Softball Classic. Manibusan played in 31 games, starting 14 and having only five errors in her final 26 games.

This season, Manibusan, a senior utility player, has been a huge plus to the team bringing much talent and skill to the game. Last week Manibusan played flawless defense, managing all 17 chances in the three games she appeared in.

Manibusan played one game at shortstop and two at second base.

“Rachel played extremely well in the second game on Saturday against Santa Clara (a 2-1 Viking win),” said head coach Teri Mariani. “She made three great plays that allowed us to hang on for the win.”

Five foot five Annie Peccia, a senior third baseman, is enjoying her fourth and final season at Portland State.

Not only does Peccia enjoy softball, but many other sports as well. Peccia is also a starting midfielder for PSU’s soccer team. In high school Peccia attended Texas’ largest high school, Round Rock, and enjoyed playing soccer, basketball and softball.

Peccia only played one year of softball, but was named second team all-district, was also nominated for most improved player. Born Jan 23, 1982 in Portland, Ore., Peccia did not always live in Oregon. Her softball ritual, which began while living in Texas, was to write the letter “O” in the dirt because she always wanted to be in Oregon. Peccia bats left-handed, but throws right-handed.

Freshman year at Portland State, Peccia walked on the team and showed continual improvement over the course of the season. Batting .333 in WAC games, Peccia ended her season glowing, raising her overall average 110 points over the final three weeks.

In her second season at Portland State, Peccia led the team with a .284 overall average, was 13th in WAC batting with a .296 mark, had 19 runs scored, and 100 field assists. Last season Peccia tied for the team lead with seven doubles, and was second on the team with extra-base hits. Peccia batted .264 vs. right-handers and .278 with runners in scoring position.

In her final 29 chances of the season, Peccia committed only one error, and had career-high three hits against Ohio State on March1. Peccia appeared in 47 games and started 43 of them on third base.

Just last week, Peccia was named the Pacific Coast Softball Conference (PCSC) Player of the Week, and batted .455 over eight games last week, raising her conference leading average to .429. Overall this season, Peccia leads the Vikings in batting average, hits (33) triples (2), slugging percentage (.571) and on-base percentage. Peccia has been a huge asset to Portland State over the last four years, and it will be hard to see her go.