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PORTLAND, Ore. – After their run to another Pacific Coast Softball Conference Mountain Division title, the Portland State softball team was rewarded with eight first team all-league selections as well taking home three of the PCSC's top individual honors when the league office announced the awards on Tuesday morning.

Sophomore second baseman Carly McEachran was tabbed as the Mountain Division's co-Most Valuable player, senior Nichole Latham earned the Pitcher of the Year Award, while Tobin Echo-Hawk shared Coach of the Year honors with two other coaches.

Joining McEachran and Latham on the first team were outfielder Jenna Krogh, utility player Sadie Lopez, first baseman Karmen Holladay, shortstop Arielle Wiser, third baseman Crysta Conn and pitcher Anna Bertrand. Catcher Lacey Holm and outfielder Becca Bliss both garnered second team recognition.

The conference expanded from six to 12 teams and split into two divisions for the 2010 season. All-conference honors are awarded separately to each division. Only statistics from conference games are considered in the voting.

The ten selections to the all-conference team are the most in PSU history, topping the eight honorees in 2008. The eight first team selections is easily the most in school history.

Echo-Hawk shared the league's top coaching honor with Northern Colorado's Mark Montgomery and Utah Valley's Todd Fairbourne. For Echo-Hawk it is her third straight honor after earning PCSC Coach of the Year recognition in 2009 and the Mountain Division Coach of the Year award last spring. In three seasons at the helm of the program, Echo-Hawk has amassed a 92-69 overall record and 49-11 mark in the PCSC, and led the team to NCAA tournament appearances in 2009 and 2011.

McEachran led the Vikings with a .475 batting average and .831 slugging mark during conference action, which ranked her second in both categories amongst PCSC players. She tied for the league lead with 20 runs scored, while also ranking tied for second in hits (28) and triples (2), fourth in on-base percentage (.500), tied for fifth in runs batted in (19) and tied for eighth in doubles (5).

McEachran registered seven multi-hit performances over 20 league games and four times had three hits. She also had at least one hit in 17 contests. It was quite the turnaround for the sophomore second baseman from Mill Creek, Wash., who hit .238 last year during conference play. She still did enough last year, though, to earn honorable mention all-league honors.

Latham won her second league pitcher of the year honor to go along with when she was tabbed as the top pitcher in 2009. Last season she earned first team All-Mountain Division honors.

The senior righty from San Bernardino, Calif., posted a 8-2 record and 1.55 ERA over 10 appearances in conference play. She tied for the league lead in victories, while also ranking second in opponent batting average (.191), third in earned run average and fifth in strikeouts (45). Latham also threw three complete game shutouts against PCSC foes.

Wiser hit .415 in league action to rank fifth, while Krogh hit .407 to rank ninth. Wiser also ranked fourth in hits (27) and tied for fifth in doubles (6), while Krogh was tied for seventh in hits with 24.

Lopez (.355), Bliss (.346), Conn (.340), Holladay (.327) and Holm (.322) all hit over .300 during conference games. Conn hit three doubles, two triples and two homers while driving in 13 runs, and Holladay hit a pair of homers while driving in 16 runs. Holm added one homer and 13 RBIs, and Bliss hit two home runs and knocked in eight runs.

After being named the Mountain Division Pitcher of the Year last season, Bertrand posted worthy numbers again, going 8-2 with a 1.98 ERA. She was edged out by Latham in this year's voting.

The sophomore from McMinnville struck out 61 to rank second and held opposing hitters to a .167 batting average, which led all pitchers. She also ranked tied for first in victories and fourth in earned run average.

Portland State (34-16) is preparing to face No. 14 Washington this Thursday in NCAA Regional play. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Husky Softball Stadium in Seattle. The Vikings are making their third NCAA tourney appearance after having gone in 2006 and 2009.

ALL-PCSC MOUNTAIN DIVISION TEAMS

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First Team

Pos. Player Yr. School

C          Deianna Russell, Jr., Utah Valley

1B        Karmen Holladay, Jr., Portland State#

1B        Megan Wilkinson, Fr., Northern Colorado#

2B        Carly McEachran, So., Portland State#

2B        Kailee Vessey, Sr., Northern Colorado#

3B        Crysta Conn, Fr., Portland State

SS        Arielle Wiser, Sr., Portland State

OF        Jenna Krogh, Jr., Portland State

OF        Amanda Robinson, Fr., Utah Valley

OF        Meghan Yocom, Sr., Utah Valley**

UTL       Sadie Lopez, So., Portland State

P-UTL   Kelli Henderson, Sr., Northern Colorado!

P           Anna Bertrand, So., Portland State**

P           Nichole Latham, So. Portland State***

 

Second Team

Pos. Player Yr. School

C            Terah Blackwell, So., Idaho State#

C            Lacey Holm, Jr.,  Portland State#

1B          Erin Olander, Sr., Idaho State

2B          Katee Wiley, Fr., Idaho State

3B          Melanie Buol, So., Northern Colorado

SS         Allegra Wilde, So., Seattle

OF         Becca Bliss, Fr., Portland State

OF         Erin Geddis, Jr., Northern Colorado

OF         Erika James, Jr., Weber State

UTL       Symbree Minniear, Jr., Weber State

P-UTL   Britnie Hardine, Sr., Weber State

P           Jamie Julefs, Sr., Northern Colorado

P           Josi Summers, Fr., Utah Valley

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Honorable Mention: Charlee Cisneros (SO, UTL), Utah Valley; Kandis Clesson (SR, P), Idaho State; Korryn Coates (SO, 3B), Utah Valley; Megan Hamilton (SR, SS), Northern Colorado; Hannah Klein (JR, 3B), Seattle; Lyndsey Minnich (JR, 2B), Weber State; Brittany Olsin (SR, OF), Idaho State; Amanda Perez (JR, 1B), Utah Valley; Samantha Telarroja (SR, SS), Utah Valley; Erin Wilkinson (JR, C), Northern Colorado.

 

CO-PLAYERS OF THE YEAR: Kelli Henderson (SR/P-UTL), Northern Colorado

Carly McEachran (SO, 2B), Portland State

PITCHER OF THE YEAR: Nichole Latham (SR, RHP), Portland State

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Amanda Robinson (FR, OF), Utah Valley

CO-COACHES OF THE YEAR: Tobin Echo-Hawk, Portland State

Todd Fairbourne, Utah Valley

Mark Montgomery, Northern Colorado

 

* - Number of first-team selections

! – Unanimous selection.

# - Tie