PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland State softball team took home four awards at the annual Golden Viking Awards ceremony, held at the Peter W. Stott Center on Friday night. The Viking softball team, which won the inaugural Big Sky conference title and played in the NCAA regional in Seattle tallied the team of the year, moment of the year (team), freshman of the year and coach of the year awards, as selected by PSU student athletes.

The softball squad earned the team of the year award after going 14-4 in the Big Sky. They beat out the women's track and field team which tallied two second-place finishes at the indoor and outdoor championships and women's soccer and women's volleyball who both earned Big Sky regular season titles.

Head coach Tobin Echo-Hawk now has another award to put on her mantle after taking home the first Big Sky Coach of the Year accolades for her efforts this season. Echo-Hawk earned the nod over volleyball head coach Michael Seemann and track and field head coach, Ronnye Harrison.

Rounding out Softball's individual awards was freshman Lauran Bliss who brought a steady presence behind the plate and a powerful bat to the lineup this season. Bliss hit .265 with four homeruns and 26 runs batted in this season. That RBI total was second on the team as she garnered Big Sky All-Second Team accolades for her efforts.  Bliss edged freshman Cori Bianchini of the women's soccer team and Sydney Johnson of the women's track and field team.

Finally the Viking softball squad earned the moment of the year award (team category) for their come-from-behind win against Idaho State in the Big Sky tournament. Sadie Lopez's two-run homerun in the top of the seventh inning gave the Vikings the lead and Anna Bertrand shut the Bengals down in the final frame as PSU advanced to the softball finals.

Freshman Kieran McDonagh was another notable attendee, winning multiple awards during the evening. The first-year quarterback took home the male freshman of the year award, and won the Co-MVP (male) award along with track and field's Sean MacKelvie.

The track and field teams were also well-represented in the awards as well as senior Joenisha Vinson, who couldn't attend the awards ceremony as she was competing at NCAA nationals in Eugene, Ore., won female MVP and moment of the year (individual category) for her heptathlon win at the Big Sky outdoor track and field championships. Meanwhile Tony Crisofulli took home the biggest Viking fan award for his spirit at PSU events. Crisofulli is often spotted at Viking sporting events as the Portland State “green man”.

Steven Long from the men's football team and Amanda Howie of women's soccer won the male and female comeback kid awards. Long underwent emergency brain surgery earlier this year while Howie came back from an injury during the 2011 season, to record her best season as a member of the soccer team recording six goals and one assist and ending her PSU career on a five-match goal-scoring streak.

Below are the entire awards and nominations list.
 
Male MVP
Winner
Kieran McDonagh (football)  and Sean MacKelvie (men's track and field)

Nominees
Kieran McDonagh (football)
Sean MacKelvie (men's track and field)
Antoine Bechmann (men's tennis)


Women's MVP
Winner
Joenisha Vinson (women's track and field)

Nominees
Anna Bertrand (softball)
Garyn Schlatter (volleyball)
Geronne Black (women's track and field)
Joenisha Vinson (women's track and field)
A Ram Choi (women's golf)
Courtney VanBrocklin (women's basketball)


Male Comeback Kid
Winner
Steven Long (football)

Nominees
Steven Long (football)
Sean MacKelvie (men's track and field)

Women's Comeback Kid
Winner
Amanda Howie

Nominees
Amanda Howie (soccer)
Cassandra Sidner  (women's track and field)

Coach of the Year
Winner
Tobin Echo-Hawk

Nominees
Tobin Echo-Hawk (softball)
Ronnye Harrison (track and field)
Michael Seemann (volleyball)

Male Most Inspirational
Winner
Vern Shultz (Portland State fan)

Nominees
Vern Schultz (Portland State fan)
Ian Risenhoover (men's tennis)
Jordan Ellis (men's basketball)


Female Most Inspirational
Winner
Aubrey Mitchell (volleyball)

Nominees
Anna Bertrand (softball)
Angela Misa (women's basketball)
Angela Haluska (women's soccer)
Alexa Morales (softball)
Aubrey Mitchell (volleyball)

Biggest Viking Fan
Winner
Tony Crisofulli (men's track and field)

Nominees
Tony Criosfulli (men's track and field)
Michael Haluska (PSU employee)
Kajsa Sporseen (women's soccer)

Team of the Year
Winner
Softball

Nominees
Women's Soccer
Women's Track and Field
Volleyball
Softball

Male Freshman of the Year
Winner
Keiran McDonagh (football)

Nominees
Keiran McDonagh (football)
Ian Risenhoover (men's tennis)
Zach Walen (football)

Female Freshman of the Year
Winner
Lauran Bliss (softball)

Nominees
Lauran Bliss (softball)
Cori Bianchini (women's soccer)
Sydney Johnson (women's track and field)

Moment of the Year Individual
Winner
Joenisha Vinson wins heptathlon at Big Sky track and field championships

Nominees
Joenisha Vinson wins heptathlon at Big Sky track and field championships (women's track and field)
A Ram Choi sets a course record in her first round of competition (golf)
Saide Lopez's two-run homerun against Idaho State at Big Sky tournament (softball)
Anna Bertrand becomes the all-time leader in strikeouts and wins (softball)

Moment of the Year Team
Winner
Softball defeats Idaho State in Big Sky tournament

Nominees
Softball defeats Idaho State in Big Sky tournament (softball)
Women's Soccer defeats Boise State on last second goal in double OT (women's soccer)
Volleyball defeats Idaho State to clinch Big Sky regular season title (volleyball)