PORTLAND – First-year Head Coach Meadow McWhorter has announced the signing of eight student-athletes for the 2017-18 academic year.
 
Ariana Abalos (FR, UT), Lani Graft (FR, IF), Kayla Kappmeyer (FR, IF/OF), Darian Lindsey (JR, UT), Sydnee Machado (FR, IF), Ashlyn Monroe (FR, OF/UT), Serafine Parrish (FR, RHP), and Haley Schimmel (FR, RHP) will all join the Vikings for the 2018 season.
 
"One word that describes this class is loyal," McWhorter said of her first signing class at Portland State. "These young ladies stayed loyal to PSU when their future with the program was uncertain. I am very excited about the athleticism, versatility and character of this class." ARIANA ABALOS, UT, 5-7, FR, HS PHOENIX, AZ (ARCADIA HS)
• Played softball all four years at Arcadia High School.
• Varsity captain since her sophomore season.
• As a junior, team went 32-6 overall and 9-1 in league play before falling in the state semifinals.
• Has hit .309 with 75 runs, 68 RBIs, and five home runs in her first three seasons at Arcadia.
• Played two years for the AZ Bombers 18U Gold and two years for the AZ Hotshots 18U.
 
COACH MCWHORTER ON ABALOS: "Ariana will be a leader on and off the field. She is an outstanding student-athlete. She is very athletic, strong, and quick, and will make an impact in our infield." LANI GRAFT, IF, 5-2, FR, HS, CHULA VISTA, CA (BONITA VISTA HS)
• Played softball all four years at Bonita Vista High School.
• Team won the league championship after her freshman and sophomore seasons.
• Team's Defensive Player of the Year every year.
• First Team All-League as a junior.
• Second Team All-League as a sophomore and as a freshman.
• Has hit .372 (83-for-223) with 55 runs scored and 51 runs batted in through her first three years.
• Played for the Batbusters Fox for five years.
 
COACH MCWHORTER ON GRAFT: "Lani is going to add power to our lineup. She also will bring depth to our infield. Lani is a student of the game and will bring a lot of good energy to our program." KAYLA KAPPMEYER, IF/OF, 5-10, FR, HS, VALLEY SPRINGS, CA (CALAVERAS HS)
• Lettered four years at Calaveras High School.
• Is hitting .484 (138-for-285) with 130 runs scored and 88 runs batted in over her first three seasons.
• Mother Lode League Most Valuable Player, First Team All-Area, First Team All-League, and Second Team All-State (small schools) as a junior.
• First Team All-MLL and Second Team All-Area as a sophomore.
• Second Team All-MLL as a freshman.
• Team was the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section V runner-up and MLL League Champions in 2016.
• Has played for the California Grapettes since 2009.
 
COACH MCWHORTER ON KAPPMEYER: "Kayla brings a tremendous amount of offensive options. She can hit with power, she's quick, and she has a lethal short game. She also has many options defensively." DARIAN LINDSEY, UT, 5-3, JR, TR, PENDLETON, OR (PENDLETON HS/MT. HOOD CC)
• Lettered all four years in volleyball, basketball, and softball at Pendleton High School.
• Four-Time First Team All-League in softball.
• Three-Time Oregon 5A Player of the Year (freshman, junior, senior).
• First Team All-Conference in volleyball and basketball (senior).
• Second Team All-State in basketball (senior).               
• Played two years at Mt. Hood Community College before transferring to Portland State.
• First Team All-American as a freshman
• First Team All-South Region as a freshman.
• South Region Player of the Year as a freshman.
• NWAC Champions and NWAC All-Tournament Team as a freshman.
• Hit .477 (73-for-154) in 44 games. Scored 68 runs, drove in 46, and hit 14 home runs. Walked 20 times and struck out just seven times. Had 22 doubles and three triples.
 
COACH MCWHORTER ON LINDSEY: "Darian will make an immediate impact to our offensive lineup. She is the perfect mix of speed and power. Darian is a versatile athlete who could see time in the infield, outfield, or behind the plate." SYDNEE MACHADO, IF, 5-3, FR, HS, NEWMAN CA (ORESTIMBA HS)
• Lettered in softball four years, basketball two years, and volleyball one year.
• Has hit .497 (85-for-171) with 66 runs scored and 47 runs batted in through three years.
• Three-Time Offensive Player of the Year (freshman, sophomore, junior) in softball.
• Southern League Offensive Player of the Year (junior) in softball.
• Southern League Champions in softball after sophomore and junior seasons.
• Two-Time Southern League Scholar Athlete (sophomore & junior) and TVL Scholar Athlete (freshman).
• Played for the California Grapettes from 2013-16.
 
COACH MCWHORTER ON MACHADO: "Sydnee is a very smart student-athlete. She will provide leadership on the field. She is strong, athletic, and will be a great addition to our infield and offensive lineup." ASHLYN MONROE, OF/UT, 5-2, FR, HS, YORBA LINDA, CA (YORBA LINDA HS)
• Lettered all four years in softball at Yorba Linda High School.
• Has hit .225 with 42 runs scored and 10 runs batted in in 66 games over three seasons.
• Team won Yorba Linda HS's first ever league championship (Crestview League) in 2015.
• Plays for the Firecrackers-Lucero from 2013-17 with fellow Viking Serafine Parrish.
• Played for the Cal Cruisers and Batbusters.
 
COACH MCWHORTER ON MONROE: "Ashlyn will add speed to our lineup. She is a dynamic athlete who will make a difference in our outfield." SERAFINE PARRISH, RHP, 5-7, FR, HS, SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA (DANA HILLS HS)
• Played softball all four years at Dana Hills High School.
• Two-time MVP (2014 & 2016).
• Two-time All-tournament Team (2015 & 2016).
• Second-team All-South Coast League in 2016.
• Team won the Northwood Tournament in 2015.
• Went 22-20 with a 3.18 ERA over her sophomore and junior seasons.
• Went 13-12 with a 2.92 ERA in 29 games, with 22 complete games, as a junior.
• Played for the SO Cal Hurricanes three years, the OC Elite, two years, and the Firecrackers Lucero two years.
 
COACH MCWHORTER ON PARRISH: "Serafine is a very savvy pitcher with a lot of tools. She is a competitor and will be a great addition to our pitching staff." HALEY SCHIMMEL, RHP, 5-7, FR, HS, RAINIER, OR (RAINIER HS)
• Lettered all four years in softball and basketball for Rainier High School.
• Two-Time Oregon 3A State Champion (2014 & 2016).
• Oregon 3A State Championship Game MVP (2016).
• Oregon 3A State Runner-Up (2015).
• First Team All-League and First Team All-Area in 2016.
• Played four years for the Washington Ladyhawks.
 
COACH MCWHORTER ON SCHIMMEL: "Haley is a very crafty pitcher. She spins the ball well and has excellent presence in the circle." Portland State has five seniors on its current 2017 roster. The Vikings open the season at the Mercer Invitational in Macon, Ga. against Dayton.
 
NATIONAL LETTERS OF INTENT                                                                
Ariana Abalos, UT, 5-7, FR, HS, Phoenix, AZ (Arcadia HS)
Lani Graft, IF, 5-2, FR, HS, Chula Vista, CA (Bonita Vista HS)
Kayla Kappmeyer, IF/OF, 5-10, FR, HS, Valley Springs, CA (Calaveras HS)
Darian Lindsey, UT, 5-3, JR, TR, Pendleton, OR (Pendleton HS/Mt. Hood CC)
Sydnee Machado, IF, 5-3, FR, HS, Newman CA (Orestimba HS)
Ashlyn Monroe, OF/UT, 5-2, FR, HS, Yorba Linda, CA (Yorba Linda HS)
Serafine Parrish, RHP, 5-7, FR, HS, San Juan Capistrano, CA (Dana Hills HS)
Haley Schimmel, RHP, 5-7, FR, HS, Rainier, OR (Rainier HS)