* Updated season/career stats are available via the link above, and to see preseason career game-by-game stats (PDF) click here.
• Enters senior slate with 170 starts the last three years at second base (62-2012 / 52-2011 / 58-2010). The team’s steadiest and most dynamic infield returnee defensively, she also sports good power and clutch-hitting instincts.
• Career-wise, enters senior season ranked top-10 all-time in homers (10th, 25), and could make appearances on career lists for hits, doubles, runs and RBI.
• As a junior, tied the Duck season record for extra base hits (31), and enjoyed a breakthrough year offensively with career highs in nearly every category en route to All-Region and All-Pac-12 honors. She also ranked top-10 all-time for UO season-wise in RBI (fourth, 52), doubles (second, 17-tied), total bases (fourth, 120) and homers (seventh, 12-tied).
• As a sophom*ore, was again a steady contributor at plate with multi-hit games in the NCAA Regional and six of the seven Pac-12 series (including her second career grand slam vs. returning national champion UCLA).
• As a freshman, helped anchor the much-improved infield defense. Her power at the plate proved an added bonus, and she ranked second on the team in homers (9) and was only one round-tripper away from the 11th-best mark in a season for UO (10).
• As a prep, competed in Gold Nationals tournament in 2007, ‘08 and ‘09, and was an All-League infielder for Riverside High School.
2012 SEASON (Junior) - All-Region First Team / All-Pac-12 Second Team
Helped the Ducks make their second-ever World Series run, thanks to career numbers in nearly every offensive category. Started 62 of the team's 63 contests (all at second base), and hit in top half of lineup in 59 tilts (#1 slot - 18 times, #2-16, #5-25). Ended campaign ranked top 150 nationally in doubles (56th, 0.27 p/g), RBI (77th, 0.84 p/g), slugging (114th, .632) and homers (144th, 0.19 p/g). In the Pac-12, led the fielding category for assists (140-tied) with teammate Kelsey Chambers, and stood top 10 in doubles (first, 17-tied) and total bases (ninth, 120). Topped team in homers (12-tied), doubles (17-tied), triples (2-tied), total bases (120) and game-winning RBI (10); and ranked second in hits (63), runs (45), RBI (52) and sacrifice flies (2-tied); third in batting (.332), slugging (.632), sacrifice bunts (4-tied); and fifth in on-base percentage (.397) and walks (20). Six of her team-leading 10 game-winning RBI came vs. NCAA qualifiers - No. 8 Texas (eighth-inning, sacrifice fly), No. 11 Arizona (second-inning, three-run homer), No. 14 UCLA (third-inning, two-out, two-run double), No. 24 North Carolina (seventh-inning, two-run homer), Northwestern (third-inning double) and Oregon State (fourth-inning, three-run homer). The other four came vs. No. 22 Nebraska (first-inning grand slam), New Mexico State (third-inning, two-run single), UConn (first-inning single) and Purdue (first-inning, two-out triple). The team's Defensive Player of the Year award winner logged a .927 fielding mark (101 putouts, 140 assists, 19 errors).
2012 Season Highs
Runs scored: 2, 8 times, most recent vs #8 Texas (5/26/12)
Hits: 3 - at #14 Stanford (4/7/12)
RBIs: 4, Two times, vs UC Santa Barbara (2/10/12 at Tempe, Ariz.); 4 - vs #22 Nebraska (2/24/12 at Palm Springs, Calif.)
Doubles: 2 - vs Portland State (4/18/12)
Triples: 1 - vs Purdue (3/10/12 at Fresno, Calif.); 1 - vs #8 Texas (5/26/12)
Home runs: 1, 12 times, most recent vs BYU (5/19/12)
Total bases: 7 - at #14 Stanford (4/7/12)
Walks: 2 - 3 times, most recent vs Seattle (5/2/12)
Sac hits: 1, Four times, most recent vs #2 Arizona State (5/31/12 at Oklahoma City, Okla.)
Sac flies: 1 - vs Purdue (3/3/12 at Orlando, Fla.), vs #8 Texas (5/26/12)
Stolen bases: 2 - at Utah (4/13/12)
Hit by pitch: 1 - vs UC Santa Barbara (2/10/12 at Tempe, Ariz.), vs Pittsburgh (3/3/12 at Orlando, Fla.)
Putouts: 4, Three times, most recent vs BYU (5/18/12)
Assists: 6 - vs #9 Missouri (5/5/12)
2011 SEASON (Sophom*ore)
Sported amazing range at second base, and made 52 starts – tops on the team at any one position. Continued to show surprising power, and has cut back on her strikeouts and improved her walk tally. Ranked fifth in Pac-12 in triples (2) and 10th in league in sacrifice flies (2). Team-wise, led Ducks in triples (2), and stood top five in sacrifice flies (third-tied, 2), walks (fifth, 13) and stolen bases (fifth, 5). Raised her play offensively in Pac-12 play (.288, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 7 BB, .441 slugging, .358 on-base percentage) that equalled or bettered her season totals, and had three of her seven multi-hit games. Hit her second career grand slam and knocked in a season-best 4 RBI in 6-5 win over returning national champion and then-No. 12 UCLA – UO’s first victory vs. the Bruins since 2005 and ended a 15-game losing streak. Among her seven multi-hit games and two multi-RBI outings, scored three runs and went 2-for-3 win vs. returning World Series advancer and then-No. 9 Hawaii in mid-February. In UO’s second win of the slate at then-No. 9 Arizona, homered, drove in two runs and scored two more in 12-6 decision. Connected on a season-high six-game hit streak in February/March trips to Las Vegas and Pacific (7-for-16, HR, 4BB, SB). Added a game-winning RBI vs. NCAA returnee Illinois via a first-inning sacrifice fly in the ESPN Rise tourney in early March. Defensively, she logged a .939 fielding mark (60 putouts, 94 assists, 10 errors).
2011 Season Highs
Hits: 2, Seven times, last vs #12 UCLA (5/12/11)
RBIs: 4, vs. #12 UCLA (5/12/11)
Home runs: 1, Four times, last vs #12 UCLA (5/12/11)
Total bases: 5, Three, last vs #12 UCLA (5/12/11)
Walks: 2, Twice, last at #9 Arizona (4/29/11)
Stolen bases: 1, Five times, last vs #12 UCLA (5/12/11)
2010 SEASON (Freshman): All-Pac-12 Freshman Team Honorable Mention
Was one of team’s most pleasant surprises at the plate, and ranked second on squad in home runs (9), slugging (.517) and sacrifice flies (2); third in multi-RBI games (7) and RBI (27); fourth in runs (26); and fifth in total bases (67). Started 56 of the team’s 57 games at second base — the most at any one position by a Duck in the infield. In NCAA Regional, launched her first grand slam in the first inning for the game-winner in UO’s 11-2, five-inning victory over then-No. 7 Georgia Tech en route to UO’s first Super Regional bid. Her RBI double later in the game gave her 5 RBI to tie the team’s season game high with Samantha Pappas and Allie Burger. Ultimately hit three homers the last three weeks of the season with the other two dingers vs. then-No. 15 Stanford— tops on the team in that span. Opened season with .333 hitting mark in Kajikawa Classic (6-for-18, 1 double, 4 RBI) in Tempe. In 10-game March spring break homestand vs. Boise State, Idaho State, North Dakota, Portland State and Seattle, hit .409 (9-for-22, 1 double, 3 home runs, 5 RBI, 4 walks), and collected first career game-winner on second-inning solo home run in 3-1 win over Boise State. In opening weekend of Pac-12 play, hit .400 (4-for-10, walk) at Oregon State. Topped .300 in series at Arizona State (.333, 3-for-9, double, 2 RBI). Turned in three of her six multi-hit games in a four-game stretch in early March vs. Cal Poly (2-for-3), Boise State (2-for-3, 1 RBI) and North Dakota (2-for-2, 1 RBI). The other three multi-hit contests came vs. NCAA qualifier Creighton (2-for-3, 2 RBI), Oregon State (3-for-5) and Georgia Tech (2-for-3, 5 RBI, double, grand slam). Knocked in her other game-winner came vs. Boise State, a second-inning solo home run in a 9-0 rout. Also homered vs. Indiana, San Diego, Utah, North Dakota and Idaho State in non-conference slate. On defense, logged a .931 fielding mark (71 putouts, 90 assists).
2010 Season Highs
Runs scored: 3 - vs North Dakota (3/14/10)
Hits: 3 - at Oregon State (4/1/10)
RBIs: 5 - vs Georgia Tech (5/22/10)
Doubles: 1, Six times, most recent vs Georgia Tech (5/22/10)
Home runs: 1 - Nine times, most recent vs Georgia Tech (5/22/10)
Total bases: 6 - vs Boise State (3/13/10); 6 - vs Georgia Tech (5/22/10)
Walks: 1, Nine times, most recent vs Arizona (5/9/10)
Strikeouts: 3 - vs California (Apr 11, 2010)
Sac hits: 1 - Five times, most recent vs Georgia Tech (May 23, 2010 at Atlanta, Ga.)
Sac flies: 1 - vs Idaho State (3/26/10); vs Portland State (5/5/10)
Stolen bases: 1 - vs Georgia Tech (May 23, 2010 at Atlanta, Ga.)
Hit by pitch: 1 - at Oregon State (4/3/10)
Putouts: 5 - vs Illinois-Chicago (2/21/10), 5 - vs Arizona (5/7/10)
Assists: 6 - vs Cal State Northridge (2/14/10), vs Long Beach State (2/19/10)
High School: As a senior, the Under Armour All-American was a First-Team All-State, All-County and All-League recipient, and led Tesoro High School to the CIFSS Division III championship. At the plate, the Southern Section Division III Player of the Year paced her team in hitting (.438), and had 22 runs batted in with five homers. She also pitched 198 1/3 innings, struck out 230 hitters and held opposing batters to a .156 average. On the year, she recorded all of her team’s decisions (26-4) and posted a 0.92 ERA. She capped the year with a eight-strikeout,four-hit complete game to lead team to 4-0 win in Southern Section title tilt vs. Glendora - her sixth shutout of the section playoffs. As a junior was an All-CIF and All-South Coast League pick and team captain for her CIF champion team, and was also tabbed the Tesoro High School Female Athlete of the Year. As a sophom*ore in 2007, hit .462, had 12 RBI, two home runs and ranked top-five in each category in the South Coast League. The four-year letterwinner also led the Tesoros’ division in homers her freshman season. As a junior in club action in 2008, she owned a .435 average heading into national tournament play.
Personal: Psychology major. Parents are Kim and Roxanne, and has one older sister Kymmy, and one younger sister Kara, a sophom*ore outfielder for Kentucky (and played 52 games in ‘12 (and started 31)).
HOWARD'S CAREER STATISTICS
Year Avg GP-GS AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB SLG% BB HBP OB% SF SH SB ATT PO-A FLD%
2010 .289 56-56 149 26 43 6 0 9 27 76 .510 9 1 .329 2 5 1 3 71-90 .931
2011 .270 52-52 141 25 38 4 2 4 15 58 .411 13 0 .327 2 3 5 7 60-94 .939
2012 .332 62-62 190 45 63 17 2 12 52 120 .632 20 2 .397 2 4 5 8 101-140 .927
TOTAL .300 170-170 480 96 144 27 4 25 94 254 .529 42 3 .356 6 12 11 18 232-324.931
CAREER GAME HIGHS
Hits: 3, at Oregon State, 4/1/10 ; at Stanford, 4/7/12
Doubles: 2, Portland State, 4/18/12 ; at Cal Poly, 3/25/11
Triples: 1, 4 times
Home runs: 1, 25 times
Total bases: 7, at Stanford, 4/7/12
RBI: 5, vs Georgia Tech, 5/22/10
Runs scored: 3, vs Hawai'i, 2/19/11 ; North Dakota, 3/14/10
Walks: 2, 5 times
Hit by pitch: 1, at Oregon State, 4/3/10 ; vs UC Santa Barbara, 2/10/12 ; vs Pittsburgh, 3/3/12
Sac flies: 1, 6 times
Sac bunts: 2, vs Santa Clara, 2/27/11
At bats: 5, 5 times
Stolen bases: 2, at Utah, 4/13/12
Field chances: 10, vs Cal State Northridge, 2/14/10
Putouts: 6, vs Arkansas, 2/19/11
Assists: 6, vs CS Northridge, 2/14/10 ; vs Long Beach State, 2/19/10 ; Missouri, 5/5/12
FUN FACTS (& My Favorites)
Nicknames: Howie, K.How, N.Neck, Fatty, Beautiful
Favorite Color: Blue
Favorite Stuffed Animal: Life-size white tiger
Pets Growing Up: Pudding & BoBo
Favorite Saying/Motto: "Can't stop, won't stop" or "I'm on the float"
If I could go back in time, I'd go to: 1963, right before MLK Jr. died to hear his 'I Have a Dream' speech
Favorite Hobbies: Eating sweets and hiding it from Coach Dodd
Greatest Accomplishment: Going to college
Something Most People Would be Surprised to Know: My mother's white
Personal Hero: My father
When I was a Little Kid I Wanted to be a: Cinnabon worker
Intended Career Profession: Pediatrician
If I Could Have Dinner With Anybody: Prince
First Car: 2004 Ford Focus
Favorite Place I've Visited: New York
Favorite Place I'd Like to Travel to: Hawai'i
Favorite Place on Campus: Howe Field
Favorite Place to take Visitors to Eugene: Autzen Stadium
Favorite Entrée/Dish: Peanut butter and jelly
Favorite Ice Cream: Chocolate
Favorite Snack: Cookies
Favorite Pizza Topping: Cheese
Favorite Movie: Lion King
Favorite Actor / Actress: Brad Pitt / Tina Fey
Favorite TV Comedy: Cougartown
Favorite TV Drama: Entourage
Favorite Cartoon Character: Scooby-Doo
Favorite Singer or Band/CD: Colbie Callait
Favorite Book: Harry Potter series
Favorite Board Game: Things
Favorite Video Game: Call of Duty
Biggest Prankster on Team: Myself
Funniest Person on Team: Monique (Fuiava)
Biggest Fan: My Mother
Favorite Pro Team: Oakland Raiders
Favorite Elite Softball Player: Natasha Watley
If I didn't play softball, I would play: Tennis
HOWARD Q&A: THE OREGON DIFFERENCE
Q: When you talk to others about how you love being a Duck, what are the first things you talk about?
KH: "I mention the Howard the Duck movie, just kidding. How I love the program and the city and campus."
Q: Besides athletics, what things initially attracted you to the academic part of the U of O?
KH: "I loved the campus, it's truly beautiful, and I enjoy the college town feel."
Q: What things do you remember from your Oregon recruiting trip?
KH: "Having lunch with Neena Bryant and Hannah Barril."
Q: What things do the coaches emphasize in the recruiting process?
KH: "Academics are equally as important as softball."
Q: In what ways does playing in the nation’s top conference prepare you to be your best?
KH: "Everyday it's about getting better because the other teams in your conference are working just as hard and there is no room to not give it your all everyday."
Q: What are the special parts about playing in a college town like Eugene?
KH: "Eugene has a special feel, and everyone is rooting for the same team."
Q: Talk about the team’s chemistry and what sets it apart from other programs?
KH: "Our team chemistry is very good. When I arrived I didn't know what to expect, but everyone welcomed me, and everyone gets along well. We see each other everyday it's like our own special family."
Q: Describe Coach White’s mission statement or general philosophy to being successful, both as a team and as an individual.
KH: "Concentrate on getting 1% bettter everyday, and it will show later on."
Q: When you work with him, what elements of his coaching style do you appreciate the most?
KH: "He makes things easy enough to understand what he wants from you."
Q: Oregon's state-of-the art facilities are a big thing in its recruiting pitch – what were your impressions of various ones?
KH: "The treatment center is amazing, and I have never been in a nicer facility. The Moshofsky Center is convenient for workouts, and the weight room is great - I love being able to use all of them."
Q: Are there other unique elements in the University of Oregon athletic department that you didn’t find anywhere else?
KH: "The nutrition staff has been a great bonus because I didn't know much about how important that was before I arrived, and they help us in many ways."
Q: What extra academic resources do you take advantage of, and how do they help you be your best in the classroom?
KH: "Study hall and tutors allow me to stay focused for my classes."
Q: Do you have a special pride to wearing the ‘O’, and why?
KH: "I love being a part of the program and the team. I know I am a Duck, and everywhere I go I take pride in that."
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