Wednesday, May 22, 1996
Bruin second baseman at best in pressure situationsBy Brent
Boyd
Daily Bruin Contributor
Nobody has a flare for the dramatic like Kelly Howard.
Three years in a row, the UCLA softball team stared elimination
in the eye. And three years in a row, Howard directed elimination’s
glare elsewhere.
1994 Â Columbia, S.C.: The Bruins were on the verge of
being eliminated by UNLV in the regional playoffs. Needing a win to
force a tie-break game with the Rebels, things looked bleak for the
squad from Westwood as it was unable to generate any offense.
Any offense, that is, other than Kelly Howard. Entering the 52nd
game of the season, Howard had hit no home runs and had only
knocked one over the wall in her two-year career.
But she was never needed so much as she was that day, and her
two solo homers gave the Bruins a 2-1 victory, sending them to the
regional championship, and ultimately a birth in the College World
Series.
1995 Â Oklahoma City, Ok.: The Bruins were battling Arizona
in the national championship game with the score tied at two in the
bottom half of the fifth.
Up steps Howard, whose bomb over the fence in right-center gave
UCLA a 4-2 lead and a national title.
1996 Â Fullerton, Ca.: The Bruins trailed Fullerton, 1-0,
in the bottom of the fifth in the regional championship, with a
birth in the College World Series hanging in the balance.
After a single by a teammate, Howard drilled a shot up the
middle for her second hit of the game and tenth in the five-game
tournament. Eventually she got to third with one out and the score
tied at one with the bases loaded.
When Alleah Poulson hit a fly ball to the outfield, Howard
tagged up, sprinting for home when the ball was caught.
Unfortunately for the Bruins, so did the runner on second, who
proceeded to get thrown out at third for the final out of the
inning. Fortunately for the Bruins, Howard hustled fast enough to
cross home plate a split second before the final out was recorded,
giving UCLA a 2-1 lead.
The run shattered the Titans’ hopes and eventually led to a 7-2
victory, and another birth in the World Series.
"Kelly Howard is at her best when we need her most," UCLA
co-head coach Sue Enquist said. "There are only a few names in UCLA
history that will go down as real gamers. Kelly Howard is one of
those names."
A name synonymous with the home run in the championship game of
a season ago, one swing of the bat does not state accurately how
much Howard really means to the program.
Looking at the Bruin record books, you will find her name at the
top of the list for runs scored, hits and doubles. With her first
at-bat against Michigan in the World Series, she will tie for the
career lead in plate appearances. But the accolades are just
beginning.
She ranks fourth with a career .372 batting average and
maintains the sixth spot in games played and RBIs. Although she hit
only 11 home runs in her career, one would be hard-pressed to find
any that had more significance. She has been named to the
All-Conference team all four years and has earned All-American
status twice.
But even her stats and honors do not do justice to Howard’s role
on the club.
Maintaining the leadoff spot in the lineup, she is the heart and
soul of the team. As Howard goes, so goes the rest of the club.
"Coming into the season, a lot of pressure fell on Kelly Â
she was going to be our go-to offensively," Enquist said.
Pressure? Howard thrives on it.
"I love it. It’s fun getting up there, first in the box," said
the senior second baseman, who tries to work the pitcher so she can
get a feel for what she’ll see next. "I feel like I get the
majority of hits with two strikes on me. I am more aggressive at
the plate then."
So far, living on the edge of striking out has been a huge
success for Howard, who has failed to make contact only three times
in 188 at-bats this season, while maintaining a .426 average.
"The consistency is what I am most proud of," Howard said. "I
have confidence that I’ll be able to come through when I am
needed."
Confidence in her own abilities has always been one of Howard’s
traits. The first time she ever participated in organized softball,
her coach told her she was standing on the wrong side of the plate
(she is left-handed) and moved her to the "right" side.
Howard refused and, finally, after about 15 minutes, the coach
gave in and allowed her to have her way. Smart coach. Messing with
her naturally gifted swing may have had Bruin fans calling for his
head.
Ever since that day, softball has been a huge part of her life
as well as her sister Kristy’s  who she has played with ever
since she can remember.
In fact, Kelly has her sister to thank for becoming a second
baseman. Being a left-hander, it is near-impossible to turn double
plays, and thus a future career as a second baseman seemed
unlikely. However, before Kelly got her own glove, she had to
borrow Kristy’s right-handed mitt and thus learned to throw
right-handed.
Being three years younger than Kristy, Kelly was able to play
only one year of high school ball with her sister. But, they would
play one more year together, as fellow Bruins.
Kelly’s freshman season was Kristy’s senior year and although
UCLA lost in the national championship game, Kelly considers the
1993 season among the most memorable of her Bruin career.
"Since we are so close, I loved it," the younger Howard said.
"She’s a great player. She made me strive to play as well as I
could to make her proud."
"When we had both of them, the experience was so enjoyable,"
Enquist said. "I feel so grateful to have both of them."
Although the Howards failed to win a national title in their
only year of collegiate competition together, they did themselves
one better, winning a world championship two years later. But this
one wasn’t accomplished on the softball diamond, instead it was won
on the sandy beaches of San Diego, where they teamed up with San
Diego State softball player Shannon Frankenburger and won the
Over-the-Line World Championship.
"Special K" as they called themselves, won the competition in
only its third try against hundreds of other squads that had been
practicing for years.
Just months after hitting the home run to win the national
championship, the OTL championship took up a special place in
Kelly’s heart, knowing that she and her sister finally won a title
together.
"It was more of a fun thing, being able to play against
professionals and knowing that we beat girls that have been doing
it for years," Howard said.
But the Howard sisters don’t intend for that to be their last
championship of any kind. After finishing her playing career with
the Bruins this season, Kelly would like to give coaching a
shot.
Not knowing whether she wants to make a run at the 2000 Olympic
team, Howard has elected to stay in softball as a graduate
assistant for next season’s UCLA squad.
Ultimately, she would like to join her sister  who is now
the head coach at Pacific  in trying to lead the Tigers to
the NCAA championship, something they came so close to
accomplishing as players.
"If I had a kid, I’d definitely love to have her be coached by
Kelly," said Enquist, paying perhaps the best compliment a coach
can give to a player. "We need more people like her in the coaching
business. She knows the game and she has the experience and
know-how to win. I know she would be an excellent coach."
But, for now, Howard is not worried about teaming up with her
sister  she is concerned about catching her. Having won the
national title a season ago, Kelly remains one championship away
from equaling Kristy’s two titles as a Bruin.
However important the sibling rivalry is to Howard, respect
doesn’t take a back seat. After Australian pitcher Tanya Harding
left Westwood as quickly as she arrived, Bruin detractors claimed
UCLA didn’t earn the national championship.
"We want to make sure everyone knows that our championship was
legitimate last year," Howard said. "We worked hard last year, and
we want to prove that we can do it again."
The Bruins will get their chance starting Thursday when they
take on Michigan in the opening round of the College World
Series.
"This opportunity means a lot to me," Howard said. "It’s real
exciting and the experience will be great for us.
"I definitely think we have as good a shot to take the title as
last year. We have a good attitude and if we hit and pitch to our
capabilities, we should be able to take it."
PATRICK LAM/Daily Bruin
Senior Kelly Howard has made big plays throughout her career
with UCLA softball, including last weekend at the NCAA
regionals.