Veteran Profile - Nick Howard

Veteran Profile - Nick Howard

Maryville, Mo. - The B2R continues its features of Bearcats baseball infielders leading to the 2016 NCAA season.  Today, the B2R features third baseman Nick Howard.  Nick is a Sophomore from Garden Grove, California.  Nick stands 6'1" and weighs 200 lbs.  Nick graduated from Pacifica High School before joining Northwest Missouri State University.  The following information comes from the official website of the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats athletics, bearcatsports.com:

2015Named to the MIAA Academic honor roll ... appeared in 39 games, starting 30 times ... tallied 22 hits with five doubles and three homeruns ... had 24 RBI, 15 runs scored and drew nine walks ... had five sacrifices and three sacrifice flies ... had five multi-hit games and five multi-RBI games ... hit a grand slam against Regis (Feb. 7), going 2-for-2 with five RBI and a run scored ... drove in four runs against Northeastern State (Feb. 19), going 2-for-6 with two runs scored and a homerun ... had a three RBI game against Northwestern Oklahoma State (Feb. 7), going 2-for-5 with a run scored, two doubles and a walk.


Nick Howard started his first year in the MIAA with a major impact in 2015.  Nick seemingly hit a home run in every at-bat to start the year.  The kid can mash the baseball.  As expected in the MIAA, Nick battled through his first year of college baseball after the rest of the conference made adjustments.  In total, Nick was 1st on the team in sacrifice flies, 3rd on the team in home runs, and 3rd in RBIs.  In his first year of college baseball, Nick played 3rd base and appeared in 39 games with 30 starts.  Nick batted .195 with 113 plate appearances, scored 15 runs, 22 hits, 5 doubles, 3 home runs, 24 RBIs, 36 total bases, .319 slugging percentage, 9 walks, 4 hit by pitches, .271 on-base percentage, and 3 sacrifice flies.

Nick has a tremendous amount of talent.  It is an understatement to say he swings the bat hard.  The blessing of a hot start sometimes leads to the curse of a cold stretch once college baseball catches up with you.  Nick's offensive statistics ended with average numbers but it is is clear looking at him play that he has the capability of being an All-Conference infielder in the MIAA.  Nick is a popular guy with his teammates.  He is gracious to fans before and after the games.  He is a tremendously nice guy.  Not a big talker in the dugout.  Despite his first year numbers, Nick has the capability to develop himself into a Scott Spurgeon type player batting .390, hit almost 30 home runs, and require the Electronic Campus Support Center located across the street to worry about its windows.  Nick is a great guy and the B2R is glad he is a Bearcat.  Nick split time with Luke Wilkinson at 3rd base in 2015.  Nick's bat will force him into the line-up with his continued development.  Strong arm.  He could develop into a pro baseball player with his natural skill and absolute dedication to build his body and skill.  As for 2016, look to see who earns the starting 3B spot between Wilkinson and Howard.

Go Cats!!
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