Shelby L. Howell (2008) - Hall of Fame - University of Akron Athletics

Shelby L. Howell

Induction:
2008
Class:
1999

1995-98
Pitcher

First-Team All-MAC honoree in 1997 and ’98, including MAC Player of the Year in 1997 … Second-Team All-MAC in 1996 … highest career win total for a pitcher in Akron softball history (66) … second all-time in career batting average (.355) … picked up 20 victories her senior year, the third-most in program history … tied for first in the record books with 17 doubles in a single season (1997) … recognized as Akron’s Pitcher of the Year all four years of her career … threw a no-hitter against Penn State on April 23, 1997.

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As a freshman, Shelby Howell asserted herself at UA’s dominant pitcher, topping the staff with a 17-7 record, 21 starts, 17 complete games, 155 2/3 innings, a 1.48 ERA and a career high 97 strike outs to help the Zips compile a season record of 34-21-1. It earned her UA’s Pitcher of the Year, an honor she received all four years. In addition, she batted .258 with two home runs and four doubles.

Although her pitching stats dipped a little in 1996, Howell still paced the staff with 14 wins, 24 starts, 17 complete games, 174 innings, 82 strike outs and a 1.85 ERA a UA won 28 of 48 games. However, Howell more than made up for it with her much improved batting average which jumped 81 points to .339, third best on the team. Her performance earned Shelby honorable mention All-Mid American Conference (MAC) recognition.

Howell’s junior campaign was certainly a breakout season, especially for what she did as the plate. She again led UA’s pitchers with the best record and most wins, 15-8, most starts, 21, most innings, 145, most strikeouts, 78 and tossed her only collegiate no hitter at Penn State. As UA compiled a 29-22 record and a third-place finish in the MAC, Shelby collected 68 hits in 154 at bats for a fantastic .442 average. That output not only led UA but was tops in the MAC and 15^th in the NCAA, as well. She also led the MAC with 42 RBI and her 17 doubles tied UA’s record. As a result Howell was voted UA’s Offensive Player of the Year, first-team All-MAC, MAC Players of the Year, All Great Lakes Region and UA’s 1996-97 Caroline Pardee Female Athlete of the Year.

Her senior season was also rewarding as she helped pitch and bat UA to a 35-18 record and UA’s first and only MAC regular-season title in softball. Howell finished with a MAC-best pitching record 20-7, and led the Zips with a .317 batting average to again earn first team All-MAC and All Great Lakes Region honors. She also ended up with a UA career records in wins, 66, and appearances, 116.

Howell played professionally for two years in Italy, served as an UA assistant coach from 2002-04 and continues to coach and play in the Long Beach, CA area where she teaches children with learning disabilities.