Sports stats



Baseball big part of Howdeshell's memories

by Melissa Chodan
August 26, 2005 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
North Shore Spirit


North Shore Spirit third baseman, Andy Howdeshell's earliest and most treasured memories are of baseball.

"I remember going and watching my Dad play when I was really little. He was playing in a 30-year-old league in Florida where I was growing up. I remember him playing and I remember me having one of his bats outside of the dugout swinging it on the rec field."

"I remember my first year of tee ball because I always wanted to catch and the catcher's equipment was too big for me. I was one of the smaller kids on the team and they wouldn't let me catch because the shin guards came up to my chest."

"I remember moving up to Tennessee when I was seven. The area that we moved to, we didn't have any neighbors, we just had a really long gravel road for a driveway. I remember always going out there, and my brother was a big football player so he didn't play much baseball growing up, so I always went out there by myself and would take one of my Dad's bats and hit rocks as far as I could down the gravel road."

Clearly, these vivid glimpses of the past formed a strong impression on Howdeshell's childhood and helped him cultivate his dream of playing professional ball.

And at the center of these memories is Howdeshell's father, Bob Howdeshell, who also built his life around baseball. His father played in the Phillies organization and is currently an associate scout with the Cincinnati Red organization, said Howdeshell. He also started a website, www.hsbaseballweb.com, which helps high school athletes pursue their dreams of college and professional ball.

With much of his life immersed in baseball it is no surprise that Howdeshell knew very early on what he truly loved and what he was meant to do with his life.

"I've always been around the game," Howdeshell said, "I've always had a passion for it. I think I get it from my father because he just instilled it in my brain. ...It's just one of those things when you grow up and you know that, that's going to be what you do with your life."

He added: "Growing up as a kid we'd have career day in middle school and high school. Everybody was talking about ‘I want to be an architect,' ‘I want to be a police officer,' ‘I want to be a firefighter' or something, well I wanted to be a baseball player. There was no doubt in my mind that this is what I wanted to be."

And finally, after 23 years, his dream came true.

Since graduating from the Division I Eastern Tennessee State University in 2004, where he had a remarkable two seasons batting .355, he's receiving his first of what looks to be many professional opportunities. In his time with the Spirit, Howdeshell has proven himself a consistent, well-rounded player.

In 111 at-bats, he is hitting .288 with five homeruns, 19 RBI and two stolen bases. Howdeshell's slugging percentage is a hefty .532 and his on-base percentage is a very respectable .362.

"Watching me one time, it's not anything special," Howdeshell said. "... I'm not going to make a play deep in the whole and show a big arm. I'm the type of person who makes all of the routine plays and hits for a good average. That's my game, it's more consistency."

The 5'9" righty has also found himself in the midst of a playoff race as the Spirit is currently 2.5 games behind the Brockton Rox in the Northern Division entering the last leg of the season.

But regardless of where the team finishes, Howdeshell says he had a great time playing for the Spirit and would love to return either with them or an affiliated team next season.

He says his basic goal is simply to remain around baseball for as long as he can and learn as much as he can while he's here. His driving force has never been money or anything tangible, it has been the same thing that has pushed him since those memories from tee ball - the pure love of the sport.

"I just definitely don't want to go home and get a real job," he added.

And with his talent, a little luck and the right person behind him, that shouldn't happen anytime soon.

• Discuss this story on the Canadian American League message board...

Canadian American League Stories from August 26, 2005


The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent North Shore Spirit Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central