Given second chance, Simeon Howard making most of fifth year of eligibility with Kennewick baseball

KENNEWICK, Wash. - Earlier this week, Kennewick High School senior Simeon Howard was named the most valuable baseball player in the Mid-Columbia Conference.

This would have never have happened had his high-school career not gone into extra innings.

Howard, a 6-foot-2 outfielder and left-handed pitcher, is about to wrap up his career as a fifth-year senior - one that was tabbed as promising from the time he won the Senior Legion (AAA) MVP of the Washington State Tournament as a ninth grader.

"He’s a special athlete,” said Kennewick baseball coach Lenny Ayres, also named MCC coach of the year.

But the 19-year-old has gone through family situations few will ever encounter. What came out during a public trial with his father in 2018 spoke to the environment Howard doesn’t want for himself.

"The hardest time was not following the direction everyone else went into," said Howard, "as far as where I grew up and who I grew up around."

Life during and after the pandemic was challenging, too. He ended up dropping out of high school the last semester of his true senior year (2022).

But now, Howard is doing everything within his power to make the future a statement to his athletic prowess and character.

"A lot of people do know me," said Howard, "and a lot of people think they do. But at the end of the day, I’m going to prove myself right. This past year doesn’t define me. Bad decisions and poor choices led me down the wrong road, and I disappointed myself.

"I had to find my purpose again."

A SECOND CHANCE

Howard was an all-MCC second-team defensive back on the Kennewick football team that finished as the Class 3A runner up to Eastside Catholic in 2021. But he did not play baseball, electing to stop attending class before moving to Texas to stay with his brother (and not enroll in a new school).

"I moved to Texas to start new," said Howard, "because things were spiraling out of control."

Howard moved back to the Tri-Cities during the summer with the intent to finish school - and with the hope of regaining athletic eligibility.

"I know second chances are rare." Howard said. "So I’m looking to take advantage of it. Sports have always been my outlet. I had to throw away the distractions, which was pretty tough."

Kennewick had a remarkable run of success in 2021-22 with runner-up state finishes in football and baseball, and advancing to the Class 3A boys basketball championships in Tacoma.

As the Lions continue in these baseball playoffs this spring, they view it as a redemption run after losing only a handful of guys from the squad that lost to Mercer Island in the WIAA title game a year ago.

After winning the MCC, they sit as the No. 2 team in the WIAA's RPI rankings.

"They definitely had the mentality that, 'This thing ain't over, we're getting back there,'” Ayers said. “The odds of teams doing that is very slim."

This time around, they have Howard after he was granted another season of spring eligibility by the WIAA.

REJOINING THE LIONS

Some might wonder if Kennewick would have won the 2022 state title if it had the extra help of Howard back then.

"I feel like I let them down," Howard said.

When Howard returned to the team team he walked away from the year prior, he had to prove himself as a student in the classroom and as a teammate in the dugout.

"He had to put a lot of work in," Ayres said. "He had to tell me why he should be on this team. He did everything we asked, above and beyond. But coming into the season, he had to build that trust on his own with his players - and he did."

Howard has been the consummate teammate - and student-athlete with a 3.4 grade-point average.

"He’s really matured as a young man," Ayres said. "A complete 180 (degree turnaround). I’d love to take credit for it, but he did everything he needed to. All we did was lay expectations out, and he loved the game enough to do it."

In 17 games with Kennewick, Howard is hitting at a .482 clip, including three home runs, eight triples, and five doubles to go with 25 RBI. He’s been walked 24 times and scored 34 runs.

On the mound, the left-hander appeared in nine games, and has a record of 6-1 with and 2.10 earned-run average. He’s recorded 43 strikeouts in his 35.1 innings pitched.

HARDSHIP CLAUSE FOR ELIGIBILITY

The WIAA handbook states that once a student-athlete enters his ninth-grade year, he has four consecutive years of interscholastic eligibility for athletics and extra-curricular activities.

A hardship clause - one that Howard invoked at his eligibility hearing - allows exceptions based upon a handful of criteria.

"It's all about protecting student"athletes," WIAA executive director Mick Hoffman said. "You try to find that balance. A transfer or fifth-year senior takes a spot away from the other kids.

"But activities are about creating opportunities for student-athletes, which is why we have the hardship clause."

Howard petitioned for an additional year of football and baseball, but was only granted spring eligibility to play a third baseball season. All eligibility appeals are first heard at the district level.

The teenager elected not to take his appeal to play football to the state level, therefore missing the entire fall season as the Lions reached the state quarterfinals, losing to eventual 3A champion Yelm.

FROM LION TO WARRIOR - DOWN STRAIGHT AND NARROW

Earlier in the spring, Howard announced his commitment to attend Walla Walla Community College to pursue a degree in sports medicine and continue his baseball career.

Jarrod Molnaa, the Warriors' baseball coach, met Howard through his relationship with alma mater. He also played for Ayres, and graduated with his son, Clayten.

"I see it in a positive light," said Molnaa of Howard’s journey. "He doesn’t run from it or hide from it. He looks at the situation and loves the journey."

Molnaa recognizes that Howard would not even be at a junior college if the situation were different. Before his time in Walla Walla has started, Howard’s exit appears to be just as quick to follow as Molnaa is already fielding calls from the Pacific-12 Conference and Big West Conference.

"The process has already begun," Molnaa said. "He’s already had recognition and athletic clout, so it’s no secret (about) his skills. Conversations have been pretty cut and dry."

Bottom line: If Howard continues on his current path, big opportunities lie ahead.

"It was really emotional knowing what I’ve been through and how close I was to messing everything up," Howard said. "(Signing with WWCC) was a blessing."

REAL MOTIVATION ... STORED IN BACK POCKET

Howard has used a lot of the outside attention as motivation to re-write his story and restore his name.

He also has a special inspiration this spring - his real father figure in Bob Cooper, who is his grandfather. Cooper got Howard into baseball at the age of 3, and paid for his tournaments growing up.

"He went to all my games," Howard said. "He was like my dad. He’s a big reason why I even came back. I wanted to finish school for him."

Howard moved back to the Tri-Cities last summer after he heard of his grandfather’s health issues. Cooper's wish was to see Howard graduate and play baseball in college.

In early January, Cooper died. But he is very much still with his grandson, who has written Cooper's name on his baseball cleats - and carries a photo of him in his back pocket.

"I’m playing for him," Howard said. "I got to get it done for him. He helps me every day. It’s an extra motivator."

The Lions have Howard in their dugout this time around in their quest for a state championship - second chances and all.

"I don’t know where he’d be (if Howard wasn't granted a fifth year of eligibility)," Ayres said. "Hopefully in a good spot, but I think he needed baseball more than baseball needed him. He’s a great young man that has taken this opportunity to a different level."