J.J. Newman
Drafted by the New York Mets
on June 7, 2006
J.J. Newman has been a star as a baseball player since
the first time he stepped on a ball field at age six. By the
time he was a freshman at Wheeling Park (West Virginia)
High School, he was showing his teammates and coaches
as well as his opponents that size did not matter in his case.
J.J. started at shortstop at the biggest high school in the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference, which is the largest high school conference in the United States.
While playing at Wheeling Park High School, J.J. earned All-State honors for three years, and was selected for the Ohio Valley All-Conference team for three years. He has played in more games than any player at "The Park" and he owns the school record for the highest batting average. J.J. also played on the Wheeling Post American Legion team for four years and was an all-star for two years and was a team captain.
Newman was highly recruited in high school and accepted a full
scholarship to Division I Youngstown State University in Ohio. As
a freshman, J.J. was the starting shortstop but had a burning
desire to help the team by playing another position. J.J.
transferred to Erskine College (South Carolina) following his
freshman year.
J.J. had an outstanding three years at Erskine, including a senior
season in which he hit .390 as well as a team and league leading
15 home runs, 47 RBI's, 18 doubles and was named first team
All-CVAC and second team All-South Atlantic Region.
J.J. was drafted in the 35th round of the Major League Baseball
draft on June 7, 2006, making him the fourth Erskine baseball
player to be drafted in the last two years. Newman became
the 14th Erskine player drafted since head coach Kevin Nichols
took over in 2000.
J.J. finished his first year of professional baseball with the Gulf
Coast League St. Lucie Mets in Port St. Lucie Florida. J.J. earned
a starting position at second base at the beginning of the season
and had a great season going until he hyperextended his knee.
After a summer of rehabilitation, J.J. earned his spot back in the
lineup. In only twelve games, J.J. had 42 at-bats, had eleven hits,
J.J. is the son of Nancy Piko and has very supportive sisters,
Christina Hunter, and her husband Joey, and Michelle Newman. His biggest fan is by far, his Grandma, Irene Lohr.
Ward Coffman of Sports Management Worldwide
A Total Sports Management Relationship
The Babe, Ward, and J.J. at J.J.'s draft party on June 7, 2006.
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