Prep baseball: Poway High’s Newman commits to University of Arizona

By Michael Bower

Kevin Newman led the Poway High baseball team with a .403 batting average last season. But that’s not what made the soon-to-be senior such a hot commodity after several scouts had a chance to see him play during summer ball.

It was Newman’s smooth fielding and quick hands at shortstop that had as many as 22 colleges knocking down his door for his services in 2013. Newman narrowed his choices down to UCLA, University of Oregon and University of Arizona before he ultimately verbally committed to Arizona last week.

“I am more than excited to go to Arizona,” said Newman, who had a .934 fielding percentage last season for Poway as a junior. “Everything when I walked on the campus was absolutely amazing; and their baseball program and almost all their sports are competitive and well-known.”

Newman, who played his first varsity season last year, had not heard much from colleges until he attended a few baseball showcases during the summer. That’s where the 6-0, 172-pounder shined enough to be regarded as one of the top true shortstops in the nation.

“You’re born with the type of fielding hands he has - very quick and very soft,” Poway baseball coach Bob Parry said. “He has a lot of range and he works hard and does what it takes. The only thing I heard that was a concern was his throwing mechanics, but we are going to work on that and then he should be fine.”

Newman’s decision to go with Arizona over Oregon and UCLA was influenced by the amount of family he has living in Arizona. It also helped that Arizona has a solid business program and of course is one of the best baseball programs in the nation.

“Almost all of my family is in Arizona,” Newman said. “All of my sisters, almost all of my aunts and uncles. Basically, my parents are the only ones not there. It will be nice for my family to be able to come out and watch me play.”

Newman also has the right attitude and level of maturity to play for a program at the level of Arizona.

“He is very humble and very mature for his age,” Parry said. “I told a few coaches that called about him that he is a kid you don’t have to worry about. He will do the right thing, get good grades and not get into trouble.”

Arizona has one of the top NCAA Division I baseball programs in the nation. Last year the Pacific-12 Conference squad had 39 wins and played in the NCAA Regionals. The school has appeared in the College World Series 15 times, winning three national titles.

“It’s wonderful,” said John Newman, Kevin’s father. “He has been working on this since he was 5-years-old so to speak. It has always been his goal and it isn’t his final goal, but this is a big step.”

Kevin said already having his college picked out will relieve some pressure on his senior season, but he still knows he has to work just as hard as he always has.

“I have always worked really hard for what I want,” he said. “This isn’t the final step for me. I want to continue my career after college. My work is not going to decrease at all. I am going to push and push and push the best I can.”