Trevor Hoffman was in the house, but far from commanding the spotlight.
“This is awesome,’’ Hoffman said. “But I’m just a parent today.’’
Make that a proud one.
Few events on San Diego’s sports landscape match Wednesday’s doings at the San Diego Hall of Champions. More than 220 high school athletes were signing their letters of intent, including numerous North County teenagers.
That they made the intentions known before some 500 jamming this iconic Balboa Park building was a bit unsettling.
“I was so nervous,’’ said La Costa Canyon High’s Delaney Lindsay, who’s headed for the University of California and its crew team.
But those jitters were trumped by moms, dads, grandparents and friends sharing this marvelous morning.
That included Hoffman, a Hall of Champions member whose son, Quinn, is bound for Harvard.
“I really wanted to parlay academics and baseball,’’ said the younger Hoffman, a Cathedral Catholic standout. “And it’s a chance for me to go from the East Coast from the West Coast.’’
There’s an 100 percent chance the weather will be different. The driveway into Quinn’s Rancho Santa Fe home is never blocked by snow.
“I’m from Buffalo, so I know what it’s like,’’ added Quinn’s mother, Tracy. “I told him it’s not just like you’re going to Lake Tahoe and to go skiing. But it was opportunity that he just couldn’t pass up.’’
Up and down the beaming seniors climbed the stage and one smile was bigger than the other. That included grins from parents, as many of their young adults will have their college expenses paid, thanks to their stellar work in and out of the classroom.
An estimated $3 million of aid was earmarked to those putting pen to paper and that’s a significant number.
Carlsbad’s Trevor Rosenberg said the University of San Diego stepped up with financial support, which helped his decision. Although it wasn’t until Sunday he chose USD over Columbia and Navy.
“It’s local and it has a good baseball program,’’ he said. “USD can help get me to the next level.’’
San Dieguito Academy’s Megan Scherer is taking her volleyball skills to the University of Hartford. But she considered the University of San Francisco, Sonoma State and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
“But I definitely wanted to go to the East Coast,’’ she said. “And it was a good fit.’’
Same goes for LCC outfielder Griffin Teisher and Cal State University San Marcos. He was among six Mavericks committing to play college baseball.
“It’s close to home and they have a pretty good baseball program,’’ said Teisher, after CSUSM prevailed over Chapman, Westmont and USD.
Everyone was a winner on Wednesday. Even if some mothers were hugging their sons and daughters extra tight.
“I’m not sure I’m ready to let go of my baby,’’ Tracy Hoffman said.
Like her husband once did, she was going for the save.
But Quinn Hoffman will soon spread his wings, and the word, that few places eclipse San Diego County’s prep athletics.
Can it really be true the Hoffmans have a Harvard man?
“I have to pinch myself a little bit,’’ Tracy Hoffman said.
She wasn’t alone. Countless dreams coming true were on display at the Hall of Champions.
Contact Jay Paris at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at jparis_sports.
