Baughman Choices Are Limited

Bolsa Grande quarterback Doug Baughman ended his prep career as the county’s career leader with 75 touchdown passes. But all those touchdown passes couldn’t buy Baughman a college scholarship.

He was recruited by one Division I school--Montana, which is Division I-AA--but the night before Baughman was scheduled to leave on his recruiting trip, a Montana assistant coach called with some bad news.

“He told me they had just signed another quarterback and that they didn’t need me,” Baughman said.

That’s pretty much how Baughman’s senior year has gone. He entered the season with 57 touchdown passes and hopes of landing a scholarship to a Pac-10 school. But Baughman completed only 48% of his passes and had only 18 touchdown passes for the winless Matadors.

“I hoped to go somewhere, but I kind of expected the worst,” said Baughman, who broke Todd Marinovich’s touchdown-pass record by one.

“I looked into the junior colleges from the get-go. I didn’t want to get my hopes up and then get shot down. I think our 0-10 record is what turned everybody off. Most people want a winner.”

Baughman, who finished second to Marinovich in county career passing yards with 7,072, said he will probably attend a local community college.

“I get a chance to prove [major college coaches] wrong,” he said.

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Los Amigos running back Andrew Niumata, who led the county in rushing last year with 2,089 yards and was a Times Orange County first-team selection, said Monday he has committed to Hawaii.

Niumata only played two games as a junior because of knee and ankle injuries, but he led the Lobos to the playoffs as a senior.

Trabuco Hills’ Brandon Heaney (6-0, 175), who ran the option and was a Times Orange County first-team selection at defensive back, will play quarterback at Air Force, his mother, Lisa, said.

Teammate Justin Junge (6-5, 235), a tight end, will attend Harvard, according to his mother, Mary Jane.

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Los Alamitos defensive back Brandon Cheri (5-9, 165) and linebacker Stefan Merriweather (6-2, 190) have made college commitments, according to Griffin Coach John Barnes.

Cheri, a two-time All-Sunset League performer with eight interceptions in that span, will attend Montana. Merriweather, an outside linebacker, will attend Nevada.

Orange Lutheran wide receiver Jeff Renevier has accepted an appointment to West Point, according to his coach, Jim Kunau. Renevier was a first-team All-Olympic League selection.

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Corona del Mar’s Mark Hatfield has committed to play football at Utah, his father, Dave, said.

Hatfield, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound linebacker, was a first-team All-Sea View League selection. He recorded 131 tackles last season, including 20 or more in two games.

Newport Harbor defensive lineman Brant Hill has made a commitment to attend Nevada, according to Sailor Coach Jeff Brinkley.

Hill (6-5, 230), who also played offensive guard, led the team in tackles last season.

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Trabuco Hills soccer player Scot Thompson said he has committed to UCLA. Thompson, a fullback, tried out for the under-18 national team in December.

Woodbridge’s Kevin Friedland, a first-team Times all-county defender, has committed to SMU, Warrior Coach Jon Szczuka said.

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Travis Fenderson, a 6-foot sophomore guard at Golden West College, has committed to play basketball at Southern California College, Rustler Coach Truiett Hatton said.

Fenderson is averaging 14 points and has made 81 three-point shots for Golden West.