Baseball finalists pinching themselves as Dodger Stadium awaits

For 10 high school baseball teams, this weekend’s championship games at Dodger Stadium must feel like Christmas morning.

The anticipation could be felt after players won their semifinal games.

Austin Olivas, a left-handed starting pitcher for Huntington Beach Marina, said: “Just thinking about it, it’s amazing. I’ve been playing with most of these kids since I was 10 years old. To have this opportunity to go out there with them is amazing. Clayton Kershaw is my favorite player. He’s also left-handed. To be able to pitch on the mound he gets to pitch on is pretty amazing.”

Coaches will tell their players they need to realize their dreams by winning a championship, but win or lose, they’re never going to forget this experience.

It’s one of the greatest perks to being a baseball player in Southern California. Since 1969, every City Section Division I championship game has been played at Dodger Stadium. On Saturday at 1 p.m., San Fernando will play Reseda Cleveland for the title. At 10 a.m., the Division II final will take place.

On Friday, there will be three Southern Section finals. At 2 p.m., it’s Gardena Serra playing Manhattan Beach Mira Costa in Division 3. At 5 p.m., Cypress takes on Temecula Valley in Division 2. At 8 p.m., it’s Marina playing Studio City Harvard-Westlake in Division 1.

To understand what it means for a teenager to get the chance to play at Dodger Stadium, listen to Mira Costa third baseman Braden Casady describe it in surfer lingo, since he’s also on the Mira Costa surfing team.

“It’s pretty gnarly, pretty intense,” he said. “It’s heavy.”

Translation: It’s like riding the biggest wave ever.

“It’s unbelievable,” Casady said. “The thought never crossed my mind. I’m going to enjoy it.”

Everyone is going to enjoy the moment, from the players slipping some dirt into a paper bag to take home, to the parents eating Dodger Dogs while taking photos. It’s a special sports experience.

Of course, it certainly feels a lot better to walk out of Dodger Stadium with a championship.

The coaches will have to find a way to get their players to relax and focus on the game.

“We know from past experience, you have to get your bearings and emotions in check,” said Harvard-Westlake Coach Matt LaCour, who guided Woodland Hills El Camino Real to the City title in 2005. “There’s no doubt, when you walk onto that field, you’re excited. It’s a different atmosphere.”

There’s nothing wrong with taking a moment to look around and have some fun.

“I’ve been a Dodger fan all my life,” Marina second baseman Max Willingham said. “I’ve dreamed of playing at Dodger Stadium, so this is a dream come true.”

Harvard-Westlake relief pitcher Hans Hansen can’t wait to get the chance to sit in the Dodgers’ bullpen. Yes, people dream about that.

“My dream is to pitch, but sitting in the bullpen is the next best thing,” he said.

When the final out is recorded, the winning team will celebrate with a dog pile. There have been some pretty bad dog piles through the years.

Asked if he’s taught his players how to do a dog pile, LaCour said: “I’m sure this group of kids will figure it out on their own.”

As for Casady, he’s making plans for Saturday morning to hit the beach at 26th Street in Manhattan Beach.

“Oh yeah, if the waves are good,” he said.

He’s looking to catch a big one Friday afternoon too.

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com