El Camino Real Earns a Dream Date in Final : Baseball: Treend bedevils San Fernando, 3-1, and sends Conquistadores to the City 4-A title game at Dodger Stadium.

Ryan McGuire admits the idea sounds hokey. In fact, he uses more descriptive terms, such as “dorky and corny.”

McGuire, a first baseman at El Camino Real High, took out a small ad in the school paper. Those purchasing the ads, called senior wills, were asked to bequeath to their classmates items of sentimental value.

McGuire left an item or two to a couple of teammates but saved the best for last.

“I willed the baseball team one night on our field of dreams,” McGuire said. “Dodger Stadium. I tried to figure out something catchy, but it was the most eloquent thing I could think of.”

Here’s to willpower.

El Camino Real defeated San Fernando, 3-1, Friday in a City Section 4-A Division semifinal game before an estimated crowd of 1,000 at Valley College and, in doing so, advanced to the final Wednesday night--at McGuire’s venue of preference.

El Camino Real (21-2-1), which last played in the championship game in 1984, will face Chatsworth in the final. Chatsworth defeated Taft, 6-1, in a semifinal game at Birmingham High.

Pat Treend’s dreams had plenty to do with fields too. Such as being planted six feet under in one.

The senior right-hander threw a one-hitter and struck out 11 in what he termed his “best game of the year,” but he conceded that the butterflies have been bat-sized all week long.

“I was the most scared guy on the team,” he said. “I laid in bed every night since I knew it was going to be San Fernando and us. They scare me more than any team in the Valley.”

McGuire’s looping single in the first inning keyed a two-run rally that started San Fernando’s downfall. Facing left-hander Canto Franco, a surprise starter, Jeff Marks walked and took second on a wild pitch. McGuire’s excuse-me dunker to right gave El Camino Real runners at first and third with nobody out.

“It was a sit-on-a-fastball-and-drive-it swing,” McGuire said. “But it turned into a oh-my-gosh-it’s-a-straight-change swing. I just dropped the bat on the ball.”

After Jason Cohen forced McGuire at second, with Marks holding at third, Bobby Kim gave the Conquistadores a 1-0 lead on a chopper through the hole into left. Greg Lederman drove in Cohen, who had stolen second and moved to third on Kim’s single, on a ground out to short.

Franco (9-1) surrendered a leadoff double to Lederman to open the fourth. Treend, who has been among the team leaders in runs batted in all season, then smacked a liner into left to give El Camino Real a 3-0 lead.

“I still wouldn’t call Pat a hitter,” McGuire said, grinning. “He grabs a bat, walks up and starts swinging. He reduces the game to its basics.”

After Treend’s single, Franco was relieved by senior right-hander John Najar, whom many expected to start. Figuring that El Camino Real would be among that group, the Tigers (18-7-2) threw the junior lefty instead.

“We figured we could get three or four innings out of Canto and then come back with Johnny,” San Fernando pitching coach Joe Bergara said. “He pitched good, but they get a walk, a check swing, a passed ball. . . . and boom, we’re down two runs.”

Najar was impressive, allowing no runs or hits and striking out five over the final four innings. But the damage had been done, and Treend ensured the lead would not be blown by blowing fastball after fastball by the Tiger batters.

The senior right-hander--who completed his 12th game in 13 starts--did not allow a ball to be hit out of the infield over the first four innings. Treend carried a no-hitter into the sixth, when San Fernando mounted its only real threat.

Richard Sanchez led off the inning with a liner to left-center that center fielder Marks caught off his shoe tops on the dead run.

“I think I caught it,” Marks said. “My glove was on the ground when it hit it. The play before, Jason (Cohen, the left fielder) said to dive for anything.”

But Marks’ acrobatics might have saved more than a mere no-hit bid.

Treend walked David Rojas on four pitches and with two out, hit Najar on an 0-2 pitch. Jess Ceniceros singled cleanly to left to drive in Rojas.

Fernando Ortega then launched what seemed destined to be a double into the gap in left. Marks, however, tracked the ball down to save two runs.

“Jeff saved my butt, big time,” Treend said.

The catch prompted an impromptu jig from El Camino Real Coach Mike Maio, who spent much of the game in a crouch or on both knees in front of the dugout, ripping up blades of grass. At times, he seemed too worried to watch the game, instead looking at the pebbles around his feet.

“Oh, I saw it,” said Maio, who led El Camino Real to the final in 1984, only to lose to Granada Hills. “I think it’s better for the team if I just sit there and play with rocks or something.”

Treend walked Luis Rodriguez with one out in the seventh and San Fernando sent pinch-hitter Damacio Mendoza to the plate. Mendoza, a long-ball threat who was promoted from the junior varsity for the playoffs, waved at three Treend fastballs.

Treend retired Sanchez on a grounder to second to end the game. The final out, of course, prompted the usual festive pile on the mound. Eloquent, it wasn’t. But nobody seemed to mind.