High school baseball: Kanab powers past San Juan for 2A state title

Kanab players celebrate after defeating San Juan 13-6 to win the 2A baseball state championship game, held at Larry H. Miller Field in Provo on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Kanab head coach Craig Brinkerhoff is doused with water after Kanab defeated San Juan 13-6 to win the 2A baseball state championship game, held at Larry H. Miller Field in Provo on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Kanab outfielder Hayden Gubler (27) hoists up the championship trophy as he and his teammates celebrate after defeating San Juan 13-6 to win the 2A baseball state championship game, held at Larry H. Miller Field in Provo on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Kanab players pose for a photo after defeating San Juan 13-6 to win the 2A baseball state championship game, held at Larry H. Miller Field in Provo on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

San Juan kept it close throughout the beginning of the game, trailing by just a run at 5-4 through its half of the fourth inning, but Kanab did what it always does and broke things wide open with seven runs in the bottom of the fourth.

For Brinkerhoff, the driving force for the team during the game and what willed the team to the title was the memory of defeat a year ago.

“I think the key to us getting the win today was what happened last year, and how that kind of changed it for us this year, so looking hindsight, that’s kind of what helped us looking forward today. You know, I felt like our seniors were ready for the moment more,” Brinkerhoff said.

While winning and going deep in the state playoffs is always any team’s goal, Brinkerhoff said that it’s about more than just that. The program’s focus has always been on preparing players not only for competition, but for life beyond baseball.

“These kids worked their butts off all year, and for our program, it just means that we’re ready to play. We want to make kids become men and it’s because they’re just great young men,” he said.

“For our program, that’s what we expect for the kids coming in and when they leave the program.”

Reflecting on the season, Brinkerhoff said he always knew his team had something special. Despite the challenge of replacing key seniors, he said the group’s toughness and resilience helped set the tone for a memorable year.

“From the very beginning, I mean, always replacing seniors is tough, but we knew coming back what we had. Just the grit and the grind that these guys had, we knew we had something special,” he said.

“We knew that we were tough. We knew that they were really resilient kids, and they showed up throughout the whole year.”