High school baseball: Kanab punches ticket to 2A title game, Gunnison Valley moves one step closer with win in elimination bracket

“You just play catch. That’s what it boils down to. We got a good defense out there in the field and we just can’t keep making errors. We gotta shut those down, but I think we will.”

Kanab made it to the championship series last year but ended up dropping both games to South Sevier by a combined score of 27-9. Returning the majority of players from that deep tournament run, Brinkerhoff feels that his team can use that disappointment as advantage heading to another championship series.

“All of our returners, we only graduated four, it’s been kind of a talking point,” he said. “That’s come across a lot, and they feel like they have some unfinished business.

“They’re kind of playing for last year. We let that one get away from us and we’re happy to be back in it, but we know that the job’s not done yet.”

Kanab’s catcher Kanon Virostko makes the tag on San Juan’s Keilan Hutchins as he attempts to slide into home plate in 2A baseball state tournament semifinals action at Miller Park Complex at BYU in Provo on Friday, May 8, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Kanab’s Sayer Fenus makes the grab for the out on San Juan Broncos’Easton Knight as he slides at first base as they play in 2A baseball state tournament semifinal action at the Miller Park Complex at BYU in Provo on Friday, May 8, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Kanab’s Latimer Glover tags San Juan Broncos’ Jagger Nieves out at second base as they play in 2A baseball state tournament semifinal action at the Miller Park Complex at BYU in Provo on Friday, May 8, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Kanab’s Kyan Lyman, sends a pitch toward home as they and the San Juan Broncos play in 2A baseball state tournament semifinal action at the Miller Park Complex at BYU in Provo on Friday, May 8, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Kanab’s Grady Anderson rounds third base on his way for home as they and the San Juan Broncos play in 2A baseball state tournament semifinal action at the Miller Park Complex at BYU in Provo on Friday, May 8, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Gunnison Valley 4 American Leadership Academy 1

After a dramatic come from behind victory over South Sevier earlier in the afternoon, No. 3 Gunnison Valley found a way to grind out another victory, getting past No. 6 American Leadership Academy 4-1 in the elimination bracket.

With the win, Gunnison Valley is just one more win away from making it to the 2A state championship.

Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning, Gunnison Valley scored the first run of the game on a throwing error by American Leadership that allowed the baserunner to score all the way from second base.

“I saw resilience, fight, passion. That’s Gunnison Valley baseball. We struggled. It was a fight. I mean, our first run came with a bunt and a bad fielding error on their part. We got that run in and it started the momentum going in our direction,” said Gunnison Valley head coach Chad Avery.

Gunnison Valley managed just five hits during the game, but its ability to stay disciplined at the plate, on the base paths and take advantage of American Leadership miscues proved to be the keys to the win.

Gunnison Valley managed to score three more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning with a couple of walks and a passed ball that allowed runners to cross home plate.

Avery knows that the job is not done.

“Everybody wants to get to Saturday, but it’s still a baseball game. Bases are still 90 feet. The pitcher’s mound is still 60 feet, 6 inches from home plate,” he said.

“It’s still all about the little things. Making the little plays in the field. We still got to throw strikes, and we’ve got to get up there with confidence, our chin up and stroke the baseball.”

Gunnison Valley will face No. 4 San Juan for the chance to meet Kanab in the 2A championship.