WEST JORDAN — Snow Canyon baseball and Secrist family history are forever woven together.
Reed Secrist has coached the Warriors on the baseball field for the past 20 years. He captured his fifth state title last Saturday at Cate Field at Salt Lake Community College after Snow Canyon defeated Dixie 4-2 and 5-1 in the 4A championship series.
The family legacy was cemented after Snow Canyon senior Crew Secrist, star shortstop for the Warriors, became the fourth Secrist son to win a state title while playing for his father.
Crew followed in the footsteps of older brothers Brogan, Cannon and Brock.
As members of the Snow Canyon baseball community flooded Cate Field to celebrate their state title, Reed Secrist told St. George News, “This is why I do it.”
“It’s kind of a cool deal,” he added. “And then to see other players out here and coming to the games, coming up from St. George to see the team play is awesome.”
Former players mingled with current Warriors to share the moment.
“To make that trip and come up and support these guys and Snow Canyon baseball,” Secrist said. “It’s a huge community with a lot of good people in it and I’m just happy to be able to continue to roll these boys through it.”
Maybe his emotions were especially strong due to his fourth and final son, Crew Secrist, going out a winner in his last opportunity at Snow Canyon.
“I’m stoked. This is awesome. I wouldn’t want to be here with any other team,” Crew told St. George News. “It’s feels awesome to be coached by my dad for so long and finally be able to be here today and get that state championship win. I couldn’t be more proud of him or this team.”
There’s nothing like baseball to make grown men cry. Crew said his older brothers all got caught up in the moment.
“They’re all more emotional than me, which is kind of surprising because I tend to get emotional,” Crew said. “It’s crazy to be here right now. I love it.”
The Warriors went unbeaten through bracket play at the 4A state tournament. They beat two-time defending state champion and Region 9 rival Crimson Cliffs 3-2 to begin their campaign.
Then they dispatched Timpanogos in back-to-back shutouts, 3-0 and 2-0, to reach the championship series against St. George rival Dixie.
Snow Canyon followed the same script all week, relying on dominant starting pitching in low-scoring games.
Kyson Goates and Andrew Lyon did most of the starting pitching work while flame-throwing senior Talan Kelly secured the saves.
Crew Secrist put in his best effort in the Warriors 4-2 game one victory over Dixie in the championship. He finished with two hits, a double and two RBIs for the winners.
Game two’s hero at the plate for Snow Canyon was senior Ryder Harrison. The left-handed hitter smacked two doubles and drove in all five of the Warriors runs.
“It’s kind of crazy what this pitching staff did and what the defense did behind them,” Secrist said. “Just plenty of great plays were made. I mean, I’m a hitting guy, but I’ll take it (pitching and defense) like that every year.”
The veteran coach said that it’s hard to see his last son go through the program but he still looks forward to future seasons at Snow Canyon, adding that he plans on coaching as long as he remains a teacher at the high school.
“I think it’s going to be easier now. I think I’ll be a little less stressed about some situations,” Secrist said. “You know I’m stressed for my team, but when my boys are up there I’m a dad, so it’s like, ‘Please get a hit, please get a hit.’ So I don’t have that anymore.”
Crew will follow in his brother Cannon’s footsteps, heading to play baseball at the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls, Idaho.
“I’m glad what all four of them have done, they were all successful, they went on to play college baseball,” Secrist said. “And so it’s been a great ride for me and I plan on staying at Snow Canyon until the day I retire.”
Photo Gallery
Snow Canyon senior Crew Secrist shows off the 4A state baseball championship trophy with is parents, Reed (left) and Cammy (right), West Jordan, Utah, May 18, 2024 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Snow Canyon baseball coach Reed Secrist (fourth from left) with his family after winning the 4A state baseball championship, West Jordan, Utah, May 18, 2024 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
The Snow Canyon Warriors cheer on their teammates from the dugout during the 4A state baseball championship, West Jordan, Utah, May 18, 2024 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Snow Canyon coach Reed Secrist (center) and Dixie coach Danny Ipson (right) talk before the 4A state baseball championship, West Jordan, Utah, May 18, 2024 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2024, all rights reserved.