Sometimes in baseball, you just have to believe. And when top-seeded Snow Canyon exploded for seven runs in the third inning to take a commanding 9-1 lead over No. 2 Desert Hills in Game 1 of the 4A state championship series Friday, most people thought the game was over. But Desert Hills and head coach Jagun Leavitt had other plans.

In what quickly became an instant classic, Desert Hills stormed back from an eight-run deficit to steal a dramatic 12-11 victory, proving once again that in championship baseball, no lead is ever safe.

"As soon as they put up seven, we got everybody together and said, 'Hey, we've had to come back from a big deficit before. We'll do it again,'" Leavitt said. "So, you know, there was never a doubt. The kids believed, and we got the job done today."

The offensive fireworks were on full display from both sides, as Desert Hills racked up 13 hits while Snow Canyon countered with 15 of their own. It was the kind of slugfest that makes playoff baseball unforgettable.

"We knew it would be offensive," Leavitt added. "Snow Canyon swings the bat really well and we're hitting it really well right now, too, so it didn't surprise me, but it was a really fun game to be a part of."

Desert Hills flexed its power with three home runs, as Asher Williams, Briggs Fillmore, and Cohen Fuller each delivered clutch shots that kept the momentum swinging their way. For Snow Canyon, catcher Kade Kelsch was a bright spot, going 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs in the losing effort.

But the real story was Desert Hills' resilience. After falling behind 9-1, they scored 11 runs over the final four innings while their pitching staff locked in, holding Snow Canyon to just two runs the rest of the way.

"As long as we are not swinging at balls and we're staying disciplined, we're OK," Leavitt explained. "If they throw a fastball on the edge, a pitcher's pitch, it's OK, because we know someone's gonna miss right where we want it, and that's where we really have to connect on the ball, so that's what we've been training all year."

With one more win needed to claim the championship, the excitement is already building. For a program chasing its first state title, the belief is palpable.

"They're excited. I mean, this is their first state championship," Leavitt said. "Obviously, it's just Game 1. Snow Canyon's been in it like the last six years, so they know tomorrow's the big one."

One thing is certain: if Game 1 was any indication, the 4A state championship series is just getting started. And for fans of high school baseball at its finest, this is the kind of drama you don't want to miss.