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St. George • Kash Walker pointed to the heavens, passionately shaking his index finger as the clanking reverberation of his metal bat echoed throughout Bruce Hurst Field.

The nine-hole hitter had prevented Pine View from suffering an unthinkable collapse in the Class 3A championship, with what proved to be the winning RBI in the Panthers' 13-10 win over Cedar. Standing on first base, he kept his arm extended, exposing what he had written on his inner-forearm:

Papa Walk.

"I lost my dad a little over a year ago. Blake Ence lost his dad, Conner Clark lost his mom, Jackson Bithell lost his mom," Walker explained. "We couldn't have done it without them. They got us here. We didn't do it alone."

It was the first title for the Panthers since the 2002-03 season, adding onto the immense success the boys' athletic department at Pine View has experienced this season, with two state titles, a runner-up finish and a semifinal appearance (in basketball, baseball, soccer, and football, respectively).

"I'm just so proud of these boys, everything they've done. They've earned it," said second-year Pine View coach Michael Gargano.

The game was over. Done. Finished. Pack your bags and go home.

Pine View's Hunter Hansen and Dakota Donovan collectively accounted for nine runs, including a three-run bomb by Donovan in the third, to take a commanding 9-1 lead headed into the fifth inning.

"I've built a lot of confidence," Donovan said. "I don't get to hit it a lot in the offseason. I've gotten pretty comfortable in the box."

The highly anticipated Region 9 title showdown was turning into a yawner.

"I saw the Cedar fans starting to watch a little bit of softball [on the adjacent field], and I said, 'You know what, let's bring them back in. There's a baseball game going on,'" Gargano quipped.

Approaching the run-rule decision, Cedar refused to die. In the fifth inning, behind Rykker Tom, Brecken Lewis, Ryan Slack, Braden Lasson, Kyler Carrizosa, and Josh Boyer — all of whom delivered run-scoring hits — the Reds sent three Pine View pitchers to the bench en route to a nine-run inning to astoundingly erase their eight-run deficit and capture the 10-9 lead.

The Panthers had no choice but to insert Donovan — arguably the best pitcher in the classification, who they conservatively held for insurance purposes. The decision nearly cost them, but the hard-throwing junior completed his quest for individual perfection with an undefeated season on the mound.

In the bottom of the fifth, Pine View countered Cedar's attack immediately after Walker sprayed a double into right field to pull even at 10 apiece. Walker wasn't done. In the ensuing inning, with the bases loaded, Walker ripped a two-run single before a four-ball walk cushioned the lead to 13-10 with three outs remaining.

The championship culminated the incredible turnaround for the Panthers, who started the season at 3-7 only to win 16 of their final 17 games.

"I can't believe it," Donovan said. "I knew we were a great team, but to come this far is special."

Twitter: @trevorphibbs —

Pine View 13, Cedar 10

R Pine View captures its first state title since the 2002-03 season.

• Cedar scores nine runs in the fifth to overcome eight-run deficit.

• Dakota Donovan and Hunter Hansen combine for nine RBIs.