DETROIT >> The West All-Stars edged the East All-Stars 5-4 at Comerica Park on Friday night in the 44th Annual Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association East-West All-Star Classic.

The West All-Stars took the lead in the sixth inning, scoring three runs to take a 4-2 lead, then held off the East All-Stars who rallied in the bottom of the ninth for two runs and left the winning run on base. Byron Center’s Kellen Payne (West) and Sterling Heights Stevenson’s Jake Leonard (East) were named team MVPs.

But the game was more about one final high school experience before the players go off to college in the fall. For some, like Jaden Pydyn, who hit lead off for the West All Stars, it was a final chance to play with and against some players he has seen a lot over the years.

Pydyn, who plays for Detroit Catholic Central, is headed to the Army.

“It’s a great feeling. It’s great to play with all these guys I grew up playing against. It’s good to play with them and just an amazing environment being able to play at Comerica one last time,” Pydyn said.

For many of the players, it was a chance to not only have one final game with long-time teammates while also getting a glimpse of some future squadmates, too. Pydyn’s teammate on the West All-Stars, Anthony Elezaj of Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, got to catch Paul Toovalian one last time in the third inning before the Eaglets head off to separate colleges. Toovalian will head off to Lenoir Rhyne University in North Carolina while Elezaj will stay closer to home and attend Michigan State University.

“It feels great,” Elezaj said. “I remember my dad bringing me here when I was eight years old to run the bases. So just playing here as my last high school game and last inning catching Paul, my former teammate, that I played with for four years, it’s a blessing. I’m really excited that I get to play here.”

There were eight Spartan commits in the game, more than any other team. That included Lake Orion’s Sam Beemer, who was Elezaj’s battery mate in the second inning.

“It’s amazing playing in a big stadium, so it’s quite an experience. It’s great repping my old school, or what is going to be my old school. I’m glad I can be out here showcasing the Dragons,” Beemer said. “I’m excited to go to Michigan State. It’s fun, talking to them, having a fun time hanging with the guys, for sure,” he added.

Indeed, it was all about the camaraderie Friday night. West Bloomfield teammates Slade Moore and Steven Fountain played together one last time before heading off to rival schools next fall. Moore will attend the University of Michigan while Fountain will play at Michigan State.

“It’s a really nice way to end our high school careers together, you know, as teammates for four years,” Fountain said.

“It’s been a long journey, and this is a great way to end it,” Moore added.

But that won’t affect their friendship off the field.

“It’s obviously very cool. He gets to go to Michigan State. I’ll be at University of Michigan, so we’ll still be pretty close to each other. But it will be nice seeing him when we play,” Moore said.

“I figure it only changes our relationship on the field,” Fountain said.

The two also had a chance to play with future roommates who were also in the game.

Perhaps it was Rochester’s Sean Fox, who had the unique experience of starting his career as a freshman playing at The Corner Ballpark on the site where Tiger Stadium once stood and ended his high school career at Comerica Park on Friday.

“It’s cool to end with some of the guys I’ve grown up playing with and some are on my summer team. It’s cool to just enjoy it now and then meet new people in the future,” he said. “A lot of these guys are my buddies. Some of them are on my summer team right now, so it’s cool to finish off high school with the guys that I know.”