The stars of Macomb County were out at Comerica Park on Friday night, as nine of the area’s best and brightest competed in the 2025 East vs. West All-Star Game hosted by the MHSBCA.

Dakota’s Luke DeMasse and Evan Kavalick, Stevenson’s Jake Leonard and Alex Pierce, Anchor Bay’s Ty Finkbeiner and Isaiah Domey, De La Salle’s Mason Pilarski, Chippewa Valley’s Ben Green and Richmond’s Anthony Bonnetti all suited up in their high school uniforms for the last time to play for the East All-Stars, who fell to the West, 5-4, in a close battle.

“I think it’s great,” Leonard said before the game. “I like competing against the dudes too, our boys, and we’re hoping to come out of here with a win. I want to win, but it’s great to come out here with the boys and compete.”

The Stevenson standout and Eastern Michigan commit did all he could to try and get the East a victory. He led off the bottom of the first with a single, stole second and third, then was scored by a groundball from Grosse Pointe South’s Andrew DiLodovico, getting his team on the board first.

He singled again in the fifth, going 2-for-2 with two steals and a few plays in the field, earning MVP honors for the East.

“It was pretty cool,” Leonard said. “I love being out here competing with the boys. You know, I did wish we came out with the win, but either way, it was still fun, still fun to compete.

“Most definitely (a memorable experience).”

DeMasse pitched the top of the first inning with Kavalick, his catcher all season, behind the plate. The arrangement was set up by their head coach, Angelo Plouffe, who served as the head coach for the East.

He threw a scoreless inning with some help from his county-mates, with a Bonnetti putout in center and a Leonard-to-Pierce putout from second to first.

“It was fun,” DeMasse said. “I was a little nervous, but it was fun for sure. I loved the experience. Even though it was only one inning, I love about everybody.”

DeMasse also singled in the fourth inning, stole second, then came around to score on a single by Plymouth’s Tommy Rose.

After the game, DeMasse was named and presented with the State Champs Player of the Year trophy.

“Being recognized as one of the best players in the state, I worked really hard for this, and it just sucks — I just mainly thought about my team. I tried to do this for my team. I know the outcome wasn’t what we expected, but we had a great season. I’m really happy with how we did. I’m really happy with how I did.

“It was the most fun ever. I knew our practice was going to be good. I knew our games were going to be good. I love our team. I love the chemistry we have. I love all the players. I’m going to miss all of them. … I’m gonna miss a lot of those guys.”

Finkbeiner threw the second inning for the East. He struck out a batter and walked two, but an error allowed the West to score their first run of the game, unearned. He went 0-for-2 at the plate, as did his teammate, Domey.

Green got the ball in the fifth and, though he plunked two batters, escaped without allowing a run. Then, in the ninth, he led off with a single that helped galvanize a rally, during which both he and Bonnetti, who walked, scored, but a rare 8-6 double play ended the game with Leonard on deck.

Bonnetti went 0-for-1 with the walk and made a few plays in the field. Before the game, his assistant coach at Richmond, Kyle Simmons, was named one of the Assistant Coaches of the Year.

Simmons is a volunteer outfield and first base coach for the Blue Devils.

“(Simmons is) a great, great role model,” said Richmond head coach Scott Evans. “He holds kids accountable. … A head coach is only as good as his assistant coaches and the people that you surround yourself with. And he’s a former Division I player. You know, he’s an outfielder, and he knows what it takes, and he’s a no nonsense guy, but he loves kids, supports them and supports the community. And you know, you can’t say enough about those types of people that don’t ask for a dime, donate their time, are a positive role model in our community and really help solidify and make our program a great program in my opinion.”

Pilarski, Kavalick and Pierce each went hitless.

Pierce, who is headed to Central Michigan, reveled in suiting up with his teammate, Leonard, one more time.

“It’s pretty sick,” he said. “Playing with Jake for the last four years, man, it’s great to go out one last time in the Stevenson uniform again. We grew up together the last four years and the last game together, pretty sick, especially at Comerica. It’s beautiful here. I thank God being here, just playing with everybody, it’s kind of cool. Especially with Jake.”