The final score was 8-4, but the grade point averages of the players was the story.

Thirty-nine recent high school grads were rewarded for their efforts in the classroom and on the field with an invitation to play in Saturday’s Academic All-Star game at Goodyear Ballpark. Each of the players finished their high school careers with at least a 3.7 GPA.

The MVP of game, Sunrise Mountain’s Nick Lustig, will take his 3.8 GPA to Ottawa University to continue his baseball and academic career. The speedy infielder reached base five times, had three hits, including two triples, and two RBI’s for the winning team, the North All-Stars.

“Behind the plate everything just felt good,” Lustig said. “Everything was working in sync. I was putting the barrel to the ball and making good contact.

“It’s beautiful getting a chance to play on this field. I just feel so privileged and so blessed to have this opportunity.”

Saturday also marked the return of the Arizona Baseball Coaches Association All-Star games.

Because of the pandemic, the association cancelled last year’s games. The Academic All-Star game kicked off the weekend, five-game festivities for the association.

The pitchers for the North All-Starts, Horizon’s Sam Lachot, Apollo’s Brayden Coburn and Tempe Prep’s Kenneth Russell, held the South to five hits in seven innings. The South was hampered by some errors, but that didn’t keep its players from cherishing the lifelong memory of playing at the Spring Training home of the Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds.

The South’s Tyler Badger of Skyline High ended his high school career going 2-for-2 with an RBI. The future leaders at the game have big plans outside of baseball.

Nogales’ Sean Garcia, for example, is headed to John Hopkins University in Baltimore to study neuroscience. He said he’s loved science since he was a kid, and he also loves his brother, Gavin, Garcia’s inspiration for wanting to become a doctor.

Gavin was born with a learning disability and motor skill issues.

“Experiencing that with (Gavin) influenced me to study science, especially neuroscience,” Garcia said.

Gavin and his parents, Tony and Michelle, attended Saturday’s game.

They each were beaming with pride as they watched Garcia play his final high school game.

Sean Garcia (far left) was one of the many bright academic stars who were invited to play in Saturday's Academic All-Star game at Goodyear Ballpark. Garcia's mom Michelle, brother Gavin and dad Tony watched Garcia play his final high school game before heading off to John Hopkins University. (azpreps365 photo)