Payson Roundup | Payson, AZ

Was it a marathon or a high school all-star baseball game?

That’s what fans were asking themselves as they exited Surprise Baseball Complex following the Arizona Baseball Coaches Association Class 3A North vs. South All-Star game on May 28.

The lengthy clash featured a whopping 39 runs scored, 36 base hits recorded and 6 errors committed.

The North, which was co-coached by Window Rock’s Shawn Deschenie and Scott Novack of Payson High, eventually emerged from the prolonged celestial clash with a 28-11 victory.

For the game, Jake Sleeper and Westin Gibson represented Payson on the North all-star team. The pair were voted all-stars in a balloting of coaches at the end of the regular season.

Sleeper, who started at second base, finished 3-for-3 at the plate including a double that bounced off the left field fence. He also had two RBIs.

Although Sleeper was the Longhorns’ top pitcher last season, he did hot hurl in the all-star game because the North had a talented staff of five players who were pitchers-only.

Gibson, a shortstop and pitcher for PHS the last season, played centerfield for the North and was 0-for-2 at the plate.

Defensively, “He made a great catch in the outfield,” said Novack.

The game marked the end of Gibson’s four-year varsity career at PHS, but he’s indicated he would like to prolong his career possibly on the collegiate level.