Mysterious Krug fuels Stars rally

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: June 18, 2022

2022 SAN DIEGO STARS SUMMER COLLEGIATE BASEBALL

SIMMER 2022 SCHEDULE: HERE

By Nick Pellegrino
ECS staff writer

LAKESIDE — For reasons not discussed outside the organization, San Diego Stars third baseman Joey Krug always seems to miss the first week of the season each June.

Joey Krug

Fortunately, the situation is never a problem when Krug comes in swinging a hot bat.

For the third straight season, Krug, a product of West Hills (Class of ’15), posted a multiple-hit game in his first outing of the summer. Included was a go-ahead, two-run double, as the Stars ran their winning streak to three games by rallying past the Colton Nighthawks, 5-3, in Western Baseball Association action on Saturday (June 18).

“It’s not really a secret,” explained Stars owner/president Kelly Ritayik. “Every year, Joey says he only wants to coach, but after a week or so, he gets the itch and wants to play.”

Indeed, everyone should’ve noticed Krug wanted to play–= he was already wearing his hitting spikes.

In the sixth inning, designated hitter Brady Joslyn, who also went 2-for-4, collected a one-out single, then shortstop Camden Sos (Granite Hills ’23) took a two-out walk.

Krug (Findlandia Univ. ’19) then continued his career-long display of power-hitting. His first pitch was drilled to the Crosley Field-like “terrace” in left-center field, with Sos hustling home from first base to grab a 4-3 advantage.

Luke Gentry

Joslyn added an RBI double in the seventh, then Stars pitcher Luke Gentry finished his extended stint of relief — he tolled over the final seven innings out of the bullpen — to collect the victory.

Gentry (Christian HS ’16, San Diego Christian College ’22) struck out five Nighthawks batters, and blanked Colton over the his final 3 2/3 innings. Gentry escaped a jame with an inning-ending double play in the sixth, then downed nine of the final 10 batters.

San Diego second baseman Danny Zapeda also posted a pair of basehits.

In Game Two, Nighthawks pitcher Alberto Magana carried a 3-hit shutout into the seventh (and final) inning en route to a 5-1 victory.

Among the three hits,two were leadoff singles by the Stars, but they were promptly erased on a double-play grounders. He finished with three strikeouts over his six frames.

The Stars (3-2 overall) did score in their final trip to the plate against the Hawks bullpen.

Ethan Wright

Ethan Wright (Santana ’22) slapped a leadoff, ground single up the middle, eventually scoring on an error.

The ballclubs were going yo complete the 3-game series at the home of the WBA North Division champions Nighthawks in Grand Terr e (Calif.) High, but the contest has been postponed and will be re-scheduled.

Thus, the next contest is Wednesday against the Solana Beach Redbirfs, at El Capitan at 4 p.m.