Wright + Wood = ‘W’ for Stars

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: June 22, 2022

Santana High product Ethan Wright hit his first wood-bat home run for the San Diego Stars on Wednesday (June 22).

2022 SAN DIEGO STARS SUMMER COLLEGIATE BASEBALL

By Nick Pellegrino
ECS staff writer

Scores/Schedule HERE

LAKESIDE — Before the San Diego Stars would return Santana High product Ethan Wright to his comfortable position as a No. 3 or 4 hitter in the batting order, they wanted to make sure Wright was capable of handling a wooden bat.

After six games,Wright demonstrated his ability to quickly adept.

On Wednesday (June 22), Wright lifted a deep sacrifice fly then later added a deep home run to center field, powering the Stars to a 12-3 demolition of the Solana Beach Redbirds in summer collegiate baseball action at El Capitan High’s Hostetler Field.

Just like he did all season with the Sultans, Wright was able to drop his hands to host the baseball into the air for his sacrifice fly for an RBI.

Then on his next trip to the plate, without a drop of his hands, Wright was able to smoke the ball over the 20-foot high terrace and fence which composes Hostetler Field.

Ethan Wright

“Wood bats are fun to use and see everyone else using them, too,” said Wright. “I think the wood show your true power.”

I went up there just looking to do damage at any moment. I was looking for a pitch to drive and I got it.”

Wright’s power display gives the Stars a unique opportunity to be creative with their batting order. Why? Because Wright would actually just assume to stay at the top of the lineup card.

“I honestly like hitting leadoff because I can get on early and help score runs early,” Wright noted. “I like to get on for the other guys to drive me in.”

Wright’s initial opportunity came in the fourth inning, coming up with the bases loaded and no one out. He answered with his sacrifice fly, starting a 4-run rally to secure a 7-2 lead.

“I was just missing on my previous at-bats, so I took a second to relax, then I did what I did.”

Then in the eighth, Wright led off with his shot which juts caught the corner of the El Capitan parking lot. Similar drives will keep his career progressing.

“I want to just keep moving and get to the next level,” he added. “Right now, for me, that will be at a local ‘juco.'”

Wright has yet to decide which of the four area community colleges – Grossmont, Mesa, San Diego City or Southwestern — he will attend.

While Wright batted 2-for-5 with three RBI, No. 2 hitter Danny Zapeda went 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI and scoring twice.

And when you throw in a 3-for-5 , two RBI performance by clean-up hitter Joey Krug — which included a pair of doubles — the Stars finished with their biggest offensive production of the summer.

Meanwhile, Grossmont College pitcher Jake Sergent tossed two-hit ball over his five innings for the victory. The lone bemish off “the Sarge” was a solo home run the Redbirds’ Alberto Esquivel in the third.

The Stars (4-2 overall) return to Western Baseball Association action on Friday, hosting the North County Bulldogs (aka Gorillas) at El Cap, starting at 4 p.m.

On Saturday, the Stars host a noon doubleheader against a club from the San Diego School of Baseball, which agreed to play the Stars for the first time ever.

Admission is free.