Stars’ All-Star Krug collars the Crush

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: July 19, 2022

2022 SAN DIEGO STARS SUMMER COLLEGIATE BASEBALL

ECS staff report

POWAY — Starting the summer season om then bench as an assistant coach, Joey Krug decided time was not on his side. Thus, he returned to active status.

Over the past six weeks, Krug, a former West Hills High standout, regained his role as a starter, earned a berth in last Sunday’s Western Baseball Association All-Star Game, then continued his role as a power-hitter on Tuesday (July 19).

Immediately after the San Diego (Poway) Crush thought they got back into the game with a fifth-inning run following four shutout innings by Stars starting pitcher Jake Sergent, Krug proved otherwise. He opened the sixth inning with a leadoff home run to cap a 3-RBI performance, powering the Stars to an 8-2 decision over the host Crush.

Krug, who leads the Stars in homers, reminded fans of the Stars’ previous slugger — 26-year veteran Brian Sos — who hit one of his most memorable shots at Poway High School.

The ballpark, situated much like Valhalla High, finds the area beyond left field reaching the back of the stands of the football stadium. Sos once cleared the Poway grandstand with a mammoth blast that landed on the racing lanes of the track.

Krug’s blast didn’t go as far, but it was definitely another death blow for the Crush, which has defeated the Stars just once over the past seven seasons.

Krug finished with three RBI on 2-for-5 hitting, He also belted a 2-run double in the third for a 3-0 Stars advantage.

Meanwhile, the Stars bullpen continues to shine, allowing a composite one hits among four pitchers. The two runs were both unearned.

Following six strikeouts by Sergent in his four frames, Blake Peyton fired two solid innings, followed by one frame each by Ryan Skillman, Ryan Culp (two strikeouts), and Andrew Ritayik.

The Stars (13-7 overall, 13-6 WBA) had a schedule change for Thursday. Instead of a non-conference contest with the San Diego Grind, the Stars will host a make-up game with the West Coast Clippers, which forfeited its home-field advantage when they couldn’t have a field to play last week’s slated contest. Game time is at 4 p.m.