Feeling right at home

CELINA - In the short time Marcus Ernst has been playing for the Grand Lake Mariners, he has made himself at home at Montgomery Field.

Considering he is playing close to his family's hometown, it's not surprising.

Ernst, who finished his junior season for Ohio State this past spring, has family from the Grand Lake area, especially Minster, where his dad was a standout for the Wildcats.

When the chance to come back and play summer ball close to Minster, Ernst didn't hesitate.

"It's awesome. I have family from all over the area: Celina, Minster, New Bremen," said Ernst during a recent practice. "It's nice to see some familiar faces around the area. It's comfortable for me to be around here."

With the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League not scheduling games on Monday nights, Ernst has had a chance to visit family and friends.

"It's fun to go to cousins' houses around Minster," said Ernst. "Also on nights we have off (I'm) going to places like Chickasaw Picnic. It's nice going to places that I know and seeing people I haven't seen in awhile."

Ernst's athletic prowess is an Ernst family trait. Dad Ben Ernst was a three-sport standout at Minster, helping the Wildcats win the program's first state title in football as a quarterback in coach Ken Newland's wishbone offense and also playing basketball and baseball before heading on to the University of Dayton to play baseball with such teammates as fellow Minster standout Mike Wiss and Coldwater's Brian Harlamert. Marcus' uncles were also standouts, as Charlie Ernst is now the men's head basketball coach at the University of Findlay and Mike Ernst coached New Bremen to a regional appearance in 2006.

It was at Dublin Coffman where Marcus Ernst made his presence known all over the athletic complex. Marcus was the Ohio Capital Conference Player of the Year in 2018 after batting .514 for the Shamrocks, played quarterback for the perennial Division I powerhouse and was a point guard for Coffman before signing on at nearby Ohio State.

Ernst appeared in 34 games - 32 starts - this past season for the Buckeyes, batting .205 with five doubles and nine runs scored.

"It's a dream come true," said Ernst. "When they told me I could play for (Ohio State), it was an opportunity I couldn't turn down. I've been an Ohio State fan, going to football games, basketball games and baseball games."

Among his Buckeye teammates was Celina graduate Seth Lonsway, who was recently drafted in the sixth round by the San Francisco Giants.

"Seth's a great competitor and teammate," said Ernst. "He was a captain this year. Just seeing how he worked and carried himself was something that helped guide our ballclub. He sets a tone."

Ernst hasn't disappointed himself or Mariner fans with his play on the field. Ernst leads the team with a .319 batting average and his 27 runs batted in are ranked in the top five in the GLSCL to go along with 16 stolen bases, which ranked second after Tuesday's game. Ernst has also been versatile on defense, playing second, shortstop, centerfield and right field to go with several appearances as the designated hitter.

It's been great so far," said Ernst. "Summer has been about getting at-bats and reps. Coming here, that's all I've been trying to do. I've been fortunate so far to put together some good at-bats. I've had a pretty decent summer so far. I'm looking to continue to build on that."