AYER – Fenway Park in Boston has been home to the Boston Red Sox since 1912 and is the oldest stadium in Major League Baseball.
It’s a venue that Ayer-Shirley Regional alum Sarah Ernst and her family have visited numerous times in supporting her favorite baseball team.
Ernst loves Fenway Park and is a lifelong Red Sox fan. This baseball season, she will have the opportunity to see a lot more of the stadium affectionately known as “America’s Most Beloved Ballpark.”
Ernst has been hired by the Red Sox organization as a member of the Mobility Assistant/Elevator Service department for the 2022 season.
The 2017 Ayer-Shirley graduate and current Athletic Director Assistant recently sat down with the Tracker and expressed her excitement for her new position.
“I’m really excited about this opportunity,” said Ernst from inside her office at Ayer-Shirley Regional High School. “I went to school for sports management and that’s what I’ve really wanted to do my whole life. My dream job would be in the front office of the Boston Red Sox or the Boston Celtics so now I finally have my foot in the door with the Red Sox.”
Following high school, Ernst attended Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, New Hampshire. While there, she was a member of the Ravens softball program. Ernst was a three-sport athlete at
Ayer-Shirley, excelling in softball, basketball, and girls’ volleyball programs.
When asked how this opportunity came about, Ernst didn’t hesitate with her response.
“I’m always looking online,” said Ernst. “I saw an opening for the Worcester Red Sox and so I’m always looking around for job postings when I was online. I found the Red Sox have their own link, specifically for them and that’s where I began to look. They reached out to me and I went through the interview process.”
With the start of the Major League Baseball season just around the corner, Ernst went through job training and will be ready to go when the Red Sox welcome the Minnesota Twins to Fenway Park for their home opening game on April 15.
“Anyone who needs assistance while inside the park, we help them. Whether that be providing them with a wheelchair or any other assistance to get to and from their seats,” said Ernst. “We want to try and accommodate anyone who may have a disability so that they can better enjoy their experience.”
Ernst is optimistic that if she does a great job she can begin to ascend the organizational ladder soon.
“Hopefully, in a couple of years, I can move up to a managerial or a supervisor’s position,” said Ernst. “I recently finished my training and I’m excited to get started. It’s a dream come true, getting the chance to work for the team and organization you grow up watching and cheering for.”
According to Ernst, her job isn’t limited to just baseball. She will have the opportunity to work during many of the concerts held inside the ballpark during the summer. Some of those shows include Paul McCartney, The Zac Brown Band, Lady Gaga, Aerosmith, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers to name a few.
“It’s going to be a great experience,” said Ernst. “I’m very fortunate and can’t wait to begin”
In addition, Ernst has worked for the Nashua Silver Knights, a summer wooden bat baseball team that competes in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL) and plays its home games at historic Holman Stadium in Nashua, New Hampshire.
When asked her favorite Red Sox player, Ernst couldn’t hide her smile when she said retired second baseman Dustin Pedroia.