Mark Ernster continues to move up.

He opened Liberty’s baseball program in 2006 and turned it into a state champ. His next career move will take him up north to Prescott, where he was recently announced as the new athletic director at Prescott Valley Bradshaw Mountain.

“I’m a country boy, and I love to fish and hunt,” Ernster said. “The outdoors is a good fit for me and (my family).”

Ernster won more than 100 games at Liberty, which played in two state championship games under Ernster.

John Freitas, a former assistant at Moon Valley, will step in as Liberty’s next baseball coach.

“I am very thankful for the start Liberty gave me and allowing me to build a program from scratch” said Ernster, a 12^th round MLB pick as a senior at Ironwood High and 6^th round pick when he played at Arizona State.