Ern had never played for the house team, due to his excessive focus on his schoolwork but was a decent player when it came down to it. In any case, he needed something to distract his mind, something to deal with the pent up frustration. When he noticed that one of the sides was lacking in a beater he most easily took that up.
"Fearlessness won't help you, and the girls are the least of your problem," Ernie said, feeling some of the playfulness spread to him, despite the actual grim nature of that day.