PETROLIA — Holden Martin has spent a lot of time this summer celebrating in dog piles.

Two teams.

Two titles.

One fat lip.

“Got a split lip celebrating,” Martin said, laughing. “But it was worth it. All for the ring.”

Martin, a Karns City graduate and sophomore at Muskingum University, isn't blind to how fortunate he was playing for championship teams in the Beach Collegiate Baseball League in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and in the New York Collegiate Baseball League in Syracuse, N.Y.

“Honestly, it's probably been one of the best summers for me personally,” Martin said. “Traveling the country and playing baseball strengthened my love for the game. It was a blessing to be able to do that.”

Martin began his summer in the BCBL with the Concord Cadets as a pitcher and infielder.

It's a role he enjoyed at Karns City, where he was a standout on the mound as well as at second base.

Martin helped the Cadets to their second consecutive BCBL title.

Martin thought that would be it for him, but three days after his season ended in Myrtle Beach, he got a call from one of his Cadet coaches who had moved on to help out at Onondaga.

The Flames needed a pitcher and Martin was more than ready to answer the call.

“Literally on the phone I said, 'Sign me up,'” Martin said.

Martin made an immediate impact in the NYCBL with Onondaga.

His first game in uniform he was the starting pitcher and picked up a win.

In four appearances he didn't give up an earned run.

Martin's biggest moment, though, came in his one start as a position player for the Flames.

In a 24-6 win over Cortland, Martin went 6-for-7 with three doubles and four RBI.

In the playoffs, Martin made one appearance, striking out two in his only inning of work.

For Martin, playing in the NYCBL — a league that is very similar to the Prospect League with rosters peppered with Division I and II players — was a chance for him to gauge his talents against some of the best players in the country.

“The competition was a lot better up in New York,” Martin said. “Here I was, a small-town guy from a Division III college playing against Division I guys — it was awesome. It was awesome coming on the team against that kind of competition and being successful and helping another team win a championship.”

Martin said he gleaned a lot from both leagues this summer.

“I met some of the best guys I've ever played with,” Martin said.

Martin roomed with two Division I players in Onondaga, one from Pepperdine University and the other from University of California, Santa Barbara.

Martin studied how they prepared for each game and also asked a lot of questions.

“I think at this point, you can't really get much better skill-wise,” Martin said. “It's all about the mental approach now. A lot of it at the college level is the mental game.”

Martin hopes to bring his new knowledge back to Muskingum next spring.

After a slow start, Martin came on strong at the end of the season last year, finishing with a .258 average, two homers and 12 RBI in 32 games with the Muskies.

He also stole six bases while playing second, third and short.

“I started to figure it out toward the end,” Martin said.

On his long drive home from Syracuse, Martin began wondering how many other players had the chance to be on two summer league championship teams.

“I've never really heard of someone being on two,” he said.

Next year, he hopes to find another good summer landing spot.

“A lot of it is what my coaches (at Muskingum) want me to do,” Martin said. “I'd love to go back down south again or back to New York.”

He also said he would leap at the chance to stay close to home and play for the Butler BlueSox in the Prospect League.

“I would love to play for the BlueSox,” Martin said. “Hometown boy staying home, that would be great.”