Niagara Power Bring First Rate Baseball Action, Family Values

A team that prays together plays together: Niagara Power offers some 23 games at Sal Maglie Stadium each year.

Since 2007, Sal Maglie Stadium has played host to the Niagara Falls Power, an amateur, summer league team affiliated with the New York Collegiate Baseball League and an affiliate of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Players and coaches, staying with host families in the city, face a 46 game schedule that includes 23 home dates at the old ballpark on Hyde Park Boulevard.

The Niagara Falls Power was the brainchild of Grand Island businessman Cal Kern, who partnered with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes to bring the club to Niagara Falls. The team has made the New York Collegiate League playoffs in three of the past four seasons., bringing home the Western Division Championship in 2012.

Several veterans of the club are now playing professionally in the minor leagues, including relief pitcher Rohn Pierce, who was named Appalachian League Pitcher of the Week back in August following a successful string of appearances with the Pulaski Mariners.

Over the past seven seasons, the club has become part of the fabric of the community.

“We support the Niagara Power Baseball Team, because it is our way of giving back to the community and promoting good, wholesome, family entertainment,” said George Edwards, proprietor of George Edwards Jewelers. “Hopefully, we will get some new customers from our advertising, but our main reason is to stand behind Cal & Sherrie and their commitment to bring Salvation in Jesus Christ to the players, players families and the people of our community. Also, it allows them to keep the ticket prices affordable, so that the whole family can come out and enjoy a fun evening together."

The Power players seem equally as grateful to the city that hosts them.

"First of all, I want to thank you for the opportunity to play another summer in Niagara Falls for the Power,” said Drew Hollinghead, who pitched for the club in 2007 and 2008. “It was an unbelievable experience for me both years. The main reason I am writing is to hopefully express to you my gratitude and thank you for all you have shown me over the past two summers...The Lord has been so good to me by putting people like you in my life to help me learn in such a vital stage of my life."

Since the days of Preacher Roe, baseball and Christianity have enjoyed a close relationship, a tradition being carried on today with the Niagara Power.