NIAGARA FALLS — There’s a 1994 movie called “Angels in the Outfield,” that features angelic players in baseball caps assisting a hapless team in making miracle plays.

That plot line may come to mind for those who learn that the Niagara Power is a faith-based ball club, made up of college players with hopes of making it to the big time. With all the praying that goes on, shouldn’t those guys have some celestial assistance.

It seems that people of faith know it mostly doesn’t work that way.

“We pray and do more spiritual things than the other teams,” said team owner Cal Kern. “We lost the first nine games.”

The young men who comprise the Niagara Power player for college teams from all over the country. Some simply want to play baseball all summer at a level that will enhance their skills. The infusion into the regions Christian communities and the prayers from the congregations that support the teams are simply part of the package. Some might say, part of the power.

Niagara Power was created by Kern under the auspices of the national Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

“Our mission is to impact people through baseball,” Kern explained. “We do that by teaching baseball and touching lives through a game that most kids love.”

Team members, who typically stay with families from the hanful of churches that support the team, participate in local church events and hold free baseball clinics for area children.

When first basemen, Marshall McDonald, 21, of Red Springs North Carolina, applied to play on the team two years ago it wasn’t the Christian spirit that drew him. He had been cut from two college teams and he simply wanted the opportunity to play baseball at at a level which could advance his career and his dream of playing pro ball.

He is playing his second season for Niagara Power this year, and by July had already logged two home runs. And in the process, to his surprise, he has strenghtened his own faith. He believes it was his last summer on the Power that won his a full scholarship this year to play at Montreat College in Ashville, N.C.

“I came here not really knowing what I was getting in to,” McDonald said. “I got really close to God. It helped me out more as a man and a baseball lplayer than I ever thought it would.”

Kerns is deeply aware of the difference that faith can make in the life of an athlete. A pro soccer player himself in his younger days, his career was cut short by a shattered knee and comlications which led to months of healing and time to question the meaning of life.

“I needed to grab onto something,” he said, recalling himself as a lost, 22 year old, grieving for a lost future in professional soccer. A friend suggested he try reading the Bible and Kern laughed in his face.

But, eventually he decided to listen to his friend’s advice. “I said to myself, I'm going to follow this Jesus and see where it takes me and I haven't stopped since then. That’s why I’m in sports ministry.”

While not an ordained minister, Kerns testifies for his faith among area church groups. That’s how St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Sanborn came to be an official sponsor of the team, after Kerns spoke at a luncheon at the church. The congregation signed on to be a major sponsor, contributing $1,000 a season and seeking divine intervention for the young players.

“We pray for these boys every week,” said Pastor Bruce Gamache. “We pray for their health, their well being, we lift them up in prayer.” The congregants also keep close tabs on the team’s performance.

“It now becomes part of casual conversation to talk about the win loss record and how they did against so and so,” Gamache said. The church members tailgate at Power games, invite the players to speak to their school children, and worship with the young ball players.

"Its a different type of mission,” explained church member Jonathan Haseley. Baseball offers a common ground for influencing others through one’s actions rather than one’s words, he explained. "It's an out of the box type of mission project.”

On July 25 St. Peter’s is sponsoring “Power Sunday,” where the entire team will attend the 10:15 a.m. second service and share a potluck lunch afterward.

Other area churches have similar events, including Niagara Community Church, at Cayuga and Williams in Niagara Falls where players were set to take over an recent worship service.

Other area churches behind the Power include Whitehaven Road Baptist Church on Grand Island

Forestview Church of God on Saunders Settlement Road in Niagara Falls and First Presbyterian Church of Lewiston.

The church members join area fans in the stand for an experience at Sal Maglie Stadium in Hyde Park that is very much like pro ball, with entertainment, enthusiastic tributes at every game to an area little league team, and even hot dogs and cracker jacks.

With so many faith based fans, Kerns was asked whether the players are more polite than those of less spiritually inclined teams.

Kerns laughed. “Some coaches think a Christian player is soft,” he said. “What our message is, if God has given you this ability to play then you have the responsiblity to play as hard as you can.”

“We're acting like gentlemen,” he added. “We respect our opponents. We have an example to set.”

IF YOU GO

WHO: Niagara Power Collegiate Baseball Team

WHAT: Playing summer games in the New York Collegiate Baseball League at Sal Maglie Stadium in Hyde Park.

WHEN: Remaining home games are at 7 p.m. July 21, 23 and 28.

MORE INFORMATION: Visit niagarapower.org or phone

773-1748.