Cal Kern admits he was a rookie last season, too.

The general manager for the New York Collegiate Baseball League’s Niagara Power enters his second season with the team better prepared for the challenges of summer. Although the Power got off to a hot start on the diamond during its inaugural season, their attendance lagged through the first half.

But Kern learned some valuable lessons as the season progressed.

“The big connection was with the kids. At one point I started going field to field at area little leagues, just talking with people. When I started to meet with the leadership from the various leagues, our attendance spiked. When you connect with kids, you connect with families,” Kern said. “It was definitely a great thing. That’s going to set the tone for the atmosphere.”

The Power limped home in the franchise’s first season, dropping nine of its final 10 games last year.

With a 2008 schedule that starts with four of the first six games in the friendly confines of Sal Maglie Stadium, the wooden bat league team can get some quick footing in the league’s Western Division standings this time around.

Niagara, which finished 19-25 last year, opens the season on June 6 against the Allegany County Nitros at Maglie.

The league announced Friday that no franchise changes will take place this year — the same 14 teams that played in the league last year will square off this season.

“It gives more respectability to the league. I’m glad there isn’t a revolving door with teams,” Kern said.

Each team plays 21 home games and 21 away games. As it did last year, Niagara will only meet the other teams from the eight-team Western Division — Bolivar, Brockport, Geneva, Hornell, Webster, Allegany County and reigning champion Elmira.

The teams in the Eastern Division are Amsterdam, Glens Falls, Little Falls, Saratoga, Watertown and Bennington (Vt.).

The league’s all-star game will take place on July 9 in Watertown and the playoffs will follow the July 30th regular season finale.

The Power finished with an attendance average of more than 250 fans. The league high was Watertown, which had an average of 1,112 fans.

Contact group sports editor Tim Schmitt at 282-2311, ext. 2266.